Not so static targets

[dhk79]

Based on a couple of requests for new features that have been posted, I've gotten an idea for how to make a plane fly through a repeating pattern so that it could be used for aerial target practice. I'm going to try it out, see what develops, and keep you posted.

Doug

[r1derbike]

Outstanding!

[dhk79]

First test was less than spectacular. The object errors when it loads, so I must have missed a required part (or RF doesn't like my grouped parts).

[dhk79]

I got it, so it is possible. This is kind of rough, so I'll clean it up a bit before adding to the swaps. But this is a plane flying around in a repeating pattern. In the screenshot, I'm flying the P-51 in the foreground and the Zero at one o'clock high is the target.

Does anyone know how to export an object that can be uploaded to the swaps, or do you have to export a whole airport?

I think it might be the later, so what stock airport would anyone like to have a couple targets flying around at?

[opjose]

I would love to see a couple of similiar objects...

- A trainer doing a standard pattern over and over.

- A trainer doing a standard pattern once or twice, then a touch and go.

This would permit us to create more real world "traffic" for non-multiplayer airports.

[td9cowboy]

That's awesome!

[Maj. Numbskully]

dhk ...
you're a genius! :D

[dhk79]

Here's a prototype airport (based on Real Flight Ranch). Motion is not quite what I want for the orbiting T-34, but it is interesting and shows promise.

File updated and posted below.

[td9cowboy]

It loads a little slow, was beginning to think it had froze up. That's a great start! Good job

[12oclockhigh]

Good job Doug... so is this a bird in airplane feathers? :D Keep up the good work.

[twoeleven]

HeHEEEEE, very cool...It does have some strange motion here and there...and it is definately flying a slooooooow cruise, but its there, and will tear you apart if you run into it.

Great job (so far?)

Thanks!

Griff
twoeleven

[dhk79]

You can also shoot it. Tonight I'm going to do some more experimentation on getting the motion better.

My question remains, what airfield do folks initially want this on? Once you have imported an airport with this on it, you can then edit other airports and you'll find the orbiting plane under custom objects list.

[twoeleven]

I'd vote Joe's garage...definately any 3D field. Hey that makes me think...Does it work on a photo field? It should right, just obviously no 1st person flying on a photo field, but to opjose's point, a few patterned aircraft that can be placed into fields give good practice for managing traffic for RW conditions at the field. So, creating or using a panarama of your own field, with traffic might very well be possible. Great stuff, CDR Kaye!

Thank you,

Griff
Twoeleven

[dhk79]

Yes, it also works on a photo field. The orbiting aircraft is just like any other 3D object.

[Bob1964]

Thanks for putting the effort into making this.
I hope soon there will be streamer and combat flying models that shoot back etc.
I dont really want my kids playing online so this would really make them happy too!
Also is there a special section on the swap pages for this type of files or are they going to be scattered into the airfields in general ??

[12oclockhigh]

Correct me if I am wrong... I assume you are putting in coordinates... move from here to here and the planes yaw and pitch... would this not change for each airport?

For me The Ranch field is fine and dandy... but maybe one of the combat fields like boneyard would be the best. I could not shoot it down... but I did crash into it... I lost... :D Would this also work in G4.5? If so, make sure it is a field they have access to.

You can also shoot it. Tonight I'm going to do some more experimentation on getting the motion better.

My question remains, what airfield do folks initially want this on? Once you have imported an airport with this on it, you can then edit other airports and you'll find the orbiting plane under custom objects list.

[dhk79]

Here's an updated Real Flight Ranch, with a correctly orbiting T-34. Moving faster and banking as it turns. This one is a level, single speed orbit. My next one will be maneuvering more.

To answer the questions posted by 12oclockhigh, yes the flight path is built by laying out coordinates. This is actually a roller-coaster object without a track and a plane for a cart. So as a moving piece of scenery, it can be put on any airport and oriented to match that airport's runways.

[jeffpn]

This is actually a roller-coaster object without a track and a plane for a cart.
That's what I was thinking about yesterday. Hypothetically speaking, is it possible to get that centipede going in midair? I have not investigated that.

[M.Huffman]

Hypothetically speaking, is it possible to get that centipede going in midair?

Hypothetically, yeah.* There's no requirement that a roller coaster object has to be in physical contact with anything. During G5's development, we were playing around with an airport that would have made use of that ability, but it got dropped before release.

*Practically, the Centipede carts are part of the same object file as the roller coaster base, so the end user can't separate them. But if someone had access to the source 3DS Max file, it would be possible to export a carts-only version of the Centipede that would do what you describe.

[12oclockhigh]

I guess that I saw the flying birds in the new version... and thought it was based on that... very clever using the roller coaster as the basis... Hope we can shoot down the roller coaster eventually. :D

[dhk79]

Not sure if this way will work, but let's try it. This says RFX, but unzip it to your \Documents\RealFlight G5\Scenery\AirportObjects directory. Then in the airport editor see if a Dodging T-34 shows up as a custom object.

[dhk79]

I posted a couple of edited airports with the moving plane. One orbiting and one maneuvering.