calypsos wrote:Can somebody spare some time to tell me how to use the AI carrier system (and in particular the Ark) within FSX.
I can only use the F18 through an 'adventure' or whatever they call it, and then the change aircraft tab is greyed out. Sorry if this is 'old hat', I came to FSX (and Acceleration) very late!!!
To use the aicarriers2 package you need to have Java installed (Java JRE 1.5 or later ).
The aicarriers2 installer should add the necessary changes to the exe.xml file to cause the aicarriers
program to be loaded when FSX starts and to display a menu item in the in-flight menu bar.
To 'add' the Ark Royal to the list of default carrier configurations you simply edit the
aicarriers.cfg file, found in the folder where aicarriers was installed.
Once that is accomplished, you simply select the 'formation' you want from the menu list.
Select where you want it placed...1 NM , 5 NM or 10 NM ahead.
Open the menu again and select "Forward" ( I think that's it ) to cause the group
to begin moving.
Continue flying until you spot the CV(s) and make your landing.
The ships will continue steaming un the direction you started them in unless you
access the menu again to alter the course with 'turn' commands.
I always check the wind direction before I 'launch' a fleet, then turn my aircraft into the
wind so that the wind will be 'over the deck' once the ships are launched. This will
make landings much easier and more realistic.
Here is my exe.xml file showing the lines that are added for aicarriers.
Code: Select all
<SimBase.Document Type="Launch" version="1,0">
<Descr>Launch</Descr>
<Filename>EXE.XML</Filename>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<Launch.ManualLoad>False</Launch.ManualLoad>
<Launch.Addon><Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>False</ManualLoad>
<Name>AICarriers</Name>
<Path>K:\FSX Tools\AI carriers\aicarriers.exe</Path>
<CommandLine>-nogui</CommandLine>
</Launch.Addon>
</SimBase.Document>
That file is located in the same directory as your fsx.cfg file.
Here are the first three entries in my aicarriers.cfg file, with the second one
containing the Ark Royal entry. Note that I have several addon AI ships called
out for my formations.
Code: Select all
[base]
throttle=60
menu_shortcut=shift+j
confdir=conf.d
[formation.0]
title=Lone carrier
unit.0=veh_carrier01_high_detail_sm, 0, 0
[formation.1]
title=Ark Royal, Clemenceau and 5 escorts
unit.0=AI_DDG62, 0, 350
unit.1=Ark_Royal, -200, 0
unit.2=AI_DDG53, -400, -100
unit.3=USS_Conyngham, 750, -400
unit.4=USS_Cowpens, 100, -650
unit.5=VEH_Clemenceau, 600, 100
unit.6=AI_DDG69, 800, 700
[formation.2]
title=CVN, cruiser, 4 CGs and 2 DDG-17s
unit.0=VEH_cruiser01, 0, 0
unit.1=USS_Ticonderoga, 650, -400
unit.2=USS_Valley_Forge, -300, -200
unit.3=USS_Conyngham, 450, 500
unit.4=USS_Conyngham, -50, -500
unit.5=veh_carrier01_high_detail_sm, 400, -300
unit.6=USS_Shiloh, 375, -900
unit.7=USS_Cowpens, 800, 250
The readme file that comes with the aicarriers2 package contains alot
of information and should be read after you make the installation.
Paul
