timothyboss Posted March 3, 2021 Posted March 3, 2021 (edited) Site Link Updated: https://sites.google.com/view/fa-18c-flight-planner/home Latest Updates: -JSOW / TALD / HARM Flight profiles. - Coordinate entry in majority of formats. - From standalone version (downloaded copy) follow steps on download page to export kneeboard DAY/ NIGHT as PDF and mission JSON as .txt to your Google Drive. - Added many NTTR NAVAIDS to drop-down 56-59 waypoints. - Reworked fuel consumption to better match DCS fuel consumption. - Created a "How-To" video (needs update) TO DO's: - Import weapon information as it is selected via drop-down in loadouts as a pop-up comment or notice. - Better implement coordinate mapping to be used with Google Earth or Google My Maps. (i.e. .KML exports to see visual flight plan in Google Earth). Right now I use Combat Flight to import a .miz and then export a .KML to use in Google Earth Web for best visual snapshot for briefs. - User requested add-ons. May 2023 Addons: -KML exported from CombatFlight should be passed through Google Earth Web to add or delete items. Export that updated KML and save it to a Google Drive acct. Share the link and submit the form on the planner website in link above. The KML data will be visible on Google Map. You can create a flight plan in the Google Sheet on the planner website and it will be visible in the map along with your added KML file. Make sure you refresh the webpage and it will update with your submissions or inputs in less than 30 seconds. Edited June 2, 2023 by timothyboss 3 1
HILOK Posted March 3, 2021 Posted March 3, 2021 very nice! thank you saw it a couple of days ago in user files already, but haven't had the opportunity to test it. 1
timothyboss Posted March 3, 2021 Author Posted March 3, 2021 Thanks. Any and all feedback is welcome. Continuous improvement is the goal. 1
Kormorant Posted March 13, 2021 Posted March 13, 2021 Found link on this planner in user files. Was not disappointed. Exactly what I need. The only problem is: for some reason, the downloaded version won't work on any program I use and your website is the only place where it works as intended. Microsoft Excel is understandable, since my (legacy) version doesn't support IFS function, but I tried it in LibreOffice, OpenOffice and online Microsoft 365, and every time there are errors in functions, won't process coordinates inputs, etc. Re-typing/re-formating the functions helps to resolve some errors, but not all of them. I tried every download format available with the same result. This may be because of different localization settings, I tried to change them too, to no avail. And of course, all checkboxes are missing, replaced by FALSE. Still puzzled by this weird compatibility issue, will try different programs with different settings and post any solutions I can find. Took me some time to realize you can also type raw coordinates directly in the input field (for example, ctrl-c ctrl-v from combatflite mission profile), without any need to put link to google maps every time. I think it would be nice if you could put a disclaimer explaining this possibility and compatible coordinate formats (I suspect . P.S. Sorry for interfering in your work on it today, 6 hours ago I opened it on your website and began typing my mission data before noticing you making edits on the sheet just at the same time. 1
Solution timothyboss Posted March 13, 2021 Author Solution Posted March 13, 2021 (edited) I moved away from Microsoft excel and made the planner exclusively Google Sheets. For the sole reason, free, many people I fly with have Google accounts and the iterative calculations functioned better with error handling. Sign in with Google, make a copy and enjoy the planners full potential. I regularly tune and update this to meet the needs of users and simplicity. The website is really for demo, but works as advertised in the standalone too. I would like to see the new Google Sites utilize a wider embed area. With a wide sheet, it causes irritating scroll bars. The native locale is US. The coordinates and some other cells will be confused by commas and periods in the wrong place. Sorry you are having a bad standalone experience, but the best way to utilize this is with Google Sheets and to do that you will need a Google account. Thanks for the great feedback and check out the new updates regularly. Edited March 13, 2021 by timothyboss 1 1
r_vandenbroek Posted March 14, 2021 Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) Nice work! I'm not sure I understand the Loitering part. When I enter a number there, say I want to fly to WPT1 and hold for 10 minutes, I would expect to have to enter 10 minutes. That in itself doesn't change the time or fuel used. Selecting 'Minutes' in column D does change it, but it looks like it only calculates 10 minutes of flying, instead of the leg time + 10 mins loitering. @timothyboss Edited March 15, 2021 by r_vandenbroek 1
timothyboss Posted March 19, 2021 Author Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) On 3/14/2021 at 3:31 AM, r_vandenbroek said: Nice work! I'm not sure I understand the Loitering part. When I enter a number there, say I want to fly to WPT1 and hold for 10 minutes, I would expect to have to enter 10 minutes. That in itself doesn't change the time or fuel used. Selecting 'Minutes' in column D does change it, but it looks like it only calculates 10 minutes of flying, instead of the leg time + 10 mins loitering. @timothyboss Thats right. If you want to loiter check minutes and select the desired minutes of loiter. Check endurance and you will loiter with best fuel / MACH in mind. Maybe in a future update I will address the leg time plus loiter on arrival with calculated fuel. Thanks for bringing that up. Its top of the to do list. See changes marked with Version 10. Updated!!! See Version 10 release. @r_vandenbroek Edited March 19, 2021 by timothyboss 1
timothyboss Posted March 19, 2021 Author Posted March 19, 2021 @r_vandenbroek you should be good to go. I had to fix an error that occurred while OVRD was checked in conjunction with LOITER. All GTG, have fun. 1
r_vandenbroek Posted March 20, 2021 Posted March 20, 2021 Works very nicely! Great! Although I cannot select a loiter below 15.000', is that adjustable?
timothyboss Posted March 20, 2021 Author Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, r_vandenbroek said: Works very nicely! Great! Although I cannot select a loiter below 15.000', is that adjustable? Hmm. let me take a look. Might be a data validation error. I am able to select a loiter altitude and time in minutes. A specific waypoint you having issues with? @r_vandenbroek The altitude has a drop down for selection or you can type in the cell in values of 100, i.e. 100, 1100, 15300. Edited March 20, 2021 by timothyboss
r_vandenbroek Posted March 21, 2021 Posted March 21, 2021 I've put it wrong - you can select it, it just doesn't change the fuel used below that altitude.
timothyboss Posted March 22, 2021 Author Posted March 22, 2021 I do see something I dont like though. Will provide feedback. 1
timothyboss Posted March 22, 2021 Author Posted March 22, 2021 See if it is only when loiter is checked.
timothyboss Posted March 23, 2021 Author Posted March 23, 2021 @r_vandenbroek Try now. I have to tune the fuel a little more, but the fuel changes with 1000 ft altitude increments and also will change in a climb or descent based on the next waypoint. I removed the iterative calculations and traced back all the circular references to isolate the issues. Thanks again for your feedback. 1
r_vandenbroek Posted February 19, 2022 Posted February 19, 2022 Hello again @timothyboss. I and others in my virtual wing still use your fuel planner. Is there any way to input waypoints in a different format than a google link of degrees decimals? I use combatflite which outputs in degrees minutes decimal for example. Thanks, Rodge.
timothyboss Posted March 8, 2023 Author Posted March 8, 2023 (edited) On 2/19/2022 at 12:07 PM, r_vandenbroek said: Hello again @timothyboss. I and others in my virtual wing still use your fuel planner. Is there any way to input waypoints in a different format than a google link of degrees decimals? I use combatflite which outputs in degrees minutes decimal for example. Thanks, Rodge. Check out the revised planner. Has a new look. Has built in scripts to print kneeboards to PDF and also exports a JSON file for use with DCS waypoint editor by Santi871. https://sites.google.com/d/1-xhxW7vvzMLRtBhevAQxKRkAbd_OnjjY/edit Follow the instructions on the download page. Many coordinate entry types available. I overhauled the fuel consumption based on DCS flights. I steered away from RW calculations and weather factors a bit as DCS apparently does not have temperature built into the core game to effect flight. Fuel quantity ∆ is proportional with in game temp ∆. (Reversed from RW conditions, but mimics DCS for proper fuel qty.) Edited March 10, 2023 by timothyboss
r_vandenbroek Posted March 11, 2023 Posted March 11, 2023 @timothybossGreat to hear you've worked on it. I'll study it in detail and give a feedback after first mission use. 1
timothyboss Posted May 9, 2023 Author Posted May 9, 2023 Made some updates. On the site one can upload a KML file to the map. In the sheet one can get, via the exports, a file for TheWay. One can download their flight via a KML too.
Steel Jaw Posted May 9, 2023 Posted May 9, 2023 Im afraid I dont quite get this: can it downloaded and run outside of google docs? "You see, IronHand is my thing" My specs: W10 Pro, I5/11600K o/c to 4800 @1.32v, 64 GB 3200 XML RAM, Red Dragon 7800XT/16GB, monitor: GIGABYTE M32QC 32" (31.5" Viewable) QHD 2560 x 1440 (2K) 165Hz.
timothyboss Posted May 27, 2023 Author Posted May 27, 2023 On 5/9/2023 at 3:18 AM, Steel Jaw said: Im afraid I dont quite get this: can it downloaded and run outside of google docs? It is only for Google Sheets.
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