Hi guys, I have been working on an In-Flight Refueling gauge recently and it is finally ready. The gauge can be installed on any aircraft and allows refueling in the air from any aircraft - in free flight or multiplayer. Andy Niko is the co-author of the gauge - without him I wouldn't have come up with the idea and the improvements that came in the development.This is a short demo video of an in-flight refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker, where the gauge is integrated with the improved Acceleration Hornet HUD:

The gauge can be downloaded here:http://www.simviation.com/simviation/?ID=8924or here:http://flightsim.com/file.php?cm=SEARCH1&a...e=ifr_gauge.zipThe KC-135 from the video can be downloaded from the link below, it is for FS2004 but it can also be used in FSX:http://flightsim.com/file.php?cm=SEARCH1&a...me=KC-135T2.ZIP

Looks a very interesting work! Thanks for sharing it! Will certainly try it.For the tanker KC-135 you mentioned, which is the most suitable model to use for refueling? I plan to make some AI flights and I wonder which model I should use - with fixed refueling boom or with drogue. Actualy I need the model you show in the video. Which model is it? Thanks.Edmundo

Looks a very interesting work! Thanks for sharing it! Will certainly try it!For the tanker KC-135 you mentioned, which is the most suitable model to use for refueling? I plan to make some AI flights and I wonder which model I should use - with fixed refueling boom or with drogue Thanks!Edmundo

Thanks, Edmundo! I use "KC135RT Fixed Drogue" from the two models provided at the link above - it can be used for creating AI flights as you don't have to manually extend the boom - as soon as the aircraft takes off - the drogue extends automatically. A package with some tanker flights will be really great, because the alternative would be to search for random traffic or create one yourself. Also, it is a good idea to include the tanker as part of the package so that everyone has the same model. The one from the link requires a small adaptation to work in FSX - like rename a folder and delete a couple of FS2004 gauges - but it is the best one from all the tankers I tested!

Thanks for your reply.I have already made some AI flight plans with the KC135 fixed drogue model. Unfortunately the drogue is always extended even on ground ....The link to Simviation does not work. Probably the site is off.Edmundo

Thanks for your reply.I have already made some AI flight plans with the KC135 fixed drogue model. Unfortunately the drogue is always extended even on ground ....The link to Simviation does not work. Probably the site is off.Edmundo

I am sorry - you are correct! I was thinking of another KC-135 where the boom was slaved to the landing gear but it only had a boom not a drouge. So the one from the link and the video indeed has the drogue always extended. Still I think it is the better choice for creating flight plans as it looks more realistic with the drogue.... I added a link at flightsim for the gauge as alternative to simviation.

Hey Neutrino, very nice work -quite coincidentally, my interest in IFR has peaked, with the release of the superbug ( you may notice various posts concernning this here) so this has come at a good time!!One question, how do you initiate the refueling- does your mod just start the process when you get near? I have a refueling mission in the aerosoft additional missions for the F-16, but looking at the xml file for the mission, was pretty scary...i have no clue where to begin in altering or using what they have there.... I guess some people do though and could tell how.Cheers, mark

One question, how do you initiate the refueling- does your mod just start the process when you get near? Cheers, mark

Yes, when you get into position you will start getting fuel. If you deviate too far off the boom, the refueling process will stop but will resume when you get back.

I have a refueling mission in the aerosoft additional missions for the F-16, but looking at the xml file for the mission, was pretty scary...i have no clue where to begin in altering or using what they have there.... I guess some people do though and could tell how.

Actually, the mission system is pretty flexible and you can make some really nice refueling missions - with calls from the boom operator for example etc. There are at least two refueling missions that I know of - one is the Carrier Practice mission, where there is a tanker when you climb above 10,000 feet, also the Multiplayer Carrier Nimitz mission by Orion Lyau - it also has a tanker. Still the mission system is limited in that you can only refuel if you play the mission - this is why we wanted to do this refueling gauge which allows refueling in free flight. Of course it would be nice to have some AI flights with the KC-135 or you can record one yourself with FSRecorder.

This is very cool.Thank you for creating and sharing this great tool.

Hey Neutrino, I know nada about crating or altering and editting missions, how easy is it? Is there stuff about it in the SDK ? Cheers, Mark

Hey Neutrino, I know nada about crating or altering and editting missions, how easy is it? Is there stuff about it in the SDK ? Cheers, Mark

Mark, there is lots of information about creating and editing missions in the SDK. Some of the default missions (such as the Carrier Tutorial mission) are in xml files so they can be studied or modified as well. However I wouldn't go that way. I think the best solution is creating AI flight plans - I haven't done it but I think there are lots of freeware tools that help you create such plans. Perhaps someone else can share some knowledge. Once you know when and where will be a tanker (or any aircraft) you can save a flight at that location and time.

There is a very nice tutorial how to create flight plans with AI Flight Planner on the VRS forum: http://forums.vrsimulations.com/forums/php...p;t=3136#p23221

There is a new KC-135T Stratotanker with NAVY drogue (basket) for FSX that you can download from here, it's the best to refuel and easiest to install in my opinion:http://www.flightsim.com/file.php?cm=SEARC...navy_drogue.zip

I downloaded the newer updated versionSomething's did not work for me:1) AP and associated functions - None of the buttons on the panel worked for these functions either2) Flaps - have to manually set flaps using F5 thru F83) Drogue is extended already and am unable to raise it prior to taxi :( Wish there was a better working model to work withSome screenshots

@pb3p0:1) Autopilot works, but you have to click the yellow 'AP' button on the cockpit panel. Then open up the autopilot gauge with Shift+5 (you could also activate the AP by pressing 'A/P' on that gauge). For altitude hold simply press 'ALT' and adjust the numbers with the mouse wheel. For airspeed hold, first press 'AT' (autothrottle) and 'IAS' on either panel and again adjust the speed. Similarly for heading press 'HDG'. In the screenshot below the aircraft is on autopilot holding altitude 1500 feet, speed 250 kts and heading 330 degrees:2) Set flaps manually as required. If you want you could enable autoflaps from the aircraft.cfg but being able to manually extend them is much more flexible and accurate IMHO.3) The drogue is always extended in this model for two reasons - first, in mutliplayer you cannot see animations in other aircraft unless you fly the same aircraft, so if the drouge is extened in flight by the player flying the tanker you won't see it - therefore it is built into the model; second - you can do an AI flight plan and you don't have to concern yourself with the drogue as it will be extended. Only disadvantage is that it will be also extended on ground.Hope, this helps :(