Developer FlyingIron has issued a new update for their popular Spitfire L.F Mk IXc. As we’re more or less used to with FlyingIron Simulations, the changelog is significant, with many new or enhanced features. The update also adds compatibility for MSFS 2024, as users had reported the sound to be no longer working with the latest iteration of MSFS.
In addition to MSFS 2024 compatibility, the developer has made changes to the flight model, with a new airfoil lift coefficient profile, as well as a new suspension system. The aircraft also contains new code for vibrations, making the aircraft respond more to user inputs and engine settings. The propeller and ground physics have also received a lot of changes. The full changelog can be found at the end of this article.
The update, going by version number 1.4.2, is available through your account from the FlyingIron Simulation’s website. If you do not yet own the Spitfire, and are keen to add this famous warbird to your hangar, you can purchase it for $35 AUD.
Changelog
- Sound Updates
- Fixed 2024 Sound Compatibility
- Fixed infinitely looping sounds
- Increased engine volume
- Reduced valve and knob sounds
- Reduced weird reverb sound
- Flight Model Updates
- Introduced new wing airfoil lift coefficient profile
- Corrected control surface area sizes
- Rebalanced forces across all axes
- Implemented a new suspension system
- Adjusted aeroplane geometry for improved accuracy
- Retuned control surface elasticity tables
- Doubled CFD resolution for enhanced precision
- Retuned adverse yaw behaviour
- Updated Mach table based on Spitfire-specific data
- Introduced a new ground effect table
- Adjusted control surface input scaling and effectiveness data
- Fine-tuned engine torque and gyro precession setup
- Vibration System: Running changes to the vibration system are intended to increase the quality of the simulation as well as fidelity. As the system advances, there is increasingly more user feedback going beyond the purely visual realm. The most recent changes include:
- Introduced new vibration code for smoother animations, computed per frame for consistent performance regardless of FPS
- Sources of vibration now include:
- Static thrust turbulence (high power, low speed, on the ground)
- Ground interaction (g-forces, bumps, and landings)
- RPM range smoothness (smooth around 2100-2400 RPM, rougher outside this range)
- Added vibrations to:
- Rudder and elevator
- Throttle and wobble lever
- Control column and rudder pedals
- Refined vibration algorithms for improved realism
- Propeller and Ground Physics
- Smooth propeller animation now calculated per frame
- Added multiplayer propeller support using Beacon Light 2
- Improved taildragger physics core, based on Fw190 and customised for the Spitfire
- Customised tailwheel animation to align with airflow during slips and drops forward during noseover
- Enhanced ground loop algorithms for better differentiation between landing and takeoff conditions
- Refined suspension behaviour to match observed performance
- Improved propwash steering and differential brake steering algorithms
- Reduced ground effect and refined ground physics for smoother transitions
- Drag and Performance Tuning
- Fine-tuned drag coefficients to meet top speeds accurately
- Increased elevator trim authority
- Balanced overall flight characteristics, maintaining known snap roll behaviour
- Retuned flap behaviour to match official specifications (flap up cLmax: 1.36, landing cLmax: 1.80)
- Adjusted propeller drag to align with expected approach parameters
- Implemented new propeller and cD0 data
- Fine-tuned high-speed behaviour up to 0.89 Mach
- Buffeting and Vibration Refinements
- Introduced new Lvar “Buffeting”
- Enhanced buffeting logic, now accounting for speed and amplitude variations
- Added 4Hz buffeting cockpit camera vibrations
- Optimised buffeting and vibration algorithms
- VR and Camera Improvements
- New organic camera setup considering head/neck rotation and eye position
- Tweaked VR pilot camera position
- Retuned vibrations for VR compatibility
- Improved ground handling and roll sensitivity in VR
- Miscellaneous Updates
- Consolidated and refactored exterior.xml for improved performance
- Retuned control surface reactivity to match real-world aerobatic responses
- Adjusted stall behaviour for better aileron control during stalls
- Refined drag for open canopy, open radiator, and slipper configurations
- Improved slip coordinator using Incidence Beta SimVar
