An open source,
platform-independent,
flight dynamics model in C++

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Aeromatic

version 0.96

This form can be used to create aircraft configuration files for use with the JSBSim Flight Dynamics Model, the default FDM for the FlightGear, Outerra and OpenEaagles (etc.) flight simulators. The configuration file format produced using this utility is version 2.0, and is incompatable with older formats because of an extensive overhaul of JSBSim's XML code that occured in December of 2004.
You will need at least two files for a complete configuration, an aircraft file containing information on the aircraft's mass properties, propulsion, flight control, aerodynamic properties, etc., an engine file describing the engine(s), and in the case of a propeller-driven aircraft you will need a prop file. Aeromatic will generate plausible configuration files for your aircraft using some simplifying assumptions. Note that Aeromatic allows only one type of engine to be defined per aircraft. If you want to mix engine types you'll have to make the necessary changes by hand. Also note that all turbine, turboprop and rocket engines use the default "direct" thruster.
Note: After a configuration file has been generated and is displayed in your browser, you should select (via the menu) "View Source". This is needed because when viewing aircraft configuration files (for instance), some formatting is performed for web browser viewing, but if the file is saved in that format it will not work. The source for the page needs to be viewed, and the file saved with a '.xml' extension.
For more detailed instructions see the How-to

Step 1: The Engine configuration ... This step is not necessary if you are using an already existing engine configuration file. In any case you will have to edit the propulsion section of the aircraft configuration file to ensure that the engine name is the same as the name of the engine configuration file.
Engine Name

Engine Type
piston turbine turboprop rocket

Engine Power or Thrust (per engine, without afterburning)
horsepower kw pounds newtons

Augmentation (afterburning) Installed?
yes no

Water Injection Installed?
yes no
You are now ready to have Aeromatic generate your file. Aeromatic will create a file called engine2.php, which is your engine configuration file. You will need to save this file with a filename of the form engine_name.xml.

Step 2: The Prop configuration (if applicable)...
Engine Power (per engine)
horsepower kw

Maximum Engine RPM

Pitch
fixed variable

Propeller Diameter
feet inches meters
You are now ready to have Aeromatic generate your file. Aeromatic will create a file called prop2.php, which is your propeller configuration file. You will need to save this file with a filename of the form prop_name.xml.

Step 3: The Aircraft configuration ...
Chose a system of measurement
English (feet, pounds) Metric (meters, kilograms)

Name of aircraft

Type of aircraft (Select closest aerodynamic type)
Glider
Light Single
Light Twin
WWII Fighter (or subsonic racer/aerobatic)
Single-engine Transonic or Supersonic Fighter
Two-engine Transonic or Supersonic Fighter
Two-engine Transonic Transport
Three-engine Transonic Transport
Four+-engine Transonic Transport
Multi-engine Prop Transport

Maximum Takeoff Weight

Empty Weight (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Length

Wing span

Wing chord (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Wing area (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Wing incidence (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Htail area (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Htail arm (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Vtail area (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Vtail arm (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Inertia (xx, yy, zz) (Enter 0 to use estimated value)

Landing Gear Layout
tricycle taildragger
castering nose or tail wheel

Is the Landing Gear Retractable?
yes no

Number of Engines
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Engine Type
piston turbine turboprop rocket electric

Engine Layout
fwd_fuselage mid_fuselage aft_fuselage wings wings and tail wings and nose

Yaw Damper Installed? (Almost all jets will need one)
yes no
You are ready to have Aeromatic generate your file. Aeromatic will create a file called aero2.php which is your configuration file. Save this file with a suitable filename, such as spitfireIX.xml. You will need to edit the propulsion section of this file so that the engine name is the same as the engine configuration file name, and the propeller name (if applicable) is the same as the propeller configuration file name.

31 Dec 2005 [.]