AI aircraft perform too well

[Guest]

I have activated AI aircraft using the same aircraft.cfg file as I am using. Although it takes me the entire runway to take off, they are airborne in 1/2 the distance. And, if I try to fly formation with them, they leave me in the dust. I suppose that I can solve the second problem by reducing their cruise speed. Or, perhaps both problems by increasing the max gross weight.Any thoughts?

[Guest]

Changing the cruise speed in Aircraft.txt for a particular AI aircraft has no effect on its actual cruise speed. The actual cruise speed is determined by the AI software. This number is used only by the compiler to compute the trip time for the flight so it can come up with an ETA and sector mapping for each leg of the flight plan.-Jayfly50(Jason Long)

[tgibson 11]

If your plane is traveling too fast, reduce the cruise speed number in the plane's aircraft.cfg file. If it takes off too slow, increase the flaps up stall speed (although this will make them climb faster too, so it may be better to reduce engine power and/or increase max weight instead).Hope this helps,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/ San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

[Guest]

The cruise_speed setting (KTAS) in the aircraft.cfg is used by the AI as some kind of autothrottle setting. However, due to a bug, the speed entry will be interpreted as KIAS! Try 260 .. 290 for a typical airliner at cruise altitude.Regards,Claudius

[Guest]

Thanks all. This seems to be the day where nothing works.I can't find a place to increase the weight. Based on the assumption that fs2002 is really using vectors to compute performance, I reduced some of the items which should affect the thrust vector, e.g. max rated hp, thrust scalar, and oswald efficiency factor. None had any effect. The drag vectors appeared to relate only to flight and I assume they wouldn't work either. Maybe this whole takeoff thing is automatic.Do AI aircraft use nosewheel steering? I tried programming that in too, and no luck.What about engine start smoke? I am using the fx_engstrt.fx from the California Dreams site- which works perfect on my B-29. I just think it would be even more fun to have my 8 little compadres also smoking as we line up for takeoff. But I don't know if the AI aircraft use this, or how it works.I haven't even started to tackle the questions of how to reduce the takeoff spacing or (failing that) creating a rally point.Some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you.Thanks.

[tgibson 11]

>I can't find a place to increase the weight. Weight and Balance section, empty_weight or add station_load.I reduced some of the items which should affect >the thrust vector, e.g. max rated hp, thrust scalar, and >oswald efficiency factor. None had any effect. They will only have an effect if you lower them enough to actually cause it to go slower at full throttle (since FS has an AI autothrottle to keep to the cruise speed entry in the aircraft.cfg file). Increasing the weight helps.The drag >vectors appeared to relate only to flight and I assume they >wouldn't work either. No, they don't have any effect that I've seen.Maybe this whole takeoff thing is >automatic. I can vary the takeoff run drastically by changing the flaps up stall speed, weight, and power in the aircraft.cfg file.>Do AI aircraft use nosewheel steering? I tried programming >that in too, and no luck. No.>What about engine start smoke? No.I am using the fx_engstrt.fx >from the California Dreams site- Might you mean my California Classics site? :)Hope this helps,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/ San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

[Guest]

Yes, I meant California Classics- it was late.Just to make sure I am changing the right variables, here are the variable names:flaps_up_stall_speed = empty_weight = Which is the power variable?BTW- California Classics is a great site. It fits well with the era I am working in (1945). And I rode in a few of those airplanes when I was a kid, so it brings back some memories.

[tgibson 11]

Yes, those are the correct lines.For power, the line for piston planes is:max_rated_hp=You may have to change these values drastically - for an AI DC-6B, I use:empty_weight=93200 //orig=63200flaps_up_stall_speed=135 //orig=115full_flaps_stall_speed=81cruise_speed=230max_rated_hp=2000.000000 //orig=2400As odd as it sounds, I also use the default 737-400 AIR file with these aircraft - it avoids some of the wierd AI problems (like oscillations, etc.). For smaller planes (up to Convair and Martin twins, F-27, etc.) I use the King Air AIR file.Hope this helps,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/ San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

[Guest]

Thanks.I have been using Doc Blake's B-29, which is a great flying machine.I the same files for the AI aircraft. I got the results I was looking for by changing the empty_weight to 140000 and the full flaps stall speed to 100. (This makes sense because an increase in weight leads to an increase in stall speed.) I guess AI aircraft fly at empty weight.Now the B-29s end up taking almost the entire length of the 8,500 ft runway- which fits well with my Dad's experience. Alhough the B-29 was designed for a max gross weight of around 110,000 lbs, they were regularly loaded to over 140,000. The only reason they were able to pull this off was that they had a long runway and a 30ft drop-off at the end. A few didn't make it. (My Dad's dropped to within a few inches of the ocean- enough to take a few inches off the prop.)I followed one of the AI aircraft and it had the same problems, and almost had a close encounter with the water. It's great when art imitates life. (I may just add a couple thousand more pounds and see what happens.)Let me know if you run across any good AI DC3's or C46's (or B-24's or P-51's). I can put them to work between B-29 missions.PhilYou can visit "tiny Tinian" at:http://philcrowther.com/6bgmain.html

[tgibson 11]

Haven't heard of any AI DC-3's or C-46's yet, but I'm keeping an eye out for them myself. :)Take care,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/ San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___