Posts by FederFlyer

SUCCESS !!

You were correct about the folder location.

If you are using Windows then try this location:

C:\Users\ ... \Documents\Aerofly FS 4

... continuing with custom_missions_user.tmc

Today I had some results to report:

1. Little Navmap
   1. Created a simple flight plan in Little Navmap: KCOS to KFTG.
   2. Direct flight; no waypoints.
   3. Exported the plan from Little Navmap as a MSFS 2020 PLN.
2. Missionsgerät
   1. Loaded the KCOS to KFTG PLN.
   2. Reset all the configuration fields with the pink buttons.
   3. Set the position to Ready for Takeoff.
   4. On the map, the aircraft was off the runway.
   5. Used Shift-Click to drag the aircraft to the end of the runway. It did not move the aircraft. Instead, it created a new waypoint. (see the attached image)
   6. Clicked on the new runway waypoint (the desired takeoff location) in the map and noted the GPS coordinates.
3. Notepad++
   1. In the MSFS 2020 PLN, changed the <DepartureLLA> and KCOS <WorldPosition> coordinates in the PLN to the runway coordinates I noted in the Missionsgerät map.
4. Missionsgerät
   1. Loaded the edited PLN.
   2. The aircraft was displayed on the map in the proper runway location.
   3. Saved the plan as a .tmc file.
5. In the \Aerofly FS 4 Flight Simulator\missions folder
   1. Replaced custom_missions_user.tmc with the .tmc created by Missionsgerät.
6. Opened Aerofly FS 4 application
   1. Challenges folder had 91 challenges, but not the custom_missions_user.tmc flight plan.
7. In the \Aerofly FS 4 Flight Simulator\missions folder
   1. Made a backup copy of custom_missions.tmc and replaced it with the .tmc created by Missionsgerät.
8. Opened Aerofly FS 4 application
   1. Challenges folder now had only 1 flight: the flight plan created by Missionsgerät.
   2. The thumbnail image was correct, showing the flight plan diagram, aircraft and ICAO codes.
   3. But the thumbnail was greyed out and not clickable. (see the attached image)

Summary:

• The custom_missions_user.tmc file created by Missionsgerät was ignored by Aerofly.
• Replacing the custom_missions.tmc file with the Missionsgerät file causes Aerofly to recognize the flight plan, but it is greyed out and not clickable. (see the attached image)
• I compared the original Aerofly custom_missions.tmc with the Missionsgerät file to see if perhaps the headers for the flights were different, but they have the exact same header formats, so that doesn't appear to be an issue.

• I created a new, blank text document with Windows Notepad and copied into it the contents of the Missionsgerät custom_missions.tmc. The intention was to eliminate any hidden characters that may have been generated by Missionsgerät. But the results were the same, so it appears hidden characters are not an issue.

  
  

Sorry to be off-topic, but ... DickundDoof your Bayern avatar led me to discover that you are in Nurnberg, Germany. My father was in the U.S. Army and I went to high school in Nurnberg from 1968-1971. It is a beautiful area and I have many great memories of friendly people, and amazing hiking and camping.

Thanks for the sentiment. But I never have to look very far to find someone with much worse problems, so I'm grateful for the positive things in life.

I'm back! I have Myasthenia Gravis. It affects me daily, but I never know when it's going to truly knock me down. This time it was only for a few days.

Resuming normal activities now.

Due to health concerns I will need to step away from Aerofly for the time being. I appreciate the great work and collaboration.

Sorry for the slow response. I am traveling and can only check the forum once or twice per day.

I attached screenshots that show KAMA is displayed in both Missionsgerät and FS4.

Also attached is a new custom_missions_user.tmc using major airports: KAUS to KSAT (Austin to San Antonio). I followed the same creation process, but this plan is not displayed in the challenges area.

I also created a plan for LSPO to EGLL (Paris to London), but had the same result (not displayed in the list of Challenges).

Perhaps another user can try using the attached custom_missions_user.tmc ? That will help with troubleshooting if it is an issue with my particular system or if it is an issue with the process.

Attached is my custom_missions_user.tmc file.

This is the process that I used to create it:

1. Created a simple flight plan in Little Navmap: KCOS to KAMA. Direct flight; no waypoints.
2. Exported the plan from Little Navmap as a MSFS 2020 PLN, into the \Aerofly FS 4 Flight Simulator\missions folder.
3. Opened Missionsgerät and selected the KCOS to KAMA PLN.
4. Reset all the configuration fields with the pink buttons. Set the cruise altitude to 20,000 feet.
5. Downloaded the flight plan from Missionsgerät to the \Aerofly FS 4 Simulator\missions folder.
6. In the \Aerofly FS 4 Simulator\missions folder I deleted the existing custom_missions_user.tmc
7. Renamed the downloaded Missionsgerät .tmc file to be custom_missions_user.tmc
8. Opened Aerofly, and the mission is not displayed in the "Challenges" section.

I'm on Windows 11.

I read your instructions previously. They are easy to understand and follow.

They indicate “Main Menu” > “Missions” > “Challenges”. But my FS4 only has a "Challenges" item on the main screen. There is no "Missions" item on the main screen (see the screenshot, above). I Googled images of the FS4 menu screen, and they show "Missions" on the main screen. It's confusing.

When I go into the "Challenges" item it shows the flights that are in the custom_missions.tmc file, but my custom flight in custom_missions_user.tmc is not displayed.

I found a post from Jan that missions are actually challenges.

The challenges in FS4 match the flights described in custom_missions.tmc, but the flight described in custom_missions_user.tmc is not displayed.

The KML export works great!

I'm interested in creating flight plans for "the other people" - those of us who fly low and slow.

All of the major simulators focus on airliners and long-distance flying. Local and regional stuff, not so much. I would love to see ultralight aircraft models, such as a Quicksilver, Breezy, or a trike.

Now for a question that may be ridiculous, but I'm truly baffled. I do not see a Missions menu item in FS4. On my main menu there is a Challenges item, but there is no Missions item. I've drilled down into every menu and somehow am not finding Missions.

I have Version 4.07.01.02.

If anyone has a suggestion I would love to hear it.

Adding KML exports will be great. No, not just great, it will be awesome!

I currently use a rather convoluted method of getting KML tracks of my flights documented in Google Earth.

Overall, your flight planning tool and tutorial information are incredible. I have several decades of experience using all of the major simulators, and your level of contributing to the sim community is uncommon, and appreciated.

Thank you!

It's always simple stuff that solves issues, right?

I uninstalled the scenery packs and recovered 160 GB of drive space.

Thank you!

I have global scenery enabled, and also have the DLC scenery packs installed. I am on Windows 11.

How do I uninstall the DLC packs to recover disk space? I don't see an option to do this in Steam, nor in Aerofly.

If I uninstall the DLC packs, will I lose anything, such as aircraft?

I agree with AOB. I've used all the simulators that use satellite imagery and have seen this type of anomaly in all of them. Given the many low-flying aircraft near airports when satellites create images, it is fortunate that the simulators don't display hundreds of these anomalies, everywhere.

• lenidcamper's Aerofly FS 2 Flight Path Recorder app records flights as KML files that can be displayed in Google Earth.
• It works great in FS 4. Just start the app > record a flight > see the flight in Google Earth.
• Most of these instructions are one-time steps that are only done when you first implement the app.
• These instructions are specific to the Windows operating system.

Required applications

1. Aerofly FS 2 Flight Path Recorder (Unzip the file into a folder of your choice. No installation is required.)
2. Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
3. Google Earth (Although it is named Google Earth Pro, it is a free application)

Identify the required IP address

1. In the search field in the Windows taskbar: Enter " command " > press Enter > click on the Command Prompt app
2. Enter this exact string: ipconfig | findstr /i "ipv4" and press Enter
3. Write down the IP address and change the last 3 digits to 255 (example: 10.0.0.101 should be noted as 10.0.0.255)
4. Close the command window.

Configure Aerofly

1. Settings > Miscellaneous
2. Broadcast flight info to IP address = On
3. Broadcast IP address = your edited IPv4 address
   • This is your IP address with " 255 " as the last 3 digits
   • Aerofly requires 3-digit entries. Example: 10.0.0.255 should be entered as 010.000.000.255
4. Broadcast IP port = 49002

Record a flight

1. In the folder where you saved the downloaded app, double-click on flightPathRecorder.jar
2. Click on the "Start Recording" and "Stop Recording" button, as needed.
3. Each time you start/stop, a new KML file will be saved.

• The first time the app is run, it will create a folder: C:\Users\username\Documents\Aerofly FS 2\Flight Path Records.
• This is where the KML recordings will be saved.
• If you use Microsoft OneDrive, this may not be the same "Documents" folder as "My Documents". If "Aerofly FS 2" is not in your primary documents folder, then navigate specifically to C:\Users\username\Documents\Aerofly FS 2\Flight Path Records
• Flight Path Recorder is an external app. It can be started before Aerofly starts. It can be started and stopped while Aerofly is running. And it can be stopped after Aerofly is closed.

Pin the Flight Path Recorder app to the Windows taskbar (optional)

1. In the folder where you saved the downloaded app, rename flightPathRecorder.jar to flightPathRecorder.exe
2. Answer "Yes " to the warning that pops up.
3. Right-click on flightPathRecorder.exe > Pin to taskbar > a new icon appears on the taskbar
4. Rename flightPathRecorder.exe back to flightPathRecorder.jar
5. Answer "yes" to the warning that pops up.
6. Right-click your new taskbar icon > right-click on the app name > Properties
7. In the Shortcut tab > Target field: change "...\Flight Path Recorder\flightPathRecorder.exe" > "...\Flight Path Recorder\flightPathRecorder.jar"
8. Click on the "OK" button.

I appreciate the fast reply. Your explanation makes sense. I suspected that only the specific filenames referenced in the wiki are recognized by the sim.

Thank you!

I am a casual daytime VFR flyer; just basic stick-and-rudder. I am trying to implement a preset TMD file that turns off the exterior lights.

In the Baron 58 "b58.tmd" file I can manually change the light switch values to zero and the aircraft loads with the exterior lights off.

I created a "b58_lightsoff.tmd" file, but it does not work. Either the file is structured incorrectly or it is not loading.

I appreciate any guidance.

Here is the file structure:

<[file][][]
  <[modelmanager][][]
    <[pointer_list_tmuniverse][DynamicObjects][]

      // strobe lights
      <[input_switch][StrobeLightSwitch][]
          <[float64][Value][0.0]>
      >

      // beacon lights
      <[input_switch][BeaconLightSwitch][]
          <[float64][Value][0.0]>
      >

      // navigation lights
      <[input_switch][NavigationLightSwitch][]
          <[float64][Value][0.0]>
      >

      // landing lights
      <[input_switch][LandingLightSwitch][]
          <[float64][Value][0.0]>
      >

      // taxi lights
      <[input_switch][TaxiLightSwitch][]
          <[float64][Value][0.0]>
      >
    >
  >
>