Sorry about the length of this one; but the only way to really answer this is USENET-style...
> Talk to a few Air Force folks or Navy
> fliers.
I do, quite frequently in fact.
> I have been through just about
> every 'combat' flight simulation out
> there. Lot of eye candy. Not a lot of
> flight model.
I'm curious, what sims you you consider to have a good flight model?
> I also have some few hours in the real
> thing (military combat flight
> simulations).
Me too. And a fair amount of time around the real jets (first as a maintainer, later as a flight test engineering tech). Mostly F-14's and F/A-18's.
> Not many cause I was not a military pilot
> but had friends who were. The differences
> are glaring and obvious.
Not always, depends on the sim.
> I asked a few of the guys who built the
> things how they did it. You know the folks
> from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, etc? Their
> overwhelming response was: You take the
> operating manuual for the plane and plug
> it in to the physics model.
LOL, if only it were that simple. Most Dash Ones/NATOPS don't have the right data for this actually. For certain aspects, yes, but they aren't as useful as actual wind tunnel data and actual stability derivatives.
> Get the numbers right, then have a few
> pilots test it and tell you what is and
> isn't right, fix that. adjust the dials to
> reflect the correct numbers and then plug
> in the rest of the stuff.
Not "dials", try "equations". What exactly is "the rest of the stuff"? Ahh...that's the part we used to call "FM" back when I wore a uniform...
> Of course with your vast knowledge you
> already knew all that right?
And then some, actually. And here's one for you to consider...I'm not even a programmer.
> Anyhow you are correct I do not know who
> you are. Therefore, I will not make such
> rash statements about your knowledge of
> flight simulations that you have made
> about mine.
Only pointing out the holes in your "rash statements".
> I have run across a couple folks with
> similar attitudes.
Gee, you think my handle might give you a clue as to my nature?
Plus I'm even more cranky than usual because I've been crunching for the last eight months. Almost finished though...
Look dude, I have no ill will towards you. You wanna point out some issues with the B-17 flight model, fine by me...just remember, this is beta, and that Pyro has already said the current engine management systems were not complete. You can be helpful by posting your references and factiods (in the proper forum, I might add) instead of asking if its going to be fixed. The answer to that has already been given.
Whether or not the "final" result matches your expectations is another matter. Game design, including flight sim design, is all about compromise. Not everyone gets that.
Damn this got long. Sorry...I know, I hate that too.
-Smut
------------------
XO, The squealing Pigs
"Oink! Oink! To War!"
[This message has been edited by Smut (edited 11-18-1999).]