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FSX:SE "Floatplane Tug Box" A way to maneuver in tight places.

C

codetrucker

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us-texas
I like to fly floatplanes, but FSX does not have a facility for nudging to and from a dock. The ideal would be to have a type of 4-way "pushback-ish" capability which moves slow and would move the aircraft in any direction. This would mimic the action of someone pushing the aircraft away from the dock or grabbing a rope and pulling it to the dock to moor the airplane. Barring that, the next best would be a utility which would use slew, but this method would have some specific requirements...
  • Given the slew can go wild if the stick and/or throttle axes are not calibrated correctly when slew is engaged, it would be necessary to disengage (turn off) the controls while the "Floatplane Tug Box" (FTB) was activated. The controls would have to be turned back on when the FTB was closed.
  • The 4-way controls on the FTB on slew would also have to be set to move slow continuously or in steps to nudge the plane too and from the dock.
  • Rotation to align the pontoons or hull with the dock would be nice too.
  • The last specific would be the ability to set a quasi-parking brake which would act like an anchor or mooring so the aircraft doesn't drift into or away from the landing.
I have no idea if this idea can be actually programmed in FSX-SE, but I thought I would let you fine people head me in the right direction or show me why it would be impossible. I am fairly confident this can be done, especially utilizing slew because I would only be automating the slew capability.

So, what do you think? I await your reply(s).

CT
 
XMLTools can be used to force object velocities, but unless you can handle coding the tool in XML, you're better off looking at caleb's suggestion.
 
@caleb. Thanks for the heads-up. I am downloading as we speak. We'll see if it works on water?

@Bjoern - I have never used XMLTools, but I have done some coding, albeit as a "Dinosaur." I was a COBOL/DB2/CICS programmer pre-Y2K.

I still would like to make a freeware "simple" 4-way + rotation FTB to offer my floatplane cohorts. I'am guessing it can't be done because no one has done it yet in a very long time. But, I still want to try and see what happens. Who knows, eh? :)
 
I don't think it's impossible. It just might be challenging. You might want to check out @Heretic 's idea.

I'm sure you could research and figure out how to do it.
 
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I know A LOT of pontoon-heads like myself who would really enjoy model the push-off and docking of their floatplanes and seaplanes. it would add a magnitude of enjoyment. Right now all we can do is slew. Actually, A2A has "paddle" for its Piper Cub on floats. My target is simple and intuitive.

I programmed a fuel FS9 guage once. I wonder if FSX gauge design would work for this function?
 
That's what I thought, so the journey begins! :)*


* I just wish i wasn't swimming in such a deep pool of ignorance. :(
 
codetrucker said:
I programmed a fuel FS9 guage once. I wonder if FSX gauge design would work for this function?
Click to expand...

FS9 syntax is still supported in FSX (an doesn't require as much use of tags).

And anything is doable with the right amound of motivation, perseverance and initiative.
 
I finally remembered I was working on this project. I also remembered I was working with some people, so I wanted to apologize for disappearing. I haven't given up on this, but I am having a very difficult time trying to think the processes through. It's like I suddenly remember what I was doing and then try to go back and understand how I got there. When I return to where I left my marker I have already forgotten why I went back. I try to leave myself "breadcrumb" notations, but I often don't understand what I wrote. Anyway, I just wanted to let some people know I haven't given up and their help has been and is appreciated, but I am faring poorly with my progress and FSX is being a stinker too. Time will tell.
 
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