Wingman View - FlyWithLua script for X-Camera (2024)

Note: This script works with XP12, but requires the latest X-Camera XP12 beta and FlyWithLua XP12 beta.

New Version 2.5.8 Includes ....

Enhancement to the "Aircraft Free Movement" mode where the camera will "seek" to maintain it's position when the lead plane changes course and altitude. An adjustable tracking rate setting determines how much the camera tries to stay with the aircraft on the "x" and "y" axis. This helps enhance chase plane views.

"Roll with Plane" feature to simulate a chase plane banking as the lead plane turns.

Note: XP11 Requires X-Camera 2.4 beta12 and above) (essential, or you may have a crash to desktop),

Also requires the latest FlyWithLUA NG (Next Generation) plugin (See Links below)

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Description

This script simulates a wingman view where your plane appears to drift around in the air as though you are flying alongside.

This effect adds a more natural realism to external views as the aircraft is not glued to the screen or the camera.

The "Aircraft Free Movement" option allows the plane to be flown independently of the camera and the camera is not "glued" to the plane's wing.

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Great for budding video creators, or just fun to view in realtime as part of the whole flight experience.

Every parameter is adjustable to suit your creative flair.

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I have placed the script here for general knowledge and to excite us all about the new features in X-Camera.

Please note: Mark Cellis (Author of X-Camera) is under no obligation to support this script and future beta versions may be subject to change.

If you are a coder and wish to collaborate with enhancements, please PM me.

This script is free for Non Commercial use.

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS both here and in the download readme.txt

Remember to enable "Level Camera" in X-Camera to allow the plane to to rotate independantly of the view.

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This is a script that uses a fantastic new feature of X-camera where it supports FlyWithLUA scripts to animate the camera.

This script assumes you know how to create / add a view in X-Camera.

You create up to 6 external views, and give them LUA Script_ID 30 to 35

The script looks for these views and moves the camera in the X.Y.Z and Roll axis. This makes the plane look like its drifting about as you fly alongside.

Many thanks go to Mark Cellis for providing the example script and for his help in getting it working with his excellent X-Camera plugin.

This should work with any aircraft. Within X-Camera, position the camera with the movement keys, frame the image with the mouse or Joystick hat, then save. The camera start position for the WingMan camera movement comes from the view saved by X-Camera.

It may be beneficial to temporarily stop the lua engine (under the FlyWithLUA menu) while positioning the cameras and saving the views to ensure that the wingman effect is not interfering while you set the initial camera positions.

The one script can handle several Wingman views starting with script_ID 30. It is currently set to support up to 6 views (30 to 35), but this can be changed in the script.

A big feature is that your plane can appear to move about freely (and not be "glued" to the camera, or on "rails"). With "Aircraft Free Movement" enabled, your plane could eventually drift out of view, but that adds to the realism. Set "Aircraft Tracking X/Y" to more than 50 to help keep up with the aircraft as it banks and rises.

Example X-Camera, and Wingman settings ...

Default Cessna 172SP --- Default Cessna 172SP Settings Examples v2.4.2.zip

To add 3 wingman views (which can be edited later within the X-Camera plugin), load the above mentioned CSV file into an editor and add the following lines to the text and save, then reload Xplane. (Note: assign a button or key to step through the X-Camera views to help switch views)

-----------------------------------Insert The Following Text------------------------------------------------------------------

co*ckpit,Wingman3,32,20.155352,-0.125070,-13.562439,235.164581,0.182800,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,FALSE,0,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,1.757949,100.000000,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,TRUE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,0,FALSE,31209,0.5,FALSE,2.4.2 Beta 1,115.000000,SMS_Beaver_Amphib, ,2018-01-15 23:40:53 ,0,FALSE,0,0,0,FALSE,-0.500000,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,FALSE,0.0,32,0
co*ckpit,Wingman2,31,-9.503285,-0.001687,-19.476774,154.983932,359.055481,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,FALSE,0,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,1.907948,100.000000,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,TRUE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,0,FALSE,31209,0.5,FALSE,2.4.2 Beta 1,115.000000,SMS_Beaver_Amphib, ,2018-01-15 23:40:53 ,0,FALSE,0,0,0,FALSE,-1.000000,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,FALSE,0.0,31,0
co*ckpit,Wingman1,30,-9.885119,0.743224,23.184561,23.767132,357.809967,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,TRUE,TRUE,FALSE,0,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,1.957948,100.000000,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0.000000,TRUE,FALSE,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,0,FALSE,31209,0.5,FALSE,2.4.2 Beta 1,115.000000,SMS_Beaver_Amphib, ,2018-01-15 23:40:53 ,0,FALSE,0,0,0,FALSE,-1.000000,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,0,TRUE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,FALSE,0.000000,FALSE,0.0,30,0

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Here are some examples of the script in action ....

A quick video showing some possibilities for aspiring video creators, or just do it for fun in realtime.

The only aircraft input I made was to bank the aircaft in the last 2 scenes.
Sometimes the movement is very subtle, but it adds much to the realism.

On a speed boat on the water in front of a Short Solent Seaplane.

For this video, I added some wind gust, and a little bit of manual aileron input to enhance the effect

Here is a demonstration of the control panel, (which has had some more features added since the video was made)

Notice how the Random Adjustment feature changes the parameters on the fly to further enhance the effect.

New Aircraft Free Movement feature

Roll with Plane feature, simulates being in a chase plane that banks to follow the lead plane.

Tracking feature. (camera seeks to stay with plane on the x axis)

Don't laugh at my awful takeoff skills😜

You can get some unique new views of your aircraft. Oh, I noticed the subtle, and beautiful animation of the landing gear in this clip. Thanks Laminar Research!

How to add a Wingman view.

Remember , before doing anything that you wish to save, step through your views first (while in the X-Camera window), to reset them and check you are happy with them before saving all.

Also, Don't forget to open the Wingman script window and save your wingman settings for this new view.

More information about the X-Camera plugin can be found here ...

https://www.stickandrudderstudios.com/x-camera/

and

https://store.x-plane.org/X-Camera_p_889.html

and

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/forums/forum/400-x-camera/

More video examples here ...

The Wingman script happily co-exists with the Formation script. (below)

Up to 6 Wingman plus you as lead, all moving about in the air.

You can also fly as a wingman and take your place in the formation.

Look out the side windows and see your fellow wingman drifting beside you in a very natural fashion.

Required Additional Files

X-Camera 2.4 download is here ... (Note: There may be later updates in this thread)

FlyWithLUA is here ...