Outerra forum

Outerra Engine => Technology => Topic started by: Adam on December 23, 2010, 06:51:37 pm

Title: Flight within a gravitational field
Post by: Adam on December 23, 2010, 06:51:37 pm

I'm curious about something.  If you were in an airplane, and you were flying "forward" for an extended period of time.. would you be flying in a straight line, or would you be flying around the planet according to gravitational forces?

Better explained by example:



Which would occur if you turned on auto-pilot going directly "forward"?
(http://i.imgur.com/eqrm3.png)

Title: Flight within a gravitational field
Post by: C. Shawn Smith on December 23, 2010, 07:10:56 pm

To the best of my knowledge, gravity hasn't been integrated into the engine as of yet, although it's been hinted at in various threads.  Cameni or Angrypig might have a better answer to this, however.

*Edit: This is one of those unique questions we talk about but never expect when it comes up on the forums :)

Title: Flight within a gravitational field
Post by: ZeosPantera on December 23, 2010, 10:02:22 pm

Quote from: cshawnsmith

This is one of those unique questions we talk about but never expect when it comes up on the forums :)

Agreed. This is one of those questions I would like to know the answer too.

Title: Flight within a gravitational field
Post by: cameni on December 24, 2010, 03:14:04 am

The gravity is incorporated, both in JSBSim for planes and in Bullet for ground vehicles. JSBSim also computes things like air density and degrades engine performance with altitude (so you have to adjust the mixture too).