4-12 wish list (Merged)

[Lagarto]

Originally Posted by _1SMV_Gitano

central tunisia map is on hold.

Too bad but thanks for the heads-up, much appreciated.

[magot]

Some next generic MTO objects - buildings, accessories are in WIP. With template from North Africa/Tunisia.

[secretone]

Offline, I have noticed damaged AI piloted planes flying the pattern waiting their turn to land at an airport only to crash before their turn comes up. I wonder if it would make sense for AI aircraft to request landing priority in cases of low fuel, damage or wounded crew?

I have read that 8th Airforce B-17's shot off flares near the field when they were returning with wounded crew.

On a separate topic, I have also read that some American control towers used light guns with green, red and white colors to communicate with aircraft that did not have radios. I do not know if other countries also used this system but it might be fun to incorporate it into the game.

[Pfeil]

Originally Posted by secretone

On a separate topic, I have also read that some American control towers used light guns with green, red and white colors to communicate with aircraft that did not have radios.

It seems this system is still in use. While browsing youtube I came across the following video about landing an aircraft with full electric failure. The tower uses such a colored light to instruct it(Even if it's not very visible on camera).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbbWblgGtwY

Edit: And an intructional video on the subject from my youtube suggestions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQuyF89meM

[1984]

Originally Posted by IceFire

I didn't know that the Yak-9K had an ammo counter. Interesting!

from "yak-9" by Yakubovish (personally i can't say what it's really good book, but would be happy if someday can take a look at documents which he used, apparently, lot of answers to lot of questions), photo on page 39 (attached + photo of cockpit of, apparently, just yak-9), and in captions to photo - "ammo counter in cockpit of yak-9t"...

apparently, looks like german ammo counter, but circle instead bars...

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by secretone

Offline, I have noticed damaged AI piloted planes flying the pattern waiting their turn to land at an airport only to crash before their turn comes up. I wonder if it would make sense for AI aircraft to request landing priority in cases of low fuel, damage or wounded crew?

+1 This has been requested before, along with improvements in when and how AI crew choose to bail out, ditch or crash land.

Originally Posted by secretone

I have read that 8th Airforce B-17's shot off flares near the field when they were returning with wounded crew.

It wasn't just B-17 that dropped flares to indicate wounded aboard and request priority landing. It was standard operating procedure for all U.S. bombers as a method of keeping radio silence (it kept the enemy from knowing that they'd damaged bombers/wounded enemy aircrew).

I wouldn't be surprised if all air forces did it.

The ability to drop flares would be extremely welcome and will be necessary if TD ever decides to take the sim in the direction of artillery spotting or high altitude night bombing operations. It's also easy to model - mods that allow you to do it have been around for years.

Originally Posted by secretone

On a separate topic, I have also read that some American control towers used light guns with green, red and white colors to communicate with aircraft that did not have radios. I do not know if other countries also used this system but it might be fun to incorporate it into the game.

Coded flares were used by all air forces, for a number of purposes. Not only could control towers shoot off flares (as IFF, direction signals or communications tools) but planes could drop flares for the same reasons.

Another use of flares which would be useful in the game and probably easy to implement is the the ability to drop flares to make friendly flak stop shooting. It's simpler and quicker to drop a color-coded flare than to try to get radio contact with every flak station.

[Heinerich]

would it be possible to bind the positionlights ([Static]-Smoke.Smoke$Smoke11 up to ...$Smoke15) to the "[Born Place]" in the same way as to the "regular" airfields ?
so that even may request via radio to turn lights on at self-built-airfields too ?
right now they "shine" permanently.

[Pfeil]

Originally Posted by Heinerich

right now [the lights] "shine" permanently.

In general it would be nice to have time controlled lights.
Where lights can be set to illuminate from/to a certain time in the object window.

This would prevent them from staying on during the day, and allows airport illumination to be automated.

They could also serve as a beacon in SAR missions, or to indicate an air to ground target that is "painted" at a certain time(though this would work best with triggers).

Another nice feature would be blinking lights, where an interval can be set in the object window.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Pfeil

In general it would be nice to have time controlled lights.

This ability could also be used for time-controlled fires. You could set the time that fires (especially large fires) burn to simulate firefighting, fires going out naturally or just to save computer resources.

You could set a time as a mission trigger or make it player controlled - either in the GUI or, if appropriate, in the game.

Originally Posted by Pfeil

They could also serve as a beacon in SAR missions, or to indicate an air to ground target that is "painted" at a certain time(though this would work best with triggers).

The ability to trigger lights could also be used to trigger other events, such as shooting flares or turning on searchlights.

Originally Posted by Pfeil

Another nice feature would be blinking lights, where an interval can be set in the object window.

It would also be cool if planes could trigger events by flashing their navigation or landing lights, by dropping flares or by waggling wings. For example, if your radio is out the ground control could flash a signal at you. You'd respond by waggling wings or flashing lights and the ground station would acknowledge it.

Even cooler would be the ability to have Aldiss lamps in the game, so that ships and ground stations could send Morse code messages to planes and vice-versa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_lamp

Hand-held Aldiss Lamp here:

http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Aldis%2...y%20pistol.htm

Actually, this web site is a pretty good resource for 1930s & 1940s era ATC procedures. Lots of good ideas for modders or our beloved DT.