When i was making a mission in fmb, i created four flights of b-17s made only two waypoints for all but the lead flight of bombers and made the lead the lead flight their target and they followed the lead flight all the way to the target. So i tried to add escort flights using the same way but giving them a full set of waypoints and then made the lead b-17 flight its target and instead of staying with the bombers the flew in a hughe circle around them so when the german fighters arrived the allied fighters were still trying to catch up with the bombers. The bombers were almost wiped out by the time help arrived. This is really annoying so if anyone has found a way around this let me know or is this just a AI problem?
AI fighters don't fly with the bombers by keeping the same speed/alt. The do tend to fly at nearly full power and circle repeatedly above the bombers.
It's not really a bug, but it was meant to simulate the way things were done on the Eastern Front. Another related issue is B-17s that try to bomb Sturmovik style. (Very funny btw).
You could possibly fix this by not assigning the fighters any escort duty, and by mapping waypoints and speed limits instead.
i tried that but the fighters still began to pull away from the bombers, i set the bombers and the fighters to the same speed around 250 but they still pull away.
Maybe i m just not the good at building missions oh well
Try setting the fighters at the same altitude as the bombers. Speeds are relative to altitude, so if the fighters are higher or lower they'll be traveling slightly faster or slower.
CY6.
Interesting note:
If you give the fighters an air to ground ordinance, they will act as bombers in formation keeping.
I always wished that this would be included in the AI mod (still a great mod), but it is not so. People tried to explain it to that mods' author, but he didn't really understand the problem, as he was not a mission builder. Perhaps someday, this is one of the most annoying problems there is for mission builers.
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Adjust the speed of the fighters until they dont pull away. Simple
Put the fighters' target as their friendly bombers and they will cover the bombers and stay with them circling around them.
Ok i put a flight of fighters and a flight of bombers at the same altitude and speed. the fighters stayed with the bombers until enemy fighters appeared and they broke off to engage them, and after the defeated the enemy they couldnt catch up to the bombers when they were attacked again.the other way they would rejoin the bombers so i guess you cant have the best of both. oh well maybe i shoulnt be so ocd about it
Make sure when you are setting waypoints for your bombers and fighter escorts, you do your research and make sure you are setting realistic cruising speeds for your aircraft..
Also remember depending what type of bombers you are using on a mission, their escorts may find it difficult to maintain that same speed as it may be close to their stall speed.. (worth a thought).
Even if you get everything matched and set up correctly, the limitations of the games AI escorts may still resort to doing large circles regardless.. sometimes it gets a little frustrating..lol!
