FSDreamTeam forum
General Category => Unofficial F/A-18 Acceleration Pack board => Topic started by: Amigo on July 02, 2012, 07:51:14 pm
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How can I prevent FSX moving default-carriers from disappearing from the screen after some time????
From "Orion" I got the departure schedule for moving carriers and I worked pretty hard to discover all routes of the basically eight moving carriers in detail. Thanks again Orion for your help.
I recorded coordinates and the appropriate time in one hour intervals for most of the carriers. In some cases I recorded the whole ground (sea) track of the entire carrier routing. Purpose was to have numerous recovery points to choose from for launches and/or renezvous before or after tactical low level missions.
However, after working out a few low level missions with approach phase, attack phase and recovery phase; I found out, "my" carrier was not available (visible) at the planned rendezvous point for recovery at minimum fuel stage. No matter, if launched from the carrier itself or from an airbase. On recovery to the appropriate carrier coordinates after 1 hour or more flying time, the carrier was just not visible at the supposed position.
As I found out later, the carrier was there (at the exact coordinates), but the carrier did not show on the screen.
I discovered by chance, clicking OK on the present GMT time-window, the carrier reappeared on the exact position where it was supposed to be; right underneath myself.
Because of this (actually unnecsessary) reactivation of the actual time, I lost my complete flight tracking on the geographical map and the total flight track analysis.
My question:
is there a way to keep the carrier alive (visible while cruising) throughout the entire flight, even if you are not overhead the ship or sitting on deck the whole time??
Any help from our carrier operators will be highly appreciated, Amigo
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Amigo,
-Make sure that your AI traffic settings are set to maximum (100%) for ships (not for planes, eats too much FPS).
-Sometimes AI traffic doesn't show up (planes or ships) , the AI engine in FSX has its own little flaws...A refresh on the clock like you did is a good test, but then you may lose other data unfortunately.
-You may try to use fsx2bmap143, a small utility downloadable from flightsim.com, which actually allows you to see on BingMaps AI traffic, both planes and ships. All AC carriers with live catapults will show in a radius of about 50 nm. It is a great tool.
-Finally, you can build your own AC carrier traffic by using aibtc02.
Good luck,
Johan
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Hello Amigo!
Johan is right! Here is the Sludge Hornet sitting at Vancouver Airport and out at Sea, there are 2 Carrier Fleets. Have a look at the screenshot. Herb
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Hi Johan and Herbie;
Thanks to both of you for your speedy replies. I answered your posts already earlier today but obviously it didn't go through.
Yes, my traffic settings were at 100%.
I learned from you guys as much as I did from Orion on other posts to change my philosophy and learn more about add-ons, their availability and how to install them. Reading a lot of FSDT posts scared me off a little, when I saw how people got in trouble with their flight simulator operation after installing add-ons improperly. I'm just not (yet) knowledgeable enough to deal with PC malfunctions.
Nevertheless, I'll give it a shot and challenge your suggestions.
Herbie's carrier fleet is impressive and looks more realistic, and I assume the map shown is the very same bing-map suggested by Johan's fsx2bmap 143(?). Johan, what is aibtc02 and where can I find it?
And last but not least, where can I get my hand on the Sludge Hornet???
I really appreciate your help guys. Thanks, Amigo
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Hi Amigo,
Aibtc02 is a very nice boat traffic compiler for AI traffic. Please read all explanations. You should be able to find it through a Google search. That's what was used to build the carrier fleets in the Pacific North West.
The Sludge Hornet should be available in this forum. Look for "Sludge". He is a great contributor to this community among others who have put their skills together to assemble this amazing plane.
Johan
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Amigo,
I am interested in the way you calculated the missions, the carrier race tracks and the exact location of the carrier. Could you share that?
Regards
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Johan;
Thanks again for your time and your info. I sure will check on Google about the mentioned add-ons you suggested. Certainly I wont miss the opportunity to look for Sludge's wonder bird. I have read a lot of good comments about it and I'm eager to see and fly it.
Thanks again and fly safe, Amigo
Blizzard 59;
It will be my pleasure to share with you the data of the carriers I worked out. Give me a little time and I'm getting back to you on this very page.
Best regards, Amigo
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Blizzard 59;
Sorry, you may have to wait some time for the carrier data to be posted to you because I'm having trouble with one of my FSX machines after an add-on installation yesterday. I will getting back to you probably with a personal message to make sure you will get it right away.
Best regards, Amigo
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Amigo...
Just sent you a PM and if you still dont have the Sludge Hornet, let me know and Ill shoot you the links when I get back.
Later
Sludge
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Hi Sludge;
It's a pleasure to hear from you. From what I have been reading in FSDT, you became already a legend and I enjoy being around people like you and other professionals who help out the greenhorns.
Yes, your link would be great to have. It will give me the opportunity to fly a bird modified by a person who I think has quite some cockpit experience.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Best regards, Amigo
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Blizzard 59;
Here are some of the requested data.
On May 17, 2012 our FSDT member Orion passed me the link of the departure and arrival schedule for the FSX carriers:http:/www.simtours.net/defaultaircraftcarrier.php.
The below table shows some of the actual FSX carrier positions.
The positions are based on GMT and Honolulu VORTAC HNL 114.80 by RAD and DME.
The Thursday carrier cruises from Pearl Harbor clockwise around Islands Molokai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Lanai back to Pearl Harbor. The Sunday carrier takes the same routing but anticlockwise.
Thursday carrier:
14:41 carrier cranking up engines
14:45 carrier leaving harbor
16:37 81/41 heading 070
16:55 80/48
17:01 80/53
17:33 77/64
17:58 75/75
18:01 75/76 shortly before turning 123
18:32 78/86 heading 123
18:42 80/90
19:01 81/95
19:33 88/105
19:45 90/110
20:02 90/115
20:31 92/125
20:33 92/126 turning 195
20:48 98/125 heading 195
21:01 99/126
21:15 101/125
21:32 104/125
21:33 105/124 turning 257
21:50 108/117 heading 257
22:38 111/102
23:01 115/94
23:19 119/89 turning 298
00:01 119/70 heading 298
01:04 121/44
02:07 119/17
02:40 150/3 variable
02:44 entering harbor
Enjoy your carrier landings, Amigo
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Amigo,
Thanks a million :)
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Amigo...
If you havent done it already, the download/install link is on the bottom of my SIG. Just click on that Sludge/Combat Hornet Integration LINK, download the SHCHI.EXE program, then run it. It will download the files from SH.com and then install them automatically, including the effects. It will give you Sludge Hornet v1.2 Charlie, with all the mods up to that point. Thatll be a good place to start.
Once you get the hang of that Sludge version and all the systems, then I'll get you LINK for the v1.2 DELTA Test Bird currently in testing/modding phase right now.
Later
Sludge
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Hi Sludge;
I really do appreciate your time and your help to get the Sludge-hornet installed. I tried my very best with downloading and installing but sometimes the very best is not good enough. Neither online nor offline methods did work on both of my FSX loaded machines. Both are Windows 7 and one is brand new. Both machines indicate malfunction with installer.
Just last week I installed Orion's suggested aicarrier2r2 add-on and it still works fine, and so do other add-ons I installed just now. Just to see if the installer works properly.
My limited computer knowledge doesn't tell me anything more to solve the problem. May be you or other members reading this post may be able to help.
The hope will die last. Thanks, Amigo
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Amigo...
I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll be PM'ing you with some instructions and a download link to get the Sludge TestBird 2 (current Test version). You may as well get all the bells/whistles of the TestBird as I'm gonna make a new installer for the Sludge Hornet.
Later
Sludge
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Sludge;
I appreciate your effort. Thank you, Amigo
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Sludge;
Thanks for your link and for your instructions. I did send you a PM already.
I should be able to handle your instructions, but your webpage is not available anymore. At least that's what the ERROR-page told me numerous times.
Do you have any other link for the Test Bird? Regards, Amigo
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Amigo...
I just re-downloaded from sludgehornet.com, so if you would, try to download and lemme know what happens. It let me download the whole Sludge TestBird 2.ZIP file, with no problems.
Later
Sludge
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Sludge,
I realized again that people who are able to read have an advantage. I was not one of them. Sorry for the inconvenience. I used the underlined part of your link only; not including the 2.zip. With the correct link it downloaded without problem yesterday.
Now, I hope my brain recovered and I can handle the installation. Am I excited about the test flight? Sure am.
Thanks for your patience, Amigo
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Sludge,
After a few test rides with the Sludge Hornet it became my FSX default bird. I'm as much impressed about your creation as I was about Jimi 08's FSXBA. I am very grateful for these two contributions.
Although, I found flight characteristics of both birds at different speed ranges and maneuvers pretty similar, I feel very comportable with the Sludge Hornet's on-screen trim indication during carrier landings. Had I only one feature to choose I go for the on-screen trim indication, although, I surely enjoy auto trim at high level missions. Of course it would be nice having some kind of engine indication on-screen and I appreciate to see weight and fuel. But this is just flight simulator talk where at times scrolling up and down cockpit view can be very inconvenient and unrealistic. Some features may just look unrealistically but they help to ease off pilots work. Same is true for IFLOLS. "Flying formation" with the IFLOLS on final is not too pretty or realistic, but it helps to confirm final position a little earlier; no matter what kind of graphic card the computer is running on. May be some time a talented guy can improve the system native to the carrier. Why not making the carrier IFLOLS a little bigger? It may be unrealistically looking in size but very affective on visual contact.
I have given you guys an extra "Bravo" for the landing analysis. This is really an outstanding achievement and helps my statistics on 3 wire (or other) traps.
Johan got me a link for your KC-135 but I couldn't find it there. What link would you recommend to check? May be for Javier's Nimitz too.
Thank you for the pleasure of having a Sludge Hornet,Amigo
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Amigo...
Thanks for the good words. Yeah, for the last year or so, JIMI and I have worked together modding and developing, even tho we took different paths on things (ie. Sludge vs FSXBA weight balance/flight dynamics/XML usage). I figure it just gives people more variety and something else to choose, depending on their flying style or whatever they end up liking... thats why I put it out there on its own thread. Our two birds really show the reason this board is successful (IMO), because FSX simmers get to have inputs and have those weighed against reality (real world Hornet drivers), NATOPS, and FSX limitations (4.0 glideslope, default F-18 non-collimated HUD). Somethings get included, some dont.
The best part is, the more you get into either the Sludge or FSXBA Hornet, the more you realize you can CHANGE the particulars (2D HUD brightness, INIT file settings) to your own liking. Pull up my profile, go back to my earliest posts in '09 and have a good few laughs at HOW LITTLE I knew about modding/tweaking and FSX in general. Then you'll see how much you can learn and accomplish IF you really want to put the time and effort to learn how FSX and the Hornet tick. Plus, we have such good SUPPORT here from alot of good people, namely Jivko Rusev (JR, who remade the Scott Printz HUD to what we use in today); Serge (FSXNAVYPILOT), who made the many SludgeHornet gauges (Blackbox, IFLOLS, AoA Indicator and outside lights) as well as the growing vLSO program; Ray Gagnon, who did several of the repaints; MikeB54, who's son Chris got us some actual F/A-18C sim time out at MCAS Miramar; and the many others that have contributed in some way to helping us get a better Hornet out there. Its just a great forum and community here that wants to improve the product.
There have been posts that the new Enterprise will use a 3.5 glideslope on an ALTERNATE FLOLS version they have built. Interested to see how that works out. BTW, I can get pictures, but if you have REX2, the CARRIER FLOLS is now visible out to around TWO MILES TCN from the ship. Not sure why that works as it does but just some FYI.
You should be able download the tanker from Flightsim.com site. Just go there and Search Files, then type in KC-135 Navy Drogue, and the version adapted for FSX should come up. If you dont have a membership there, you might have to get one, but other than that, its simple and free.
Thanks again...
Later
Sludge
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Sludge,
Thanks a lot for your interesting thoughts. I have taken the time studying your posts and discussions in 2009 as you suggested. The dialogs are very informative and interesting and show the root of the Sludge Hornet as well as the director of the puzzle. Although, I don't understand anything about creating folders and files like ball.bmp or aircraft.cfg, I can imagine the amound of time, the wotk and enthusiasm being invested to come up with a project like the Sludge Hornet. Yes, I agree, your achievement increases the range of variety which makes FSX unique.
Today, you grab a 737 for visual approaches at Paro VQPR, the next day you are the Airbus-Captain challenging your vertigo on an IMC day to Jackson Hole; and now, the Sludge Hornet allows me to focus on qualifying as a Navy pilot. Although, my actual and only experience with aircraft carriers is limited to a private visit aboard the Kitty Hawk in San Diego, a new found carrier should help me to reach my goal now.
Early on I was visiting our Virtuali's website and came across the X-Plane 10 Flight Simulator and therefore I found "my" carrier. Wow, what a highly sophisticated and wonderful simulator. 80GB loading space (versus 17 on FSX) speaks for brilliant graphics, tons of settings of views and uncountable operational options. The aircraft collection is sparse but their default good looking Navy F-4 is making up for it.Top attraction of course is the carrier (I guess Nimitz type). So here is another piece for even more variety. Grab the F-4, land on deck at Frisco Bay and take a screen shot. The pic looks like real!!! A bunch of Hornets are parked on deck waiting of being upgraded to the Sludge Hornet.
Thank you for the enjoyment with your jet in FSX and thank you for the KC-135 link.
I'll work on it, Amigo