My aircraft is floating on the RWY

Posted:
Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:05 pm
by Simviation2003
Hello fellow aviators,
I've seen topics on my question some time ago but a search of the database has failed to answer why one of my aircraft has it wheels 3 inches off the runway.
Is there any way I can modify the .cfg or .air files to put the wheels on the ground, or do I just have to put up with it.
Any suggestions would be most appreciative.
SV2003
Re: My aircraft is floating on the RWY

Posted:
Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:49 am
by JerryH
SimViation2003,
It should be just a matter of editing the [contact_points] in the aircraft.cfg file.
Below is an example taken from the default B737:
[contact_points]
point.0=1, 40.00, 0.00, -8.10, 1181.1, 0, 1.442, 55.92, 0.8, 2.5, 0.9, 4.0, 4.0, 0, 0.0, 0.0
point.1=1, -7.75, -8.58, -8.68, 1574.8, 1, 1.442, 0.00, 1.0, 2.5, 0.9, 6.9, 6.9, 2, 0.0, 0.0
point.2=1, -7.75, 8.58, -8.68, 1574.8, 2, 1.442, 0.00, 1.0, 2.5, 0.9, 7.1, 7.1, 3, 0.0, 0.0
For each of those lines of data, the first value is a "1", meaning its a wheel. The third value after the "1" is the vertical position of the wheel. In this case all are positioned at -8.xx.
Find the corresponding values for your aircraft and make them more negative by about 0.40 feet. In other words, if they are now -6.40, change them to -6.80.
Save the changes and see what the bird looks like. Chances are about 100% that it won't look right the first time, so just keep experimenting.
If the negative direction doesn't work, go the other way.
Good luck,
JerryH
Re: My aircraft is floating on the RWY

Posted:
Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:57 am
by JerryH
Simviation,
I should add one more thing. After you have saved the revised .cfg file, be sure to load a different aircraft into FS2002 and click on "OK". No need to click on "Fly Now". Then load the aircraft in question and see what it looks like.
This procedure forces the sim to reload your revised file. Otherwise, none of the revisions will be updated in the sim.
JerryH
Re: My aircraft is floating on the RWY

Posted:
Fri Feb 27, 2004 3:30 am
by Simviation2003
Thanks JH,
I tried your suggestion and it worked.
Took a bt of fiddling around with the numbers, but after 5-6 attempts, its sitting flat on the ground.
I appreciate the advice
SV2003