Config Dialog

In the Configuration Dialog, you can configure graphics features and simulation features. Each setting means:

[Default Tab]

Default Environment
You can choose DAY or NIGHT.

Default Airplane
The airplane chosen in this list will first show up in the airplane selection screen.

Default Field
The field chosen in this list will first show up in the create-flight dialog.

Default Position
The start position chosen in this list will first show up in the create-flight dialog.     

[Game Tab]

Black Out
If this box is on, when you apply a high G force, you will lose visibility gradually, and finally will be blacked out. (If high negative G force, will red out). 

Mid Air Collision
If this box is on, when you collided with another airplane, your airplane will get damage, and typically, will crash. If this box is off, your airplane will never collide with another airplane. 

Can Land Anywhere
If this box is checked, you can land anywhere.  However, if the speed is too fast (like more than 20kt) the airplane will vibrate violently, and ends up crashing or tail-striking.

Rudder Auto Coordination
If this box is on, computer automatically control the rudder to eliminate sideslip of the airplane. To be fair, it is applied to all airplanes flying (except recorded airplanes). In actual flight, a pilot has to use rudder pedal while turning so that the airplane will not have side slip. It is called "turn coordination". But, I guess many users do not have a rudder pedal, and it is a pain to coordinate a turn by keyboard. So you can turn on this box.

Precise Simulation
If this box is on, the program computes dynamics at least every 50ms. If this box is off, the program computes dynamics once when a screen is refreshed once. Usually, refreshing a screen takes more time than 50ms. So, if this box is off, the simulation is less precise. (I don't recommend you to turn off this box. You may try if this program runs really slow on your PC). 

Always show HUD
If this box is checked, HUD is shown even when you are looking at your airplane from the outside.

Do not Use Instrument Panel
If this box is checked, the program draws Head Up Display no matter if the airplane has an instrument panel or not.

Always Draw Player Name
If this box is checked, player name is always visible.

Draw Virtual Joystick
If this box is checked, small virtual joystick will be drawn on the screen while flying.

F8 Camera Delay
If this box is on, external airplane camera (assigned to F8 key by default) follows the airplane with some time delay.

Do not show an airplane on radar if it is below XXXX ft.
The airplane flying below XXXX ft and far from the player airplane will not be shown on the radar.

[Graphics Tab]

Draw Shadow
If this check box is on, the shadow of the airplane is drawn precisely when the airplane is flying low. If this box is off, still the shadow is drawn, but the shadow is roughly drawn. 

Draw Shadow of Dead Airplane
If this box is checked, the program draws shadow of crashed airplanes. 

Draw Ordinance
If this box is checked, the program draws ordinances loaded on the airplanes.

Draw Coarse Weapon
If this box is checked, the program draws weapons with less polygons so that it can draw scenes faster.

Horizon Gradation
If this check box is on, you'll see a gradation on the horizon. If this box is off, no gradation on the horizon. 

Draw Cloud
As it is. 

Solid Cloud / Flat Cloud
If Solid Cloud is chosen (default) the cloud will have some volume, otherwise (if Flat Cloud is chosen) the cloud will not have volume (just flat).

Airplane Graphics
Automatic : Draws high quality model when an airplane is close to the viewpoint, and low quality model when far away.
Always High Quality : Draw high quality model regardless of the distance from the viewpoint.
Always Coarse : Draw low quality model regardless of the distance from the viewpoint. 

Draw Light in Daylight
If this box is checked, runway lights and city lights are visible in DAY mode.

Smoke
Configure type of smoke, how long the smoke remains and the resolution of the smoke.

You can choose a type of smoke from: towel, solid, circle and noodle. Towel smoke looks like a lo---ng towel. Solid smoke is most similar to actual smoke. But solid smoke takes more time to draw than other types. Noodle smoke looks like a lo---ng noodle. It can be drawn quickly, but does not look nice. 

If you choose circle smoke, the smoke is drawn as a sequence of circles. it cannot be drawn very fast, also does not look good. So I don't recommend it. I just experimentally implemented this feature.

Remain ?? seconds, means as it is.

Draw every ?? steps specifies the resolution of the smoke. If you specify smaller number, the resolution becomes better, but the drawing will be slower. By default, smoke is drawn every 4 steps. 

[OpenGL Tab]

Fog
If this box is checked, the program draws fog, which increases reality a little bit.  Only available on OpenGL version.  This option, however, requires a card that can draw OpenGL graphics fast.

Z-Buffer Quality
It specifies quality of Z-Buffering in OpenGL version.  You can choose one of "LOW(FAST)", "HIGH", "VERY HIGH", and "SUPER HIGH."  Lower Z-Buffer quality gives higher frame ratio, but you'll see some objects that are not supposed to be visible.  Higher Z-Buffer quality gives better graphics and you'll less likely see objects that are not supposed to be visible, but by sacrificing frame ratio.

Transparent Object (OpenGL only)
Some objects (typically afterburner) become semi-transparent if it is checked.

Transparent Smoke (OpenGL only)
Smokes become semi-transparent if it is checked.

Transparent Vapor (OpenGL only)
Vapor become semi-transparent if it is checked.

Reduce Peep Hole Made by Transparent Polygons (OpenGL only)
Transparent polygons sometimes makes peep holes in which you'll see something that is supposed to be hidden by another object.  Perfectly eliminating such peep holes is computationally intensive, and will make the program very slow.  However, I can reduce such peep holes by slight increase of computation.  If you turn this check box on, the program will try to reduce such peep holes.  An example of the effect of this check box is shown below.

	<- "Reduce Peep Hole Made by Transparent Polygons" off.  The horizon that is supposed to be hidden by the hangar is visible through a peep hole created by the propeller polygon of A6M5.
	<-"Reduce Peep Hole Made by Transparent Polygons" on.  The peep hole is gone.

Use Display List for Drawing Cloud
If this box is checked, the program uses what is called "display lists" for drawing clouds.  If the graphics card has sufficient memory buffer for storing display lists, the drawing performance should increase.

Without display lists, the program transfers all polygons every time a scene is drawn.  If the object is static and does not move, the program ends up with sending exactly the same information each time, and it creates considerable transaction of data between CPU and the graphics card.  Instead of sending the same data many times, the program can transfer a chunk of data to the graphics card only once and later tell the graphics card to draw the chunk of data already stored in the graphics card's memory.  By doing this, the program only needs to tell the graphics card the identification number of the chunk of data to draw the same thing.  For example, if a missile model consists of 1000 polygons, the program needs to send 1000 polygons to the graphics card for each frame if it does not use display lists.  If that many polygons are stored in the graphics card's memory, the program only needs to send one integer number to the graphics card to draw the object.  It'll save time for drawing graphics significantly.

Use Display List for Drawing Weapons
If this box is checked, the program uses display lists for drawing weapons.

Use Display List for Drawing Explosions
If this box is checked, the program uses display lists for drawing explosions..

Use Ground Texture
If this box is checked, the program uses texture to draw maps.

Use Runway Light Texture
If this box is checked, the program uses texture to draw runway lights.

Option Dialog

In Option Dialog, you can change the resolution (full-screen or normal window) and sound on/off.  Option "Remember Window Position and Size" is effective only when the screen mode is "Normal Window" mode.  If this option is on, the program remembers position and size of the window when the window is closed, and restores the same position and size when it starts for the next time.

If you change a screen mode in OpenGL version, you may encounter some problems due to incompatibilities of video card drivers.  If you cannot start up OpenGL version after changing the resolution, try one of following three options.

(1) Start YSFLIGHT with pressing SHIFT key down.  The program will always start in normal window mode if you do so.  Then, go to Option Dialog and set the screen mode back to normal window.

(2) If option (1) doesn't work, choose "YSFLIGHT - RESET SETTING" from "Start Menu" -> "Programs" -> "YS FLIGHT SIMULATION SYSTEM 2000."  This will initialize all the settings.

(3) If option (2) doesn't work, start the Non-OpenGL version and go to Option Dialog to set the screen mode back to normal window.

(4) If none of the above two options works, re-install YSFLIGHT.

If all three options fails, you should suspect problems of your video card driver or something other than YSFLIGHT.

Changing Keyboard/Mouse/Joystick Assignment

You can change functionalities assigned to joystick, mouse, and keyboard.  To change assignments, please choose:

    "Option" -> "Config Key/Mouse/Joystick Assignment"

The dialog shown on the right will appear.

In the dialog, choose a functionality in list boxes, and click "Change" button to change the assignment.  For example, if you want to assign Axis 3 of Joystick 2 to throttle, click "Throttle" in "Joystick/Mouse Axes" box, and click "Change" button located right of "Joystick/Mouse Axes."  Then, choose Joystick 2 Axis 3, (check "Reverse" if necessary) and click "OK."

You can also save your assignment to a file by clicking "Save" button, and you can load your assignment when you re-install YSFLIGHT, or upgrade to a newer version.  However, if you load the assignment configured by an older version, no key or button is assigned to a new features added in a newer version.  If you upgrade YSFLIGHT to a newer version, and if you load your key assignment, please assign new features to appropriate keys or buttons manually.

If you need to reset the assignment back to the default assignment, click "Default" button.

Prepare to fly

There are the following four types of flights in this simulator.

• Free flight

• Air combat

• Instant dogfight

• Intercept mission

Free Flight

In free flight, there are no other airplanes than your airplane. You can just practice flying. Follow the steps below. 

1. Choose Simulation->Create New Flight

2. Choose your airplane.
   
   You can choose your airplane by UP/DOWN arrow keys.  If you press SHIFT+UP or SHIFT+DOWN, the cursor moves quicker.  You can also choose ordinances by Q,A,W,S,E,D,R,F,T and G keys.  The selected ordinances, however, may not always be reflected in the simulation.  For example, if you are about to start Endurance Mode, and if you turned off "AAM", AAMs will not be loaded to your airplane no matter how many AAMs you selected in this screen.
   The airplane first show up on this screen is the one selected in Config Dialog
   
   You can also search an airplane by key words.  To search airplanes, press Ctrl+F and then type key words.  For example, if you type "F" and "EAGLE" separated by a space, only airplanes whose name includes the both key words will be shown.
   
   (* If you are using smaller resolution, less than 512x384, you will not see this screen.  Instead, you'll see a  dialog box, by which you can choose your airplane.)

3. Choose airfield, player's start position, wingmen and wingmen's start positions.  (If you click "Change Airplane", you can re-choose your airplane.)
   
   

4. If you want to save this setting, choose File->Save. (You can restore this setting by File->Load).

5. Choose Simulation->Fly

6. Center the joystick, and press a button or space key to go!

Air Combat

You can fly an air combat mission. Follow the steps below. 

1. Choose Simulation->Create Air Combat. 

2. Choose Airfield. 
   

3. Set airplanes, initial position and level with Air Combat dialog. 
   
   Each items of the dialog means: 

   Type of airplane	As it is
   Position	Please refer to Appendix-A
   Level	Choose the level of the airplane from Novice, Veteran, Ace, Deadly or Lethal
   Don't use AAM	No airplane can use Air to Air Missile if you check this box. This check box will take you to the classic machine gun dogfight

4. If you want to save your setting, choose File->Save. (You can restore this setting by File->Load).

5. Choose Simulation->Fly

6. Center the joystick, and press a button or space key to go!

Instant Dogfight

Since 2000/07/03 release version, you can fly an instant dogfight. In this mode, if you kill opponent airplanes, new opponent airplane will be generated and will attack on you.

The dogfight is limited to 15 minutes. No opponent airplane will be generated after this time period. If you survive 15 minutes of the air combat and if you kill the remaining enemies after this time period, you'll have chance to land to the base alive.

To play Instant Dogfight, choose "Simulation"->"Fly Endurance Mode".

Intercept Mission

In an intercept mission, you take off with your wingman (wingmen), and intercept attackers.  To play an intercept mission, choose "Simulation" -> "Intercept Mission." 

Close Air Support Mission

In a close air support mission, you need to destroy enemy tanks attacking your base.  To play a close air support mission, choose "Simulation" -> "Close Air Support Mission."

Configure Day/Night, Fog, and Wind

To configure Day/Night, Fog, and Wind, select "Simulation" -> "Set Environment" after creating flight or dogfight, before selecting "Simulation" -> "Fly."  Or, you can choose default environment in Config Dialog.  (Configuration by "Simulation" -> "Set Environment" overrides the configuration of Config Dialog.) 

Re-trying the Previous Mission

You can re-try the previous mission by choosing "Simulation" -> "Retry Previous Mission"

Flying an Airplane (Keystrokes, Mouse and Joystick)

You may want to printout the key assignments. So, I prepared independent page for it. 

[CLICK HERE TO READ]

You CAN use a keyboard to control elevator and aileron, if you really want.  Please see Changing Key/Mouse/Joystick Assignent to change settings.

Head Up Display

I didn't believe my eyes when I realized that I forgot to write the explanation of HUD two years after I released this flight simulator.  So, now I add the explanation below (2001/12/02)

(1) Ammuition.  >><< indicates the ammunition is selected, and ready to launch by trigger 1.
(2) Bank angle indicator
(3) Climb/Descend ratio (x100 feet/minutes)
(4) Heading angle indicator
(5) Airspeed (kt)
(6) Attitude of the airplane.
(7) Altitude (ft)
(8) Mach number
(9) G force
(10) Throttle setting
(11) Velocity vector.  Activated by V key.
(12) Landing gear, brake, flap, and spoiler (airbrake)
(13) Elevator, aileron and rudder
(14) Remaining fuel

Weapon System

After 2000/07/03 version, the way to control weapon system changed from the previous version. You have to choose a weapon by 2 key or trigger 2 of the joystick, and fire it by 1 key, SPACE key or trigger 1 of the joystick.

There are four types of weapons (and smoke) as follows.

Available weapons depend on the airplane.

Navigation Aid (ILS and VOR) And RADAR

Press 'I' key to turn on ILS. Next figure shows ILS indicator on the HUD. 

A horizontal line with "GS" shows a glide slope which is the ideal vertical path. The GS line indicates relative deviation of the glide slope with respect to the current position of the airplane. If the GS line is drawn above the center of the HUD, it means the ideal path is above your airplane. So, you have to add throttle and pull the stick. Or when the GS line is below the center of the HUD, the ideal path is below your position. In such case, you have to reduce throttle and release the pressure on the joystick.

Similarly, a vertical line with "LOC" indicates the ideal horizontal path. This horizontal guidance is called "localizer". The LOC line indicates the relative deviation of the horizontal path with respect to the current position of the airplane. If the line is left of the center of the HUD, you have to turn left. If the line is right of the center of the HUD, you have to turn right.

In summary, both lines shows the direction to which you should go. For example, if you see the line above, you should climb up, or if you see the line left, you should turn left.

When you lost your position, you can use VOR to find out your position.  To use VOR, press L key (in the standard key assignment) and choose a VOR station.  You'll see the indicator as shown below.

You can turn bearing by 7 key and 8 key (in the standard key assignment).

VOR tells the following.  Let's say your airplane heading is equal to the direction that bearing is showing.  Then, the course deviation indicator tells which side of your airplane (left or right) the VOR station is located.  If the indication beside the bearing shows [FROM], the station is behind you, or if it shows [TO], the station is in front of you.

It's a bit confusing, isn't it?  Here's a more easy way to use VOR.  Just turn the bearing until the course deviation indicator comes to the center and the indication beside the bearing becomes [TO].  Then, if you fly to the direction that the bearing is pointing, you'll reach above the VOR station.  

Or, turn the the bearing until the course deviation indicator comes to the center and the indication beside the bearing becomes [FROM].  Then, the bearing indicates the direction of your airplane from the VOR station.

Also RADAR equipment is available for air combat and anti-ground attack. You can turn on the RADAR or change the RADAR range by 3 key or trigger 3 of the joystick. The RADAR range cycles through OFF -> 5 miles -> 10 miles -> 50 miles -> (repeat). 

The RADAR has three modes as Anti-Air, Anti-Ground and Bombing. The mode changes automatically when you change the wapon of choice.

(Anti-Air mode)	(Anti-Ground mode)	(Bombing mode)

In Anti-Air mode, X marks show the ground objects and square marks show airplanes. White marks are friendly objects and Green marks are hostile objects. A small tip of line attached to the square show the flying directions of the airplane.

Anti-Ground mode is almost same as the Anti-Air mode, but it shows more objects in front of the airplane than ones behind the airplane.

In Bombing mode, the circle on the radar shows the estimated impact point of the bomb. If you are flying B-2 or Tu-144, you can carpet bomb referring to the circle and the cross mark.

Network Play

CAUTION:  If you are using Windows XP Service Pack 2, you need to unblock YSFLIGHT from Windows Firewall.  Please follow this link for more information.

Since 20001125 release version, YSFLIGHT2000 features network play. More than one player can fly a same airspace and fight against each other. Or you can cooperatively attack heavily defended ground target. If your PCs are connected to a high speed (10Mbps or faster) connection, you may be able to fly a formation of 6 airplanes and perform an aerobatic flight. I haven't tested how many players are practically possible, but theoretically, the program must accept 17 players at maximum.

Since 20021205 release version, you can play Endurance Mode and Intercept Mission over the network.  You can cooperatively attack against computer airplanes or defend your base with your friend.  To start the endurance mode, press E key in the server menu.  To start the Intercept mission, press B key in the server menu.  If you want to terminate the Endurande mode or the Intercept mission, press T key.  (Pressing T key does not delete already flying computer airplanes.  You have to take care of them anyway.)

In the network play, you may get damage even when you don't see any bullets or missiles striking your airplane. In such a case, your opponent's airplane is seeing his bullet or missile striking your airplane. It is because there is always some delay in transmitting position information. This problem can be moderated if I write a smart code that expect future path of the airplane, however, instead of making my code smart, I made a rule of the network play as follows. 

Say user A is flying an airplane P in computer X, and user B is flying an airplane Q in computer Y. If user A fired a weapon and the weapon strikes airplane Q in either one of (or both) computer X or computer Y, airplane Q gets damage. 

In summary, if you really see your airplane being hit, or your opponent sees his weapon striking your airplane, you get damage.

Consequently, even you think that your opponent's bullets are strayed from your airplane, say 20m behind you, you shouldn't stop your maneuver to avoid opponent's attack. If you are flying at 200m/s, and if the network delay is 0.1 second, you'll see your opponent's bullets strayed 20m behind you when your opponent is seeing his bullets striking directly your airplane. And, this is a game to play happily. Don't begin fist fight screaming "Hey, your bullet didn't hit me! You did something unfair!". Your opponent is not unfair. It is a nature of network play.

If you want to fly with a friend who is apart from you, you may want to chat with your friend while flying, though, YSFLIGHT2000 itself does not transmit texts for chatting.  In such a case, you can open an external chatting program beside YSFLIGHT2000's window.  However, while you are chatting with your friend, you cannot control your airplane.  In order not to crash your airplane while chatting, you can use auto-pilot.  If you press BS (backspace) key, your airplane will fly a holding pattern until you press BS key once more.  

But, I don't recommend to use voice chat and YSFLIGHT2000 at the same time.  Experiments showed that Windows may freeze if you try to use voice chatting program and YSFLIGHT2000 at the same time.  You can avoid this problem by turning off YSFLIGHT2000's sound effects.  However, even if you successfully start YSFLIGHT2000, practically you cannot fly with your friend over network because the network-load of voice transmission eats bandwidth up and YSFLIGHT2000 cannot transmit airplane's position, state etc.

To play over the network, one player needs one computer. And, one computer must work as a server. The other computers must connect to the server as clients. The figure on the right shows an schematic image of the network connection. A player in front of the computer can join the flight either when a computer is working as a server or when a computer is connected to the server. 

To begin a server, choose Network menu -> Server and type your name. To access to a server as a client, choose Network menu -> Client, and type your name and the network hostname of the server.

The server address is shown under the server menu as follows.  So, you can tell it to your friend by phone or chat program or in whatever way you have.

However, when your PC is sharing an IP address with another PC(s) (eg. when a PC is connected via dial-up router), or when your PC has more than one network connection (eg. dial-up connection + LAN card), this address may not be valid.  In such a case, please ask your network administrator for the correct address.  (Please do not ask me about the host address.  It depends on your PC's environment, and I am not your tech support.  I'm suffering from overwhelming E-Mail of this kind of question.  I'll ignore them all.)

CAUTION: When a YSFLIGHT version of the client does not match a YSFLIGHT version of the server, the client may get the following message and be rejected from the server.

If you see this message, please upgrade both the server and the client to the latest version of YSFLIGHT.

(*1 YSFLIGHT of version 20021205 or newer has a feature that smoothes the motion of airplanes behind the network.  However, if a server or a client is running YSFLIGHT of older version than 20021205, this feature does not work.)

Now you are ready to join the flight. If you press 'J' key, you can go for a flight instantly. Or, before going, you can change your airplane, start position and your IFF code (IFF : Identify Friend or Foe system). Key strokes are explained in the following table. 

To choose an airplane or a start position, use arrow keys, UP arrow and DOWN arrow. If you press UP or DOWN key with SHIFT key, choice moves faster. Press SPACE key to decide. (You can press ESC key or ENTER key to decide. ESC will not cancel your choice). 

When flying with more than two players, be careful not to begin a flight at the same position, or you will end up with mid air collision as soon as you start a flight.

I am not assuming to use this network play feature between the PCs that are located in a remote places. I am assuming all PCs are in the same room and players have voice communications. So, the program itself doesn't have chatting capability. If you want to chat with your opponent while flying, please run another chatting program simultaneously. 

You can configure network-play options by Network menu->Network Option. If you choose Network menu->Network Option, the following dialog pops up.The following table explains each item. 

If you are interested in 3D Graphics programming

This flight simulator is built using Blue Impulse 3D Graphics SDK and YS Geometric Calculation Library.

Blue Impulse 3D Graphics SDK is designed for interactive 3D visualization programs. I developed it for my master's thesis research project. It runs in a acceptable speed even in a relatively slow platforms. One advantage of the toolkit is cross-platform capability. Actually, if I re-compile source code of this flight simulator in SGI or X-Window environment, it runs (Except dialog boxes and joystick features. I just used #ifdef WIN32,#endif for those WIN32 depending part). Another advantage is scalability. If you build a program in a relatively slower platform, you'll want to use flat-shaded version. But, you can get smooth 
shaded version just by re-compile with the library file of OpenGL implementation. 

YS Geometric Calculation Library provides wide variety of 3D calculation features, including basic vector classes, matrix classes, shell classes, intersection/collision detection..... This library also has template classes like array, linked list etc. 

Both toolkits are free and open source. Please visit the Web site. 

• Blue Impulse 3D Graphics SDK

• YS Geometric Calculation Library

But, it doesn't mean I'm going to open source codes of YSFLIGHT2000. I have no plan to open the source code of this flight simulator. Only source codes of toolkits are open.

Blue Impulse 3D Graphics SDK is a foundation toolkit of YSFLIGHT2000.  But, it doesn't mean that you can easily modify existing airplane or create new airplane in YSFLIGHT2000.  Blue Impulse 3D Graphics SDK is a general purpose 3D Graphics toolkit.  But it is not dedicated to YSFLIGHT2000.

Contact Information

Comments are welcome. Send E-Mail to:

In both address, I can read E-Mail written in either Japanese or English.

Web-Page:

http://www.ysflight.com

Related Web-Page:

AIRPLANE SOFTWARE   -   Download cool 3D airplane screensavers etc.

Airplane Photo Gallery    -    Tons of airplane photos.

Appendix A - Notation of the position

Appendix B - Sample missions

There are several example missions. You can choose them from File->Load, then choose Simulation->Fly.

I write brief explanations of each mission. 

• fly_f22.yfs
  This file is used in Instant Flight section. 

• A6M5vsB29.yfs
  A formation of B-29 is approaching Misawa air base.  Take off in A6M5 Zero Fighter and intercept the bomber formation.  Give appropriate commands to your wingmen to make the mission successful.

• P51vsG4M.yfs
  A formation of G4M Betty is approaching your base.  Take off in P-51 Mustang and intercept the bomber formation.  Give appropriate commands to your wingmen to make the mission successful.

• fleetbattle1.yfs
  Take off the aircraft carrier with your wingman, fly east, and destroy enemy fleet before they destroy a friendly aircraft carrier.  After the mission, return to the ground base, or the carrier that you took off.  You need to give appropriate commands to your wingman to win the battle.

• fleetbattle2.yfs
  Take off the aircraft carrier with your wingman, fly east, and destroy enemy fleet.  Fighters are guarding the airspace around the enemy fleet.  Use mid range missile to destroy some of them, and destroy the rest of them in a dogfight.  After the mission, return to the carrier that you took off.  You need to give appropriate commands to your wingman to win the battle.

• concorde_in_hawaii.yfs
  Take off Kona International Airport in Hawaii island, turn left heading 310, climb maintain 45,000ft, and you are cleared for Mach 2.0!  When Oahu island is close, descend and decelerate to prepare to land.  Fly south of Oahu island with heading 260, altitude 2,500ft.  Make 180 degree right turn, and you are cleared for ILS approach runway 8L of Honolulu International Airport.  Final approach speed is 160kt.  Use PageUp/PageDown key to move variable geometry nose (or droop nose) to gain downward visibility!

• badiamond.yfs

• bidiamond.yfs

• tbdiamond.yfs
  Fly a formation leader of world famous "United States Navy Blue Angels", "United States Airforce Thunderbirds" or "Japan Air Self Defence Force Blue Impulse". At the beginning, you'll be on runway. You'll see another three airplanes behind (use M key to look back). 

To take off, turn on afterburner and push the throttle to the max power (press TAB key once and press Q key until the power becomes max, or just push your throttle lever forward if you have an external throttle lever). 

After air-bourn, keep the nose 10 to 15 degree pitch. Press B key or use POV to look back periodically. You'll see the #4 airplane sliding into its position. After #4 took in position, turn off the afterburner and reduce the power to the half of military (press TAB once again and press A key until the power becomes half, or just pull your throttle lever back to that power). 

Again, use M key or POV control, wait until other airplanes catch up you. You can make smooth turn during this procedure. 

At this point, you can fly what ever you want. But, remember that you are the formation leader. You must not perform a rapid maneuver, especially lateral maneuvers (rolling). You have to fly really nice and smooth. You also should not use max power or minimum power with airbrake. If you fly so, they cannot keep up with you because other airplanes have the same flight dynamic characteristic (no more acceleration or deceleration). You also have to 
keep between 200kt and 500kt until landing. 

If you pull your trigger 1 or 2, other airplanes will draw a smoke with you. You can try, diamond roll, diamond loop, and whatever diamond something maneuver with trailing smoke. You should keep plus G (more than 2.0G is good) while you are performing a formation aerobatic maneuver. 

Finally, you should land your airplane to the runway. Your wingmen will just follow you. So, you have to land exactly on the centerline of the runway. 

Try! 

Appendix C - Anti Ground Attack Missions

After 20000226 version, anti air artillery and surface to air missiles are added. So, you may want to attack heavily defended ground targets. Each map has heavily guarded ground targets. Why are they within just 20 to 30 km of the airbase? Please don't ask me that question(^_^;) But, you can attack them. Some maps also has the start position "CLOSE BY THE GROUND TARGETS". If you choose it, you'll start flying several miles away from the ground targets. Otherwise, please takeoff and search the targets by yourself. They are heavily guarded by anti air artilaries and surface to air missiles. Attack them by your AGMs (anti ground missiles) and machine guns! 

Please see also Close Air Support Mission.

Appendix D - Command Parameters

The following command parameters (options) are available for both Windows and Linux versions.

-h 
-help

Show help.

-keymenu

Use key menu.

-replayrecord Filename

Replay flight record.

-freeflight Airplane Field Position

Fly Free Flight.

-flyyfs Filename

Load .YFS and fly.

-endurance Airplane Field NWingmen WingmenLvl UseMissile

Endurance Mode (15 minutes dogfight)
NWingmen : 0 to 2
WingmenLvl : 1 to 5
UseMissile : 0(not use) or 1(use)

-intercept Airplane Field Stealth Escort HeavyBomber Bomb NEnemy NWingmen

Intercept Mission (15 minutes base defense)
Stealth : 0(not allow stealth) or 1(allow stealth)
Escort : 0(not allow fighter escort) or 1(allow fighter escort)
Bomb : 0(not allow bomb) or 1(allow bomb)
NEnemy : 1 to 5
NWingmen : 0 to 2

-server Username

Start server mode.

-client Username ServerHostName

Start client mode.

-netport portNumber

Specify port number (valid only when -server or -client is given.)

-autoexit

Exit after flight. (Ignores -keymenu.)

-saveflight Filename

Save after flight.

-listairplane

Show airplane list.

-listfield

Show field list.

-liststartpos Fieldname

Show start position list.

-setdefaultconfig

Set default configuration.

-setdefaultnetconfig

Set default network configuration.

-setdefaultkeyassign

Set default keyboard assignment.

-setdefaultoption

Set default option.

Appendix E - Configuration Files

Linux version does not have GUI dialogs for changing configurations.  So, you need to manually modify configuration files.  The explanations of the configuration files are found in document/configfiles.txt

If you screw up the configuration files, start the program with the following four options:

-setdefaultconfig

-setdefaultnetconfig

-setdefaultkeyassign

-setdefaultoption