[CAN NOT REPRODUCE]Refueling in multiplayer

[Honez]

I fly almost exclusively in MP and we see a lot of issues around refueling and I know we can't be the only ones seeing this bug. This bug happens on all maps. I will provide a track but I doubt you need one, no matter who hosts we see these issues.

 

1. Getting the tanker to accept us and say "Cleared Contact" is very inconstant and very frustrating. Sometimes we have to be literally on top of the tanker and sometimes we don't. We are very good at formation flying and we are all struggling with getting the cleared contact message. Please fix this. We should not have to be dangerously close to the tanker to get it to clear us.

 

2. As the host, the hoses always appear out for me but not really there. I have to ask one of the others if they see the hose for me. I consider this a major bug as I can never be sure if the hose it out or not.

 

One other comment, because we fly with 3 or more pilots the AI needs to be able to identify who is being cleared. We should all be able to "ALL" check in with the tanker and the tanker should clear us to connect based on the order we checked in and identify the plane number that is to connect next. For example plane 001 you are cleared to connect, when that plane is done, plane 002 you are cleared to connect, etc. It's easy to get confused as to who the tanker is talking to because it doesn't call out the plane number. Clearly we have learned to chat it up about who is calling in, but it would be nice if the AI managed us in the same manner as real flights are manged. I hope this makes sense. Adding a wee bit of intelligence to the AI here would really help those of us that fly longer missions in groups and have no choice but to refuel if we are to survive and finish the mission.

Edited September 11, 2020 by Honez

[Sandman1330]

Where are you positioning yourself for pre-contact? I've not observed any problem whatsoever, in fact the "hit box" seems rather large.

 

The sweet spot is centered on the centreline of the tanker, below and behind. I've seen a lot of people online struggling to get cleared contact because they try and position behind the drogue for pre-contact - In DCS, even the probe and drogue tankers, pre contact is centred on the tanker, below and behind. Then you move up to the hose.

 

For your second observation, I haven't seen it but I run a dedicated server.

 

The third question, because of where pre-contact is (as I've mentioned above), it's fairly easy to sequence through. Form up on the left wing, and one at a time you slide back and down into pre-contact, get cleared contact, then move to the hose. The next guy rolls into pre-contact, gets cleared, goes to the other hose. When the first guy is done, he moves to the right wing, and the next guy comes off the left wing into pre-contact, gets cleared, and goes to the free hose.

[Honez]

Thanks for the reply.

 

I agree that for the "Cleared Pre-contact" message you can literally be just about anywhere in the map and get that message. It's the "Cleared-Contact" that brings out the hose and grants you permission to connect and take fuel. It's that message that I'm talking about.

 

To be clear, we have zero issues getting the "Cleared Pre-contact" response. Getting the tanker to grant the plane "Cleared Contact" has not been so easy for us in MP. We have done tests with positioning to get the "Cleared Contact" message. There seems to be a lot of inconsistency on where you are how close, how far, how high you need to be to get it every time.

 

For example last night, the first guy that asked to connect, the tanker cleared him in from quite a distance back. The rest of us afterwards then had a hell of a time getting the tanker to give the "Cleared Contact" message. I will try the positioning you suggest but the challenge is that once one other plane is connected and taking fuel, to go to that position is dangerously close to the other pilot taking fuel.

 

We have also fueled from an S3B, one at a time. Again it seems that after the first plane connects and finishes, the rest of us have a hard time getting the "Cleared Contact" message.

 

Come join us and see for yourself? We would love to have you fly a mission with us. Send me an email at larryjones.lv@gmail.com and I'll give you our connect info. :)

Edited September 11, 2020 by Honez

[Iceviper]

<quote>"As the host, the hoses always appear out for me but not really there. I have to ask one of the others if they see the hose for me. I consider this a major bug as I can never be sure if the hose it out or not."</quote>

 

I also posted about this a few weeks back. Any missions I create and host, I can see the hoses prior to pre contact. This includes hosted mission and single play. If I get the mission from someone else it's fine. I've tried repairing, removing all mods etc. Someone replied to my post saying it was a known bug that's been there for a while.

 

There is a sweet spot for pre contact and if you are in different positions the order for pre contact can be a bit hit and miss in terms of distance from the tanker.

 

One other thing. If I fly with wingmen lately, my wingman will join the tanker but not continue refuelling once I jump on right basket (flying hornet) alongside him. He just disconnects and rejoins formation. For the lads I'm flying with, then their wingmen refuse to refuel.

 

In my case its missions I am hosting rather than dedicated server.

 

I haven't posted tracks as it seems from posts I've read that the bugs are already known.

 

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[Woody01]

Honez we are not seeing this issue. The Kiwis do a lot of refueling and it is very consistent for us, we routinely cycle large groups of aircraft through the tanking phase and dont see the problems you are. Not really sure what to suggest but just wanted to let you know its fine for us. We are running our missions on a dedicated server.

[Shimmergloom667]

No issues with my squad either, running on dedicated server. Cleared Contact consistently within 0.1nm aft of tanker, no display issues of hoses.

[Sandman1330]

Come join us and see for yourself? We would love to have you fly a mission with us. Send me an email at larryjones.lv@gmail.com and I'll give you our connect info.

 

Thanks for the invite! I’m away on work for a couple weeks but if you are still having issues then I’d be happy to help.

 

I do understand your issue is getting cleared contact - it’s just semantics I guess. To get cleared contact, you must already be in pre-contact (which you can get cleared for from anywhere). The pre-contact position, which is where you make the call to get cleared contact, is centered below and behind by a couple fighter lengths.

 

It can get tight with someone already on the hose, but it is very doable with practice! (2 tomcats can get hairy due to size though!)