missing info Unusual AI behavior when attempting to fly formation

[markom]

[ this is trivially reproduced - I don't have a track file availabe, but am happy to add one ]

I was trying to set-up a simple mission in which I am supposed to fly formation with the AI, where AI would not be a wingperson, but just a plane flying on a predictable path. Since I fly "F/A-18C block 20", I set-up the AI plane to be the same.

AI was configured for altitude of 20,000 ft and 300 kts speed, and I was set-up a few miles behind. The simple goal was to form-up and fly with the AI.

As soon as would approach the AI, it would slow down and keep slowing down to the point where my aircraft would start stalling. I could never position myself behind the AI, only in front. They would somewhat follow, but never "permit" me to form up on them.

After spending a few hours, and realizing that I had a similar mission where I successfully formed up on Su33s with my Hornet, I changed the AI from "block 20" to just a regular AI F/A-18C... and whoa -- it no longer did that. It flew a predictable path, at a predictable and configured (to my utter surprise - ground) speed.

To me, this does not sound like an expected behavior of the AI.

Edited August 15, 2022 by markom

[Minsky]

Interesting. I just made a similar mission, and had no problems joining up and following the AI for about 5 minutes (then I quit) at a constant speed of about 222 KIAS.

[markom]

Interesting. Did you use "F/A-18C block 20" for the AI? That's the one I specifically had a problem with. I need to pretend to work for now, but I will send the track later today.

[Minsky]

1 minute ago, markom said:

Interesting. Did you use "F/A-18C block 20" for the AI? That's the one I specifically had a problem with. I need to pretend to work for now, but I will send the track later today.

Yup. Made the mission exactly as you described.

[NineLine]

If you are still seeing this issue, please supply track/mission and we can take a look.

[markom]

Wilco. Coming up later today.

[markom]

I... swear this is how it worked yesterday. I was going nuts. Sadly, I was unable to reproduce it. Here are my two attempts and the mission.

Apologies for wasting your time, I suppose.

In this mission, there are 4 aircraft:

1. Player, F/A-18 Lot 20
2. Flight-1, AI F/A-18C
3. Flight-2, AI F/A-18C Lot 20
4. AWACS to aid in locating other aircraft.

Flight-[12] are both configured to fly straight ~20 mile legs forming a rectangle, at 15,000 [F1] and 20,000 [F2] feet MSL and 350 kts (groundspeed). The goal is for Player to attempt to fly a close formation with both other flights for 60 seconds.

Player aircraft is set-up a few miles behind Flights-1 at the same altitude and speed initially. After completing this, the Player should proceed and form-up on the other flight.

To aid the mission, there are triggers that display the "formation" status (within moving zones of Flight-1 and -2, as well as their altitude).

Expected behavior:
  * Flight-1 and Flight-2 fly their "pattern", as configured, with minor deviations.
 

FA18C.trk FA18CLot20.trk Formation Test.miz

[Minsky]

No worries. AI can sometimes act like a dork because of something seemingly unrelated.

Try playing with the "aerobatics" task to make them behave less erratic. I cannot explain how it works, I just know that other authors are using this action in their training missions - example.