CombatFlite material

[Gabykhan]

Since CombatFlite is quite abandonned, we need to build our own material in order to keep using this amazing software as our planning tool.

There are 2 options:
1 - create a new DCS theatre in CombatFlite. It's by far the cleanest and most professinal option. I did not manage to do it myself, and it might be necessary to dug into the .exe file or something like that, and it's beyond my skills. If someone feels he's able to look into it, please do so.
2 - modify an existing theatre. It's the road I took at this point. I don't use and don't plan to use the "DCS Channel" map, so I will modifiy all that's related to this.

Now appart from this initial decision, there are several files that need to be created/modified for our theater:
1 - In CombatFlite\Data
1.1 - The theaters.xml file. It defines the main features of your theatre (like coordinates, default BE location, etc...)
1.2 - The thechannel.xml file (because I decided to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre. It regroups all the Navpoints, Beacons and Airfields in use on the theatre. This one needs the most work to make it comprehensive and reflect DCS data.
2 - In CombatFlite\Data\DCS The Channel (again because I chose to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre)
2.1 - Create any map in mbtile format. I'm working on it, and I'll be able to release the first maps soon (ONC and TPC).
3 - In CombatFlite\SrtmDataFiles place the 3D elevation model files (*.hgt) to have access to terrain elevation. These are SRTM that are easily available online and a .zip file with all the relevant files will be provided soon.

So basically the work that needs to be done here is:
1 - Find and share high quality aeronautical charts or any map that you'd like to use in CombatFlite so that I can turn them into the correct format.
2 - Add more data to thechannel.xml database to make it as comprehensive and close to DCS as possible.
3 - Dig into CombatFlite program to find out how to create a new theatre from scratch. Good thing is that all that will be done on steps 1 and 2 will be directly usable for this new theatre.

The attached .zip file contains the modified theaters.xml (with correct data) and thechannel.xml (that needs to be worked on) files.
CombatFlite.zip

[132ndNeck]

Great initative!
This is above my technical know-how, but I very much support the idea, and would love for us to have a working CombatFlite file for the TRMA.

[Gabykhan]

Second package: here you'll find the SRTM files to individually copy in your CombatFlite\SrtmDataFiles folder.

[Gabykhan]

Third item: the 1:1.000.000 ONC map of the region to place in CombatFlite\Data\DCS The Channel (again because I chose to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre).

[Gabykhan]

Fourth item: a topographic map of the region to place in CombatFlite\Data\DCS The Channel (again because I chose to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre).

[Gabykhan]

Fifth item: a[ 1:500.000 TPC map of the region]https://cloud.132virtualwing.org/s/2GQH8AHxMGJ3yXi) to place in CombatFlite\Data\DCS The Channel (again because I chose to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre).

[Gabykhan]

Last addition for the moment: a modern 1:500.000 map of the region to place in CombatFlite\Data\DCS The Channel (again because I chose to modify the "DCS Channel" theatre).

[132ndNeck]

From @martinco :

XML file with airports: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUGKE15FqLrPH-VKyK1a2osJ_UzaB7T4/view?usp=sharing

DCS Map: https://strategic-dcs.com/storage/combatflite/DCS-kola-draft1.mbtiles

DCS Map slightly lower resolution: https://strategic-dcs.com/storage/combatflite/DCS-kola-6-12-png.mbtiles

[Gabykhan]

ONC map has been updated.
TPC map has been updated.
Topo map v1 has been updated.
Topo map v2 has been created.

Others will follow.

[Gabykhan]

Following DCS update from 30/10/2024 the following airbases have been added:

DCS: Kola Map by orbx

New:

Added ENAN Andoya Airfield
Added RU59 Alakourtti Airfield

You can therefore replace your .xml file in CombatFlite with the attached one (see first post for more details).
Thanks to MartinCo for the update!

thechannel.zip

[jonde99]

I noticed that Alternate WP always fixes the something in channel map. Any way tonfix that?

[RedDog132nd]

Question:
On the CF file for TRMA I see the ILS symbols for Bodo RWY 07 and RWY 25
but I cannot find these on the layers.
I thought they were part of the map, but when I change maps, they remain displayed.

If the ILS is ok for RWY 07, the ILS for RWY 25 needs to offset
That's what I'm trying to do.

Any hints on how to?
Thanks

[132ndNeck]

Question: On the CF file for TRMA I see the ILS symbols for Bodo RWY 07 and RWY 25 but I cannot find these on the layers. I thought they were part of the map, but when I change maps, they remain displayed.

If the ILS is ok for RWY 07, the ILS for RWY 25 needs to offset That's what I'm trying to do.

Any hints on how to? Thanks

Is it this you are referring to? Then just send me the coordinate where the RWY 25 point should be moved to, and I can update it

[RedDog132nd]

No, the coordinates are OK, the track is not. It should be offset to the south

I think the latest update this week fixed the ILS offset in the mission editor

[132ndNeck]

No, the coordinates are OK, the track is not. It should be offset to the south

I think the latest update this week fixed the ILS offset in the mission editor

Ah, now I get it. Ok, I will need to check. Not sure where they are edited.

What should be the correct heading?

[132ndNeck]

Answer from Martin:

[RedDog132nd]

Yep, saw it. Made a few test and we should change only the magcourse to 268 in the master file

<ILS>
        <RWY>25</RWY>
        <ID>BD</ID>
        <ChFrq>108.7</ChFrq>
        <MagCrs>268</MagCrs>
        <TDZLat>67.271874</TDZLat>
        <TDZLon>14.397420</TDZLon>
      </ILS>

[132ndNeck]

Do you have the data for RWY 07 aswell? Then I can uppdate the file and make it available here

[RedDog132nd]

no change on RWY 07

[132ndNeck]

no change on RWY 07

I do not have the data for RWY 07. If you are able to share what you have for RWY07, can upload the updated file here

[RedDog132nd]

rgr

Slight correction for RWY 25: 268°

<ILS>
        <RWY>25</RWY>
        <ID>BD</ID>
        <ChFrq>108.7</ChFrq>
        <MagCrs>268</MagCrs>
        <TDZLat>67.271874</TDZLat>
        <TDZLon>14.397420</TDZLon>
      </ILS>

and RWY 07

<ILS>
        <RWY>07</RWY>
        <ID>BO</ID>
        <ChFrq>110.3</ChFrq>
        <MagCrs>072</MagCrs>
        <TDZLat>67.266601</TDZLat>
        <TDZLon>14.334084</TDZLon>
      </ILS>

But this one was in the master file already - I do think that the last one uploaded above is not complete, don't use it