Can one use a bambi bucket setup for helicopters with Firefighter X?  I just purchased and install the latest version for P3dV3 and would like to use helos with a bambi bucket setup.

Regards,

Danny

Hello Danny,

yes, you can, I have a few customers who are using it like that. But please note that FireFighter X doesn't contain logic to handle payload pickup and release with slings or hoists - yet.

Here is an example for the HoverControl.com model of a HC412 Bambi Bucket:

• Using the PayloadManager dialog in FFX I have added a payload station to the helicopter at the relative position of the bucket model

• The weight of that station I set to 3667lb, which is my tank size too. To estimate the weight, I use this list:

                          http://www.sei-ind.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Bambi_Bucket_Sizing_Chart.pdf

• In the FFX payload manager I set only this payload station as active, that makes it my only retardant tank
• Now I set my fuel load in the simulator to 45%, otherwise the helicopter would be overweight with a full bucket
• This will take care of the weight handling when you drop or refill

 

• Now I set up the drop control panel to 100% load, 2 seconds drop time and a 4000lb/s drop rate (this will empty my bucket when I press the trigger - you can adjust this to take longer by changing the drop rate down to 2000 or less too)
• On this dialog you would have to decide which drop effect you prefer - the one built into the helicopter model or the one from FFX
• 1) Using the FFX effect

• 2) Using the smoke effect from the model

 

That's it.

 

Of course you can refill your bucket by hovering over a body of water (and it will then contain water - the FFX drop effect would show this correctly, with the little "clouds" now being white - and water has different properties when extinguishing fires)

 

Hope this helps

Best regards

Thanks.  Just what I needed.

Regards,

Danny