Here is a new experiment with the PyCarrara plugin : I have recorded a flight done with MS FlightSimulator and have set keyframes for a CG aircraft with a Python script reading the recorded file.

As I am not a good animator, this is an "easy" method to achieve realistic aircraft animation !

This first try is not perfect : there are some oscillations. May be some parameter to tune: the "FS recorder" was setup for only 4 keyframes per second. Also, I was using keyboard instead of joystick : these oscillations may be linked to keys pressed.

Next try will be with elevator, rudder and other aircraft elements animation : all these informations are present in the recorded flight file.

Here is the result rendered in HD 720p : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V2Y2iPgazE

Frederic.

excellent idea

 Nicely done!

that looks cool.

Fun idea -- turning out well so far!!

Wow very nice.

Very cool idea! The animation looks quite good so far.

Here is a new animation with the same technic. 

The aircraft motion has been imported from a recorded flight done with FlighGear (free flight simulator). Rudder, ailerons and elevator motion is also automatically imported from the FlighGear record.

I have setup 3 cameras : 2 are parented by the aircraft. The third one (back camera) is parented by an object following the same motion path as the aircraft but with 0.6 second offset.

The background is a 10.000 x 5.000 HDR image done with Vue 8.

Animation and final rendered with Carrara 8 Pro in less than 4 hours per camera (i7-920). The render time is mosly linked to the smoke.
The motion is quite "nervous" because I am a beginer virtual pilot ! Smooth flight should be achieved with a good pilot ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnsYdfxNiXE