Zaphod,

I haven't had any problems using pushback tug with the DC-10.

However, I can replicate your problem (with any aircraft) by holding the P too long  while holding Shift down. Due to key-repeating this causes multiple start-stop commands. If, when you release the keys, it ends on a stop command the tug animation continues to hookup but then retreats because of the stop command.

So don't hold the P too long...     
...just tap it.

Dave 
 

OK, it seems the two offending variants have an extra line in the "contact points" section. Line 3

point.3 = 1, -12.3114,  0.00,  -12.38, 1500, 2, 2.51,  0, 0.590, 2.849, 0.74,  9.1, 10.1,   3, 180, 250 //AUX Gear

Not sure what to do with this info

Zaphod.

Zaphod,

Good find. Did some experimenting and this is my guess...

The tug animation needs to figure out where the nose gear is, based on the contact points, and looks for the gear located on the center line (lateral 0.00). As the Aux is also on center line (0.00), the sim apparently becomes confused and terminates the pushback routine.

I changed the lateral location to 0.01, to put it slightly off center, and pushback is ok. As far as I can tell the only advantage to this method, rather than //'ing the line, is it preserves the visual effects (touchdown, taxi) for the gear.

Dave