Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: tailblues on May 15, 2007, 07:08:40 AM

Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: tailblues on May 15, 2007, 07:08:40 AM
As far as I see in the game (well, I might be wrong), altitude is written in feets, speeds are written in mph, and plane-to-plane distance is described in yards, and no way to change that to metrics. Is it possible to change any of these to metrics? (at least in the gauges). I've tried a search of the forum with, "metric, gague" it seems that customization is possible... Do we have some link to sets of metric gagues that can be used with german planes?

---

Strange thing is that, with more than 10 years of flying in virtual world, I feel I'm quite used to the feet/mile system. But in real world, not at all. In the simulation, I can feel how fast is 100mph (well, at least I know how to handle my plane not to stall ), but in the real world (well, driving a car in US, in a business trip), riding in 56MPH doesn't give me any clue. Same for feet. In terms of altitue, 10000 ft means something for me (say, 10k feet, years of flight-sim, I know how high it is), but when I actually fly my ultra-light, I still prefer metric-altitude.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: ColKLink on May 15, 2007, 07:15:02 AM
56 mph in the states?  thats residentual areas, e-way is 75 mph in michigan, at least, since being here in canada, i see why their traffic fatalitys are  low, compared to the u.s., they only let the canadians drive at 80 kmph...(feels like about 40 mph)..AND yes ive been pulled over many times, but I gotta admit the canadian fuzz has been a gracious host, never got a ticket.:t
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Lusche on May 15, 2007, 07:16:41 AM
From a recent thread in the wishlist forum:

Not going to happen gents. And it is not a point of realism or preferences.    The problem is when fly planes in both English and metric. It instantly adds more work load to flying a metric plane if your primary rides English or visa versa.    2nd Communication becomes a major pain when different units are used with different airplanes.    3rd I have done both metric and English in a previous life, hated it so much it is not going to happen.      HiTech
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Xasthur on May 15, 2007, 11:31:20 AM
:cry
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: tailblues on May 17, 2007, 02:30:41 AM
thanks for the pointing to the wishlist post, Lusche!

So HT wants to keep one measure system gamewide... hmm.. I can understand his point. But still, I would love to see some km speed meter and altitude gagues....
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: CarlsBee on May 17, 2007, 07:59:10 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Lusche
From a recent thread in the wishlist forum:

Not going to happen gents. And it is not a point of realism or preferences.    The problem is when fly planes in both English and metric. It instantly adds more work load to flying a metric plane if your primary rides English or visa versa.    2nd Communication becomes a major pain when different units are used with different airplanes.    3rd I have done both metric and English in a previous life, hated it so much it is not going to happen.      HiTech


Damn americans.

:rofl
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: The Fugitive on May 17, 2007, 08:52:34 AM
Quote
Originally posted by tailblues
thanks for the pointing to the wishlist post, Lusche!

So HT wants to keep one measure system gamewide... hmm.. I can understand his point. But still, I would love to see some km speed meter and altitude gagues....


Well there is one way you could get this done, but I think you'd need a good plan.

Just get the USA to switch to metric ! :D
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: rodak on May 17, 2007, 09:25:47 AM
Were some axis planes in metric or did they use knots instead of mph?  Just wondering....
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Lusche on May 17, 2007, 09:36:15 AM
Quote
Originally posted by rodak
Were some axis planes in metric or did they use knots instead of mph?  Just wondering....


Metric only.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Viking on May 17, 2007, 09:38:30 AM
Only the British Empire and Americans used Imperial units. The rest of the world used metric instrumentation. The Russians still do.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: TinmanX on May 17, 2007, 10:29:27 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Viking
Only the British Empire and Americans used Imperial units. The rest of the world used metric instrumentation. The Russians still do.


Actually, Britain is officially a Metric country. It is taught in schools and used throughout, however, Imperial measurements are often displayed alongside their  Metric equivalents. This is part of the phasing system of introducing metric to the country - which started in the late 60's, fading the Imperial system out slowly so as not to adversely effect the older generation who have spent so long with Imperial.

The U.S tried to adopt the Metric system but did it in a kind of overnight "Here it is!" way. It didn't really catch on, I understand.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Lusche on May 17, 2007, 10:33:49 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Viking
Only the British Empire and Americans used Imperial units. The rest of the world used metric instrumentation. The Russians still do.


Only three third-world countries do officially use non-metric systems today: Liberia, Myanmar and the United States of America. ;)
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Tango on May 17, 2007, 10:33:57 AM
Quote
Originally posted by CarlsBee
Damn americans.

:rofl


Damn everybody else. :D
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: cpxxx on May 17, 2007, 01:13:15 PM
The airlines worldwide use feet and knots. All Flight levels are feet and speeds are knots. There has to be some standardisation and in this case imperials units won. I could be wrong but I think only America uses inches of mercury for altimeter settings, everyone else used millibars or hectopascals.

Also I notice the US military uses metric for distances anyway. When you think about it, imperial measurements are ridiculous. Who decided that there were 5280 feet in a mile anyway. (Must check google!)The Irish mile was longer again, which explains why we are always late:lol

To be honest I don't think it matters in AH, what they use as long as it's the same for everyone. In any case I never pay attention to the numbers, unlike real life. I could care less what height I am as long as I'm higher than the bogie I'm about to bounce. Speed is irrelevant too as long as I can get away from the above bogie after I miss him completely.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: LTARsqrl on May 17, 2007, 01:39:14 PM
Then why is it, that when I am blasting away at men/women in buffs, they are 3.0K +/- above my Ostwind.  Or if school is out, flying Lancs, Liberators  and Fortresses 100m above ground Carpet bombing everything in sight with impunity.
Those aren't yards.  Those are Metric Meters and Kilometers.

Same thing for armor battles.  Distance is measured in Metric units.

Seems like it is a mixed system.  

LTARsqrl  <>  :rolleyes:
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Lusche on May 17, 2007, 01:44:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by LTARsqrl
Then why is it, that when I am blasting away at men/women in buffs, they are 3.0K +/- above my Ostwind.  Or if school is out, flying Lancs, Liberators  and Fortresses 100m above ground Carpet bombing everything in sight with impunity.
Those aren't yards.  Those are Metric Meters and Kilometers.

Same thing for armor battles.  Distance is measured in Metric units.

Seems like it is a mixed system.  

LTARsqrl  <>  :rolleyes:


It is not. Distances are given in yards and kiloyards.
1K = 1 kiloyard= 1000yrds
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: scottydawg on May 17, 2007, 02:39:15 PM
I think that feet, miles and mph are standardized international measurements in flight. Not meters or kph.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: scottydawg on May 17, 2007, 02:41:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Lusche
It is not. Distances are given in yards and kiloyards.
1K = 1 kiloyard= 1000yrds


1000 yards is 914 meters.  So, kinda close.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Brooke on May 17, 2007, 03:14:39 PM
If we used the actual units on gauges in the actual aircraft, we'd have to contend with kph and meters for some aircraft (German, IJAAF, Russian, Italian), mph and feet in others (USAAF, RAF, unless RAF was knots), and knots and feet in others (USN, and maybe RN?).  Also, I'm not sure if IJN used kph or knots in the aircraft.

I've flown in games that had that, and it was really hard to switch around among aircraft -- at least for me it was hard to get used to.  You can always do seat-of-the-pants flying, but if you want to check things like your speed, altitude, and rate of climb quickly in combat situations, you need to have the feel of all the different measurement systems then.

Also, if you know stats on aircraft and then want to know, as you are being chased by a Spit 16, say, "Is a Spit 16 faster or slower than the plane I'm in?", multiple systems make it more difficult to know.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Ghastly on May 17, 2007, 03:38:47 PM
In counterpoint, I've never had any real problem switching units as I've switched plane types in other sims that do so.  Oddly enough, when I do fly a sim that mixes it up, I mentally tend to think of height in meters but speed in mph regardless of which aircraft I fly.  The only guage that gives me any real trouble doing "on the fly conversions" is rate of climb.  

The bigger problem I've found with more accurately represented guages in some sims is being able to actually read them on a computer screen in the first place.

But... that's just me.  I wouldn't mind if they were in true units.  And I don't see what it would impact anyone else if the option to always display feet and mph.  Especially with the E6B that's always in standardized units.


Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Tigger29 on May 20, 2007, 02:32:05 PM
It would be cool to see an option though... maybe during game installation or possibly before starting play... US or METRIC measurements.

It seems like it would be simple to make a second set of gauges for the METRIC setting... and beyond that the only difference would be that the distance icon would have to be "re-calibrated" from 1000 yard measurements into kilometers.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Tiger on August 27, 2007, 10:43:48 AM
Quote
Originally posted by TinmanX
Actually, Britain is officially a Metric country. It is taught in schools and used throughout, however, Imperial measurements are often displayed alongside their  Metric equivalents. This is part of the phasing system of introducing metric to the country - which started in the late 60's, fading the Imperial system out slowly so as not to adversely effect the older generation who have spent so long with Imperial.

The U.S tried to adopt the Metric system but did it in a kind of overnight "Here it is!" way. It didn't really catch on, I understand.


-Yes we Americans can thank the British for giving us their measurement system and then bailing out to join the metric world.-

On topic:  I've played games where the gauges were based off of their proper measurements.  It is confusing when going back and forth between nationalities.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: Furious on August 27, 2007, 01:23:32 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Tigger29
It would be cool to see an option though... maybe during game installation or possibly before starting play... US or METRIC measurements.

It seems like it would be simple to make a second set of gauges for the METRIC setting... and beyond that the only difference would be that the distance icon would have to be "re-calibrated" from 1000 yard measurements into kilometers.

HT's point about communication is the most likely the most important reason for not having dual gauges.  Your teammates always know when you say, "he's at 16K going about 350", what you mean.
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: warhed on August 27, 2007, 04:09:38 PM
what are the convergence settings in?  feet or yards?
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: 2bighorn on August 27, 2007, 04:24:05 PM
Quote
Originally posted by scottydawg
I think that feet, miles and mph are standardized international measurements in flight. Not meters or kph.
Nope
Title: Metric gauges?
Post by: TEShaw on August 27, 2007, 04:28:06 PM
my fellow Americans...

Learning the Metric System is in the first week of high school Physics.

Please return to high school and pass those tests you failed so long ago; or, take the first Physics or Chemistry course in your life.

regards, TEShaw