Floatplane docking utility?

[Rallymodeller]

I just about have spinnywing flying out of my system over at Misty Moorings, and was wondering something for when I get back into fixed-wing bush flying. IMO water handling is just about the worst area of MSFS, and low-speed control is basically nonexistent. This makes docking a true pain in the pontoon.

The Gotfriends Wilga has a neat feature where on the water, if you drop the "anchor" the plane acts like the parking brake is on, and when it's free-floating you can use an oar that's attached to the float to wiggle-maneuver the plane around.

What I'm wondering is this: is there some way to add this functionality to any floatplane/amphibian? Not necessarily the oar (though that'd be aces) but definitely the "mooring" feature. A hotkey combo that'd allow you to start and run-up the engine without drifting into the dock/other aircraft/out into the bay?

Thought I'd ask the knowledgeable people here before starting to dig around under MSFS's hood.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tiger1962]

AFAIK the 'anchor' feature is part of the model itself and can't be added to a config file, for example. Mario Noriega's amphibious (and addictive) Nardi FN-333 Riviera has a built-in anchor which sits on the co-pilot's seat where it can be easily clicked down or up. When starting on a water parking spot or runway, the wing floats will extend automatically.

 

[Bomber_12th]

With float planes that don't have an anchor feature, you can use the "Toolbar Pushback" utility: https://flightsim.to/file/15033/toolbar-pushback
When installed, the utility is available from the in-sim handle bar options, so it's very easy to access and use. Simply set the tug speed to 0, assign a pushback key to your setup, and then you can hold your position in the water/at a dock to simulate being anchored or tied down.

 

[Rallymodeller]

With float planes that don't have an anchor feature, you can use the "Toolbar Pushback" utility: https://flightsim.to/file/15033/toolbar-pushback
When installed, the utility is available from the in-sim handle bar options, so it's very easy to access and use. Simply set the tug speed to 0, assign a pushback key to your setup, and then you can hold your position in the water/at a dock to simulate being anchored or tied down.

Neat! That'd also probably work for the "rowing out" part. Downloading now.

I really need to learn how to make stuff like that. A dedicated addon for floatplanes would still be better, methinks.

 

[lagaffe]

Sorry to disagree but if you know how to modify a xml file you can add theses lines to the interior XML file.
If the aircraft has a Parking Brake, theses lines add the new function to it, if not using a keyboard shorkcut you can activate this "factice anchor".

<!-- ANCHOR SIMULATION ######################################## -->
<Component ID="Anchor_Simulation">
<Update Frequency="1">
(A:CONTACT POINT WATER DEPTH:4, Feet) 0 &gt; (A:BRAKE PARKING POSITION, Percent) 100 == and
if{
(A:IS LATITUDE LONGITUDE FREEZE ON, Bool) !
if{
1 (&gt;K:FREEZE_LATITUDE_LONGITUDE_SET)
}
} els{
(A:IS LATITUDE LONGITUDE FREEZE ON, Bool) if{
0 (&gt;K:FREEZE_LATITUDE_LONGITUDE_SET)
}
}
</Update>

 

[Rallymodeller]

Sorry to disagree but if you know how to modify a xml file you can add theses lines to the interior XML file.
If the aircraft has a Parking Brake, theses lines add the new function to it, if not using a keyboard shorkcut you can activate this "factice anchor".

And that's even better! Amazing, thanks!

 

[lagaffe]

You should include theses lines just between the last </component> and the </modelbehavior> tags.