quote:
Original post by ChromaZ28
grhodes,
Thanks for the clarification. I''ve been in the books and learned quite a bit about flight physics. The drag vector is opposite the velocity vector and lift is perpendicular to drag. And at times, since the velocity vector can point up that means the drag vector is pointing down pulling the aircraft down also. This means lift is sometimes pointing towards the rear of the aircraft and not straight up. And of course you have gravity pulling downwards also. So the combination drag and gravity (and sometimes lift too if the AOA is past 90 into the negatives) keep the aircraft in check and flying along on a somewhat straight path. I am in the process of implementing the lift coefficient into the lift equation and getting the basic flight controls working.
My prior problems were due to my not calculating the drag and lift vector properly. Now that I have that sorted out, my plane lifts off very nicely. I am having a little trouble with how to deal with the airplane sitting on the ground without the velocity keep indicating it''s still falling and winding into the negative. I know that an object sitting on the ground is constantly colliding with the ground and the ground is pushing back to the object. I just need to model this state and also add in the rolling friction.
Thanks for taking the time to post. I have a B.S. in Management of Technical Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. It''s no aerospace engineering degree but I have a keen interest in aircraft and I''m also an F-15 mechanic. So I would like to collaborate further with you if I run into problems...I have a sound vision on where I want this flight sim to go.
Cool! I''m impressed to find an F-15 mechanic here! I used to work at NASA Langley in Hampton, Virginia, and actually worked in the full scale wind tunnel which is located on Langley Air Force base. There were many F-15''s there, and we were able to eat lunch at picnic tables on the flight line. I would work night shift in the wind tunnel sometimes, and would go jogging on the AFB jogging trail, which happened to cross right behind the runway. It was interesting to see the F-15''s doing failed approach training, because they would come in and then hit the afterburners to fly away, and you''d see the afterburners clearly flaming!
I''m happy that you''re getting the flight sim to work. In terms of collaboration, I''m happy to answer questions in this forum when I have time, but I am quite booked in general and wouldn''t be able to really contribute outside of gamedev.net.
Graham Rhodes
Senior Scientist
Applied Research Associates, Inc.
