Puddlemonkey

Yes, this is quite easy to do. You create your own ARK.lua file and insert it into the mission file. There are some details and an Excel workbook to help you create the ARK.lua here: https://sites.google.com/site/dcsblackshark2/black-shark-systems/ark-22-adf

Looks like your route saving days are over buddy :noexpression:

Kite, it is actually quite easy to do what you want when you know how... And almost impossible when you don't! Setting And Saving ABRIS Routes In BS2 The ABRIS is able to save routes and other information to an internal hard disk, within the DCS simulator. This is lost when you exit each mission. However, there is one exception; when you have entered the simulator through the Mission Planner, the data is preserved and can then be saved within the .miz file. Once saved, you can return to the cockpit as many times as you like to fly the mission as normal with your saved ABRIS data. To plan routes and have them available for later use, you do the following: Open your mission in the mission planner/editor and load the simulator from there by selecting Flight > Prepare Mission from the drop down menu. Create, edit and save one or more routes in the ABRIS. Instruct the ABRIS to save all routes to its hard disk. Quit the mission preparation, automatically returning to the mission planner. Save the mission file within the mission planner. Optionally rename the mission file to zip and edit lua files manually (returning it to .miz afterwards). When returning to the cockpit, load one of the saved routes. The .miz file can be renamed to .zip and browsed, or opened using software. Within the file, you will find ABRIS data stored in the folder ABRIS\Database. You can open the 3 lua files and edit them. The files are: ROUTES.lua: stores routes that were saved within the ABRIS. NAVIGATION.lua: stores the 'objects' that the ABRIS displays, such as NDB beacons, airfields and no doubt many other things. ADDITIONAL.lua: doesn't seem to store a great deal. Perhaps this is where you could add in additional 'objects' that are relevant to a mission, perhaps a rendezvous point or something. Being able to edit the ROUTES.lua is something which I think could prove very useful. For example, this provides a much easier way of naming your waypoints compared to spinning and pushing the little ABRIS knob! I have a problem where in the mission planner, the menu itself is sometimes not visible until I have selected several objects and clicked the blank space above the map where I would expect to see the menu header. When saving a mission in the mission planner, the 'save' button may not always work so use 'File > Save As' to be sure you have saved your changes. Note that this process alters the .miz files, I recommend you copy the entire contents of the original missions folder under Program Files to your %userprofile%\Saved Games folder. One of the great improvements in BS2 is the use of the Saved Games folder I think. This youtube video helps but in my experience is not completely accurate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqdZ_mkrtmU To save routes in the ABRIS (step 2): From the menu page, click PLAN. From the plan page, click SELECT and choose SAVE. Name the file and save it. To save all routes in the ABRIS (step 3, shown at 3:38 to 3:58 in the video): From the menu page, click CTRL From the control page, click SETUP, choose DTB. Press SAVE, scroll down to the line with 'ROUTES' and check there is a number of routes shown. Press SAVE again. To load routes in the ABRIS (step 7): From the menu page, click PLAN. From the plan page, click SELECT and choose LOAD. Select the file and load it. From the plan page, click ACTIV. In my experience, contrary to the caption at the end of the video, this does not make the saved routes available in all missions. I also agree with previous posts that this will only work done through the mission planner.

Flying backwards into the ground busted more than engine power restrictions :doh:

The main reason I purchased BS2 was for the improved AI, particularly wingmen and the hope they would now be useful. After installing it and setting up my joystick again, I didn't have much time left so decided to give the wingman a quick test of his skills. Something I have always wanted to do is be able to drop the wingman off in a tactical position or have him fly to one and wait before we launch a well orchestrated attack. In BS1, he would just fly off into oblivion and I'm glad to say he doesn't do that anymore. When I asked him to hold, he flew a figure of 8. He obviously thinks he's in a fixed wing aircraft so he'll be in for a shock when he gets home. I can live with that though. When I asked him to fly to a datalink point, he had me in stitches. He flew there so I was hopeful. Then he started flying backwards until he hit the ground and blew up. Here is the track file. You will want to fast forward past me trying to remember how to operate the data link. BS is great and the AI is better than it was. I can't help but be disappointed though because in my opinion, the whole point of a heli is the tactical advantage you gain from being able to hover, pausing and waiting, coordinating and so on. Maybe we can have an option in the communications menu along the lines of 'park your butt there and don't let me see you move it one inch'. Crazy Wingman.trk

When I first started this mission, I used the same tactics that I normally do, staying low to the ground and trying to blend in with the scenery. This meant being in the valleys and I got shot down every time. Now, I fly it high. I keep my route to the ridge of the mountains, flying 30 feet or so above it. This gives me two advantages. I can see for miles and spot the convoy before they do me. Also, if I do get shot at, I can break in the opposite direction and duck behind the mountain. I can then fly along the other side of the ridge until I am brave enough to pop up and take another look from another location. I have also tried tucking into the crevaces to attempt an ambush as the convoy passes but have been shot every time so far!