Simviation Forum - Contrails in Flight Sim 2002

May 24^th, 2007 at 4:58pm

Mean Spitfire Offline
Lieutenant Colonel
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Posts: 5

Hi everyone,

I have egg on my face. Sometime back, I set 30,000ft as the altitude where the contrails appear. Now, I want to change that altitude... You guessed it! I can't remember where that setting is, and I can't find it. I went through all the settings, especially where the cloud types, and altitudes can be set, but there's no way I can find it again. (this is bad for my self image, since I did set that once before... bummer Embarrassed

) The Help file doesn't even list "contrails" or "condensation" in the index... Can anyone shed light on this?

Many thanks to those of you who will reply and save my sanity.

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Reply #1 - May 24^th, 2007 at 9:53pm

Webb Ex Member
I Like Flight Simulation!

As far as I know the only way to change the contrail altitude is with FSUIPC.

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Reply #2 - May 25^th, 2007 at 9:26am

Mean Spitfire Offline
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Posts: 5

Thanks,

But what's FSUIPC? How do I get there???

Thanks again,

John

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Reply #3 - May 25^th, 2007 at 10:20am

ashaman Offline
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For FS2002 you can try and find on the net FSUIPC V2, the last version completely freeware with no fee payment required (FSUIPC became shareware from FS9 onward).

What is FSUIPC? It's a DLL file that has to be copied in the Modules folder under the FS2002 folder, when you start a flight, you'll find an additional menu voice called Modules, inside there you'll find the voice FSUIPC. Once selected, it'll open a windows inside which you can change some parameters of working for FS2002.

There's but one real cure for human stupidity. It's called DEATH.&&&&At the moment mourning the assassination of sarcasm and irony for the good of the "higher".&&&&Proud FSIX user. Active user of FS98, X-plane and novice of Orbiter.&&&&Seen the GREAT service pack for FSX and its usefulness, really awaiting for FS11 to upgrade.&&&&AMD Athlon Xp 2400@2700&&MB Asus A7V8XX&&1Gb ram DDR 400 @ 333&&ASL Nvidia Geforce 6600gt 128Mb DDR3 AGP&&Creative Sound Blaster Live&&Windows XP Professional Sp2&&2 HD Maxtor 40Gb - 1 HD Maxtor 80Gb

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Reply #4 - May 25^th, 2007 at 11:03am

Mean Spitfire Offline
Lieutenant Colonel
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Posts: 5

Thanks, will look it up this weekend... Strange though that I set it the first time from within FS2002, unless it was during install, which Idoubt. But I will try FSUIPC. Cheesy

Thanks,

John the Mean Spitfire (That's from Combat FS Europe; the 109s and 190s have a problem with me, the darndest thing! Wink

)

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Reply #5 - May 25^th, 2007 at 11:51am

Webb Ex Member
I Like Flight Simulation!

I'm going to change my original answer because after doing the following I can't find any way to change the 30,000 ft contrail threshold. I think it's hardwired into the sim.

FSUIPC - I couldn't find any way to change it.
FS2002.cfg - I couldn't find any reference to it.
SDK's - Contain a passing reference to it but no instructions on how to change it.
.fx files - Contain no reference to an altitude trigger.

You could probably remove them altogether by deleting the appropriate .fx files or reverse engineer one of the contrail addon packages and see how they trigger them for different altitudes. I suspect they use a hidden gauge and additional .fx files.

As for FSUIPC, it is the single most important addon you can get and it's free for FS02. Click here and get the first one on the list (the one that says "For FS98, FS2000, FS2002"). Installation instructions are included.

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Reply #6 - May 25^th, 2007 at 1:17pm

Mean Spitfire Offline
Lieutenant Colonel
I Fly Sim!

Posts: 5

Thanks Jim.

I don't mean to contradict you

, but the 30,000ft is an altitude that I entered in the sim. The problem is that I can't remember where and can't find it anymore. I did search the .cfg, and another file (can't remember which one) and found no reference to "contrails" nor did I see 30,000 as a value anywhere. It's driving me nuts, not so much because I'd like to change it, but because I feel like my brain is stuck in neutral. I'll install the FSUIPC though as it seems quite good from what you're saying.

Thanks again,

John

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Reply #7 - May 25^th, 2007 at 3:01pm

Webb Ex Member
I Like Flight Simulation!

Could be. It's been a long time since I installed it.

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Reply #8 - Jun 28^th, 2007 at 4:41pm

Groundbound1 Ex Member

Mean Spitfire wrote on May 24^th, 2007 at 4:58pm:

Hi everyone,

I have egg on my face. Sometime back, I set 30,000ft as the altitude where the contrails appear. Now, I want to change that altitude... You guessed it! I can't remember where that setting is, and I can't find it. I went through all the settings, especially where the cloud types, and altitudes can be set, but there's no way I can find it again. (this is bad for my self image, since I did set that once before... bummer Embarrassed

) The Help file doesn't even list "contrails" or "condensation" in the index... Can anyone shed light on this?

Many thanks to those of you who will reply and save my sanity.

If the aircraft.cfgs' in FS2002 are the same (or similar) as the ones in FS9, then that should be where you set it. You're not really setting the altitude the contrail starts, but rather, the temperature. ( I would assume this is a temp in celsius,but I know how to spell "assume")

This is a snip from one of my FS9 aircraft.cfg files:

[GeneralEngineData]
engine_type=0
Engine.0= 8.927, -21.289, -1.280
Engine.1= 10.513, -9.784, -1.890
Engine.2= 10.513, 9.784, -1.890
Engine.3= 8.927, 21.289, -1.280
fuel_flow_scalar=1.00000
min_throttle_limit=0.000000
master_ignition_switch=1
max_contrail_temperature = -20

Hope that helps! Wink

« Last Edit: Jun 29^th, 2007 at 1:15pm by N/A »

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Reply #9 - Jun 29^th, 2007 at 10:54am

Mean Spitfire Offline
Lieutenant Colonel
I Fly Sim!

Posts: 5

Hey Groundbound1 !!!! Thanks! I have looked at such .cfg files but don't recall a reference to contrails... BUT maybe I can edit the generic engine one and add the line from yours, setting a temperature. It might work. I'm on vacation next week, and will do some minor repairs to my car in order to sell it. I'll try to find some time to hunt down the correct .cfg and give this a try.

Nice pic by the way! Thanks a million!

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Reply #10 - Jun 29^th, 2007 at 11:28am

Groundbound1 Ex Member

Happy to help! Wink

P.S. Be sure to make a back-up before you try it. I don't use fs 2002, so I don't know if just adding the line will make it work, but it might.

« Last Edit: Jun 29^th, 2007 at 1:14pm by N/A »

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