SquawkBox version 3.24 and POTW: new features for the network flight with Fly! II |
by Roland Herblot
New version for Fly! II
For the network flight fans, only SQUAWKBOX is the truth !
Created originally by Lefteris Kalamaras to allow the "Fly!ers" to
fly on the controlled vitual airlines networks such as VATSIM and IVAO, it was
updated by our friend Roland who worked hard on this project and, today, he supplies
us with this second magnificent version.
The "small limitations":
Fly! II has to be updated at the level 240 (but
is it really a limitation ?) and, if you intend to fly on IVAO or VATSIM, it is
imperative to set your simulator language as English.
Once you have well read the manual and installed SquawkBox v3.21, you'll
take pleasure in doing IFR or VFR controlled flights with virtual pilots
using Fly! II but also other simulators.
A specific forum was opened on Simvol (see here)
to communicate with other pilots in order to set date and time for meetings and also to
help in the parameters setting of this new "connection chain" that it's necessary to implement.
And for those who like history:
"... The creation of this controlled network flight software, SquawkBox,
by Jason Grooms started at the end of 1996.
At the same time, Joe Jurecka worked on a similar product. Both designers joined their
efforts at the middle of 1997 and were joined by Marty Bochane.
They decided to create a standard protocol to ensure the coordination of the work.
At the end of 1998, Phillip Dale acquired the rights for the source code...
... Later, Lefteris took an interest, as you know, in its adaptation to Fly!".
The version 3.2
It's the version which integrates all the new features of "Patrol Over
The World" (POTW) developed by Roland to allow the "Fly!ers"
to make network flights without the air control servers' constraints.
As previously, it's necessary to use a "radio" communication service such
as TeamSpeak or Roger Wilco. But, in this version, POTW includes its own "radio"
communication service (delivered as "beta" version). More than ever, the reading
of the manual, published in English and in French, is imperative.
Some fast and in pictures information about the POTW:
REMINDER: IT IS IMPERATIVE TO READ COMPLETELY THE MANUAL BEFORE ANY USE
It's important to have loaded, in your \Aircraft directory, all planes described in the POTW on pain of crash (file CSL_ICAO.csv located in the root of Fly! to be read with a text editor such as Note). You'll be able to choose the plane and the livery which suit you; other pilots will also see it on their screen and you'll see the liveries of their planes. You can also remove AI planes (refer to the manual).
If you are host of the POTW session, you have to know the "external"
IP address of your PC to communicate it (via TeamSpeak or Skype if you want) to the other
pilots. It's necessary to well note down it. Some Internet sites are specialized to give you
your IP address, as this one.
CAUTION: if your PC is connected with a router (LAN, Wifi, ADSL), this one generates IP
addresses which are not accessible from the outside and maybe you cannot host a session
(refer to the manual, chapter 3.7).
In the Fly! menu bar, menu "Plugins", there is naturally an item
"SquawkBox" (accessible also by Ctrl+Alt+F10).
As for the previous version, this function allows you to open the window of Squawkbox 3.21 which, too, has a new menu: POTW system.
This menu is the "new feature " which allows to make some network flights without using IVAO or VATSIM controls. You can create a session if you are host or connect you to an existing session of which you know the IP address. This IP address must be keyed in the following window (accessible by cligking "Sessions...").
You can also choose your plane and its livery or change it with the menu below (this one evolves in function of the new aircraft put into service):
POTW's advantages:
- Fly freely with your friends without any constraints.
- A wide aircraft choice with numerous liveries.
- An automatic weather report for the place where you're situated, or
for the closest ground having a weather report. Naturally, it changes
according to your flight and crossed zones.
A specific page explains how to use, for the best,
pressure information got from this automatic weather report.
- A very good flow of AI (partners' planes).
- You hear the AI's sounds, propellers turn, landing gears operate and
fires are active.
- If the host leaves the session, this one switches automatically to
one of the others.
- You'll be able to use the automatic weather report in solo flight
(theft).
And, icing on the cake, you can also use IVAO/VATSIM (basic function of SB 3.21) and the POTW simultaneously (subject to being registered on IVAO/VATSIM, naturally).
This POTW module included in this version of Squawkbox is definitely a plus offered by the ROTW to the Fly! II users. As indicated above, a specific forum is open on Simvol.
