Can I do this?

[bill2759]

I recently downloaded some repaints of Navy C-130 aircraft. They were for Mike Stones C-130. Some of you might know this bird is notorious for bad flight Characteristics. Such as a nose up in the air taxi and porpoising and missing final approaches. In some cases, not even being able to land. I'm talking of the AI capabilities only, I don't fly the thing. Mr Henry Tomkiewicz on the other hand makes a smoother flying model of the same aircraft. I couldn't find the paint textures I needed for his model. I have tried in the past to use textures on different aircraft they weren't meant for with no success. Now to the question. Is there a way to put these paints on HT's model or replacing the flight characteristics of Mikes with Henry's. I have in the past addressed Mike with this problem, but he hasn't responded. I believe he even inserts a footnote, to the effect that the model "is as is", and if you don't like it,don't bother him.
Moderator: If you feelthis post belongs in another forum, feel free to move it. I'll be watching for ant helpful replies.

Bill

[FearlessTower]

The easiest method to solve your problem is to swap .Air files.
Take the .Air file from Tomkiewicz's AI C130 and rename it to whatever the .Air file is called in the Mike Stone folder. Then replace the file in the Mike Stone C130 and it should work much better as AI.

Hope that helps,
Andrew

[bill2759]

Thanks Andrew, I suspected that this might work. I just lacked the fortitude to try it without someone elses confirmation. I'm off to make the changes.

Bill

[navav2004]

I always take the config with it?? You guys don't do that also??

Then I'll swap out the Aircraft info, Contact point info, Smoke System and Lights section...As well as any *Other Stuff* that may be model specific..ie: Effects, Tailhook ect...

I'm typically flyin' them though...May not be quite as critical for an AI application...

Have Fun!!
Chuck

Athlon64 4000+ (Overclocked to 2.8)
ASUS A8N-SLI Premium
1gb Mushkin Hi-Performance LvL2
XFX7800GTX OverClock
OCZ PowerStream 600w
SB Audigy2 ZS Gamer
2x36GB Raptors Raid0
250GB WD Cavier
ASUS Ventro

Athlon64 FX57
ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe
2GB Corsair XMS CL2
X1900XTX
PCP&C Turbo-Cool 1kw
X-Fi Fatality
2x150GB Raptors Raid0
ASUS Ventro

[bill2759]

I just tried the swap. The aircraft still goes missed on final. I'll try to add the info from the config file also. I want to get this Bird on the ground and rolling on all three points.

Bill

[ronzie]

Often AI and flyable models require different flight characteristics because of the way they are driven by the AI engines. I do not think I saw the statement that you flew the Stone model and had problems. The default FS9 aircraft are also used as default AI and many users have noted they exhibit similar characteristics such as crashing into runways and stalling with wrong pitch attitudes.

Mike revised his aircraft a couple of years ago from FS8 to FS9 demands requiring readjustments in aircraft.cfg. Be sure you downloaded the latest version from www.pmstone.com and do not have an earlier version from elsewhere.

As noted, you can swap paired .air and .cfg files preferably from AI designed aircraft.

One thing to check out on flyable models is to use the aircraft fuel loading setting to check the center of gravity with probably the full fuel AI fly with. You may need to adjust the station weight and position (station load point) in aircraft.cfg as well as max fuel capacity. I just think when FS AI are activated with maybe 80 miles of destination they may not have had the enroute fuel-burnoff and may exceed the maximum landing gross weight. Most of Mike's are designed with single station load positions that can be moved. This single station load averages the several used for many that can be programmed.

As noted paints are specific to the .mdl file.

[FearlessTower]

Chuck,

For strictly AI use, I actually been fairly successful simply swapping .air files. Sometimes, however, the aircraft.cfg stuff does end up over-riding the .air file and you do need to adapt the .cfg as well.

Andrew

[RFields]

"I just think when FS AI are activated with maybe 80 miles of destination they may not have had the enroute fuel-burnoff and may exceed the maximum landing gross weight."

AI aircraft do only fly the last 80-100 miles of the flight - however AI aircraft fly at the empty weight in the aircraft.cfg file.

They do not have fuel, passenger or cargo weight in FS.

This is one reason that often the engine power has to be turned down so they don't takeoff on a transoceanic flight in 1,000 ft of runway.

[bill2759]

Latest update: Since both aircraft are C-130's, I did a complete replacement of the .cfg file also. I got the bird on the ground and it taxies OK. It still had a little trouble loosing altitude and landed rough halfway up the runway. I believe I'll accept this and mark it up to Green AI Pilots.
Thanks for the help.
Bill

[ronzie]

Thanks. I was curious about that. Does the AI engine do all of these adjustments then so on landing they do not float in ground effect?