Why Some Show Others Don't

[CAFedm]

I've added a fair number of aircraft for AI use in FS9. Have also recently had success getting a helicopter to work (namely, the Schweitzer 300 intended for AI use).  I am looking for one more helicopter to set up as AI, one with wheels, such as an Augusta A109 or Bell 222.  Have downloaded pretty well every freeware one available but am unable to get them to show up as AI traffic. They all work as flightworthy models, however. Wondering if anyone has suggestions how to get around this (I've even copied the Schweitzer aircraft.cfg to the other helo file, without success), or recommendations for a similar-type helo to look for, and that has proven to work for them. Thanks for any help.

[garymbuska]

Well for what it is worth it is really not a good idea to use flyable aircraft as AI as they can be hard on frame rates. But if you desire to turn one into AI what I would do is make a second folder call it Augusta_AI and copy everything except the panel folder of the orignal aircraft over to the new folder that way you can still use it as a flyable aircraft. I am not 100% sure if you really need to remove the panel folder or not but No AI aircraft that I have seen have a panel folder. The other thing you have to change is a entry in the .AIR file not sure exactly how it is worded but it has something to do with weather a aircraft is flyable or AI only.
If you have a AI helecopter than you should be able to use that AIR file as a copy to go buy to help you set up the airfile for the other helecopter. Make sure your aircraft cfg file has the correct name of the airfile in it( the names have to be an exact match letter for letter case for case.)
Then all you need to do is to use ttools and make a flight plan for it.

[RollerBall]

I guess you mean something like this eh Brian



I was in the Bell BTW

Once you get into AI helis you have to remember that they don't work as AI as a heli. You have to use fixed wing FDEs and drastically modify them.

I did loads a while back - just about every wheeled heli I could find at the time. If they don't have wheels they look stupid as they have to taxi like fixed wings and although I did a Huey (had to really) which works really well it just doesn't look right on the ground.

This A109 happens to be based on a turboprop! I had to develop different types of air files because only certain types work with certain heli models.

I noticed when I watched it take off this morning that the nose wheel of the A109 is in the ground so it needs a bit of tidying up.

I've never uploaded the package because I'm getting lazy and frankly it's a total pain nowadays getting permission from all of the people involved. Life's too short. But if you PM me your email I'll send you the A109 when I've tidied it up a bit

[wji]

"They all work as flightworthy models, however. Wondering if anyone has suggestions how to get around this?"

Firstly, to check AI flights in FS9 one needs Traffic Tool Box to confirm the AI helo flights have actually been loaded into the sim.

Next, the AF2 files must be correct for the type of flight: IFR or VFR (I use IFR and create all my own flightplans and AF2 files)

Here's some examples . . .



I like to create specific AF2 airports for my AI helos (helipads); this way, my main FS9 airports are not tied up with these types. These AF2 airport (Helipads) can be in the same general areas as the main airports.

Hope this helps

[CAFedm]

Thanks for all the replies...they help get me on track at the very least. I have simply reassigned one of the Cessna default aircraft to be replaced by the A109/B222 so these ought to show up at airports worldwide (also keeping in mind they have broadly similar performance).  In any event, with the Schweitzer flying, it is indeed quite hilarious to see it taxiing at a slewed angle, on it's skids, along the taxiway and up to the active runway.