Aircraft model text files consist of sections and attribute lines pertinent to each section.
Example:
[Basic Aircraft Data] <--- "Basic Aircraft Data" section
Color=White <--- attribute within Basic Aircraft Data section
Home Base=PDX <--- attribute within Basic Aircraft Data section
[Operating Costs] <--- "Operating Costs" section
TBO hours=2000 <--- attribute within Operating Costs section
Annual hours=0 <--- attribute within Operating Costs section
These text files can have blank lines and comment lines for readability. They can have leading white space on any lines or separating fields. In the key=value type of attribute line, the case is not important in the key field.
The allowable sections and attribute lines are shown below. This section describes only the syntax of the text lines. To understand how this information affects flight planning, performance, and weight and balance calculations, refer to previous sections of the manual that describe creating an aircraft model. To view samples of this syntax, export any of the aircraft model (.act) files that come with FliteStar to a text file.
[Aircraft Setup Information]
Aircraft Type=Piston fixed pitch
Aircraft Type=Piston variable pitch
Aircraft Type=Turbocharged piston
Aircraft Type=Turboprop
Aircraft Type=Jet
Speed Units=Knots
Speed Units=MPH
Speed Units=Kilometers
Fuel Units=Gallons
Fuel Units=Pounds
Fuel Units=Litres
Fuel Units=Kilograms
Weight Units=Pounds
Weight Units=Kilograms
CG Units=Inches
CG Units=Centimeters
CG Units=Meters
Planning Weight Units=Pounds
Planning Weight Units=Kilograms
Use Default Weight=TRUE
Use Default Weight=FALSE
[Basic Aircraft Data]
Make=
Model=
Registration=
Color=
Equipment=
Home Base=
Fuel capacity=
Taxi/take off fuel=
Service ceiling=
Service ceiling ROC=
Sea level ROC=
Indicated climb speed=
Indicated descent speed=
Descent rate=
Sea level climb fuel rate=
Service ceiling climb fuel rate=
Primary fuel burn=
Secondary Fuel burn=
Use Fuel On Board=TRUE
Use Fuel On Board=FALSE
[Operating Costs]
TBO hours=
Annual hours=
[Operating Cost Items]
type, description, cost
Annual, "desc", cost
Hourly, "desc", cost
Other, "desc", cost
Fuel, "desc", cost
Mileage, "desc", cost
Quote, "desc", cost
[Weight & Balance Data]
Envelope Weight Low=
Envelope Weight High=
Envelope CG Low=
Envelope CG High=
Max Gross Weight=
LE MAC CG=
TE MAC CG=
Fuel Density=
Min CG Pos=
Max CG Pos=
[Weight & Balance Main Envelope Points]
weight, arm
[Weight & Balance Max Landing Envelope Points]
weight, arm
[Weight & Balance Zero Fuel Envelope Points]
weight, arm
[Weight & Balance Other Envelope Points]
weight, arm
[Weight & Balance Moment Items]
Type, Description, DefaultWeight, MinWeight, MaxWeight, FuelBurnOrder, Arm
or, for variable arm items:
Type, Description, DefaultWeight, MinWeight, MaxWeight, FuelBurnOrder
Weight, Arm
[Performance Info]
Performance Model=Constant altitude
Performance Model=Constant power
Performance Model=Quick
Performance Model=Advanced
Default Climb Power=
Default Climb MP=
Default Cruise Altitude=
Default Cruise Power=
Default Cruise MP=
Default Descent Power=
Default Descent MP=
Minimum RPM=
Maximum RPM=
Minimum MP=
Maximum MP=
Maximum TAS=
Maximum Fuel Flow=
// Const airspeed/altitude Models only
[Performance Point List]
IsValid, Altitude, Temp, RPM, MP, Power, TAS, FuelFlow
[TAS Model List]
MinAlt, MaxAlt, c1, c2, c3, c4, c5
[Power Model List]
MinAlt, MaxAlt, c1, c2, c3, c4, c5
[Fuel Model List]
MinAlt, MaxAlt, c1, c2, c3, c4, c5
// Quick Models only
[Quick Model]
Label1=val, "label"
Label2=val, "label"
Label3=val, "label"
DisplayPercent=TRUE
DisplayPercent=FALSE
[Quick Model Data]
Weight, Altitude, Fuel, TAS, Fuel, TAS, Fuel, TAS
[Quick Model Data - Temperature Effect]
Weight, FuelChange ISA -20, FuelChange ISA +20, SpeedChange ISA -20, SpeedChange ISA +20
// Advanced Models only
[Corporate Model - Climb Data - "label" percent ]
weight, temp, alt, time, distance, fuel
[Corporate Model - IR Cruise Data - "label" percent ]
temp, alt, weight, TAS, distance
[Corporate Model - Descent Data - "label" percent ]
weight, temp, alt, time, distance, fuel
[Corporate Model - TAS/Fuel Cruise Data - "label", percent ]
weight, temp, alt, TAS, fuel-flow