AI Seaplanes and Flying boats

[dswanson]

Hi,

I'm trying to build a flying boat base in FS9 and wondered if anyone knows precisely how an AFCAD should be constructed to allows AI seaplanes to operate.

My initial attempts using the standard AFCAD format but using the "water" options for runways and taxiways, have failed miserably. The AI plane has a brief dialogue with ATC then at the usual engine startup and taxi stage - it disappears.

Any experience of success in this out there ?

[DaveB]

Hi Degsy

Peter McLeland made at least one successful water strip at his MCL Field (for FS9 I might add). He's been up a few times today so fingers crossed he reads this and gives you a pointer

ATB

DaveB

[petermcleland]

Degsy,

Use concrete for your runways but make them 0.001 wide (the runway itself) and the runway black line width 0. Use green lines (apron taxiways) for all your taxiways and also give them 0 width. If you have difficulties then let me know...I will then give you a working AFCAD for a Seaplane Base that you can copy...I have written quite a few

I got your personal message about close formation, but have decided not to release details of how it is done until I release the 208 Squadron product. I believe I am the only one to have achieved these proper formations and will retain the secret for the moment

[emfrat]

Degsy -
Just a word of caution - have nothing to do with amphibians!
That way lies madness
That's the voice of experience you can hear
MikeW

[speedbird591]

Degsy - I had the same problem and following Peter's advice I had some success but found it was also dependent on the aircraft that I was using. Even the experts have this problem and I discovered it in Holger Sandmann's Haines SPB in Glacier Bay where some aircraft displayed that behaviour and some didn't. Even he didn't have an answer and suggested using different aircraft! So don't beat yourself up over it - it may not be your fault. If an aircraft doesn't work on a McLeland designed strip, it's probably the aircraft that's at fault

To give you an idea of what you're up against, here's a small detail of Holger Sandmann's AFCAD for Juneau SPB! You can see the narrow black line of the runway as Peter mentioned.



Ian

[DaveB]

Gadzooks Ian That is very definitely scary stuff. Don't think I'll bother trying (I'm the one on the right as you see them)

ATB

DaveB

[petermcleland]

Oh yes...I forgot to mention there are the odd flying boats that object to being pushed back...They immediately sink and then leap vertically out of the water and go berserk around the sky like an inflated balloon just released!

My "No Pushback" design of AFCAD avoids this, so you can still use those aircraft

[dswanson]

Hi,

Thanks to all for your word of wisdom. I will go away and calmly try again. I'm using the Sunderland at the test plane at present. I considered the default Cessna 208 amphibian at first but reckoned the wheels would cause a problem.

[speedbird591]

Hi Degsy. This little AI beaver seems to be the most reliable AI floatplane. I've found that it'll work where others don't. It's very forgiving so it would be a good model to use when trying out a new base. If this doesn't work then it's almost certainly the AFCAD that's at fault.

File name: beaver_floatplane_ai.zip by John Woodward at Avsim.

Cheers

Ian

[dswanson]

Ian,

Thanks for that plane - it just made the first successful AI circuit, so my AFCAD is OK, I guess the next step is either to pore over the cfg and air files to see what makes this plane work, or to use these FD files for my Sunderland .....