Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: g00b on November 08, 2005, 05:29:06 PM

Title: Contrails
Post by: g00b on November 08, 2005, 05:29:06 PM
I KNOW this has been mentioned before. I searched for it and got no hits. Anyhow....

Can we please have engine contrails from bombers at altitude?

Can we please have wing tip vortices contrails from hard manuevering fighters?

It really doesn't seem like it would take much to implement and would add greatly to the immersion.

g00b
Title: Contrails
Post by: Skilless on November 08, 2005, 05:38:42 PM
I agree completely.  The only problen is, do most bombers get to an historically correct alt in AH to have contrails? and if not, would it be proper to have them at a lower altitude?

Fighter wing-tip contrails are an exellent idea.



"It really doesn't seem like it would take much to implement and would add greatly to the immersion."

It could probably be just a modification of the airshow smoke model.
Title: Contrails
Post by: g00b on November 08, 2005, 05:42:51 PM
Quote
It could probably be just a modification of the airshow smoke model.


My thoughts exactly...
Title: Contrails
Post by: SuperDud on November 08, 2005, 05:52:48 PM
Yup, would be neat.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Treize69 on November 08, 2005, 06:28:42 PM
Maybe have all aircraft above 17K get contrails?
Title: Contrails
Post by: pigface on November 08, 2005, 10:21:55 PM
that would be awesome! I'd be in akakosphere all the time, writing "theres a Pigface in your neighborhood!" with my 38. I'm likeing this game more each day. Make it so Hitech. My wish would be longer trails than the smoke. I know.. fps. still.
Title: Contrails
Post by: kevykev56 on November 09, 2005, 07:39:05 AM
Quote
Originally posted by pigface
Make it so Hitech. My wish would be longer trails than the smoke. I know.. fps. still.




A check box in the video section for Contrails On/Off....FPS prob solved
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kurt on November 09, 2005, 10:43:53 PM
Adding my lame-o 'me too'.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Mr No Name on November 09, 2005, 10:44:46 PM
Me3
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kurt on November 10, 2005, 09:25:45 PM
I'm surprised this topic keeps falling off... Imagine the great awareness you would gain when you can tell how hard your opponent is pulling the plane by the length of those wing-tip streamers... This would be a huge enhancement..

I can't believe so few people have an opinion on it.
Title: Contrails
Post by: SMIDSY on November 11, 2005, 05:51:15 PM
i suggested this awhile ago. nobody responded and the thread died as fast as i could wright it.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Elyeh on November 12, 2005, 04:34:23 AM
just something else to eat up frame rates....

But aircraft would have to be at a high enough alt before contrails would form. I believe it has to do with the air temp.
Title: Re: Contrails
Post by: viper215 on November 12, 2005, 03:49:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by g00b
I KNOW this has been mentioned before. I searched for it and got no hits. Anyhow....

Can we please have engine contrails from bombers at altitude?

Can we please have wing tip vortices contrails from hard manuevering fighters?

\g00b


can we please just kill our fps?
Title: Contrails
Post by: g00b on November 12, 2005, 05:04:15 PM
You guys have no idea what the performance hit would be. And it could just be a client side option anyways...
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kurt on November 12, 2005, 05:15:57 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Elyeh
just something else to eat up frame rates....

But aircraft would have to be at a high enough alt before contrails would form. I believe it has to do with the air temp.


Thats true of the engine exhaust... But the vapor off of fighter wing tips is a function compression and humidity.  These can happen in almost any airmass or altitude if the compression (such as during a 7G turn) is sufficient.

The picture below isn't a perfect example because its not a WWII bird, and the vapor trails aren't long... And because the F16 generates a huge amount of its lift right on the wing root (thus thats where the trails appear first)...

Anyhow, this aircraft was going about 250mph at 3000msl (1000 AGL at the location) I took this picture on a relatively warm dry day in June at Van Nuys airport in Los Angeles.  Contrails are clearly visable even at that relatively sedate speed and low altitude with some loading in the turn.  

(http://www.planetstupid.com/graphics/IMG_1461.jpg)
Title: Contrails
Post by: Elyeh on November 13, 2005, 01:44:01 PM
Great Picture!
What camera did you use?
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kurt on November 13, 2005, 03:24:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Elyeh
Great Picture!
What camera did you use?



Thanks for the compliment.
Canon Digital Rebel with a 75-300mm USM zoom.
Title: Contrails
Post by: SMIDSY on November 13, 2005, 08:01:10 PM
i live in the flight path of san jose international airport. on frosty mornings in the winter you can see vapor trails on aircraft that are going only about 200mph in a landing pattern. it is quite a sight to see.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Larry on November 13, 2005, 11:38:54 PM
They should be added before ToD. And if your worryed about FRs from little streams of water vapor I think its time for you to upgrade your computer.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Lye-El on November 14, 2005, 05:30:06 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Larry
They should be added before ToD. And if your worryed about FRs from little streams of water vapor I think its time for you to upgrade your computer.


You could have potentally 20 of them to process with a 10 plane vulchfest.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Larry on November 14, 2005, 06:15:01 PM
Even then if you get a FR hit were you cant fly you need a better computer. I got mine 3 years ago and was geting ok FRs, then I bought a stick of 512mb memory now all the sliders up and RES at 1024 and still get 40+ in a furball.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kurt on December 04, 2005, 12:39:12 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Larry
Even then if you get a FR hit were you cant fly you need a better computer.


If you're already handling the smoke from damaged fighters -- and we all know you are... Then this wouldn't hurt anyone...

Lets get this implimented.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Treize69 on December 04, 2005, 02:08:36 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Lye-El
You could have potentally 20 of them to process with a 10 plane vulchfest.


Thats why I suggested engine contrails above 17K. High enough to be considered "High alt" in the game, since 90% of the fights in the MA seem to happen from about 12K down.

Wingtip contrails could take 5-6G below 300 MPH, about 3-4G above it to be enabled. Just as a quick off-my-head figuring of average loading/speed ratio.
Title: Contrails
Post by: Kweassa on December 04, 2005, 03:57:49 AM
Put in a button to make it an option.
Title: Contrails
Post by: frank3 on December 04, 2005, 04:31:13 AM
Quote
Originally posted by g00b
You guys have no idea what the performance hit would be. And it could just be a client side option anyways...


a normal computer starts to complain when having just 6 bombers in view, now imagine the 6 bombers, have 12 contrails...

The average pilot would either experience terrible lag or total shut down...
Title: Contrails
Post by: Larry on December 04, 2005, 01:05:27 PM
Quote
Originally posted by frank3
a normal computer starts to complain when having just 6 bombers in view, now imagine the 6 bombers, have 12 contrails...

The average pilot would either experience terrible lag or total shut down...



I take it you didnt read what HT said. When ToD comes out bombers will take up alot less FRs when viewed from outside. Thats how they are going to handle 50+ formations of bombers flying together. I would love to see vapor trails and contrails. And like someone else said have it so you can turn them off and on.