Hi
This is what I see as a must for a simulator engine.
Lets just devide this into 4 groups.
1: is the world engine. Ground, true placing of rivers, water, trees, ect.. This we have seen that outerra is super and keeps getting better and better.
2: Atmosphere. True to Life.. Lighting, shawdows, clouds ect. Based on temperature, moisture, pressure ect. The Atmosphere can really make or brake the feeling of a living Environment!!!
3: Physics. Ground and air handling. true aerodynamic calculations. Aircraft engines performances (Use data from Atmosphere engine) Don't know how good the JSBSim engine is !!!
4: Model engine.. Able to handle large poly counts. Hi res textures.. Flying at high altitude you don't see this. But landing at a big airport, taxing to gate or flying low. You just need good ground models to give the feeling of depth, speed ect.
Henrik
(Would lige to see some more different vegetation, small bush, 3d grass) *S*
But would say WOOOO the next years will be greate for simming ;-)