GTFreeFlyer

If you play enough, you'll find the quickest, most efficient ways to land and save your score :)

FORMATION FLIGHT CHALLENGE server The formations are already on the kneeboard. I’m not going to add the save locations to the kneeboard. There are only three spots which you’ll have memorized in no time. Alt+B is your friend. Also, if you are flying a plane which can navigate to waypoints, WP0, 1 and 2 are your save airfields.

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback! The more people in the server, the more formations that will unlock. There are currently 10 of them (as seen on the kneeboard and in the briefing).

Not a bug. You can’t go less than zero, so if you lost 500 on the first try (when you had zero), then you stay at zero.

Connection was lost thru the night. Try again now. Latest OB.

Server is back up and running. Cheers.

Server will be down between Feb 23 and March 5 for various reasons. I apologize in advance, but the fun will return!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZNt8y3wb4NQtoOhDNaAzOOt40LdidCsH/view?usp=sharing Please let me know once you've grabbed it so I can clear it out of my Drive. Just to clarify, the brightness knobs do spin, but the actual lighting does not dim/brighten. I have no problems with the other dimmer knobs for the gages and side panels. While we're at it, I'd also like to suggest a brightness control for the kneeboard. With VR, it totally blinds you when flying at night and then the eyes take a long time to adjust to the dark again. Thanks!

Not working after today’s update.

I found this the other day just scrolling through the user files. Excellent mission! I've played it a few times now with my group.

New update: Now includes air starts for those that just want to get right into it.

Thanks for the feedback :). Glad you enjoyed it. Come back for more and work yourself higher up the ranks :)

Server has been updated to Open Beta 2.5.6 and is running again.

Server is not updating to the new 2.5.6 until bugs are resolved. Server is still online for those who have not yet updated.

Minor update: Made it such that everyone in the formation will now hear the same voiceovers from the Lead pilot once a formation is completed, just in case they are on voice chat with each other and mention something about it. Prior to this, voiceovers were picked at random for each pilot in the formation. Now, they are still randomized but also synchronized among the pilots.

I've seen a few instance now where player names disappear mid-flight and I have no idea what is going on. If you click on an aircraft on the F-10 map, you can see the player's name in the details box that pops up. However, sometimes that player's name is no longer able to be retrieved and no name shows up. Anyone know what's up? I stumbled on this after using lua to export some periodic details about the aircraft. I can see the player's name in the DCS.log file, but then just randomly during mid-flight the DCS.log file starts spitting out "blank" names. I'm using the getPlayerName() function. I originally thought it was bad code, but after watching replays, I can see the player's name is disappearing from the mission, which is why the getPlayerName() function is not able to retrieve the name. It does not occur each time I run the mission. So far I've seen it happen only 2 or 3 times in the dozens of times I've looked. It also doesn't happen to the same player, nor occur at a known time. It seems to be completely random when DCS stops recognizing the player name. The DCS.log file provides no clues. There are no errors or messages at all in between the last message where the name was successfully retrieved and the next message where the name is displayed blank. Any thoughts? TIA, -GT-

3 minutes of game play from last night...

Thanks Tower :smilewink:

Hi all, I've created something over the past few months I think you'll all enjoy. Formation flight has been scripted and now when you're looking for a casual formation flight experience with other people online (or by yourself), you no longer have to worry about coordinating the effort. My script is packed full of voiceovers (more than 160 of them) which will get you from the runway and into the formation. I have game-ified this for you. You'll earn points and move up the ranks. Your score is saved when you are done, and retrieved when you come back for more. Don't worry if you don't see anyone else online. You'll have a lot of fun by yourself as well, chasing the Lead and moving between the formations as he calls them out to you. The formations and the voiceovers are all randomized, so the game play is never the same each time you come back. After playing around in public servers where people are not on voice comms with each other, I just knew there HAD TO BE A BETTER WAY to coordinate formation flying. I also see lots of people just looking for casual formation flying when they don't feel like blowing stuff up, so I've created this public server to compliment the other popular ones you see like Just Dog Fight, Aerobatics Online, etc. This will be a new place solely for you to practice your formation skills while being guided by the script, alone or with others. It's great to learn the handling characteristics of a new plane you're flying, and also just good for a "warm-up" before heading into a combat mission. The more people that are in the server, the more formations that are unlocked for random choosing (you can't do a diamond with 3 people). Game play took inspiration from the formations skydivers do during competition. Each time a formation is completed, they must quickly rearrange themselves into a new formation and repeat as many times as possible before...splat. Same sort of thing here in this mission. Once everyone is in their slot and holds it together for ten seconds, a new one is picked at random, you'll get some bonus points, and you must quickly hit your next slot. Not in your slot? You'll lose 1 point per second. In your slot? You'll earn points each second (more for tight formations, less for loose formations). The script has audio and visual cues which help you find your slot in addition to the briefing AND kneeboard pages included in the mission. Make sure to read the briefing. The Lead pilot is sort of protective of his airspace surrounding his formation and you must obtain clearance to enter the formation. It's easy, as long as you just look at the briefing. Again, just watch out for that Lead pilot as you never know what he'll say to you next! It's randomized every time a formation is completed. You must demonstrate proper fuel management and the ability to land in order to save your score. There are three save zones at different airports...again, in the briefing. There are two versions that are up now: Jets, and Warbirds. The two alternate back and forth approx. every other day. Your earned/accumulated score is common between the two versions. I'll also have a helo version coming soon, along with a video tutorial in case you can't figure out how to read the simple briefing. Oh, and don't even try to take weapons ;) Those are not for this server. Cheers to all! You'll find yourself better able to handle your aircraft after spending a little time in here. Search for Formation Flight Challenge in the multiplayer server list, click the little star icon on the left side and make it a favorite. It's running on the latest open beta. Please feel free to leave suggestions and feedback! Knowing that you guys are enjoying it is all the fuel I need to keep making it better. -GT-

Thanks. How about a command to detect a flare event? Is there an event handler that can determine when a player dispenses a flare?

Is there a LUA command to make an AI unit pop flares whenever I want? (no threats in the area). Thanks, -GT-

Please read the first post. There are no public links to the server. Please send a PM if interested. Thanks.

MIST also has polygon functions.

I’ll PM you.

Good to know there’s a way to make it work. I’ll look into it. Thanks!