Military AI Works

I am seeking assistance with any technique possible to shrink the size of patterns for AI military aircraft.

As an example I have created flight plans using Nick Black F/A-18 Hornets to flight VFR patterns and simulate FCLP at MCAS Miramar.

No matter what I try with AFCAD properties, AI downwind leg and base leg remain significantly farther from the active runway than real-life.

Is it possible to rename and configure the same aircraft to fly low and slow for tighter patterns?

Keith

The pattern size is a function of the FS9 AI engine. Not much if anything can be done about that.

Mike,

Thank you for response. I am also experimenting with ADE and the approach mode for FSX to see if I can shape an approach with terminal waypoints. This might only resolve one of my concerns.

Keith

The FS9 AI engine makes "conventional patterns" while military jets in real life fly "close patterns". Two different types of patterns. You'll have to live with the fact that FS9 is a civilian sim

Greg,

I appreciate the response. I will admit. I understand the difference between various patterns, having logged real time in military and civilian aircraft. I was hoping some of the brilliant minds on this forum might have some work around solutions in the works. Perhaps with the evolution of flight simulations, we might eventually see more military operations included in the products off the shelf.
Keith

There was a bloke a few years ago that fiddled with the FS engine code and made short final approaches but it worked across the whole sim and for some AI aircraft they were unable to correct and land on the runway straight. I can't recall what it called or if it still exists on Avsim.

Mark

There is another "option". Not really AI per say in the fact that they don't interact real time with the environment around them, (no traffic or ATC interaction). But if you want to have fighters coming back to base flying an overhead break pattern, you can do that, even with AI models. The catch is that you have to set them up as Recorder module flights. You then have to load them up to see them display. It works just fine for a "visual" effect. In fact it looks really cool in game but it's not the answer we're looking for, just a substitute.

Mike,

Thank you for responses on other potential solutions. I even tried forcing AI to invisible runways with multiple AFCADs to shape the intended pattern size, but just as mentioned before, everything is modeled for GA type flying. If anyone can get AI to turn with 60-70 degree bank angle or better, I would be happy to know how to do this.

Keith

Keith,
Simple answer is that you can't get aircraft to bank like that the AI engine is designed to be a subset of the full capabilities of a real aircraft, and by real aircraft MS mean airliners.

After reading this I guess there is nothing I can do, but watched a KC-135 today at KNPA make 2 go-arounds trying to make rwy 7R. I was using real wx, with winds 122 @10. Just started the sim (FSX) and caught BOLT xx entering right downwind for 7R. I'm guessing the AI engine was unable to compensate for the winds on the first 2 overshoots, but eventually got it and did the standard TNG and off to KMCF. My first thought was if there was a way to change the angle of bank properties in the AI aircraft.cfg, I assume not and its something that just happens, after all it's AI.

You can change the bank angle, max pitch and default vertical speed in the cfg file, it's just that they are in the autopilot section and the AI engine seems to ignore it.