I want this aircraft to fly to EDDT without stopping so I put TNG at 02:55 - is this right?

AC#19,POV,5%,24HR,VFR,23:25,TNG02:55,200,R,0000,EDDT,02:55,07:00,031,R,0000,EGXC

Secondly, I'd really like it to just get to EDDT & return without landing but I can't work out how to do it so if someone can tell me what I must do I'd be grateful!!

Hi,

The short answer is that you have to set up a fake airport way above ground level and no runways.  Then it comes back, I think.  You should ask over at MAIW for more info:

http://www.militaryaiworks.com/

Hope this helps,

Nice one.  Good advice - thanks.... ;)

gypsymoth wrote on Nov 5^th, 2010 at 6:50pm:

AC#19,POV,5%,24HR,VFR,23:25,TNG02:55,200,R,0000,EDDT,02:55,07:00,031,R,0000,EGXC

To get the aircraft to fly out and return without landing, you should plan the flight as an IFR flight instead of a VFR flight.  You can still use just about any altitude you wish as long as it's above about 3,000 ft. 

Your FP is a bit off, it's missing some code.

Try this:

AC#19,POV,5%,24HR,IFR,23:25:00,TNG02:55:00,200,R,0000,EDDT,02:57:00,07:00:00,031,R,0000,EGXC

You were missing the seconds from your ETD and ETA's.  Also you have to give the aircraft a slight time gap so that it will properly transition to the return leg.

In this example, the aircraft will depart EGXC at 23:25:00 and fly to EDDT, once there is will conduct IFR low approaches only until it reaches the planned ETA time of 02:55:00Z.  Once that time is reached the aircraft will then be somewhere in the local area on the approach or missed approach.  It will reach it's new ETD for the return and ask ATC for an IFR flight back to EGXC where it will arrive at approximately 07:00:00 or whatever the flight plan derived ETA is for that route.

Hope that helps you out.  Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy.  Try to keep the gap between the end of the IFR TNG segment and the return segment to 3 minutes or less.

Hello Mike,
Thanks for info & the 'wrinkle'......I appreciate it.

I'm being very un-pc wanting this flight plan & I don't want to upset members but I've just got Night Bombers the only colour film of an RAF bomber raid from Coningsby, on DVD. After watching it was in awe of the crew, as well as being shocked at the result on the ground. I did, however, begin to wonder if it was possible to send an aircraft (or 12) off on a long flight from the Coningsby I've made for my Golden Wings, without having it land.....

Indeed it is.  ;)

See the MQ-9 AI model in my signature banner?  When I sit down to write flight plans for it, they will need to replicate that UAV's long duration flights which can be 10-14 hours.  To do that I will create a series of far off waypoints for the model to fly to that will take it roughly that amount of time to complete.  It will simply do low approaches out at those waypoints where no one will see it until it's time for it to come home.  Pretty straight forward.

Thanks for that tip - I'll have a go at it  :)