Career Suggestion - Optional Taxiing

[Warpig]

In Career mode, we have the options to start in the air, or the runway. I would like to suggest a third option to start parked. The reason is simple:

 

The only true way for me to learn to taxi, is to force myself to do so while playing missions. I am aware that I could simply create a Quick Mission to do this, but to choose to do such a redundant task, is not going to happen. For me personally, the best approach is to be thrown into the fire, so-to-speak.

 

Rather than learning to taxi in MP,  it would be much better for myself (and the MP community) to allow us to integrate this training into career mode.

Edited March 28, 2018 by Warpig

[Pupo]

AFAIK, the AI can not park aircraft, as such, starting parked would not work very well in the career.

Edited March 28, 2018 by Pupo

[-TBC-AeroAce]

This would be very nice but the current AI just can't seem to taxi and line up very well if at all. It is something the devs need to sort out. 

[Warpig]

1 minute ago, Pupo said:

AFAIK, the AI can not park aircraft, as such, starting parked would not work very well in the career.

That's a good point.

 

Maybe allow us to taxi to a specific point on the runway, then have the AI spawn in once we get there.

[seafireliv]

I agree. I have often learned to do stuff properly from just doing it in career and looking dumb infront of my AI m8s and resolving to do better.

 

For instance, I screwed up taking off in a mig3 with bombs, sliding off the runway like an idiot. Next mission I had a bombing mission again as no 2 with a bunch of AI behind me on the tarmac. Was determinded not to blow it... and waddaya know? I actually successfully rolled and took off bombs and all. 

 

My AI flight leader`s trust in me was well placed!

 

p.s. Didn`t know the AI can`t taxi and lineup... Hope they work on that.

Edited March 28, 2018 by seafireliv

[Pupo]

1 minute ago, Warpig said:

Maybe allow us to taxi to a specific point on the runway, then have the AI spawn in once we get there.

 

I'd rather have the Devs put their time into teaching the AI how to park. 

Edited March 28, 2018 by Pupo

[dburne]

54 minutes ago, Pupo said:

AFAIK, the AI can not park aircraft, as such, starting parked would not work very well in the career.

 

The AI can definitely park the aircraft, I see them do it.

 

I too would like that option to start parked, but I think starting parked may be difficult for the current AI.  Coordinating a flight of 4 or 6 aircraft with only one of them being human controlled, to taxi together to the runway and take off in order is probably a daunting task.

 

I get my taxiing thrills after I return to my base after a mission, I always taxi to end of runway and turn on the taxiway there and go to a parking spot where I shut my engine down, open the canopy, and watch the remainder of the flight as they come in to land and taxi. On the last mission I flew one came in and parked there right beside my spot.

Heck one time after my Spit flight landed and parked, a flight of LA-5's approached and started landing as well. Pretty cool.

I am glad the devs did not design it for the player to de-spawn shortly after parking. The AI do though.

 

If you have not tried this - parking and watching the remainder come in and taxi, I suggest giving it a try - pretty immersive.

 

If I fly a mission poorly and am not happy with it, well then I may hit the ole escape key shortly have touching down on the runway.

Edited March 28, 2018 by dburne

[unlikely_spider]

Also I just played one campaign - Albert's Life maybe - where each mission is started parked, and your whole group taxiis with you to the runway. It worked fine in that campaign, but I don't know if the creator had to code that specifically each mission or for the specific airfield. I don't know anything about the mission builder - I just know that I've seen it in action and work well.

[dburne]

Yeah in one earlier campaign I flew, it was  a Yak campaign done by Blacksix I think, there was one mission in it that started parked.

I think. May be remembering a different one.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

7 minutes ago, engrish_major said:

Also I just played one campaign - Albert's Life maybe - where each mission is started parked, and your whole group taxiis with you to the runway. It worked fine in that campaign, but I don't know if the creator had to code that specifically each mission or for the specific airfield. I don't know anything about the mission builder - I just know that I've seen it in action and work well.

 

From what I have heard it is defo possible but it can often go wrong, even if programmed to the best it can be. So I guess the devs have not bothered because the benefits would be outweighed by cons.

[falle96]

I am curious as to how other flight sims program it. Is there a set pathing that the AI automatically follows based off of some generic "take-off" script, or do you manually need to tell the flight to taxi to the strip and then take off?

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

I think this is a good option. I supported.

[dburne]

I think they are just programmed to follow the flight leader, whether it be ai or player controlled.

[Yogiflight]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

The AI can definitely park the aircraft, I see them do it.

The problem is, they all park at the same spot, that is the reason, why they still have to despawn after they parked.

But I absolutely agree, the best way would be starting the mission in parking area, taxiing to the runway and start, and after the return, taxi back to the parking area, and the AI parking the aircrafts lined up, without despawning, and the ground crew cumming to the aircrafts to welcome the pilots. (OK, now I am dreaming)

[Frenchy56]

21 minutes ago, Yogiflight said:

 and the ground crew cumming to the aircrafts to welcome the pilots.

Well, that's a bit of a warm welcome I'd say.

Edited March 28, 2018 by Frenchy56

[Ghost666]

23 minutes ago, Yogiflight said:

 the ground crew cumming to the aircrafts to welcome the pilots. (OK, now I am dreaming)

They are not coming to "welcome the pilots", they want to see what damage he caused to THERE  aircraft.

[Solmyr]

2 hours ago, dburne said:

The AI can definitely park the aircraft, I see them do it.

 

I too would like that option to start parked, but I think starting parked may be difficult for the current AI.  Coordinating a flight of 4 or 6 aircraft with only one of them being human controlled, to taxi together to the runway and take off in order is probably a daunting task.

 

This and this.

[56RAF_Roblex]

2 hours ago, engrish_major said:

Also I just played one campaign - Albert's Life maybe - where each mission is started parked, and your whole group taxiis with you to the runway. It worked fine in that campaign, but I don't know if the creator had to code that specifically each mission or for the specific airfield. I don't know anything about the mission builder - I just know that I've seen it in action and work well.

 

I had a different experience from you.  I loved starting in the revetment and taxiing out but even though the  rest of the flight taxied out and lined up on the runway behind me, they often failed to take off when I did.   I flew most of my missions with half the flight sitting on the runway refusing to move.    You had to taxi to exactly the right spot to make the follow you.  If I remember right it had to be far enough forward for two more rows to fit behind and slightly to the right of centre.  Get it wrong and the AI could not stop where they wanted and got confused and could not follow you.

[JG4_Sputnik]

+1 for starting parked. Its a part of the fun for me to start, check all the gauges and levers and line up for take off. It adds to the immersion a lot. I really hope that option comes soon.

[Feathered_IV]

12 hours ago, Warpig said:

The only true way for me to learn to taxi, is to force myself to do so while playing missions. I am aware that I could simply create a Quick Mission to do this, but to choose to do such a redundant task, is not going to happen. For me personally, the best approach is to be thrown into the fire, so-to-speak.

 

Rather than learning to taxi in MP,  it would be much better for myself (and the MP community) to allow us to integrate this training into career mode.

 

Why wait.  You  can practice your ability to taxi in the career right now... by taxiing back to your revetment after every mission.

[Herne]

6 minutes ago, Feathered_IV said:

 

Why wait.  You  can practice your ability to taxi in the career right now... by taxiing back to your revetment after every mission.

 

I do this routinely, I still miss the start from parked though. Somehow it makes the sortie feel more complete

[Chief_Mouser]

I too would like the option to start parked, although I am ok with a runway start too. What I would like to see for the runway option is a delay in the AI taking off. The flare goes up and they hare off before I've got my controls (flaps, trim, prop pitch, mixture, etc) set, so by the time I'm ready half of them are gone. Just a simple 30-second delay would suffice.

PS I mistakenly started the first mission of a Bf110 career in the air... materialised at 10m height inside a forest. Boom. Dead. Short career.

Edited March 29, 2018 by 216th_Cat

[Gambit21]

18 hours ago, Pupo said:

AFAIK, the AI can not park aircraft, as such, starting parked would not work very well in the career.

 

Yes they can, that's not the issue.

[Lusekofte]

I do not mind the option, but in scripted campaign about stuka we start as parked, and it took 1 hour to get in the air. AI is not good in this task. I would not use it for this reason. But the idea appeal if it had worked. I tried to do this in QMB missions in old IL 2, with better ai. They waited on eachother in crossroads and stopped for ever. I think this is a feature shared by all AI in all brands

[Gambit21]

16 hours ago, FarflungWanderer said:

I am curious as to how other flight sims program it. Is there a set pathing that the AI automatically follows based off of some generic "take-off" script, or do you manually need to tell the flight to taxi to the strip and then take off?

 

I have entire flights taxiing from revetments to the runway in my A-20 campaign - see screen shots in my A-20 scripted campaign thread.

It's pathing/waypoionts set with the airfield 'object' MCU. It's absent in the career currently, but not absent in the sim.

 

Previously aircraft took FOREVER to properly line up on the runway for take off, causing you to sit there for 5 minutes or more waiting for the guy behind you, or behind him to finally creep into position so that the leader would finally take off. This problem has been fixed.

 

 

Just now, 216th_LuseKofte said:

I do not mind the option, but in scripted campaign about stuka we start as parked, and it took 1 hour to get in the air. AI is not good in this task.

 

It's better now.

[Lusekofte]

1 minute ago, Gambit21 said:

It's better now.

OK thanks , then I will start the scripted stuka campaign again and try it out. And I think this is a splendid idea. I do not mind the time it takes, I like procedures and immersion much more than getting finnished fast

[Gambit21]

Here's a shot in the editor of the airfield waypoints placed, both for taxi/takeoff and landing/taxi/park, and a shot of a flight taxiiing to the runway.

When landing each aircraft will taxi to the final waypoint one by one and delete.

[dburne]

1 hour ago, 216th_Cat said:

I too would like the option to start parked, although I am ok with a runway start too. What I would like to see for the runway option is a delay in the AI taking off. The flare goes up and they hare off before I've got my controls (flaps, trim, prop pitch, mixture, etc) set, so by the time I'm ready half of them are gone. Just a simple 30-second delay would suffice.

PS I mistakenly started the first mission of a Bf110 career in the air... materialised at 10m height inside a forest. Boom. Dead. Short career.

 

Agreed.

By the time I set everything in my Spit up for takeoff, the leader is already starting his run. I have to act quickly to get set up and rolling.

[Yogiflight]

2 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

Previously aircraft took FOREVER to properly line up on the runway for take off, causing you to sit there for 5 minutes or more waiting for the guy behind you, or behind him to finally creep into position so that the leader would finally take off. This problem has been fixed.

It worked pretty well in your Ju52 missions, but this might be, because AI didn't have to taxi on a taxiway, because we started on an open airfield.

56 minutes ago, dburne said:

By the time I set everything in my Spit up for takeoff, the leader is already starting his run. I have to act quickly to get set up and rolling.

In the aircrafts, that need some more preparation for start, I do some of the preparations during my takeoff run, so I don't get a tirade from my flightleader for not staying in the flight.

[dburne]

22 minutes ago, Yogiflight said:

 

In the aircrafts, that need some more preparation for start, I do some of the preparations during my takeoff run, so I don't get a tirade from my flightleader for not staying in the flight.

 

Well aren't you the ambidextrous one !