A Nifty Little Trick I Found For Crashlanded Aircraft | Forums

[bigbossmalone]

Hi All
I just discovered this little trick a couple days ago while messing around in FMB.
I've often wanted to have a crashlanded plane for a scenario, but was not satisfied with the "crashed' plane just parking on the ground with gear in place and looking undamaged. After messing about a bit (and a quick thanks here to Chris Blair and his WTCF campaign which got me thinking about this scenario a bit more) I found a good way to do it:
Place an aircraft somewhere you'd want it to be crashed with NO FUEL and HEIGHT 0.
Give it a second waypoint which would decide the direction it will travel in, HEIGHT 0 as well.
On the plane's first waypoint, make SPEED 0.
Do the same to second waypoint.
You will see that the first waypoint speed defaults back to what I assume is a minimum takeoff speed(normally 150-165km/h), DON't WORRY, this is perfect for what we have in mind!
Now in FMB start the mission a few times to see where your aircraft is landing.
It's easy to go to the aircraft at this point, Ctrl-F2 or Shift-F2, no need even for a static camera!
According to my testing, the aircraft will do a pretty good job of a crashland, slowing down quickly enough to not be too damaged, but generally taking landing gear and prop damage.
Perfect for a crashland!
If you go one step further, take careful note of the spot the plane comes to rest.(This will always be within the same spot, give or take a metre or two)
You can then add smoke, fire to your liking on this spot, and Voila! You should have a crashlanded plane!
I'm not a regular on the mission builder's forum, so please don't **** me if this idea came out long ago. I've never seen it, so here it is.
Hope it helps someone out, feedback welcome!
Tested on several maps and with several planes from bombers to fighters, no problems so far, but I haven't tested it completely!
To those who will make use of this idea, ENJOY!

[Tully__]

For a very long time this has not been possible, as crashed or landed planes only stayed for about 30 seconds. I understand that in the latest patch landed planes now remain for a much longer time, making this approach practical.

[bigbossmalone]

I didn't realise it couldn't be done before but YAY!! can be done now! I've only tested it for about 20-25 minutes, but the 'crashlanded' planes just sit there quite happily.
I wonder if it has something to do with the plane taking enough damage on 'landing' that it starts smoking by itself, which will inevitably lead to a 'blow-up'. This method only inflicts minimal damage, and the only smoke should be that which is placed on the 'wreckage'.
Another bonus is that (for some planes, especially bigger ones) bits of the landing gear/undercarriage will break off, leaving a believable trail of debris behind the wreck.

[WhiskeyBravo]

Like Tully said, its been around for a while. Nevertheless, its always good to discover something for yourself, so well done.

Now if only we could use this on DF maps. I've got several DF maps we use for squad training and I like to add a few vignettes around the airfield to add a little immersion while everybody is taxying. One of them is a landed B25 just off the runway with ambulances in attendance and a smoking engine. I'd love to be able to have it belly landed or with a part of its undercarriage collapsed.

Maybe in the next patch!

WB.

[Oilburner_TAW]

Yes, i discovered this myself also. I am working on an on-line "campaign" and at the beginning a c-47 lands wheels up next to the runway. What's even cooler is to load it with paratroopers and they all jump out and run. To get the effect you want, experiement with the starting speed. I found I had to get the speed right so the plane would do a perfect belly landing (not taking any damage except to props).

[fabianfred]

a mistake in Cactus diary campaign made something similar...
he made a flight with only a single waypoint... the landing one... and it seems to do the same as yours

[bird_brain]

Yeah, blocked the whole runway and caused a great big cluster in the landing pattern.
I meant to do that Fabianfred...

[Saunders1953]

I meant to do that Fabianfred

Spoken in his best Pee Wee Herman voice, no doubt!

[WhiskeyBravo]

Originally posted by bird_brain:
Yeah, blocked the whole runway and caused a great big cluster in the landing pattern.
I meant to do that Fabianfred...

I though that was a neat trick - it made landing a little more interesting. Although the AI must still be up there cos they can't seem to hop over the wreckage or land from the other end!

I'd like to be able to do something similar in DF maps though.

WB.

[Tater-SW-]

I attacked the P-39 to let the AI land, a few were smoking.

tater