Can the AI run out of fuel?

[lxsapper]

Ok I don't know if this is aircraft specific of if it was a bug, if it's normal for all AI.

I was flying one of the single missions of the SU-25T, and big trouble getting my wingman to atack the mission target. In the end I was so frustrated by it, that when I reached bingo fuel I ignored it and keept trying to get my wingman to atack the target, in the end he did it. Even did two passes to employ two weapons on target (command post takes two bomb hits). The thing is when he finaly did I was on my last 2 -3 minutes of powered flight, 150 Km from my base I don't have to tell you how that ended. But my wingman not only did not runout of fuel shortly after, but went on to go back to base. I had told him too right before I crashed. Then he flew a good 100km back to base, then unexpectedly (I was using time compression at this point don't know if that screws up the AI) turned back to target area flew back some 70 Km, then turned around back to base, then arround base flew some crazy circles and then finaly landed.

So the question is not why was the AI acting so screwed up (though id like to know if there's a sure way to make them atack the mission target), is why the hell didn't he run out of fuel??? Anyone can elaborate on this?

[EtherealN]

I wouldn't be surprised if the discrepancy you're seeing is caused simply through the AI having been more effective in fuel management.

[almonds]

Yes, AI ejects when out of fuel.

[Grimes]

Yes AI can and do run out of fuel. However I wouldn't be surprised if there are discrepancies between player controlled vs AI controlled aircraft.

[EtherealN]

Except the Su-25T doesn't have a burner, and for this reason there is still ample opportunity for the AI wingman to simply not burn fuel as fast as the player depending on how they fly.

[lxsapper]

OK guys thanks, I still think the descrepancy is too big, maybe there is a problem with the SU-25T, I don't know about him beeing that much more effective, it's not like I was on full power all the time, on the contrary, and he should have burned quite a bit of fuel on all the rejoins I called whenever he would fail to engage the target. Anyway I gess the way to know for sure is to set up a mission with a route that's way too long for the SU-25T and have the AI fly it.

[Grimes]

I had to test it because I was curious. I did several tests flying in a straight line in level flight. For the Su-25T, with an identical payload, the AI wingmen are SLIGHTLY more efficient than the player is. Interestingly other aircraft I tested had the inverse effect with the player aircraft being more fuel efficient.

[Nedum]

Except the Su-25T doesn't have a burner, and for this reason there is still ample opportunity for the AI wingman to simply not burn fuel as fast as the player depending on how they fly.

 

:megalol:

[F l a n k e r]

AI can run out of fuel, I think from Flanker 2.0!

I can think of only one possibility: have you taken on board same fuel amount of your wingman?

[Speed]

Are you certain the AI had the same fuel as you did? It is possible that he started out with fuel tanks and you did not, or you started out with 75% fuel and he started with 100%? What mission was it? It could have been a mission design error.

 

Personally, I often like to take wing tanks on my Su-25T flights- ESPECIALLY if I am carrying Vikhrs.

 

Oh and please don't act on your plan to kill Ethereal... I'm sure he didn't mean to make his reply sound "condescending" to your ears. It IS the honest truth that A LOT of players do not have very good fuel management. Even if their other skills are quite good, few players take the time to sit down and figure out what speeds/power settings yield the best fuel economy, and then ACT on that information (because it generally means flying slower). Myself, I only have a general idea, and that could be wrong too (80% to 90% RPM? Depends on a lot of other factors too).

 

Oh and another question- is it possible you took a small hit and had some kind of fuel leak? I've had that happen before... you are in luck if you can make it back to base, usually!

 

Really could use the track, but if it was single player, the track is probably already gone I would guess.

 

Edit: Oh I see, I was getting confused. Need to be asking these questions to lxsapper, not you!

Edited December 9, 2012 by Speed

[Headspace]

few players take the time to sit down and figure out what speeds/power settings yield the best fuel economy

Only a performance chart will guarantee that level of information. And in the case of the game, it would need to be based on data from the game and not the real world. The other option would be a time-consuming session of trial and error.

 

As a general rule of thumb, higher density altitude at below transonic speeds will produce the best economy, but the exact speed and power setting would be aircraft dependant.

[blkspade]

What efficiency the AI possess, I wish that could be translated to fighter AI. They are the worse. I've even gotten a Mig-29 to chase me in one of the campaign missions till he was dry, and we were still close to his airfield, which had just gotten bombed.

[lxsapper]

Thanks guys for chiping in. I know My fuel management skills are far from ideal, and I'm just learning the basics of the simulation.

 

Are you certain the AI had the same fuel as you did? It is possible that he started out with fuel tanks and you did not, or you started out with 75% fuel and he started with 100%? What mission was it? It could have been a mission design error.

 

Personally, I often like to take wing tanks on my Su-25T flights- ESPECIALLY if I am carrying Vikhrs.

 

Oh and please don't act on your plan to kill Ethereal... I'm sure he didn't mean to make his reply sound "condescending" to your ears. It IS the honest truth that A LOT of players do not have very good fuel management. Even if their other skills are quite good, few players take the time to sit down and figure out what speeds/power settings yield the best fuel economy, and then ACT on that information (because it generally means flying slower). Myself, I only have a general idea, and that could be wrong too (80% to 90% RPM? Depends on a lot of other factors too).

 

Oh and another question- is it possible you took a small hit and had some kind of fuel leak? I've had that happen before... you are in luck if you can make it back to base, usually!

 

Really could use the track, but if it was single player, the track is probably already gone I would guess.

 

Edit: Oh I see, I was getting confused. Need to be asking these questions to lxsapper, not you!

 

you are right the track is unfortunatly gone. I am not sure with how much fuel the mission starts with, would have to check but 2 external fuel tanks are carried. The mission is one of the standart sigle missions where you have to strike two command posts at a georgian airbase.

 

Now even though my fuel management is not ideal, sice the wingman was flying formation with me, and sometimes rejoining and the lot I would have imagined that it would have made him in the very least to be on par with me. Even if I didn't fly at best cruise, in order to keep up neighter would he. In any case Grimes alreasy reported a smal descrepancy, but it's probably not enough for the huge diference I experienced.

 

But now that you mentioned damage, I though during the mission that I didn't take any damage, but in the end I had a hit by a strella reported in the post log. So maybe I did have a fuel leak after all. But I am reasonably sure that I burned fuel at a constant pace during the mission, heard the Bingo fuel and all, well before runing out (just decided to ignore it). I'll try to repeat and gather more data. Maybe try to check the mission in the editor.

[lxsapper]

Ok mistery solved. Mission is "Command Post Strike" wingman has 100% Fuel, Player 50%, strange since externals are included....

Edited December 10, 2012 by lxsapper
Never mind checking it wrong, 50% for both....

[lxsapper]

Never mind checking it wrong, 50% for both....