AI Close Formations options

[jef32]

Hi

 

Look at this picture. It was a long time ago, when DCS called Lock-on Flaming cliffs.

 

Look at the AI wingman flying very close the player.

 

 

 

Why can't we have the same thing now ?

[Rangi]

5 seconds after that screenshot was taking the AI probably crashed into the lead aircraft, I remember that.

[Aginor]

Haha, yeah, those close formations really didn't work _that_ well.

Still nice for screenshots I must say.

[feefifofum]

At WP0, under advanced waypoint actions, add a command and choose set option -> formation -> finger four close.

 

Or use the in-game radios flight -> go formation -> whatever

[jef32]

5 seconds after that screenshot was taking the AI probably crashed into the lead aircraft, I remember that.

 

Absolutly not ! But if you prefer i have some other screenshots with high altitude and AI wingman as close as this one and no crash at all.The objective of this topic is to ask ED to give AI the ability and behaviour to fly as they've already done in this old simulator.

 

Perhaps you prefer this one ?

 

 

Notice that we're flying at a upper altitude and no crash at all

[jef32]

Or use the in-game radios flight -> go formation -> whatever

 

Do you think that i don't ask my wingmen to close formation ?

 

But even if i ask them, they're flying very far.

[myHelljumper]

I remember them using some sort of black magic flying in order to keep that formation.

[grunf]

I'm getting decent results by using Variant - Group Close in Formation setting. But once in the air, if you order your wingman to open formation, and than to close, it will remain at distance.

 

IIRC AI flies even closer than on the picture.

 

Edited February 1, 2017 by grunf

[razo+r]

I know it's not your wingman, but you can setup AI to follow you at the distance and formation you want, but it doesn't end good always...

[firmek]

Question though, apart of looking cool and for aerobatics purposes are there any reasons from tactical perspective to fly so close to each other?

 

https://youtu.be/F0pSQ6_MZMU?t=1426

[razo+r]

yes, for example the lead can jam and hide all wingmen from radar but only exposing himselfe or since they are so close, let the radar think, it's only one/two ship formation...

[Rotorhead]

Yeah, what razo+r said. Flying very close together might cause the enemy radar confuse entire flight with just one target (guess it works better with older radars), but other than that, there is no advantage in flying close together in air-to-air I know of (don't quote me on that, no big expert on aerial combat).

 

Bigger distance gives you greater radar coverage, thus greater situational awareness, more room for maneuvering... In air to ground, however, if you're trying to sneak pair of Viggens through valleys under enemy radar though...

Still, during actual attack phase (in range of enemy defenses), bigger separation again gives you more maneuvering space, and forces enemy defences to split up their firepower, instead of concentrating all in one place.

 

Also, bombers during WWII liked to use tight formations - easier to hit, sure, but also providing lots of concentrated defensive fire. Hope that with upcoming Normandy map, ED will think of a way to make big planes act like that.

[Tiramisu]

It would be great, if we could fly close formations with the AI like those guys in this video: