Simviation Forums

Please can anyone help.

I have noticed that some of my AI aircraft do not show any navigation or landing lights during day or night.
Is there anyway of adding this ?

Reggi,

Hi.  Welcome to SimV.

I THINK that this is related to what development program was used to create the original aircraft model file.  If you are using fs2004.... then you for sure want to have a model that was made in Gmax.  If you are running fs2002.... then there is a bit more latitude....but not much.  Older aircraft models show these tendencies ..... particularly when used for AI.

I know that you can add the exterior navigation lights by editing the [LIGHTS] section of the aircraft.cfg file.  But it has been so long since I have done it..... I forget how.  Go into the plane in questions' file...and see what is there.  Then go look at one that has lights that work.  Use the same format for any changes you make.

Then make a backup of the aircraft.cfg file so that if you botch things.... you can replace it  ;).

First in the listing is the light number..... just add the next in the sequence if you add a line......with the light type (Navigation, etc.) following it.  Then there are a three coordinate numbers that relate to the placement in the x,y, and z axis placement for the light relative to the airgraft center point, and then you specify the particualr light file that you want from the textures available.  I found that you have to play with the coordinates a lot to get them in the right place  ;).

As to the landing lights showing...... that is a perenial question.  The answer on that one is that you cannot add them if the model builder did not include them in the origianl model.  That is unless you have the source code for the model and also the development program that was used......... which most of us don't .

I am sure that someone else here can give you FAR better directions.

best,

.....................john

Hey John.

Actually, you have the basics down pretty well!  

When I first started working with lights, I found it useful to use the [LIGHTS] section of the Aircraft.cfg file of one of the default aircraft as a guide.

It's unfortunate that little can be done to change the landing lights that come with the model.  But, I have had a lot of success adding white navigational lights to the appropriate locations on an aircraft to increase the intensity of landing lights......

Erik

Thanks John,

It took a little while to perfect but the effects look great.