Hi folks, The next release of my add-on (FSCaptain) will contain a "hazard package" that will put some realistic teeth into a few of the real-world hazards of aviation that MS wimped out on (specifically thunderstorms, icing, and contaminated runways.) The first two are done but I'm not completely happy with the slick runway simulation. What I'd like to do is reduce brake effectiveness based on the braking action (good, fair, poor or nil) on the runway. But I haven't yet figured out how to do that on the fly from inside a gauge. Anyone have any clues or ideas or solutions? What I'm doing in place of that is failing the brakes for a proportional length of the landing roll roughly based on the weight and speed of the airplane and the runway condition (which I compute based on the severity of the current weather and some random factors.) That produces the effect but it doesn't feel quite as real. Any ideas welcome! ThanksDutch

You need TSR Autobrake, which does exactly that: http://secure.simmar...-pro-b737.phtml Al

Use KEY_AXIS_LEFT/RIGHT_BRAKE_SET,nAmount where nAmount = 0-16384. I've built a dirty runway/anti-skid system (much as you describe) that works very well. -Dai

Al, Thanks for the pointer. I don't quite see how the TSR app can help me except as encouragement -- obviously they figured out how to do this, so all I have to do is figure it out too :) Dai, Thanks for the help. I was about to go down this road when I read in several sources that once I set something in those axis values, FSX will assume I have toe brakes and disable the normal non-toe braking. Is that not true? I guess I should go ahead and just put in the code and try it... Dutch

Well, if you examine how they went about it, it will either give you some ideas for a similar method, or possibly to consider abandoning the idea for developing that aspect of what you are doing, since it has evidently already been accomplished. Al

Dutch, FSCaptain is a great addition to FSX. This serves as a reminder that you are always making it better and as your customer, I thank you wholeheartedly. It's not often people stand behind their product so well. Good luck with this and sorry for bringing it off-topic!

Thanks, tutmeister! That's the kind of thread drift I wholeheartedly support :D After refining the code a bit I'm pretty happy with the "selected brake failures" method; it produces a feeling of passing over stretches of ice and then getting a grip. It definitely produces the need to taxi carefully and increases the pucker factor on landing significantly. I'm going to try the modified axis method and see how that feels, and if it disturbs the usual braking system. Thanks Dai! Dutch