Another Freefall simulator/Spot Calculator

[SethInMI 174]

I have created a new 3D simulator/spot/pattern/seperation calculator. An expanded version of the original by John Kallend and Dave Blumenthal.

The program does several things:

1. Plots freefall and canopy trajectories for a configurable number of groups in 3D.
2. Reads the Wind Aloft information from aviationweather.gov to enable modeling current wind conditions
3. Calculates proper exit delays for group separation based on fall rate, breakoff, wind conditions, plane speed, desired distance between groups at opening etc.
4. Calculates the spot based on number of groups, canopy descent rates, wind conditions, plane speed etc.
5. Plots a landing pattern based on wind speeds, directions, and canopy speeds.

The program is an xbap, microsoft's version of a java applet that runs inside a browser. It runs only on windows, and requires Firefox or Internet Explorer. It also requires the microsoft .NET runtime version 3.0. This version is included with Vista, but must be downloaded and installed.
If you want to use firefox, you need a plugin and an extension. Installing .NET framework 3.5SP1 (link below) gets you both.


There is a help tab that gives some primitive instructions, but here is the quick start guide:

Run the application by clicking on the link below, then:
1. Click the "Run" button. A single group of jumpers gets dropped over Perris
Or
1. Click the setup tab, choose a DZ OR choose "My Dropzone" then enter the Lat,Lon coords and elevation for any other DZ in the boxes then click Save to save the location.
2. click the Get Winds button, and choose a wind station. The current forecasted winds will now be used by the simulation for the Lat,Lon coords you selected, then adjust as desired.
3. Add and configure groups as desired (freefliers,flatfliers,exit delays,etc)
4. Optionally click the calculate exit delays button to set proper exit delays for the groups based on desired spacing.
4. Back to the overview tab and click "Run"

So if you have Vista, here is a link to the application:
http://skydiveallegan.com/freefallxbap/FreeFallXBAP.xbap


If you have XP, here is a link to the 3.5SP1 framework:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en

It's flare not flair, brakes not breaks, bridle not bridal, "could NOT care less" not "could care less".

[muz 1]

It seems it can't download the assemblies:

Following errors were detected during this operation.
* [10/20/2009 12:29:07 PM] System.Deployment.Application.DeploymentDownloadException (Unknown subtype)
- Downloading file: FreeFallXBAP.exe.manifest did not succeed.


PLATFORM VERSION INFO
Windows : 5.1.2600.196608 (Win32NT)
Common Language Runtime : 2.0.50727.3603
System.Deployment.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)
mscorwks.dll : 2.0.50727.3603 (GDR.050727-3600)
dfshim.dll : 2.0.50727.3053 (netfxsp.050727-3000)

[SethInMI 174]

Looks like you are running XP. Did you install the 3.5 runtime I linked to? The error message says you are running 2.0.

Seth

It's flare not flair, brakes not breaks, bridle not bridal, "could NOT care less" not "could care less".

[muz 1]

Hi Seth,
I have all past versions installed, including 3.5.

You know if there is a way to run it from the command line with a 3.5 tool?
It doesn't seem to say anything about framework version in the xbap file.

[Fast 0]

FYI if you are running firefox, you need to open this with IE.

And I am also getting this error:

ERROR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later in the log.
* An exception occurred while downloading the manifest. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Downloading file:///C:/Users/skymarshal/Desktop/Application Files/FreeFallXBAP_1_0_0_13/FreeFallXBAP.exe.manifest did not succeed.
+ Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\skymarshal\Desktop\Application Files\FreeFallXBAP_1_0_0_13\FreeFallXBAP.exe.manifest'.
+ Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\skymarshal\Desktop\Application Files\FreeFallXBAP_1_0_0_13\FreeFallXBAP.exe.manifest'.
+ Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\skymarshal\Desktop\Application Files\FreeFallXBAP_1_0_0_13\FreeFallXBAP.exe.manifest'.


PLATFORM VERSION INFO
Windows : 6.0.6002.131072 (Win32NT)
Common Language Runtime : 2.0.50727.4200
System.Deployment.dll : 2.0.50727.4016 (NetFxQFE.050727-4000)
mscorwks.dll : 2.0.50727.4200 (NetFxQFE.050727-4200)
dfshim.dll : 2.0.50727.4016 (NetFxQFE.050727-4000)

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[SethInMI 174]

Ah, it's one of those "it works great for the developer but no one else" bugs. Those are fun. Let's see if I can figure it out.

It's flare not flair, brakes not breaks, bridle not bridal, "could NOT care less" not "could care less".

[theflow 0]

I am also getting errors in ie and google chrome. In firefox it simply won't open. I'm using Vista.

Also how hard would it be to incorporate google maps into this, I see that handgliders have a google maps simulator but skydivers don't.

Heres a link to the full error log , hope it helps.
http://pastebin.com/m6e2bdb2f