Having recently discovered the TrafficToolbox SDK for FS9 I'm trying to make GA AI flights at my local airport more interesting by introducing 'touch and go' flights. What I mean by 'touch and go' is the 'UK style' where the aircraft approaches to land with wheels and flaps down, actually touches on the runway , then opens up and takes off again. Not having much sucess so far - the nearest I get is an approach (gear and flaps down), then an 'overshoot' (raise gear and flaps and climb away) - without touching the runway.I've got a vague idea however that a US "touch and go" might be different to the UK GA style I'm trying to achieve and (with FS being American origin) all I may be able to achieve is the 'overshoot' I'm getting now (or 'missed approach' as I think its sometimes called). Does anyone have any (polite) ideas as to how I can achieve a UK style 'touch and go'. ThanksStevieJo

Not sure quite what you want but a "touch and go" is just a normal landing where, instead of braking, you raise the flaps to whatever you require (or none at all) apply full power and take off. A very simple manoeuvre which I've done for real more times than I can be bothered to recount, but vital training to get it right. Touch and go's are just an easy way of doing continuous take offs and landings without going through the whole procedure of taxiing around, lining up, and taking off again. Kev

My experience is the same as Kev's. Flying here in the USA. Round and round you go. Never a full stop until you are ready to quit for the day--or get more fuel. More of this than I really care to remember. But absolutely essential training. Sounds just like a UK type to me. :-)Cheers,Paul

Hi Paul and Kev,What you've described, is what I want - where the plane approaches and actually touches down on the runway and runs on along the runway (no braking) and the pilot then opens the throttle, takes off and goes round the circuit again, approaches again, touches down again, rolls on and takes off again and so on. When setting up my AI flight in FS via the traffic toolbox SDK there is an option box to tick for 'touch and go at destination airport', but when I use this, what's happening is that the AI plane is approaching/decending (gear and flaps down), but only to within about a quarter of a mile of the threshold, then opening up, raising gear and flaps, and flying on - it never actually touches down ! How do I get it to actually touch down on the runway and take off again - a proper 'touch and go' ? ThanksSteveiejo

Not sure how you make AI aircraft do it, but an alternative phrase perhaps more easily understood is "Circuits and BUMPS"

Hi,What you are seeing is MS's version of a T&G. Hope this helps,JimActiveSky Supporthttp://www.hifisim.com/images/as2004proudsupporter.jpg

"Touch and Go" in the US and "Circuits and Bumps" in Canada and the UK. Don't know about the reast of the world. I too have done hundreds of Touch and Gos in the mighty C-150 during training. But don't know how to get AI aircraft to do it repeatedly.I would be interesting to watch if it could be set up.Steve A

"Touch and Go" in the US and "Circuits and Bumps" in Canada and the UK. Don't know about the reast of the world. I too have done hundreds of Touch and Gos in the mighty C-150 during training. But don't know how to get AI aircraft to do it repeatedly.I would be interesting to watch if it could be set up.Steve A

What you are describing is exactly the way a USA TNG is performed. If your aircraft are not touching down and then taking back off there is something wrong with the way you have written your FP.The TNG feature in a FP is very realistic that MSN gave us once you get the FP written correctly. You can have local planes takeoff and do TNG's at their airport then return and park or send planes to another airport to do TNG's. You then can have them return to their home airport and do some more TNG's or just have them land and park. The default DC3 is the most interesting to watch TNG's because of the tailwheel and how once the mains touch the runway they are able to takeoff again.The first thing you have to do is make sure the plane announces that it is going to do a TNG by listening to the proper freq.If your TNG is a VFR FP then you must set the pattern altitude with AFCAD and you can also set left or right hand patterns for the plane to fly.If the TNG is IFR then you must use the FP altitude for the TNG and outbound pattern turns are controlled by ATC.Use this FP as an example to compare to yours to see if you can get one to work.AC#xxxx,N367FN,10%,4Hr,VFR,01:31:00,TNG02:31:18,010,R,0000,55J,03:00:00,03:15:00,010,R,0000,55JAC#xxxx = your aircraft type and use a small prop to begin withChange my airport (55J) for yoursAll times are GMT and the TNG's will repeat every 4 hrs.Make sure your AFCAD airport is set for 1000 ft AGL pattern altitude.Read the docs that come with TTools on TNG FP's for further info.

Hi Jim,Thanks to you and everyone else who's taken the trouble to reply - but you've given me what I really wanted - someone to confirm a 'real' touch and go can be done in FS9. I'm not flying much in FS at the moment - I'm having more fun watching AI flights at my 'local', using FS Traffic, TrafficBoard and Mobile Control Tower (on a 'Tosh' Notebook!). To set up the 'flight plans' I've tried (and failed) with T&G's so far I've simply used the 'Create Flight' and 'Touch & Go' options in the 'Traffic Explorer' part of the SDK TrafficToolbox - also Dave Westbury's AI Flight Creator. But if AFCAD and circuit heights are involved then 'proper T&G' setup is obviously a bit more complex. However if it can be done, I will get there.Thanks for the example. Its 'sack-time' now here in the UK, so I'll try that tomorrow !'Best' to all flight-simmers.And - where would we be without AVSIM ???!!!Steviejo

I understand there is one big difference of "touch and go's" here in the US and UK.that is..we don't pay for touch and goes. In the UK.. I understand you have to pay around 6lbs or something for each touch and go's... Is that true?

Hi Manny,I dont fly 'full-size', so I'm not sure - however I do recall a news report - about July last year (04) - that commented on one of our airports' plans to levey a 'landing' fee (of about

In FS9, VFR TNG FP's will result in the AI actually touching down before taking back off for another closed VFR pattern about the airport. However, IFR TNG FP's will result in the AI flying a longer IFR approach, declaring a missed approach before touchdown and then flying another IFR circuit and approach. So if you want actual touchdowns on the runways, always flightplan VFR TNG's. Mike

ATC in-game associates the request to stay in the pattern as a request to perform "touch n go"s. Maybe the refernece you are looking for in the SDK will be associated with the words "Circuit" or "Remaining in the Pattern".

The US and UK touch and go's are identical. Just slow to standard approach speeds .. let the wheels touch and then get it full throttle ..'Vernon