[WOW] The mistery of position in payload editor explained

[DanSteph]

CowlFlapsOpen wrote:
There are two ways to make a payload. The first is to take the empty CG and station positions directly from the aircraft.cfg and translate
them to the payload. This approach is appropriate if you intend to make a payload model for a specific aircraft (say DreemFleet's Baron
58) but it will be incorrect if you try to use it for another aircraft in that category (say the default Baron). This approach is also required in
specific cases when
the aircraft's designer has given an inaccurate empty CG--usually because he/she assumed that the aircraft had passengers when
developing the flight
dynamics.

Correct, in this case you might give the most longuer name you can for this payload model
so it will match only with one model.

ie: NOT "737.ini" but "Aerosoft cool 737-400 from Babar.ini"

CowlFlapsOpen wrote:
The second approach allows FS Passengers to estimate the CG using some internal trial and error tests and you supply...[SNIP]...
A second advantage is that this payload can be used as a template for other aircraft ... [SNIP]....
The stations in this appraoch will not correspond to those specified by the maker of a specific aircraft and therefore are less realistic

Correct in general but for last thing: If well done they can be as much realistic or even better than the original aircraft... if the aircraft is well
done the CG will always be about 1/3 of wings therefore it's just a matter to put the correct distance for the various station relative to this
point. Notice that I think 90% of author put their payload station based on a rough estimation and not from accurate calculus. You can
do better using generic method if you are carrefull.

CowlFlapsOpen wrote:
Be careful to balance seating roughly around the CG in an offsetting fashion because you can obviously build a seating arrangement that
is so out of whack that the aircraft can't fly.

Correct but you must only be as much carefful as they are in the real aircraft. In reallity no one put all the seats behind the CG
or only in front, They are placed so the weight is more or less equally set around the CG. As example In the Baron 58 case the luggage
are placed say 15 feet behind the CG, of course loading luggage here will move your CG aft as in the real aircraft, not much not less.

CowlFlapsOpen wrote:
Pilot and crew. FS Passengers does not model pilot and co-pilot on board.

Correct, anyway I may rework this in the next update and add the following:

-One point can be set with the "pilot/copilot" point (in the drop list with price) therefore no pax will be used to fill those station,
a generic weight will be used (normal man of 40 years old)
-New parameter for all station with the "X" value (lateral) therefore you can add left and right seat in small aircraft.

CowlFlapsOpen wrote:
There is a work around if you use the Specific Approach: In the aircraft.cfg, adjust the empty_weight value to add 190-200 pounds each
for a pilot and

I'm not sure I get you really but remember that ALL station of the aircraft.cfg are "zeroed" no weight that you can put here are reused when
you load your aircraft -in FsP-.

Dan