Re: [Flightgear-devel] Airplane model

[Durk T. <d.t...@ch...>]

Wolfram Kuss wrote:
> 
> David wrote:
> 
> >Erik Hofman writes:
> >
> > > Wouldn't it be time to include a real model of a C172 in the base
> > > package (and modify the xml files accordingly)?
> >
> 
> If other people want to formulate something, then I would certainly be
> grateful.
> Maybe people that know a bit about the MSFS Freeware peoples thinking
> (David Findlay, me, etc) can help.
> Maybe it would make impression if Curt sends the request?
> 
> I am very in favour of better 3D models in the base package.
> 
> I know of no GPLed MSFS planes, but there are some public domain ones,
> many by Chuck Dome. In www.flightsim.com, search for "public domain"
> and you will find them.
> 

I've been downloading quite a lot of MSFS stuff recently, and I've also
noticed excactly the same attitude as Wolfram noticed. Most of the stuff
is free, but you're not allowed to sell, or modify it. I also noted
recently, that there is quite some discussion going on about peole
'stealing' other people's work. That is, for example, repainting another
one's aircraft and uploading it under your own name, without giving the
original author credit. Second oberservation: Although there are
thousands of planes out there, on www.flightsim.com, there are only a
handful of originals. Most of the other ones are just repaints. 

Well. here are some random thought about aquiring GPL approved planes. 

1). I will try to compile a list of original authors of various plane
models. I believe it would be a good idea to approach these people
anyhow. The best way would be to address them personally (bulk email
would be considered spam, and is deadly in this situation IMHO), stating
that we have recently downloaded plane X from www.flightsim.com and that
we're impressed with its visual appearance. Second, point out that there
is something as the FlightGear project, and that we're interested in
using author Y's airplane for official inclusion in our project. 

At this point, we need to point out *strongly* that the spirit of the
FlightGear project is much the same as that of the freeware MSFS
authors, that we place everything under GPL, what the benefits of GPL
are, some pointer to the official GPL text, and that we give author Y
three choices: 1) no permission, 2) permission for unofficial use (i.e.
Wolfram's hangar), 3) Permission to put model X under GPL.

It would also be great, if we could convince a number of big shots in
MSFS design land interested. 

Regards,
Durk