Lesson: How to lock on a AI or multiplayer plane (FSXP)

This lesson describes in detail how you can lock onto multiplayer or AI planes with the help of FSXP - and fly a semiautomated approach to the target.

Good morning!

Today we want to learn something Top-Gun-style: about locking on a plane or helicopter with FSXP and try to find and follow the plane.

Initially: This only works with FSXP (for FSX), it is not planned to implement this rather nice functionality in FSP for FS2004. Reason: No SDK available, too time consuming, FS9 will die anyway :-(

As most of you know: FSX creates AI (artificial) planes and helicopters as well as moving ground objects. And, there is the possibility to connect 'multiplayer', so that you can meet other users aircraft in the sky.

The question is (after login or after the start of the simulation): Where are all those planes ? Even for a very good sim pilot it can be very difficult to find the AI traffic or multiplayer planes. Mostly because FSX shows them (on screen) only if you and the plane are less than 10 nautical miles apart. You don't see the aircraft itself unless you are very close. AI traffic headings are not displayed.

It is important that AI planes are generated by the FSX-inbuild AI traffic generator and you as a user can decide how many of those are present in the simulation. You will find the appropriate function in 'Options' of FSX.

Even if you have selected many of AI planes to be created, you start the simulation and: where are all those buggers ?

With FSXP you can find all of them on the EFIS. With one limitation: range of the EFIS: 100 nm. AI and MP planes will be displayed BRIGHTPINK and helicopters will be shown PURPLE.

Now: Step by Step.

Still on ground, select a wide EFIS range (80 nm), click away the GPS targets and the airport infos (STRG left click and SHIFT left click on the EFIS) and scan the area for aircraft in the air.
Each of tem will show 2 lines of text: Line 1: the ident number of the plane, Line 2: heading (deg), altitude (ft), and speed (kts). Choose one not too far away from your current position by left clicking directly onto the radar symbol of the target aircraft. As soon as you see a yellow circle around this aircraft, you have LOCKED it. Yes, you are locked, Mr. Cruise.
We know that this procedure (selecting the target by clicking) can be a bit difficult sometimes (if your targets has lots of other targets around him). In that case, simply try again until you have the lock (your target aircraft is circled yellow on the EFIS). You might want to try with a different range setting.

Take off as described previously.

Adjust the target altitude of FSXP to the proper altitude in which your target is flying. AI planes usually fly at their cruising altitude most of the time and with high precision, and you don't have to expect altitude changes. If the AI planes sinks, then for landing. Here FSXP gives up: It will not follow a AI landing approach (in this version :-) . But you can do this by hand and use the EFIS for orientation.

But let's find it first:

Select a steep climb rate (2000 ft/min or more in a LJ45)
Select a high speed so that you will reach your object in time. You will be astonished how long it can take to reach your target.
Press the NAV button. Your AC will turn towards the target, climb and accelerate.

Now you can wait. FSXP will automatically turn towards your moving target, and after reaching the predefined altitude, it will level out.

If your target is a jet (say a B737) and about 40 miles away, the approach time can sum up to 20 minutes or more. They usually fly very high and nearly full speed - you will have to break FSX's speed limits to catch up. Of course it is wise to plan a target or formation flight with a similar or faster aircraft as your target (follow a B737 or Airbus with a privat or passenger jet). A fighter aircraft will always do, but you must practise the airbrakes (not to overshoot).

If you switch EFIS modes to the status page and select page 2, you see detailed information of your victim (Model, Type, distance in meters). Switch back to NAV mode.

FSXP will place your AC reliably behind the target with astonishing precision. In front/front situations FSXP will fly a 180 behind the target, and catch up in line. If it overshoots, FSXP will fly a 360 and initiate a new approach. We did not want to make all that too complicated, or too easy. Do not expect wingtip/wingtip rendevouz precision, at least not in this version.

2000 m inbound your target FSXP will reduce the speed to (target speed[IAS]) + 30 kts and will, from now on, not try to lock onto the target directly but rather define the target's present heading into the FSXP. This gives a much better approach, because you will see: The AI aircraft tend to slinger through the air ....

500 m inbound the target your speed will be set to the target's own speed.

Fire.

Now seriously: many times you will be able to fly some time very close to the target automatically. If not, switch NAV off and select HDG. Define identical headings and modify speed settings until your are very close to your targets.

I personally like to take over now manually and fly a real close rendevouz with the target. If done, you may want to let your AC fall back a bit and just follow the AI to it's destination:
Decelerate, in 5 nm distance choose target AC speed and press NAV. Have a coffee or beer.


Some remarks:

We tested this with AI aircraft, multiplayer planes and helicopters. Fine !

TIP: Try this in helicopters. Helis and FSXP are VERY nice for following other objects like slow planes or other HELIS.

Limitations: No ground objects in this version. Simconnect (the module that links our software to FSX) tends to forget AI aircraft from time to time and then 'remembers' them after 2 seconds. Thanks to our clever programmer you do not recognized this ! Our AI directory get's updated every second. That is why you see 'stutters' of AI planes on the EFIS. Simconnect further prevents us from querying the AI's destination airport, which would be nice: Just wait until a AI comes by with an interesting destination, take-off, and lock onto the plane until you reach your airport. There is no workaround yet :-(

Please remember to register: Display of additional AC information (not just ident) and NAV to AC is evaluation period and registered version only.

Now: Much luck, Mr. Cruise, and a good hunt. Give regards to Kelly if you see her ....