SimpleAircraft

The SimpleAircraft sample includes a minimal set of files that define an aircraft as described in the Aircraft Configuration section of this document. This sample can be built and added to Microsoft Flight Simulator (which is explained further down this page) so you can see how the process works, and it's simplicity makes it an ideal study subject for those of you just getting started creating add-on content.

 

You can expand the link below to see the SimpleAircraft file and folder structure:

File OverviewFile Overview

+ SimpleAircraft
|---+ PackageDefinitions
|   |---+ mycompany-aircraft-simple
|   |   |---+ ContentInfo
|   |   |   |---- Thumbnail.jpg
|   |   |---+ MarketplaceData
|   |   |   |---- Marketplace.json
|   |   |   |---- <4 placeholder PNG>
|   |   |   |---- <3 Thumbnail JPG>
|   |   |---- Business.json
|   |---- mycompany-aircraft-simple.xml
|---+ PackageSources
|   |---+ SimObjects
|       |---+ Airplanes
|           |---+ MyCompany_Simple_Aircraft
|               |---+ model
|               |   |---- model.cfg
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft.xml
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD00.bin
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD00.gltf
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD01.bin
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD01.gltf
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD02.bin
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD02.gltf
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD03.bin
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD03.gltf
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD04.bin
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_LOD04.gltf
|               |---+ model.01
|               |   |---- model.cfg
|               |---+ model.02
|               |   |---- model.cfg
|               |---+ panel
|               |   |---- panel.cfg
|               |---+ sound
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft.PC.PCK
|               |   |---- sound.xml
|               |---+ soundAI
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_AI.PC.PCK
|               |   |---- soundAI.xml
|               |---+ texture
|               |   |---- < various PNG files >
|               |   |---- texture.cfg
|               |---+ texture.01
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_FUSELAGE_albd_000.png
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_WINGS_albd_000.png
|               |   |---- texture.cfg
|               |---+ texture.02
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_FUSELAGE_albd_000.png
|               |   |---- SimpleAircraft_WINGS_albd_000.png
|               |   |---- texture.cfg
|               |   |---- thumbnail.jpg
|               |---+ texture.base
|               |   |---- < various PNG files >
|               |---- ai.cfg
|               |---- aircraft.cfg
|               |---- Approach.flt
|               |---- apron.flt
|               |---- cameras.cfg
|               |---- Climb.flt
|               |---- cockpit.cfg
|               |---- Cruise.flt
|               |---- engines.cfg
|               |---- Final.flt
|               |---- flight_model.cfg
|               |---- gameplay.cfg
|               |---- hangar.flt
|               |---- runway.flt
|               |---- systems.cfg
|               |---- taxi.flt
|---+ Sources
|   |---+ Art
|       |---+ Max
|           |---- < various PNG files >
|---- SimpleAircraftProject.xml

 

 

Loading and building the project

In order to load and build the project in Microsoft Flight Simulator, you must have previously enabled Developer Mode (see here for more information). Once enabled, simply follow these steps:

 

  • Use the Open project... command from the File menu.

Developer Mode Open Project

 

  • Select the file SimpleAircraftProject.xml from the SimpleAircraft sample project.

SimpleAircraft Project Directory

 

  • The Project Editor should open automatically and show you the project mycompany-aircraft-simple (if the Project Editor doesn't open, then you can open it from the Developer Mode Tools menu)

The SimpleAircraft Sample Open In The Project Editor

 

  • Clicking on the project in the Project Editor will open the Inspector Window, and here you need to click the Build Package button (if the Inspector Window does not open automatically, go to the View menu in the Project Editor and open it from there).

The Project Inspector Window

 

  • This will build a package from the files specified in your project. This package will be named mycompany-aircraft-simple and will be output in the Packages folder created in the same directory as SimpleAircraftProject.xml:

New Package Location

 

  • Building the package will also install it into Microsoft Flight Simulator and so you can now proceed to the aircraft selection screen and see your newly created plane:

The SimpleAircraft Example In The Simulation