Fly! File Format Reference


Revision 1 November 1, 1999

This compilation is (c) 1999 Chris Wallace.  This work is not endorsed or supported in any way by Terminal Reality Inc. or Gathering of Developers Ltd.  Any errors or omissions are entirely the fault of the author.  Neither the author, Terminal Reality Inc. nor Gathering of Developers Ltd. is responsible for any consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the information contained here.

Fly! and Terminal Reality are trademarks of Terminal Reality Inc.


ACT

Description Raw Image Palette
Format Binary
Subfolder Art
Details A 256-colour palette used by a RAW image pixmap file. All ACT are exactly 768 bytes long, consisting of 256 24-bit RBG (red, green, blue) colour values.

ARM

Description Articulated Model
Format Text
Subfolder Models
Details Specifies the components of a multi-part 3D model, including relative positions and orientations of the parts.

BIN

Description 3D Model Part
Format Binary
Subfolder Models
Details A binary file format which contains 3D vertices and polygon lists, references to texture RAW images, etc. which describe to the sim how to render a 3D shape. Static objects like buildings require just a single BIN model. Aircraft and other complex objects which have multiple interconnected moving parts require several BIN models, all of which are tied together by an ARM file.

BMP

Description Windows Bitmap Image
Format Binary
Subfolder <Aircraft>
Details A normal Windows device-independent bitmap image.  Typically used for images which are displayed statically, i.e. user interface icons, backdrop screens, etc. as opposed to images which are used as textures for real-time rendering in the sim (see RAW, ACT and OPA files)

DBD

Description Database Index
Format Binary
Subfolder Database
Details A packed byte file format containing raw data for the databases representing airport, ILS, radio, etc. information in the sim. Records in the database are sorted by a native key, which is always the first field in the data record.

DBI

Description Database Index
Format Binary
Subfolder Database
Details A packed byte file format containing raw data for the databases representing airport, ILS, radio, etc. information in the sim. Records in the database are sorted by a native key, which is always the first field in the data record.

DBT

Description Database Template
Format Text
Subfolder Database
Details A packed byte file format containing raw data for the databases representing airport, ILS, radio, etc. information in the sim. Records in the database are sorted by a native key, which is always the first field in the data record.

MAP

Description Map Description
Format Text
Subfolder Maps
Details Defines the boundaries of a map section, references all of the images which make up the map, and maps latitude/longitude coordinates to map image coordinates to allow plotting of the aircraft icons on the in-flight map display.

NGN

Description Engine Specification
Format Text
Subfolder World
Details Text file describing the performance characteristics of a piston, turboprop or jet engine. Note that the NGN includes a reference to the PRP propellor file.

OPA

Description Raw Image Opacity Map
Format Binary
Subfolder Art
Details Specifies the opacity (opposite of transparency) for each pixel of an associated RAW image. OPA file is exactly the same size as the associated RAW file, one byte per pixel. Opacity values of 0xFF are totally opaque, 0x00 totally transparent

PBM

Description Pixel Bitmap Image
Format Binary
Subfolder Art
Details Image file which contains many sub-images, used for animation of things like guage needles, etc.

PRP

Description Propellor Specification
Format Text
Subfolder World
Details Describes characteristics of a particular propellor. Note that this file is referenced by the NGN file, therefore the engine and propellor are tied together in the sim.

RAW

Description Raw Image Bitmap
Format Binary
Subfolder Art
Details Used for images rendered in the simulator, typically textures on 3D models such as aircraft, buildings and terrain. RAW images are always (?) square, with side length a power of two, i.e. 64x64, 256x256, etc. Each RAW is associated with an ACT which specifies the colour palette to be used when rendering, and possibly an OPA opacity map if any of the textures are to use transparency. The RAW contains one byte per pixel, correspngding to the index in the ACT palette of that pixel's colour.

SVH

Description Simulated Vehicle Specification
Format Text
Subfolder World
Details This is the master control file for a simulated aircraft. Performance and aircraft systems parameters are either directly specified within this file, or in files referenced within the SVH.

VEH

Description Vehicle Description
Format Text
Subfolder <Aircraft>
Details Top-level aircraft specification. This is the file type that Fly! looks for when it determines all of the aircraft which can be flown or used as dynamic scenery (AI aircraft).