[AirNut]

we purchased X-Plane (it wasn't cheap)

It is now -- as low as $39 for v.9
http://www.x-plane.com/store/desktop/

That might be a better way to build flight videos for the training manual than Blender's animations. I went to x-plane.org and searched for hang glider models with this result:

There are no files directly in this category. Files listed below are from this category's subcategories, or you can click on a subcategory in the menu to narrow your results

They may not have hang gliders because weight shift control may be incompatible with their simulation. Even so, just putting a hang glider "skin" on a conventional airplane would enable us to generate some good looking simulations. This might be another good topic for the "Technology" forum.

Hi Bob,

I'm a 3D software developer by trade, mostly in aerospace, scientific and engineering 3D visualization, but also a bit of game development along the way. One my side interests is 3D flight simulation. I've used probably every commercial flight sim on the market going back over the last 20 years or so. Their quality and realism has ranged from pretty poor to barely adequate. As a result, I'm developing my own hang gliding simulator (which is already more accurate than anything currently on the market, for HG at least).

I had a look at X-plane but, as you say, there doesn't appear to be a hang glider available (that I can find), nor does it simulate ridge or thermal lift (to my knowledge). Until I get my own HG sim going, a better option IMO is Microsoft FSX. There are quite a number of hang glider models available for it (including the Airborne C4 with fully working pilot, VG, and instruments), but unfortunately its weather simulation is pretty poor. However, FSX does have a (somewhat flaky) C/C++ API called SimConnect. Using SimConnect, I've developed a ridge lift simulation that plugs into FSX. This computes the wind and airflow around the existing FSX terrain in real-time. It simulates ridge lift, rotor turbulence on the lee side, wind gradient, airflow compression near the ridge and so-on (I haven't seen these effects in any other flight simulator). The graphics are also considerably better than X-Plane, although X-Plane is steadily closing the gap in that regard.

I think that the FSX/SimConnect package that I've developed is actually good enough for realistic training. I can let you have it if you're interested. But you'd have to find a copy of FSX from somewhere (I think you can still pick it up pretty cheaply).

I'm also a 3D modeler (only average I'm afraid) and I've developed a few hang glider models over the years, so I'd also be interested in hearing more about your experience with the X-Plane programming interface, in particular how it handles integrating one's own 3D models. I'm wondering whether I could do a similar thing with X-Plane as I've done with FSX/SimConnect, i.e. simulate airflow and ridge/thermal lift around X-Plane's terrain. To do this, the X-Plane interface would need to provide for the sampling of terrain heights around the aircraft's position in real-time (this is what FSX's SimConnect lets you do). You would also need to be able to inject horizontal and vertical forces or velocities into the sim (again, SimConnect also allows this).

Maybe we should start another thread about flight simulation for HG. I think a lot of beginners and even instructors might be interested in this topic (I certainly am!).

[AirNut]

...and without diverting Rick's thread too much, I'll just add that everything I've said above about FSX and SimConnect also applies to Lockheed Martin's 'Prepar3d' simulator (LM bought FSX from Microsoft). I think Prepar3d sells for around $60 (for the personal version). Incidentally, all of the above can amply simulate all of the effects that are being discussed in this thread, i.e. turns in sinking air and/or lift close to a ridge.

And for you Bob, to make a movie (say for training purposes) using the above approach, you wouldn't need to worry about constructing an animation in Blender or whatever. You'd just jump into the sim (i.e. FSX/Prepar3D), fly the maneuver in question yourself, and capture it with something like FRAPS. And the advantage of using FSX/Prepar3d would be that you could do all this at whatever actual flying site you wished, so you'd get all the proper scenery in the movie.

[wingspan33]

AirNut,

I have a feeling that you may be viewed as a kind of Christmas present by a few people here. Bob K not being the least. I think you should look into the newly created Technology Forum and begin a topic there - if you haven't already.

[wingspan33]

Rick,

In connection with your beginning topic question, . . .

I was reminded of flying in a Region 12 (NY & NJ) competition back in the (mid) 1980s. The structure of the comp was One on One. Dennis Pagen (who lived about 60 miles away in PA) was participating and I had a chance to fly with/against him. I recalled his advice (from one of his books) to avoid turning in sink. As I recall, this had to do with, in particular, soaring in ridge lift.

Now, during our heat, Dennis happened to be flying ahead of me along a short ridge (on a larger ridge with some significant bowls to either side of the launch point). As we flew, I noticed Dennis losing 10-20 feet of altitude in relationship to me. Well, instead of following him into "sink" I turned while still in the marginal lift along the short ridge line. As I recall, I won the heat. Needless to say, I was one happy pilot. In a friendly way I explained to Dennis how I out did him, . . . I used his own strategy against him.

It doesn't always pay to be a writer of books on the topic of hang gliding.

[Bob Kuczewski]

AirNut, I think that would be a great project to bring to the Technology Forum as Wingspan suggested!!!

Please start a topic there and maybe we can get a team together to work on it!!!

Regarding the X-Plane interface, I don't recall if it included the capability to build new models. We only used the current flight data reported from the simulation, and we sent back flight control commands.

You're right that this would be a much easier way to generate many of the animations we'd need for an on-line training manual than using Blender. Please start a topic and let's see who volunteers to work on it with you. Maybe put together a little demonstration as a "teaser"?

Thanks for your great contributions already. As Wingspan said, it is a Christmas present!!

P.S. Rick, each topic in the Blog Forum is mostly controlled by the person starting the topic (or Blog). So please let me know if you'd like me to move these posts (since they're a bit off topic) or leave them as part of the "organic" nature of your Blog. Thanks either way!!

[AirNut]

AirNut, I think that would be a great project to bring to the Technology Forum as Wingspan suggested!!!

Please start a topic there and maybe we can get a team together to work on it!!!

Regarding the X-Plane interface, I don't recall if it included the capability to build new models. We only used the current flight data reported from the simulation, and we sent back flight control commands.

You're right that this would be a much easier way to generate many of the animations we'd need for an on-line training manual than using Blender. Please start a topic and let's see who volunteers to work on it with you. Maybe put together a little demonstration as a "teaser"?

Thanks for your great contributions already. As Wingspan said, it is a Christmas present!!

P.S. Rick, each topic in the Blog Forum is mostly controlled by the person starting the topic (or Blog). So please let me know if you'd like me to move these posts (since they're a bit off topic) or leave them as part of the "organic" nature of your Blog. Thanks either way!!

Will do, Bob.

I'll spend a bit of time getting some material together, so it might take a week or so.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Will do, Bob.

I'll spend a bit of time getting some material together, so it might take a week or so.

Super!!!!!

That's what this forum is all about ... bringing pilots with ideas and talents together!!!