(Doug) wrote in
om:

A guy I work with told me you can fly over an airport at night and
look for a lit up yellow square, then land and go there and park in
the square and you will get refueled. I couldnt find out anything
about this in the help files, so I was doubtful, I always adjusted
fuel through the menus. Anyway I tried it at Vancouvers International
airport and it works!!! Ive had this software for 2 years and had no
idea you could do that, Am I the only one that didnt know about this?
Why don't they mention this in help? Does FS2004 have the same setup?
Now I he says you can open the door on the Cessna 172 by going to the
outside view and shutting off the engine. I will have to try that next
time....


The fuel trick has been around since FS II, the SubLogic days, but at
least they documented it then. It was the 'proper' way to refuel - well, at
least to top off the tanks. Weight, balance, and all that hoohah wasn't
exactly taken into account.

Elevations were an interesting concept back then. The elevation was
tied to the airport, and existed for a certain radius around it. When you
crossed that line, the airport details became visible and the ground level
jumped to match the airport; no gradual transition. This wasn't a visible
effect, it simply changed how soon you would contact the ground.

One time, doing one of the experiments from an FS adventure book, I
brought the aircraft in for a 'hands-free' landing off-airport. No yoke, no
rudder, just throttle and flaps, trying to achieve a smooth touchdown. I
was successful (we won't go into what attempt this was), and as I'm rolling
out, I crossed that line where the elevation changed. With a lot of
bouncing and the repeated screeching sounds of a hard touchdown, the plane
gained 120 ft in altitude while grounded and rolling forward at 30 knots.
Took me a bit to figure out what had happened.

By the way, I often use the fuel box as a helipad. The standing pump
can give a better visual reference for sneaky things like drifting sideways
or backwards.

- Al.

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