B
Bullethead
Guest
I'm starting this thread to get this issue out of the bullet strength and structural break-up threads because I think it's a separate issue from either.
I'm seeing the following death routines of AI planes:
Anyway, I'm thinking that when the AI pilot dies, he goes "hands off" without further ado. No death grip on the stick, no involuntary spasms from head trauma to kick the controls around, etc. Thus, the plane is left to its own devices and momentum. If it's in a dive, it continues in a dive and soon goes smash. OTOH, if it's going level, it remains going level.
Apart from the FE2 and perhaps the E.III, I've found all planes in OFF to be remarkably stable. They fly along quite well hands off, even if you haven't jacked with the trim. Most have a slight nose-down tendency, but very few of them want to roll or yaw enough to notice, especially at low power. This is with R100, BTW, in case you're wondering.
So what I'm thinking is, perhaps when we see the AI doing that long, slow goodnight, it's a dead man at the controls and the stable plane is just gliding on down by itself.
What say you all?
I'm seeing the following death routines of AI planes:
- plane catches fire, noses down immediately, and crashes quickly
- (rare since 1.25) plane, after being badly hit but left alone for a while due to other threats, eventually stalls at about 1000' and remains somewhat nose-high as it drops straight down from the point of the stall to pancake.
- plane is hit with a snapshot while pointed somewhat nose-down at high speed, and continues its trajectory without attempt to recover.
- plane is badly hit while flying more or less level (usually after being hit enough beforehand to be stuck going straight, level, and slow already), and continues onwards as such, slower and lower, until it finally meets the ground in what appears to be a forced landing until it explodes.
Anyway, I'm thinking that when the AI pilot dies, he goes "hands off" without further ado. No death grip on the stick, no involuntary spasms from head trauma to kick the controls around, etc. Thus, the plane is left to its own devices and momentum. If it's in a dive, it continues in a dive and soon goes smash. OTOH, if it's going level, it remains going level.
Apart from the FE2 and perhaps the E.III, I've found all planes in OFF to be remarkably stable. They fly along quite well hands off, even if you haven't jacked with the trim. Most have a slight nose-down tendency, but very few of them want to roll or yaw enough to notice, especially at low power. This is with R100, BTW, in case you're wondering.
So what I'm thinking is, perhaps when we see the AI doing that long, slow goodnight, it's a dead man at the controls and the stable plane is just gliding on down by itself.
What say you all?