Lights for FARP

[Usagi]

Landing at FARP at night or very poor weather is really hard or almost impossible as there's no mechanic for setting up some lights for helping approach.

Even spotting a FARP is really hard and sometimes requires a lot of circling and if you are not in exact place, it's impossible to found.

If not automated, at least by contacting FARP via ATC menu, there should be option for some guidance lights.

[Mike_Romeo]

3 hours ago, Usagi said:

Landing at FARP at night or very poor weather is really hard or almost impossible as there's no mechanic for setting up some lights for helping approach.

Even spotting a FARP is really hard and sometimes requires a lot of circling and if you are not in exact place, it's impossible to found.

If not automated, at least by contacting FARP via ATC menu, there should be option for some guidance lights.

 

[twistking]

The solution proposed in the video is not good enough honestly.

Adding some "proper" light objects is not that much effort for ED and would really help mission designers. Not just lights for FARPs, but all kinds of light source objects. DCS WWII would also really benefit from some era appropriate illumination.

Edited March 7, 2024 by twistking

[caramel]

It's not just FARPs that don't have lights, AI vehicles don't have lights either. I hope this will be fixed soon.

[Usagi]

Yesterday I flew randomly at Sinai map and found these helipads - with lights!

So some civilian pads has lights, at least at Sinai map (I don't know are these more common assets).

[Exorcet]

On 3/7/2024 at 7:20 AM, twistking said:

The solution proposed in the video is not good enough honestly.

Adding some "proper" light objects is not that much effort for ED and would really help mission designers. Not just lights for FARPs, but all kinds of light source objects. DCS WWII would also really benefit from some era appropriate illumination.

 

Placeable light objects are something I've found myself wanting as well. The best that can be done currently is to place the one or two vehicles with illuminating headlights as lights, or to use illumination flares. Both have issues though.

For helipads though, there should be lights built in with the option to turn them on or off, it would save on the object count in missions and mean we only need to place the helipad and not many lights (though if the helipad lights were toggable, they could be toggled off and lights could be placed if the mission maker so wanted).

[Pnguin9999]

Try the Virpil airfield equipment mod. I use the VPC NATO light tower #3. It's a taller portable light tower, set its alert condition to red and the lights come on dusk to dawn.

https://virpil.com/en/news/58-vpc-airfield-equipment-dlya-dcs-world

Edited September 19, 2024 by Pnguin9999
added link

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

On 3/7/2024 at 8:25 AM, caramel said:

It's not just FARPs that don't have lights, AI vehicles don't have lights either. I hope this will be fixed soon.

Some do, but good luck figuring out which ones. They really need to add the ability for us to turn lights on or off in the editor.

[Lace]

It is possible to set up a trigger to launch a parachute flare if requested through the F10 menu.  This works well to provide temporary illumination during landing if required.  I often use it in my missions for those very dark, moonless or overcast night ops.

[draconus]

9 hours ago, MiG21bisFishbedL said:

Some do, but good luck figuring out which ones.

Most of the M92 vehicles and LUV Tigr have lights. You can also use M92 NF-2 lights (there's also lights off version so you can use some trigger magic to control it).

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

1 hour ago, draconus said:

Most of the M92 vehicles and LUV Tigr have lights. You can also use M92 NF-2 lights (there's also lights off version so you can use some trigger magic to control it).

You literally made my day by telling me that. Thanks, dude.

[cfrag]

Note that while some of the (terrific) new objects (endless Kudos to Massun) do come with lighting, these lights are limited by DCS's (inferior, tuned for performance not eye candy, a choice that I will not fault) lighting engine; these lights aren't fully emissive in nature. This means that they don't cast shadows, nor light the interior of the cockpit, and are often too dim to be of practical use for helo flight simming. They do show up in some NVG, though (for example Huey), so another deep bow of THANK YOU to Massun.

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Edited September 21, 2024 by cfrag