Aircraft Standards

Aircraft have retractable undercarriages, some operated by the pantograph key, gun sound operated by the horn key, a pilot and other crew for the larger aircraft, and a simple interior. Using the Interior view option in Driver, various views are possible using the [ and ] keys on the keyboard. There are no operating cab levers, but the aircraft will operate under cab control. Use the keyboard keys to operate.

Under AI control, the built-in pantograph action will raise the wheels immediately the aircraft starts to move. This is unrealistic and all aircraft will be upgraded to raise the landing gear based on takeoff speed.

A script lifts the tail on some aircraft as it takes off. The script also tilts (banks) all aircraft realistically on curved track.

A10 Thunderbolt Warthog

The A10 is a ground attack aircraft with a relatively low speed. The model has an automatically retractable undercarriage based on aircraft speed.

It has a nose mounted Gatling gun operated by the horn button. It will fire missiles using the B key, and flares using the V key.

The new Aircraft Action Trigger by Boat can be used to trigger these actions on the aircraft, kuid 76656:24050.

Updates to aircraft include landing gear retraction based on aircraft speed, and configured to work with the Aircraft Action Trigger. Two versions are available.

A10 Animation

The A10 has an animated Gatling gun operated by the Horn "H" key, fires two Paveway smart bombs using the Bell "B" key, and it also fires flares to the rear using the sanding "V" key.

Note: For updated and new models the use of the sanding key will only work in TRS2006 or later, so all models will be released as build 2.6 for TRS2006.

This has other advantages, the ability to remove the click clack track sound and to have the invisible track show in the minimap for navigation is only available in TRS2006.

Tiger Moth Biplane Camouflage

The Tiger Moth has a pilot but no retractable undercarriage obviously.

Aircraft that use a rear mounted tail wheel on the ground need to lift the tail on take off. The aircraft script allows this to happen.

The script also tilts all aircraft realistically on curved track.

Tiger Moth Biplane Yellow

Note the model engine specification for all aircraft is set up for operation in TC3. Original settings for acceleration and deceleration suitable for TRS2006 will not allow the aircraft to accelerate in TC3 - the settings have been increased by a factor of 4.

If you find the aircraft accelerates too fast in TRS2006, reduce these setting, found in the engine configuration file, to one quarter of their value.

A version in blue, VH-WRL is also available.

Tiger Moth Biplane Aerobatic

This is the new aerobatic version. Using the V key it does a 360 degree anticlockwise roll then a clockwise 360 roll back again.

Using the B key, it does a 360 degree snap roll, pausing at each 90 degrees. The Aircraft Action trigger on the invisible track can also be set to channel number 3 and 2 to trigger these automatically.

Two paint schemes are available.

Tiger Moth Biplane Aerobatic

The aerobatic model doing a roll just before landing, I haven't seen the pilot lately, I think he was grounded after that one!

Bristol Beaufighter

A flyable Bristol Beaufighter Type 156 in the RAAF colours. This had a top speed of 320 mph (280 kph).

The horn key H triggers machine gun sounds and the bell key B triggers smoke and sound from the cannons.

Note: the models are listed as TRS2004, but the bell scripting for the smoke and sound will only work in TRS2006 or later.

A camouflage version is available.

Boeing B-24 Camouflage

The crew in gun turrets are animated.

The top speed for the B-24 aircraft is 470kph.

The second version available is the Australian Liberator that operated at Tocumal in 1945, in aluminium colour and Australian markings.

A third version for the 25th Squadron Perth is also available.

Supermarine Spitfire KAP

The Spitfire is a favourite aircraft. This one is a Mk VB aircraft.

The horn key H triggers machine gun sounds and the bell key B triggers smoke and sound from the cannons.

Note: the models are listed as TRS2004, but the bell scripting for the smoke and sound will only work in TRS2006 or later.

The top speed for the Spitfire aircraft is 594kph.

Supermarine Spitfire JHC

A different camouflage colour scheme.

Avro Lancaster

The Lancaster was one of the more successful British bomber aircraft. Top speed is 460kph. The horn button fires the rear machine guns.

Mustang Fighter FA A68-769

This model is in Australian colours, originally A68-110 in the Royal Australian Air Force Service, and delivered in February 1948. It was decommissioned in August 1957 and restored as P-51D Mustang A68-769. The aircraft served with 82 Squadron Japan & 77 Squadron Korea.

Top speed is 703kph at 25,000 ft, but could reach 935 kph in a dive.

Sunderland Flying Boat - Ansett

The Sunderland was used for operation by Ansett airlines from Rose Bay Sydney to Lord Howe Island. It operates on invisible track 3 metres above water level.

The aircraft will load or unload passengers at my modified City Cat landings. A new track further from the dock has been added to the models.

The model is based on the original mesh by Dreddmann, with thanks.

Douglas DC3

The ubiquitous Douglas DC3 in camouflage colours. The model will load passengers and general goods.

A second version in RAAF grey colours is available.

Douglas C47 in Australian Colours

A large number of the DC3 aircraft were built, this is third model, the C47 version.

Hercules C130 RAAF

The Hercules transport in colours of the Royal Australian Air Force. The rear cargo door operates and the aircraft loads passengers and general goods.

The Hercules entered service in 1955, and is still used by many Air Forces and transport operators.

Hercules C130 Camouflage RAAF

The Hercules in camouflage as used by the Royal Australian Air Force.

Specific loads such as tanks can be loaded at attachment points inside the aircraft.

Hercules C130 of the United States Coast Guard Service

The Coast Guard uses an eye catching colour scheme.

Hercules C130 of the USCG

The rear cargo door operates using the V key. The aircraft will load general goods and passengers at suitable airports.

Hercules AC130 Spectre Gunship

The USAF Hercules is used for ground attack and carries a Gatling gun and a 105mm Howitzer mounted in the side.

The Gatling gun operates using the Horn H key, the Howitzer uses the Bell B key and the rear door uses the V key.

The Aircraft Action Trigger can be set on the invisible track to operate animations such as the Howitzer firing, you can see the shell leaving the barrel. The gun has appropriate sound, smoke and recoil.

Qantas 747-400 Longreach

The aircraft will load passengers, and has animated retractable landing gear, but no interiors.

Alitalia 747-234B

Other airlines available are:

Air New Zealand
United Airlines
Lufthansa
KLM and
Air Force One

Airport Runways

Two runway models in bitumen and concrete surfacing are available. They are 1000 metres long and have four attached tracks, one for normal take off, one for short takeoff, one for landing and one for touch and go operations.

It is an industry model, so under AI, you can direct the aircraft to various stopping positions, taxiway on hold, take off hold, landing stop and taxiway off hold for both the normal takeoff track and a short takeoff track.

You need to place speed limits to control the taxi speed of aircraft, my invisible speed signs are suitable. You need signaling for use under AI.

Runway Attached Tracks

The four tracks on the runway (the white area) are close to the centreline. They have appropriate slopes for approach glide slope and take off incorporated.

The diagram shows how the attached tracks are arranged:
Blue: landing
Green: takeoff track
Red: touch and go
Purple: short takeoff

You need to place your own invisible track to connect, make a return loop and junctions to change over to the different tracks.

Airport Runway Lights

The runway has night lighting, here the Singapore Airlines A380 version is landing

Aircraft Action Trigger for Aircraft

Boat has kindly made a track trigger that will activate animations and other effects on the aircraft, kuid 76656:24050. Placed on the track, it is set to 10 different "effects" by numbers. The first three I use to trigger flaps, wing spoilers, missiles, or cargo doors etc, and can be controlled by the user as well:

number 1: horn or H key
number 2: bell or B key
number 3: sanding or V key.

Aircraft Action Trigger 2

Number 4 to 10 are used to trigger other specialised animations, these have different effects for different aircraft, for example, on landing, number 4 triggers smoke and tyre squeal.

Because the same number may trigger flaps on commercial aircraft but missiles on military, you can use different runways, two are available. Additionally, the trigger can be set to train priority, so if commercial and military aircraft are given a different priority, the trigger will ignore inappropriate aircraft on the same runway.

Refer to each aircraft config file to see which number corresponds to which effect on the aircraft, and see Boat's trigger information.

Thanks to Boat for this very useful trigger.

Qantas Airbus A380

The A380 Airbus in Qantas colours. It will load passengers and has retractable landing gear.

It has separately operated wing flaps and air spoilers that can be operated manually on landing or by the Aircraft Action Trigger.

The A380s also include night lighting and with the track trigger, smoke and tyre squeal is emitted from the landing gear, number 4 trigger setting

The A380 is also available in Singapore Airlines and Airfrance livery.

Qantas Airbus A380 Landing Gear

The retractable landing gear is a complicated animation, automatically operated at takeoff and landing speeds.

The speeds at which tilt or banking takes place, and the landing gear retraction (takeoff speed), can be altered by the user in the aircraft config file.

Airport Pushback Tractor

This is a traincar model, used to push back larger aircraft from the terminal. As the wheelbase of these aircraft is large, and track curves may be tight, the pushback bar may not always align with the front landing gear of the aircraft, but nevertheless it is realistic.

The model has animated wheels, and can be driven to the aircraft to push back from the terminals. The vehicle users running numbers to individually number them.

Airport Taxiway Components

A number of models are available to make a taxiway in either bitumen or concrete finish. They include fixed track switches (junctions) 90 degree and 60 degree turnouts, T sections, splines and 90 degree curved sections.

The bitumen models are 24 metres wide and the concrete version is 18 metres wide, for smaller aircraft. The splines will join the sections or the runway or terminal models.

Clicking on the turnouts or runway models will display an HTML help file in Surveyor, on how to use the models effectively.

Airport Terminal

An overhead view of the International terminal showing the use of the taxiway connections from components. It loads passengers and has a control tower.

Invisible track as part of the model allows the aircraft to taxi to the gates, and for the pushback tractor to navigate to any aircraft at gates 1 to 4. Gates 5 and 6 are for light aircraft, the two entrances at the top left of the picture.

A domestic and commercial version of the terminal is planned.

Airport Terminal Modules

The airport terminal is also available in modular form so you may configure your own:

Module 1 - Main rectangular building:
Module 2 - Circular terminal plus track
Module 3 - Control Tower
Module 4 - Walkway spline main to terminal
Module 5 - Railway station
Module 6 - Yellow line for tarmac marking
Module 7 - Bitumen paving spline 40 by 40
Module 8 - Bitumen paving spline 80 by 40
Module 9 - Overhead flood lights
Module 10 - External stairway to ground
Module 11 - Terminal hub, no attached track
Module 12 - Passenger gate access to aircraft
Module 13 - Gate access as a spline

Cessna 208 Caravan

The Cessna is the colour scheme of Big Island Air, Hawaii aircraft, N28IA. we had a chance to see the volcanoes in this aircraft while in Hawaii recently, so had to model this version.

The aircraft will do aerobatic rolls.

A Grand Caravan version for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is also available. The RFDS is a not for profit organisation, using aircraft like these in outback Australia to provide 24 hour medical services to remote localities.

http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/

Boeing 737 Aircraft

There are five models available for the 737 Each has operating landing gear and wing flaps. Versions available:

Qantas 737-838:
Continental 737-824
KLM 737-8K2
Air New Zealand 737- 3U3
Virgin 737-8FE

The picture shows the Continental version.

Osprey V22 Tilt Rotor Aircraft

The Osprey V22 tilts the wing mounted engines to act as a helicopter or fly like a normal plane. The blades are a large diameter so that on the ground, when running, they must tilt upwards or they would cut into the ground.

While the image show the blades apparently stopped, they do rotate very effectively in Trainz. The tips of the rotors glow at night.

The tilt mechanism operates automatically, based on the speed of the aircraft.

Osprey Tilt Sequence

Showing the various blade positions for the tilt rotor, from helicopter through to forward flight. The picture is of the earlier transparent disk rotors, now replaced by the animated blades.

While the real aircraft can take off vertically, for larger payloads it uses a short take off run with the blades at a steep angle. You need to keep your speed down when taking off so the automatic engines and blades do not rotate too far to dig into the runway!

The models can make use of my helicopter lift table to rise vertically then fly horizontally.

The Messerschmitt BF109 Fighter

A flyable version with retractable landing gear, and machine guns using the horn key H.

Lockheed P38 Lightning Fighter

A very distinctive fighter with the twin fuselages. Automatic retracting landing gear, and machine guns using the horn key H are used.

Australian Boomerang Fighter

An Australian manufactured fighter. It was a single-seat interceptor and ground attack fighter, using metal and wood construction.

Australian F-111C Bomber

An Australian F111C number A8-144 in camouflage. It has:

automatically retracting landing gear; automatic sweep back of the wings;
missiles using the B key;
flares using the V key;
tyre squeal on landing, using the track trigger number 4 setting;
Gatling gun using the H key - note the Gatling gun option was removed from the Australian versions;
night afterburner using the light key L.

F-111C Afterburner

This effect kicks in automatically at 400 kph. I think it is quite realistic.

Note the missiles on the swept wing are also rotated to face the correct direction as the wing sweep angle changes.

There are two liveries available, the camouflage and an RAAF grey.

F-111C Afterburner at Night

While the afterburner can be seen at night, there is an additional brighter effect operated by the light key L. This superimposes on the day effect and there is some realistic flicker in the effect.

Note that the use of the night effect is independent of speed and remains visible at any speed. It does not show if turned on during the day.

Since the AI turns on the lights when an aircraft moves, the night afterburner effect will be on at all times under AI unless you turn them off - in Driver Ctrl Right click and set Lights to "Off".

F-111C Drag Chute

The F-111 has a drag chute, deployed by the trigger number 5 setting. It lasts for 8 seconds then vanishes.

Gulfstream G650

The Gulfstream has the ability to flare on landing and to activate the engine reverse thrust vanes.

Concorde

The Concorde in flight. Air France, Singapore Airlines and British Airways livery are available.

While the real aircraft has a top speed of about Mach 2.04, the aircraft in Trainz has a maximum speed of abput 580kph, it is too difficult to achieve these high speeds and have control over the aircraft.

Concorde Landing

The aircraft flares on landing (B key or trigger setting 2) and the nose droops and the screen visor lowers (V key or trigger setting 3).

McDonald Douglas FA-18 Hornet

The aircraft has landing lights and exhaust flares at night and the following animations:

automatically retracting landing gear;
Paveway missiles using the B key;
Sidewinder missiles using the V key;
gun using the H key;
tyre squeal on landing, using trigger 4;
deploys drag chute, trigger 5;
activate flares from the tail, trigger 6;
deploys the tail hook, trigger 7;
catapult takeoff trigger 8;
wing tips fold for carrier operations, trigger 10;
air refueling probe extension, trigger 9.

FA-18 Hornet

The is an aircraft for operations on an aircraft carrier. It has a tail hook for landing, will operate from a carrier catapult, fires missiles and extends a refueling probe.

It will be able to fold the wings and have other animations when finished.

Aircraft Carrier USS CVN 68 Nimitz

The aircraft carrier is a scenery object with attached track for aircraft parking, landing and catapult takeoff. A user can join invisible track to the model for taxiing on deck, from landing or parking to the two catapults.

The FA-18 is suitable for operations on the carrier. Using trigger 8 setting, the catapult will launch the aircraft, with afterburners and automatic acceleration.

On landing, the tail hook deploys and the carrier brings the aircraft to an immediate stop, using trigger setting 9.

USS CVN 68 Nimitz

The aircraft carrier front view, landing track on the right of the deck, two catapults launch on the left.

USS CVN 68 Nimitz Deck

Aircraft parked on the Nimitz deck. The switch arrows show the user placed track and junctions for taxiing on the deck.

Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma

A flyable helicopter, with a working interior. This model will load passengers at passenger enabled stations, such as the Heliport models.

Refer to the Oil Tankers and Rigs Project page for details on all helicopters.

Bell 412 EP Eurocopter

A flyable helicopter, with a working interior. This model will load passengers at passenger enabled stations, such as the Heliport models. refer to the Oil Tankers and Rigs Project page for details.

It drives in DCC or Cab mode and loads and unloads passengers, with operating doors

Bell Eurocopter Careflight

A medical version of the Eurocopter model, with a passenger in stretcher care.

Super Puma Static Model

Two static models of the Super Puma helicopter in Swiss Air force colours.

The first, numbered T341 is animated for rotor startup, run and stop. The animation cycle is 12 seconds and repeats automatically every 50 seconds.

The second helicopter, T342 has no animation.

Eurocopter EC145 Rega Static Models

Two static models of helicopters used in the REGA Emergency Ambulance Service, Switzerland.

The first, numbered HBZRB is animated for continuous rotor running. The second helicopter, HBZRD has no animation.

Both are height adjustable and panels light up at night - non drivable models only. A separate pilot (foreground) is also available as a scenery model.

Invisible Track Speed Signs

Because the helicopters and aircraft are capable of high speed and have to stop on a small area, you may need to place speed signs to slow the helicopters down on landing.

The signs cover speeds from 5kph to 1200kph, are visible in Surveyor for placing (screenshot), but are invisible in Driver.

This makes them very useful for all vehicles using invisible track, or where the use of a visible speed sign at the side of the track is not prototypical, as in the use of Trams or Tramcar operations.

Other aircraft are still under development. Also ensure you retrieve the dependencies for the models.

Invisible Speed Signs

The speed signs are visible in Surveyor and invisible in Driver. They place in the centre of the track, Speeds available (kph) on the DLS:

5,10,15,20,30,40,50,60,80
100,150,200,400,450,500,600,800,1000,1200

Miscellaneous
Airport Pushback Tractor
Boat's Aircraft Action Trigger