AI formation flight

[leuen]

AFAIK there are two ways to have AI formation flights in FS9 - either by using FS Recoder (I never tried) or separate Afcad's for each aircraft scheduled. I did a further attempt to have a formation flight with Spitfire. For this purpose I choose a small RAF airfield in Cornwall, UK. It works quite well, even I have to make some timing adjustments with totally twelve planes involved.

Attachment 88353

Attachment 88354

Attachment 88355

However, having formation flights in a larger scale might be quite tricky.

Cheers,
Bernard

[SgtT]

This seems to be quite interesting can you share how you did it? I'm not very familiar with AFCAD.

T.

[leuen]

As I said before you have to create Afcad for each AI aircraft. Mine look like that:

EGP1
Attachment 88387


EGP2
Attachment 88388


EGP3
Attachment 88389

EGP4
Attachment 88390

The distance from parking to runway should be approximatively the same for all AI in order to have them taking off together. Important is to put a parking code for each AI, otherwise they would park somewhere and need therefore more time for taxiing.

Even it's payware, the best tool for creating Afcad's - especially such like above - is AFX from Flight1. It has an interface connecting to FS9, and you get what you see. It's really worth of money.

Next step would be to edit the aircraft.cfg file of the chosen AI. Here my example:

[fltsim.0]
title=Spitfire MkIXe Formation 1
sim=prspit9e
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
KB_checklists=
atc_airline=Royal air Force
ui_manufacturer=airshow
ui_type=Spitfire
ui_variation=Mrk IXe
description= RAF Spitfire
atc_parking_codes=SP1

The lines "title" and "atc_parking_codes" have to be modified for each further AI.

Then you have edit a traffic.bgl with TTools - in my opinion by far the simplest way. Here again my files:

Aircraft.txt:
AC#1,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 1"
AC#2,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 2"
AC#3,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 3"
AC#4,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 4"

Airport.txt:
EGP1,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP2,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP3,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP4,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256

FlightPlans.txt:
AC#1,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,000 0,EGP1,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP1
AC#2,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,000 0,EGP2,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP2
AC#3,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,000 0,EGP3,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP3
AC#4,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,000 0,EGP4,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP4

I extended AC and FP to twelve planes. Afcad could get even more.

BTW, if you want to try a ready formation flight, here is one: AI Thunderbirds Flight Demo at Flightsim includes AI formation flights. I just replaced the F-16's by F-100 Thunderbirds.

Attachment 88391

Cheers,
Bernard

[Jagdflieger]

I really enjoy AI in the sim, so your work is pretty interesting.

Here's a link to the AI Thunderbirds:

FS2004 (ACOF) - Misc.FS2004 AI Thunderbirds Flight Demo [ Download | View ] Name: aitbdemo.zip Size: 6,662,250 Date: 02-15-2006 Downloads: 2,263 FS2004 AI Thunderbirds Formation Flight Demo. The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron popularly known as the Thunderbirds is based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and flys the Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon. "America's Ambassadors in Blue" have performed for more than 288 million people in all 50 states and over 56 countries around the world since their formation as the U.S. Air Force's official air demonstration team at Luke Air Force Base on May 25, 1953. This AI package contains and utilizes Graham King's Thunderbird repaints on Henry Tomkiewicz's AI F-16C and D models to demonstrate the AI formation flights possible in Flight Simulator 2004. The simple scenario have used in this package takes place at Otis ANGB on Cape Cod. A small military training exercise including MA ANG F-15A's and F-16C's from the VT, NJ and NY ANG is interupted by a brief layover by the AI Thunderbirds who are on an East Coast tour and visit Otis for a one day practice session. By Mike MacIntyre.