Formation flying

[SgtT]

First of all thanks to everyone for their suggestions on tweaking CFS2, I am enjoying the game tremendously. Have one question though, is there a way to get your wingman/formation to fly closer to you? Is there a setting to tweak for closer formations?

Thanks,

T.

 

[dvslats]

Hi SgtT,
If you create a flight in the mission builder, the .mis file can be hand edited in notepad for a closer formation.

Open the .mis file from CFS2 Missions folder and look for;

[formation.0]
id=6030
type=air
waypoint_path_id=5141
directive=2
hidden=1
formation_type=1
unit_id_position.0=9192,0,0.0,0.0,0.0
unit_id_position.1=9193,0,-300.0,-600.0,0.0 L/R F/B U/D
unit_id_position.2=9194,0,300.0,-600.0,150.0
unit_id_position.3=9195,0,600.0,-1200.0,150.0

Try cutting these in half for starters, then see how the group looks. If they are grouped too close your flight will explode due to the collision bubble.

This is a tip I picked up from bearcat241.

Dave

 

[Devildog73]

How about reducing them by just 1/3rd? That would seem to be the modest collaboration between the bubble and closer formation.

When I get home, I will try it with P-38s in one of the missions I am working on and post results tonight.

 

[Ghostrider]

Do the wingman commands "rejoin" and "split" do anything to tighten/loosen formations?

 

[bearcat241]

All of the different MB formations have a default spread distance between flight a/c. Calling a rejoin just brings everyone back to their default formation positions and spreads. On the other hand, a split command is literal -- everyone scatters to the four winds and some will gradually rejoin on their own.

In order to truly override the default formations and spread distances and bring everyone in closer, you have to manually edit the mission file after the fact, along the lines that DV instructs above.

 

[SgtT]

Thanks all, I can't wait to give it a try.

T.

 

[Nole]

Quote From CFS2 Hardcopy Manual

Do the wingman commands "rejoin" and "split" do anything to tighten/loosen formations?

SPLIT: Issue this command to split your flight in two. This command does not create two flights. It just offsets the current formation. Half your flight stays in its current formation and the other half moves out laterally 1,000 feet, back 500 feet and up 200 feet. If you want to increase the lateral separation of your formation, issue this command more than once. (The other half of your flight won't move back and up more, just farther off to the side.) You can give this command up to eight times. To move the planes closer to you, give the Rejoin command.

 

[Shadow Wolf 07]

Be carefull with decreasing the interval. When I attack surface targets I always give the Split command, designate (bracket the target) give the Attack command, order Split again, designate, Attack etc. I've noticed every time that just before the last Attack order, MY wingman is right on my butt... almost colliding, That may be because I'm already starting to slow down some, preparing to dive on my target.

For air targets I just designate and order Attack without the aditional Splits. I always use one Split though so I can Recall them - cancel all attack orders easily and effectively.