fixed AI S-3 Tanker Incorrect Refueling Pod Lights

[Stackup]

The light position and signal logic is incorrect on the D-704 buddy store.  In DCS, the Amber light is above the Green light.  This should be the opposite.  On the logic side, the Amber light comes on when the hose is deploying, this should not happen until the pod is in a "ready" state, i.e. the hose is fully deployed and the system is ready.  When the hose is fully deployed, the Amber light stays on, and the Green light turns on now too.  This is again incorrect as the Green light only comes on when fuel is flowing to the Aircraft, so it shouldn't be on until and aircraft is hooked up and fuel is flowing.  Finally, once the aircraft is hooked up and pushes the hose in a little bit, as should be necessary for the fuel flow to begin(and the green light to turn on and amber to turn off), all the lights start blinking.  This is incorrect as only the Amber light should blink, and it should only blink if the pilot has pushed the drogue too far forward causing fuel flow to stop and the Green light to go out.  The Red light only turns on when there is a hydraulic malfunction inside the pod preventing fuel flow.  So in other words, unless adding tanker failures into DCS is planned, the Red light should never turn on.

So in this situation, the Amber light should be on as it is, but the Green light should not be on as fuel is not flowing.

In this situation, the Green light should be on to show fuel is flowing and the Amber light should be off.

I can't show blinking in a screenshot (that's what the track file is for), but here is all 3 lights being turned on and blinking.    In this situation, if the pilot has indeed pushed the drogue too far forward(which in this case I highly doubt it), only the Amber light should be on and blinking to signal this.

Here's a real D-704 pod showing the correct lighting layout with Green in the upper left and Amber in the lower left.  The Red light is in the correct spot already in DCS.

And here's an article again explaining the proper signal logic for the lights:  https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2015/06/things-under-wings-inflight-refueling.html

"The green light on the upper left indicated that fuel was flowing to the receiving airplane. The yellow light on the lower left, when steady, indicated that the store was ready; when flashing, it indicated that the receiving pilot had pushed the drogue/basket too far forward and fuel flow to the probe had stopped. The red light on the upper light turned on when there was a hydraulic failure in the store so fuel couldn't be transferred."

If this could be fixed that would be great as the pod lights are integral to performing aerial refueling and correct positioning as well as whether fuel is flowing from the pod.

 

D-704 Incorrect Pod lights.trk

[Flappie]

Hi @Stackup. Many thanks for your detailed report. I rephrased it below. Please make sure that I got it right and didn't forget anything.

Issue 1 - The green light should be on top and the amber light below it.

Issue 2 - The lights sequencing is wrong. This is how it should be:

• Hose is in "ready" state and fuel is not flowing (from ready state to "you're taking fuel") : amber light steady on - green light off
• Aircraft is connected and fuel is flowing (from "you're taking fuel" to "transfer complete") : amber light off - green light steady on
• Drogue being pushed too far forward causing fuel flow to stop : amber light flashing - green light off
• Hydraulic malfunction (in case ED implement it someday) : red light steady on - amber light steady on
• Hose retracted: all lights are off

Edited November 13, 2023 by Flappie

[Stackup]

@Flappie You're welcome, thanks for the reply.  Yes, that all looks correct except for the failure mode. 

I believe that the amber light would be off in that scenario as the "hydraulic failure state" renders the pod inoperable, which should eliminate the "ready state" logic the amber light is tied to.  This would be because if the pod systems/electronics recognizes that fuel cannot flow(due to hydraulic malfunction) and turns the red light on, it should also then be able to recognize that it is not "ready to go" and turn the amber light off.  I am not entirely sure about this one as I couldn't find more information on the hydraulic failures or internal systems, but logically speaking the pod would not be designed to show "malfunction" and "ready" signals at the same time in order to prevent confusion.

44 minutes ago, Flappie said:

Hydraulic malfunction (in case ED implement it someday) : red light steady on - amber light steady on

[Flappie]

I agree, this sounds more logical. I'll soon report these issues.

[Flappie]

Logic was changed with today's OB update. It won't be exactly as described, but at least now :

• Orange = Ready
• Green = Taking fuel

Both lights will be lit when aircraft is refueled in order to warn the pilot.

Edited December 19, 2023 by Flappie