RCU Forums - Update to 5.5 is.........

5.5 also makes new planes available as well as new airfields.

Combined release notes for versions 5.50.010 through 5.50.014

NEW FEATURES:
Aero Tow launch method
Bungee launch method
Multiplayer: Deadringer game
Multiplayer: Hardcore Combat game
Multiplayer: Streamer Cut (Biplanes) game
Timer gadget
Sky Grid aids with precision maneuver practice
Overhead Gadget shows a top-down view the airport and all aircraft to help you locate the runway and get your bearings in general
More realistic wind, turbulence, and thermals. Corresponding menus and settings are simplified
Multiplayer: Game limits which allow the host to specify maximum score and time limits for each game (works well with game lists)
Multiplayer: Auto-targeting Mode setting for games allows several different selectable targeting behaviors
Multiplayer: Simulation Sound Reduction setting controls the volume level when Simulation Sounds are set to Reduced and voice chat is active
Multiplayer (Combat games): Point and speed/shield bonuses are awarded based on kills, kill streaks, and kill streak denials
Multiplayer (Combat games): The farther a hit strikes from the aircraft center, the less damage it does
Multiplayer (Combat games): The player aircraft rocks when hit
Multiplayer (Combat games): Damaged aircraft emit a trail of black smoke
Damage Sensor electronics component
New terrain detail textures
Support for an additional terrain texture, called the Modulation Texture, to aid in breaking up detail texture repetition
Airport Editor: Added Fade Out Start/End Distance properties to allow objects to fade out based on distance from the camera
Heli tail rotor flight failure
"Aircraft: Time Since Reset" NavGuide item
Console: killEngine command
German translation

FIXES AND IMPROVEMENTS:
New Gadget Tabs appearance
Eliminated significant hitching during aircraft contact with water
Sim continues executing while menus are active (new setting allows you to select the old behavior). Among other things, this allows games to continue functioning properly in MP while the host is in a menu.
Windows DEP settings do not cause RealFlight, the Launcher, or the Installer to crash
Swept wing angle of attack calculations are correct
Springy landing gear retain their springy behavior after a detachable component breaks off
Multiplayer: Aircraft with lots of movable pods don't cause a crash
Multiplayer: Canceling the connectivity test in the Join dialog does not cause the sim to hang
Multiplayer: Fixed an exploit that allowed other aircraft to be loaded in games
Multiplayer: UPnP setup occurs only the first time a join/host is attempted
Multiplayer: Host's thermal and turbulence settings are passed to clients
Multiplayer: Users you chose to hide remain hidden if they change vehicles
Multiplayer: Shield color still matches pilot color if the latter changes during a session
Multiplayer: Miscellaneous game balancing tweaks
Multiplayer (Combat games): Better sounds
Gun components with the same ammo capacity and firing rate will deplete their ammo at the same time
Doppler effect is correct when the listener is in motion (such as Chase view)
Engine sounds for multiple turbine aircraft do not become muffled randomly
Landing gear retract at the correct speed regardless of the switch position when you last reset
Aircraft with a nonstandard spawn orientation, like the VFO (EP7), spawn correctly when on top of objects
Blur disk for Carbon Fiber Fan heli blades matches their appearance when stationary
Rocket require less memory and have less impact on framerate
When a projectile strikes an object and stops, its trail and particles stop with it
All segments of a streamer remain visible when it hangs vertically
View->Show menu is now divided into View->Scenery and View->Effects
Aircraft Editor: The prop stops spinning when you select a different visual prop so you can see the new appearance
Aircraft Editor: Smoke color is retained when copying and pasting a smoke component
Joshua Tree trunk is collidable
Console: copyBuffer command captures timestamps if they are currently enabled (see timeStamp command)
Menu keyboard shortcuts work properly in fullscreen mode after alt-tabbing away from and back to RealFlight
Various particle system optimizations (especially helpful on lower end machines)
Miscellaneous other performance optimizations and UI improvements
Assorted minor bug fixes not mentioned elsewhere
Launcher: Clicking Yes to update when a new version is detected on startup works as expected

AIRCRAFT:
New airplane: ElectriFly Cirrus SR22 Turbo
New airplane: ElectriFly Edge 540 EP
New airplane: FlyZone Switch (both Sport and Trainer configurations)
New airplane: General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
New airplane: RF-97 Sailplane moved to G5.5 from EP5
New airplane: Russian Thunder
New heli: Westland Lynx
Expo settings modified on many helis
Align T-Rex 500 (EP5): Uses new 425mm Align White Carbon Fiber Blades
Dominion 3D (all variants): New canopy
Dominion 3D (all variants): Rotor assembly appearance improved, especially for the Flybarless variant
Ecureuil (both variants): Fins now break off separately
Foiler (both variants): New canopy
Griffin Combat VTOL (EP3): Props look and behave correctly
P-51 (Combat): Muzzle velocities are consistent across all gun components
Jet Ranger: Fixed incorrect appearance after breakapart
Sun Dog: New canopy
Sun Dog: Fixed incorrect appearance after breakapart
Super Sportster: Fixed incorrect appearance after breakapart
Thunder Tiger Innovator EXP: Fuselage falls to the ground normally if broken apart in midair
V-22 Osprey: Counterclockwise prop looks and behaves correctly

AIRPORTS:
All airports (G5.5 and Expansion Packs) updated to use new detail textures and modulation textures
New airport: Castle HD
New airport: Flight School HD
Flight School (all variants): New Traffic Control Tower object
Soccer Field: Field decal updated with higher resolution version
Several runway objects have been improved