Question on using Cold Start on some airfields in Bodenplatte

[dburne]

One thing I have notice on the Bodenplatte map, at least more so than in previous maps. Some of the larger airfields can have some pretty complex

taxi ways going from cold start to the assigned runway. Now this is no issue if one is not the leader, just follow the guy in front of you.

But if I am the leader, I am like I have no idea where the heck to go. I mean I know how to check for the flag to see which way I am taking off, but getting there can be daunting,  One time I did it and totally lost the rest of the flight, it was like they just disappeared out of the mission.

 

So that brings me to my question. Perhaps a dumb one but here goes.  If I happen to be the leader in the mission and am not sure where to go, can I lag behind and follow someone

else for the appropriate taxi ways, or will this even work?

[Murleen]

You could try to taxi forward until your #2 starts moving, then pull off the taxi way and let them overtake and see if you can follow.

 

I usually switch to external view and zoom out to plot the route to the runway 

[Shakey60]

After startup, you could hit auto pilot and note the route your aircraft takes.

 

I'm not sure, but I think there are taxi waypoints the leader must hit for the AI to follow properly.

[dburne]

35 minutes ago, Murleen said:

You could try to taxi forward until your #2 starts moving, then pull off the taxi way and let them overtake and see if you can follow.

 

I usually switch to external view and zoom out to plot the route to the runway 

 

Thanks I will try that.

No zooming out in exterior would probably not work, as on the larger ones there can be multiple ways to get there really. I use that method fine

on smaller ones where there really only one way to go to each end.

Even some of my P-51 wingmen are getting confused and running into each other.

Edited June 15, 2020 by dburne

[Murleen]

12 hours ago, Shakey60 said:

After startup, you could hit auto pilot and note the route your aircraft takes.

 

I'm not sure, but I think there are taxi waypoints the leader must hit for the AI to follow properly.

 

I think if you miss the waypoints and the AI get stuck waiting, then once you hit the runway they'll then start to taxi.

[Yogiflight]

52 minutes ago, Murleen said:

 

I think if you miss the waypoints and the AI get stuck waiting, then once you hit the runway they'll then start to taxi.

As soon as you hit the next waypoint. I had it a few times, that I missed the first waypoint, when having one AI behind me, so he started taxiing not before I had hit the next waypoint.

An issue I have is the positioning at the start on the runway. When I position my aircraft in the same distance or even a bit less to the aircraft left or right in front of me, than the AI does, I will not trigger the aircraft behind me for start. And I have to stand at the correct position before the AI behind me comes to the runway. Correcting my position after he reached it, doesn't have any effect anymore.

[TheSNAFU]

17 hours ago, dburne said:

One thing I have notice on the Bodenplatte map, at least more so than in previous maps. Some of the larger airfields can have some pretty complex

taxi ways going from cold start to the assigned runway. Now this is no issue if one is not the leader, just follow the guy in front of you.

But if I am the leader, I am like I have no idea where the heck to go. I mean I know how to check for the flag to see which way I am taking off, but getting there can be daunting,  One time I did it and totally lost the rest of the flight, it was like they just disappeared out of the mission.

 

So that brings me to my question. Perhaps a dumb one but here goes.  If I happen to be the leader in the mission and am not sure where to go, can I lag behind and follow someone

else for the appropriate taxi ways, or will this even work?

One thing you could do is let the ai as flight leader taxi to the runway on a test run to see where it goes along the way and follow that path when you lead. 
 

I have yet to have any issues with flight mates not taxiing properly to their runway positions. 

Edited June 16, 2020 by TheSNAFU

[Yogiflight]

3 minutes ago, TheSNAFU said:

I have yet to have any issues with flight mates not taxiing properly to their runway positions. 

If they don't take their start position on the runway, it might be the issue, I posted above your post.

[Shakey60]

15 hours ago, Murleen said:

 

I think if you miss the waypoints and the AI get stuck waiting, then once you hit the runway they'll then start to taxi.

That's good to know.

 

I'll be more patient and wait for them lol. 

[migmadmarine]

You could always fly up with the F11 camera to see which is the active runway, and what the path to it is from there. 

[dburne]

10 hours ago, migmadmarine said:

You could always fly up with the F11 camera to see which is the active runway, and what the path to it is from there. 

 

Yeah I have no problem spotting which end of the runway to taxi my plane.

Problem I have mostly in Bodenplatte map is there can be some pretty convoluted taxi ways to get there on certain airfields.

Only way I can see for sure which to take is following an AI plane. If I am in lead and go wrong way, at times the other AI I guess give up and exit the mission.

I did one where it took me like 15 min to get to the runway only to discover the other three ai wingmen had disappeared completely.

So I just ended the mission and scored it in frustration.

 

Have not had much time to sim this week due to our company here,  next time I find that situation I will try letting another wingman go ahead of me if I am flight lead.