2023 · Games / Physics
Aerodynamics Flight Physics Engine
A real-time aerodynamics simulation engine in Java, installed over 1,000 times.
1,000+ Downloads · Java Aerodynamics Engine
The problem
Minecraft’s default movement system has no concept of aerodynamics. Entities simply fall or float linearly. Building an aircraft that flies because of its wing shape required creating a real flight simulation engine inside the game.
The constraint
Physics must compute inside server tick budgets at 60 FPS without dropping frames. In multiplayer, the client predicts movement while the server validates state; any discrepancy causes aircraft to stutter or teleport.
What I built
A Fabric and Forge Java mod computing dynamic lift vectors, drag curves, authentic stall speeds, intuitive controls (W/S throttle, A/D yaw, mouse pitch), and smooth client-server state reconciliation.
The outcome
1,000+ public downloads and a working aerodynamics simulation engine running at a fixed 60 FPS.