Need help aerial refueling

[bflo]

I want a S3 tanker launch from a carrier & fuel a couple F-18s between WP 1 & 2, then RTB.   I've only done simple  already airborne tanker between two wp.   Any help appreciated.

Edited March 15, 2023 by bflo

[markom]

Are F/A-18s human or AI? One approach you can do is:

 

- Launch tanker, and make it orbit a WP

- Set the limit of orbit for a flag being set

- Set the flag to true when refueling is done.

- Tanker RTBs after WP

 

No idea how to program AI to refuel. I never managed to do that.

[bflo]

Thanks markom, it would 2 ai, 1 human. I didn't know if the ai would take a command to tank, but sounds like no.  I did make race-track orbit at wp 1, but when it gets to wp2, it flys in a circle instead of returning to wp 1, as if there was a circle orbit.  I'm not sure about adding flags, I don't know that much about the editor.

[markom]

I do believe there's a command for AI to refuel. I never made it work reliably, so can't help you much there.

 

Regarding your orbit looking like a circle -- make sure it's far from WP1 - 10-20nm. 

[RodBorza]

2 hours ago, bflo said:

Thanks markom, it would 2 ai, 1 human. I didn't know if the ai would take a command to tank, but sounds like no.  I did make race-track orbit at wp 1, but when it gets to wp2, it flys in a circle instead of returning to wp 1, as if there was a circle orbit.  I'm not sure about adding flags, I don't know that much about the editor.

Try setting a S3 as follows:

0) Chosse S3 Tanker. Has to be the tanker, with the NATO symbol with a K inside it; 

1) Launch it from the carrier;

2) At the desired waypoint set Advanced Waypoint Actions > Type Start Enroute Task> Action Tanker

Add Perform Task > Orbit > Race TrackA

Add another action > Set Option>RTB on Bingo fuel

3)Add another waypoint

Add Waypoint Action  > Perform Command . Swithc Waypoint > the last waypoint

That's it.

 

For the F/A-18s:

1) Put a waypoint close to the Tanker Race track 

Add Waypoint Action > Perform Task> Refueling

 

I think it'll work this way . Tell me if it helped you out. 

 

[bflo]

Thanks guys, I'll tinker today, & get back.

[bflo]

Worked pretty good, little sticky switching frequencies, but was able to communicate with flight, tanker, & carrier.  Thanks very much for your help!

 

[bflo]

Played it again, had the F-18s tank first, then it wouldn't give me fuel.   Made it back to the boat on fumes.

[RodBorza]

7 minutes ago, bflo said:

Played it again, had the F-18s tank first, then it wouldn't give me fuel.   Made it back to the boat on fumes.

Could you be mor specific? Didn't connect? Didn't communicate? Connected but no fuel transferred?

Besides a bug, I can only think about the S3 fuel state. Maybe it didn't have anymore to transfer.

[pete_auau]

47 minutes ago, bflo said:

Played it again, had the F-18s tank first, then it wouldn't give me fuel.   Made it back to the boat on fumes.

if your  flying  with  ai   you need  to  refuel  from the  right  hand  basket if  i recall correctly

[bflo]

2 hours ago, RodBorza said:

Could you be mor specific? Didn't connect? Didn't communicate? Connected but no fuel transferred?

This being the first time tanking with ai, I maybe could have gotten fuel, but did try because I couldn't get the screen text for communicating with the tanker. 

[rob10]

2 hours ago, bflo said:

Played it again, had the F-18s tank first, then it wouldn't give me fuel.   Made it back to the boat on fumes.

If you had 2 ai F-18's fuel off the S-3, he's ignoring you because he has no fuel left (assuming they were anywhere near empty).  One near empty with external tanks can basically drain it if it's been up for a bit burning fuel itself.  It's meant for emergency fuel to get you just enough to get down on the boat.  Unfortunately there is currently no way to have the AI only top off in DCS -- they always fully fill.  In your case the 2nd F-18 likely didn't get much of a load.  The S-3 only has 12-13,000 lbs of fuel total to give.

[bflo]

1 hour ago, pete_auau said:

if your  flying  with  ai   you need  to  refuel  from the  right  hand  basket if  i recall correctly

Yesterday I fueled after the ai on the left side.  Do they have two baskets ? idk

 

Edited March 18, 2023 by bflo

[rob10]

3 minutes ago, bflo said:

Yesterday I fueled after the ai on the left side.  Do they have two baskets ? idk

S-3 only has 1 (left side). Almost guarantee they ignored you today due to no fuel left (see above)

[bflo]

Thanks rob, this is all new  for me.

Edited March 18, 2023 by bflo

[rob10]

7 minutes ago, bflo said:

Thanks rob, this is all new  for me.

No problem.  It's on my wishlist that they would add a reply of "Negative rejoin.  No fuel available" or something rather than just completely ignoring you when they run out.  It's not obvious when you're starting out.  Almost as bad, if you're part way through a fueling and they run out, they'll tell you to "Return pre-contact" then go silent.  So you keep trying to get in position because you think you just backed off a little to much and lost the basket, but they have no intention of giving you any more .

[RodBorza]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:54 PM, bflo said:

This being the first time tanking with ai, I maybe could have gotten fuel, but did try because I couldn't get the screen text for communicating with the tanker. 

I was trying some things in the Mission Editor and here is what you could do: setting up a trigger for the tanker that as soon as its fuel level gets below some setting, it sends a message that is no longer available and it goes RTB. The trigger is on the attached mission 'AI Tanker Refuel Test' is called "S-3 No Fuel Warning."

The other triggers are an attempt to make the F/A-18s refuel up to 60% only. The problem is that it only works for the lead in the flight, and the wingman either goes full tank or does not refuel at all.  I believe the only way to make the AI refuel up to only a certain point is by the way of scripts, something that must be further investigated.

Also attached is a mission by SUNSTAG which makes a Harrier AI refuel up to a certain point and then follow the S-3 tanker up to a certain waypoint. It works fine for a single unit, don't think it is possible to a group due to DCS ME limitations. 

 

 

AI Tanker Refuel Test.miz HARRIER AIrefuel.miz

[bflo]

Thank you Rod, I'll check those out in the next few days.   I did a little more testing with the S-3.   Seems like you never know how it will work.  Sometimes it will give fuel to human, & not ai, or other way round.  It might not give fuel to neither.   I changed it  with a KC130, & it runs perfect.   Again I have no expertise with the editor, so idk.