Aerofly RC 5, Aerofly RC 7 and Aerofly FS 1 Developer Tools


Introduction, Content overview
The following download is a collection of small programs that are needed to create new aircraft and scenery development for Aerofly RC 5, Aerofly RC 7 and Aerofly FS 1. The Aerofly RC 5 tools can be used for the Aerofly RC 7 and Aerofly FS 1 since the created files of the provided tools can be read by any of the named Aerofly versions. Converting an existing aircraft from one Aerofly version to the other does not require these tools.

This software development kit (SDK) includes:

  • A German readme text file that contains instructions on how to install the tools.
  • German manual about how to parameterize aircraft for the Aerofly simulator
  • The PT 40 radio control trainer airplane as an example 3D model, both as Metasequoia and AutoCAD 3D model including textures.
  • The export plugin for AutoCAD 3D (af5-ac3d-to-tgc) to export an .ac 3D model file to the Aerofly RC 5 .tgc file format
  • af5-mqo-to-tgc executable that converts a Metasequoia 3D model into the Aerofly RC 5 .tgc file format
  • af5-createpano executable to create a photo-panoramic scenery (Aerofly RC only)
  • Aerofly RC 5 MakeMaps installer, makemaps will convert raw textures (.bmp, .png, .tif) into the Aerofly texture format .ttx
  • A public developer license (.lic)

Outline
When creating a new Aerofly aircraft for the Aerofly RC 5, RC 7 or Aerofly FS 1 a 3D model is needed that is either constructed in AutoCAD 3D or Metasequoia.

  • The 3D model and its textures are then converted to the Aerofly RC 5/RC 7/FS 1 file formats .tgc (3D model) and .ttx (Textures) by using the tools provided in this SDK.

With the model converted to the Aerofly format a text description file (.tmc) and a text definition file (.tmd) need to be added to complete the Aerofly aircraft. For the .tmc and .tmd file a Unicode capable texteditor, such as Notepad++, EditPad, Ultra-Edit, will be needed.

  • The .tmc file defines variables like the name and span of the aircraft visible in the aircraft selection dialog, its initialization when the aircraft is loaded (attitude how placed on the runway, speed at which it is “thrown” or launched in mid-air) and so on.
  • The .tmd file defines a great number of objects that make up the aircraft. Those objects are the mass bodies of the fuselage, wings, stabilizer and gear (rigidbody), the aerodynamical objects like the wings, airfoils, propulsion: propeller, engine and so forth; objects that define the sound and objects that describe how the model will be animated in the simulator (hinged ailerons, flaps etc.). Generally speeking it defines the physics (dynamically simulated parts), the visual aspects (animation, graphics) and the sound.

Instructions / Support / Help
More generalized instructions in German language are included with this download (doesn’t hurt to read those). Please note that IPACS has discontinued their support of these very old tools, as there is a newer SDK for the newer Aerofly FS 2 Flight Simulator. Best support today can be obtained in the IPACS Forum.


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