Simviation Forums

Since more and more aircraft (commercial airlines, the majority of new corporate jets, etc) are currently or soon to be outfitted with pulsating landing lights (learn more from A.net and PulseLite), I think it would be interesting to have such an effect available for FS.

This lighting pattern would have to be created by a .fx file, and therefore could not be built into a model. Once someone has created the fx file though, it would ojnly be a matter of changing the aircraft.cfg. all of posky's a/c use fx files for lights so it is possible.

the other way would be to create a gauge that flips the landing lights switch on and off. not very practical though

Actually, I would not want it built into the model--that makes it harder to apply to another aircraft.  I was suggesting that someone pick up that project (maybe I'll run it by the guy who does the Nick's light FX) or point me in a direction to learn how to do it.  thanks though.  

This lighting pattern would have to be created by a .fx file, and therefore could not be built into a model. Once someone has created the fx file though, it would ojnly be a matter of changing the aircraft.cfg. all of posky's a/c use fx files for lights so it is possible.

the other way would be to create a gauge that flips the landing lights switch on and off. not very practical though

Okay, lets get things a bit straight, true effects relating to lights smoke flames etc. are .fx files. Why would they not be built into a model? For one thing that can be understood about modeling, is that nothing is ever built into a model, it's always designed. Sure it's possible to create a 3d model of beacon rotating but in this case it's just not required. Your very close when you stated to

"create a gauge that flips the landing lights switch on and off. not very practical though"

That's where computers come in, for programing that code, so it doesn't require a human to switch it on and off.. lol

Actually, I would not want it built into the model--that makes it harder to apply to another aircraft.  I was suggesting that someone pick up that project (maybe I'll run it by the guy who does the Nick's light FX) or point me in a direction to learn how to do it.  thanks though.  

NickN is the guy that deals with this stuff, btw he is on the SimV forums as user specified "NickN" and work with him.

-Good Luck, SN 8-)

Nick left, so he's not much help here.

I would think XML would work?  I don't see why no.  You have XML gauges that do all sorts of smoke things, why couldn't an XML control landing light timing?

The other simpler solution I could feasably see is like a strobe light, but I dont know that it would actually illuminate anything.  You can assign more than one set of strbes, so if you made a white or yellow strobe light effect and then placed it on the plane in the right place you'd get the visual effect of pulselite but not necessarily the illumination that goes with it.

I looked at the videos again and the landing lights never really go off and they switch left right, a switch flipping guage wouldn't work

Well, they actually don't go all the way off, and they alternate strangely, which wouldn't be possible to model into FS since it doesn't recognize each light as an individual event.  All landing lights are handled by the one switch.  They really don't go all the way off, sicne it would defeat the purpose, which is to save on light usage.  They dim and brighten alternately, from 30% to 100%.  And the light function of FS is not a graduated setting.  You can only have on and off.

A way to simulate this (sort of):

The landing lights are in the model, and it consists of two seperate entities that are linked to each other.  One creates the actual beam of light that you see shining on the tarmac.  The other creates the spot that shows you where the light is coming from: the lightbulb itself.

Simply leaving out the bulb part and putting in the beam part, then inserting an effect that would come on with the landing lights that functions like a strobe, but with a very long brighten-dim sequence.  Place this where the "bulb" would be, and you have your effect.  It won't brighten and darken on the runway, but you will get that cool brighten-dim effect you mentioned.

Well, they actually don't go all the way off, and they alternate strangely, which wouldn't be possible to model into FS since it doesn't recognize each light as an individual event.  All landing lights are handled by the one switch.  They really don't go all the way off, sicne it would defeat the purpose, which is to save on light usage.  They dim and brighten alternately, from 30% to 100%.  And the light function of FS is not a graduated setting.  You can only have on and off.

A way to simulate this (sort of):

The landing lights are in the model, and it consists of two seperate entities that are linked to each other.  One creates the actual beam of light that you see shining on the tarmac.  The other creates the spot that shows you where the light is coming from: the lightbulb itself.

Simply leaving out the bulb part and putting in the beam part, then inserting an effect that would come on with the landing lights that functions like a strobe, but with a very long brighten-dim sequence.  Place this where the "bulb" would be, and you have your effect.  It won't brighten and darken on the runway, but you will get that cool brighten-dim effect you mentioned.

The purpose of PulseLights is not to save power or bulb life, its to make your aircraft more visible to other during day and night.

Nick left, so he's not much help here.

I would think XML would work?  I don't see why no.  You have XML gauges that do all sorts of smoke things, why couldn't an XML control landing light timing?

The other simpler solution I could feasably see is like a strobe light, but I dont know that it would actually illuminate anything.  You can assign more than one set of strbes, so if you made a white or yellow strobe light effect and then placed it on the plane in the right place you'd get the visual effect of pulselite but not necessarily the illumination that goes with it.

Yes XML would work, my experience in that codding is very limited.. Least I know what I need to learn..

The purpose of PulseLights is not to save power or bulb life, its to make your aircraft more visible to other during day and night.

I'm sorry, I misread.  Saving the life of the lights is not the main reason, but it is one of the selling points of the lights.

The purpose of PulseLights is not to save power or bulb life, its to make your aircraft more visible to other during day and night.

I'm sorry, I misread.  Saving the life of the lights is not the main reason, but it is one of the selling points of the lights.

Turning a light on and off constantly would shorten the lifespan o fthe bulb...

...I doubt that is a selling point at all.

From the Pulsar website:

Bulb life is not shortened, in fact bulb life is extended 10Xs longer; why? Because the filaments never completely go out so there is no thermal shock turn-on

If you go into the Aircraft file using the Notepad, you'd probably be able to position yellow or white strobes over top of the existing white landing lights.  You'd have white illumination (if provided) from the landing lights, and the flashing lights.  Quick and dirty, but effective.  Just not for me.  - John