A little confused about flight models

[madmedic 0]

What determines the turning radius, and banking of an airplane model.

Is it the geometry in O2 ?

I am trying to slightly improve the manuverability of a WWII fighter.

Nothing I have tried in the .cpp file has worked, so I am assuming it MUST have something to do with the model itself.

For a good example of the problem I am trying to correct, look at the C47 cargo plane that was released by Marcel a while back...It wil bank, but it wont turn (takes about 50 miles to turn a circle)

[PicVert 0]

Try this lines : in your cpp (requiered 1.90)

flapsFrictionCoef=2;

aileronSensitivity = 0.4;

elevatorSensitivity = 0.5;

noseDownCoef=0.04000;

move some values to see how it's work

[madmedic 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PicVert @ Jan. 04 2003,02:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Try this lines : in your cpp (requiered 1.90)

flapsFrictionCoef=2;

aileronSensitivity = 0.4;

elevatorSensitivity = 0.5;

noseDownCoef=0.04000;

move some values to see how it's work <span id='postcolor'>

Dont those values only pertain to player piloted planes?

Perhapse I should have clarified,....I want to make AI pilots fly the plane.

[NAA_Us_Marine 0]

I have researched this alot. And come up with--- If the Center of mass is more towards the back of the plane the better the plane will be able to turn and it will take off in a shorter distance too... But be careful not to put it too far back so the plane will tilt back all the time.. Just play around with it like that and put the center of gravity towards the back more and see how it works for you.

[madmedic 0]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (NAA_Us_Marine @ Jan. 04 2003,08:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have researched this alot. And come up with--- If the Center of mass is more towards the back of the plane the better the plane will be able to turn and it will take off in a shorter distance too... But be careful not to put it too far back so the plane will tilt back all the time.. Just play around with it like that and put the center of gravity towards the back more and see how it works for you.<span id='postcolor'>

THAT makes more sense to me

Now I need to start learning more about O2,...I was able to open the model into O2, but I still dont know how to change the center of gravity (or even to see where the center of gravity is right now)

Does it have something to do with the little red squares that show up if you click on "Geometry"?

[Lansen 0]

Yes, exactly. Thats where you can define the weight of your model. Each red square represent a certain amount of mass.

Press ctrl+M to bring up the "mass" window, there you can enter the desired mass (kg) of your whole model plus that you can move the Center of mass. The center of mass is the point where your model have equal amount of mass in all directions, normaly its beneath the wing at a certain point at airplanes. Try to enter different values to match your choice.

[NAA_Us_Marine 0]

yup thats how u do it the little red squares just kinda serve as notice to how much mass the piece has first of all once you put the mass menu up press CTRL+A and give ur model an overall mass for the airplane u r doing give it about 10,000 in mass and then u will see that blue thing that is the center of gravity... now go from there and give mass to whatever part u would like being careful not to give mass side to side rather front to back . so give the mass equally on each side so you dont make it so the center of gravity is on the left side lol.

[madmedic 0]

Excellent!!! these are the answers I have been looking for.

So,...are you saying that to change the center of gravity, (move it a slightly rearward) I should evenly add weight to all of the little red squares to the rear of where center mass is right now?

[Lansen 0]

You must "place" weights (mass) yourself, you select a couple of vertices, i.e the ones on the tail. Enter a value that represent the tails weight. do like that for the whole model.

You can select all of the vertices and enter the weight that the aircraft has, but then you wont get the balanced point right... experiment and Im sure you will succeed, you can apply weight to every vertex.

[madmedic 0]

Ahhh,....Figured it out (with the help of you guys)