Video: FSX AI Formation Toys - Version 4

**flyer01** · March 14th, 2011, 02:01

This video shows that you can add as many planes as you want as AI to fly with using FSX AI Formation Toys.

That is as many as your system can take.

flyer01

***delta_lima*** · March 14th, 2011, 12:04

Surprised no one's commented on this ...

I'm intrigued. I would love to have a tool to set up some training flights for practising formation flying - not those utilities that give you a wingman, but one where I need to keep station on a flight leader. This may just be the ticket!!

Alternatively, a tanker that's always on circuit in a given place/time would also be a treat. This may be the solution too ...

Will definitely try this out ....

thanks,

dl

**W. Bleddyn** · March 14th, 2011, 12:12

Yeah "killerwatt" on the A2A forums posted this back when the Spit was released. It is a pretty cool, but limited toy. You can basically just set them to fly in a large rectangle but very nice for formation practice, photo ops. etc.

What would be a nice addition is if you could tell the AI to fly your flight plan, then use them as wingmen on trips

***Bjoern*** · March 14th, 2011, 12:30

Originally Posted by W. Bleddyn

What would be a nice addition is if you could tell the AI to fly your flight plan, then use them as wingmen on trips

You could set up a flight plan for the AI and then just be its wingie.

Drawback: Only straight and level straight from A to B.

**DaveWG** · March 14th, 2011, 13:22

AI formation toys was developed into AirTrafficFX, which can do the sort of things you're after.

http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=airtrfcfx

**W. Bleddyn** · March 14th, 2011, 13:26

Nice to know, thanks!

**flyer01** · March 14th, 2011, 19:18

Originally Posted by delta_lima

Surprised no one's commented on this ...

I'm intrigued. I would love to have a tool to set up some training flights for practising formation flying - not those utilities that give you a wingman, but one where I need to keep station on a flight leader. This may just be the ticket!!

Alternatively, a tanker that's always on circuit in a given place/time would also be a treat. This may be the solution too ...

Will definitely try this out ....

thanks,

dl

I first saw this talked about in the CS forum tryed and liked it.
Its a good way to fly with other planes with out making a mission. You can refuel your plane also if you set it up to do that.

flyer01

**Astoroth** · March 15th, 2011, 00:17

Originally Posted by DaveWG

AI formation toys was developed into AirTrafficFX, which can do the sort of things you're after.

http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=airtrfcfx

Yup! I bought it after trying out the formation toys, and I love being able to set up a formation that flies a flight plan. Or call up a formation to join me while I am airborne. It's awesome for screenshots...

This flight of 2 B-17's and 3 P-51's joined up with me after my takeoff at CYVR, and flew my flight plan with me to KSEA where they peeled off and landed individually. Pretty dang cool!

***fsafranek*** · March 15th, 2011, 00:32

That's by Jerry Beckwith, right? If so I've played with that program before. My cfg file says January of 2010. I had put a tanker in a box pattern and practiced hookups. Lots of fun.

**Capt.Vaughn** · March 15th, 2011, 03:34

This looks pretty cool, what about frame rates, do you take a pretty good hit if you use high end planes such as A2A B17g?

***delta_lima*** · March 15th, 2011, 15:36

This was good - tried it last night with just one AI plane. I found the AI plane (AH Seafire III) vibrated up and down erratically at a very high frequency. Not sure what that was about ...

I also found that once aloft, the plane simply circled in the pattern - I assume that in this freeware version, there is no mechanism for tough & go - I'd have to get the payware version?

Regardless, it's a keeper - thanks.

dl

***sparks*** · March 15th, 2011, 21:35

Thank you for the support and positive feedback on AirTrafficFX, and yes, the freeware formation flight toys for FSX is its ancestor (and still available at mudpond.org).

Although AirTrafficFX has been out for over two years, I still try to keep it up to date. I just finished the last update this past week - a complete overhaul of the feature that adds AI formations to your flight. Previously, the AI followed along loosely, and not all aircraft would cooperate, so it's been a feature that I haven't been completely happy with. This latest update is more like what I originally had in mind.

If I can get YouTube to cooperate, this should be a 'fly-by' of two F/A-18's in formation with my flight in the lead: