Simplified Flight Model

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Thanks. I have been trying to create modules that programmers can use to create their own flight simulations - with things like the anti-aircraft simulation where you can now specify a target object and a target altitude for the shells to explode.

Yes, NPC combat is what I need to work on next.

I started that same thing about the same time last year on my FM2 simulation. I tried to make it realistic - by having the NPC get on your tail. That got pretty complicated.

This year, I will try it on my Camel simulation and I will start with a much simpler objective of having the NPC fly towards you. Because the NPC turn rate will be limited, that should evolve into the kind of turning fights I have been hoping to simulate. And, as I learn more, I should be able to improve the quality of the battles.

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This is a big update! After months of trying, I have finally been able to implement rudimentary air combat in the Sopwith Camel flight demo!

The combat will begin when you have climbed to above 800 feet (they want to give you a sporting chance), The AA will stop (because your people don’t want to hit you) and one of the NPC airplanes will engage you.

To engage the NPC, I recommend the following:

  1. Take off and start a climbing turn to the right (East), away from the NPCs.
  2. Extend a bit to the East for spacing.
  3. Continue the turn until you are following the NPCs (West).
  4. Continue to climb. When you reach 800 feet, the fun will begin!

At present, the NPC is overpowered (for many reasons), so you probably won’t be able to get on his tail, but he can get on yours. I will be working on changes to make his performance more realistic, which should help level the playing field. Other changes will involve allowing him to fire his guns and allowing you to shoot him down. Long term plans involve NPC to NPC combat.

Unfortunately, the fixes that I have made in creating this scenario have somehow made things worse for the NPCs in the FM2 demo. I will fix that when I add air combat to that demo.

UPDATE (May 26)
I have limited the NPC bank angle to 60 degrees, which will give you a sporting chance to beat him. Next, we need to activate the “shoot down” graphics.

UPDATE (May 30)
The “shoot down” graphics now work. Each of the 3 fighter aircraft will now attack in order. All 3 are now easy to shoot down (10 hits, big hit box, max bank = 60). Later, I will make each airplane harder to shoot down. You can’t shoot down the bomber yet. Next we need to allow the airplanes to shoot at you, including the bomber.

UPDATE (June 2)
Each enemy aircraft will be more difficult and they will shoot at you if you are ahead of them.

UPDATE (June 8)
This is a fun update.

By pressing the “N” key you can now cycle through external views of all the airplanes, including the NPCs. Because of the greater distances and speeds involved In the FM2 simulation, I will be using this to help adjust the behavior of the NPC airplanes. I have now modified the NPC airplanes so that they can now chase other NPC airplanes. I now have the Zero NPC actually chasing the FM2 NPC.

In the FM2 demo, I have also updated the output information to indicate the horizontal direction and distance of the target. For your airplane, that gives information for the Zero NPC. For the Zero NPC, that gives information for the FM2 NPC.

The only bug so far is that the demo will stop if you have switched to an enemy NPC which is shot down. I will soon be changing the final sequence for destroyed NPC airplanes to eliminate that problem.

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