Howto:Add paratroopers

Paratroopers jumping out of a Nord Noratlas.

This howto explains how to add paratroopers to an aircraft in FlightGear.

Examples are based on the C-17.

-set.xml

We need to add a couple of things to the planes -set.xml file in order to implement paratroopers.

These lines go above the </sim> tag. The submodels.xml file will be created later on, so be sure to check the path when creating it.

 <submodels>
  <serviceable type="bool">true</serviceable>
  <path>Aircraft/C-17/Submodels/submodels.xml</path>
 </submodels>

There are a couple more things to add below the </sim> tag.

 <input>
  <keyboard>
 
   <key n="10">
    <name>Ctrl-j</name>
    <desc>Jump signal</desc>
    <binding>
     <command>property-toggle</command>
     <property>controls/jump-signal</property>
     <value>true</value>
     <value>false</value>
    </binding>
   </key>
 
  </keyboard>
 </input>

Ofcourse you can use any key you prefer, but Ctrl+J is often used.

 <ai>
  <submodels>
   <trigger type="bool">false</trigger>
  </submodels>
 </ai>

submodels.xml

Below is an example of a submodels.xml file. You refer to this file in the planes -set.xml file.

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <PropertyList>
 
  <submodel> 
    <name>parachutist</name>
    <model>Models/Geometry/parachuter.xml</model>
    <trigger>controls/jump-signal</trigger>
    <speed>0</speed>
    <repeat>true</repeat>
    <delay>1.5</delay>
    <count>102</count>
    <x-offset> -5 </x-offset>
    <y-offset>  0 </y-offset>
    <z-offset> -2 </z-offset>
    <yaw-offset>0.0</yaw-offset>
    <pitch-offset>0.0</pitch-offset>
    <cd>1.2</cd>
    <eda>100</eda>
    <weight>200</weight>
    <wind>true</wind>
    <buoyancy>20</buoyancy>
    <life>600</life>
  </submodel>
 
 </PropertyList>

• Model: the paratrooper model. There's a generic one available at this given path, however you can create your own.
• Delay: time in seconds between each paratroopers jump.
• Count: number of paratroopers that can be seated on the aircraft.
• Offset: distance in meters to the model origin from where the paratroopers will jump (therefor the spot where the models will appear).
• Weight: weight of an average paratrooper in pounds.
• Wind: is the paratrooper affected by wind?
• Life: time in seconds that the paratrooper lasts. The model will be deleted when time is up.