@alexJgameYTukraine000000 I completely understand. I would have liked to use the cannons too. However, when you engage in dogfights against the SimplePlanes AI, once they start firing, they keep firing until the weapon is completely empty. In other words, they don't fire in bursts and stop until the target is back in range. That's why the cannons aren't used. It's to avoid that bug in the game, which is quite unpleasant during combat.
You can only use the weapons provided in this post. You'll see a cart with the missiles and cannons you can use. This is to ensure balanced combat. Without this rule, you could cheat and create missiles that would give your opponents no chance.
The goal is to build a functional, VR-ready aircraft with a 1950s aesthetic. The better the design, the more points it will earn.
You can change the size of the cannons as long as it doesn't affect their combat specifications.
@upperflat According to the rules, you can modify the engine, as long as you do not exceed: Maximum speed: 950 mph at sea level, 1,350 mph at 34,000 feet
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread On the other hand, these types of techniques have been well-tested by SimplePlanes' AI when it has to face other aircraft. Don't forget that this aircraft was designed to be used by the game's AI in dogfights.
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread Your analysis makes sense from a real‑life aerodynamics perspective — excessive drag from large airbrakes would indeed penalize energy retention in sustained turns. However, in SimplePlanes (or similar simulators), their effect often depends more on balance and control modeling than on strict aerodynamic realism.
If the airbrake in this jet activates slightly during turns, it could be serving as a stability aid to help manage pitch or prevent overspeed tendencies rather than acting as a continuous drag plate. Real aircraft like the F‑15 or Su‑27 use control surfaces that can behave somewhat similarly when coupled to flight control logic (though usually not pure airbrakes).
So while your point about energy retention and turn performance is correct in practical aeronautics, in this context it might have been a deliberate design compromise for gameplay handling or visual effect rather than aerodynamic realism.
@Rakoval500k Sorry for the delay in responding. I was sick with the flu. If you're asking about weapons, this challenge provides the weapons, cannons, and missiles you can use or combine on your plane. You can choose whichever ones you want and use them within the limits established in the challenge rules. If you use modified or altered weapons, it is considered cheating and may result in disqualification from the challenge or a score penalty, depending on the severity of the cheating. I have a Python program that checks the XML of your planes and, if there is cheating, notifies me and calculates the penalty points.
Regarding my words "significant" and "insignificant," I believe it was taken out of context, as I was referring to the fact that the weapon values I provide in the challenge are approximate relative to those of real weapons. I don't claim them to be exact. What I do want is for you to use the weapons provided so that we all play by the same rules.
The fun part here will be watching our planes fly in combat and on video. I remind all players that in addition to building, we're here to have fun and share interesting ideas about our passion for aviation. Winning is great, but more important is the pleasure and fun of the challenge itself.
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread It is designed to facilitate maneuvers in dogfights. This aircraft was designed for the challenge of aircraft of the 1950s. It's a trick that works very well, to improve the turning radius and aim more quickly at the enemy.
@LettuceRob119 I was completely unaware of this, in that case, if you allow me, I will deliver a new version of this aircraft with the Wzehkhastan roundel and some improvements to the landing gear and so on.
@Rakoval500k There's a saying that goes... "Perfection is the enemy of good." The current parameters will allow for a good balance and allow us to enjoy fun battles. I have a lot of previous experience with these types of challenges. With what you tell me, and what we learn here, we'll improve the next challenge.
Take a look these videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ydwj2PVW90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLyqjNYJT0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__MQiQvYv5E
And this one... (This is the answer to what you ask me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZTg9DBwIQ
@Rakoval500k Hey! Great eye spotting those multiple low-power gyros stacked along the spine behind the airbrake. Instead of using one big gyro, this setup spreads out several smaller ones for a few cool reasons:
It adds redundancy, so if one gyro acts up, the others keep things stable.
The distributed arrangement helps balance forces better and reduces any wobble or weird interference.
Smaller gyros use less power and weigh less individually, which fits nicely into tight aircraft designs.
Together, they can give smoother, more precise orientation info without limiting how you can maneuver the plane.
So basically, this design keeps your plane’s stability sharp, smooth, and reliable without getting in the way of your flying tricks. Pretty smart engineering for a flexible and stable ride!
Hey! Thanks a lot for your feedback, I really appreciate the time you took to check the cannons and write down your thoughts.
For this challenge, the main idea is to keep things balanced and fair, so the custom weapons I included are not meant to be 100% historically accurate but rather simplified and standardized to avoid power differences. That way, what really shines is each player’s creativity, engineering skills, and innovative designs, instead of one weapon choice giving a big advantage over the others.
I understand your suggestions about the AN/M3, N-37, and NR-30 — they are indeed iconic guns of the era — but to keep the challenge even for everyone I’ve decided to stick with the current set of weapons and rules. This ensures that the dogfights are fun and competitive while highlighting design skills more than firepower.
Thanks again for pointing this out, and I hope you still join in and show us your best build!
Use this tools mods...
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/483588/Fine-Tuner
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/870822/Upload-with-Screenshots
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/524146/Overload
And take a look these videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ydwj2PVW90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLyqjNYJT0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__MQiQvYv5E
And this one... (This is the answer to what you ask me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZTg9DBwIQ
@Randomplayer You have to make it the successor to this challenge. This is done using the cockpit provided in this post. Take a look how to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqA0l2X3INo
This expression incorporates the rate of change of the pitch angle, which can make the control more responsive and dynamic, especially during fast or sharp pitch maneuvers. The G-force limiting function using smooth and clamp01 still works with this expression, so the G-limit is retained.
However, the reason the simpler expression without the PitchRate term is usually recommended:
is that it tends to produce more stable and predictable control behavior. The inclusion of PitchRate adds a reactive component which can make the behavior more twitchy or harder to control for some users or aircraft designs.
If you want to experiment, you can try using the version that includes PitchRate, but consider tuning the coefficient (currently 0.01) to balance sensitivity and smoothness based on your aircraft and flying style.
Thank you for organizing this very interesting challenge. I think there were some great competitors and it was fantastic to participate! Thanks all!
Very nice!!! Thank you very much!!
Wow nice concept!! I like it!! Great job!!
hahahah Great!
Probably make it a new version of this, good concept
+1I like this concept, its probably make a new version. Great job!
@alexJgameYTukraine000000 I completely understand. I would have liked to use the cannons too. However, when you engage in dogfights against the SimplePlanes AI, once they start firing, they keep firing until the weapon is completely empty. In other words, they don't fire in bursts and stop until the target is back in range. That's why the cannons aren't used. It's to avoid that bug in the game, which is quite unpleasant during combat.
@alexJgameYTukraine000000
Hey friend, just so you know:
You can only use the weapons provided in this post. You'll see a cart with the missiles and cannons you can use. This is to ensure balanced combat. Without this rule, you could cheat and create missiles that would give your opponents no chance.
The goal is to build a functional, VR-ready aircraft with a 1950s aesthetic. The better the design, the more points it will earn.
You can change the size of the cannons as long as it doesn't affect their combat specifications.
@Cuboidable Yes, of course, feel free to use it ;-)
@SimplyElegant Hi!! Tag me your next challenge ;-)
@avDude4 hahaha enjoy!
+1@KorKaiorWhatever Great!! I made one once https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/45mT15/Fairei-Fire-Comet
@KorKaiorWhatever Let's each design this Cessna jet-type aircraft with our design interpretation.
+1@KorKaiorWhatever hahaha There are several options for design a Cessna with jet engine ;-)
@KorKaiorWhatever I like this idea...
@upperflat According to the rules, you can modify the engine, as long as you do not exceed: Maximum speed: 950 mph at sea level, 1,350 mph at 34,000 feet
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread By the way, instead of talking so much, why don't you participate in the tournament? 😉😉
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread On the other hand, these types of techniques have been well-tested by SimplePlanes' AI when it has to face other aircraft. Don't forget that this aircraft was designed to be used by the game's AI in dogfights.
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread Your analysis makes sense from a real‑life aerodynamics perspective — excessive drag from large airbrakes would indeed penalize energy retention in sustained turns. However, in SimplePlanes (or similar simulators), their effect often depends more on balance and control modeling than on strict aerodynamic realism.
If the airbrake in this jet activates slightly during turns, it could be serving as a stability aid to help manage pitch or prevent overspeed tendencies rather than acting as a continuous drag plate. Real aircraft like the F‑15 or Su‑27 use control surfaces that can behave somewhat similarly when coupled to flight control logic (though usually not pure airbrakes).
So while your point about energy retention and turn performance is correct in practical aeronautics, in this context it might have been a deliberate design compromise for gameplay handling or visual effect rather than aerodynamic realism.
Nice!
@Rakoval500k Sorry for the delay in responding. I was sick with the flu. If you're asking about weapons, this challenge provides the weapons, cannons, and missiles you can use or combine on your plane. You can choose whichever ones you want and use them within the limits established in the challenge rules. If you use modified or altered weapons, it is considered cheating and may result in disqualification from the challenge or a score penalty, depending on the severity of the cheating. I have a Python program that checks the XML of your planes and, if there is cheating, notifies me and calculates the penalty points.
Regarding my words "significant" and "insignificant," I believe it was taken out of context, as I was referring to the fact that the weapon values I provide in the challenge are approximate relative to those of real weapons. I don't claim them to be exact. What I do want is for you to use the weapons provided so that we all play by the same rules.
The fun part here will be watching our planes fly in combat and on video. I remind all players that in addition to building, we're here to have fun and share interesting ideas about our passion for aviation. Winning is great, but more important is the pleasure and fun of the challenge itself.
@Mal0ne yes you can use multiple guns or missiles within limits indicated...
@ORZpasserAtw not allowed... sorry
@QuiteInactiveWhiteBread It is designed to facilitate maneuvers in dogfights. This aircraft was designed for the challenge of aircraft of the 1950s. It's a trick that works very well, to improve the turning radius and aim more quickly at the enemy.
@egll Hi Egll
@M109simp The power-to-weight ratio indicated is the maximum, it does not mean that you have to make the plane with that power-to-weight ratio.
+1Nice, could participate in my challenge
Very nice!
@Liquidfox01 😸
@TeodoroG Yes but this challenge is only for dogfight with AI´s SimplePlanes...
@LettuceRob119 I was completely unaware of this, in that case, if you allow me, I will deliver a new version of this aircraft with the Wzehkhastan roundel and some improvements to the landing gear and so on.
+1@Rakoval500k There's a saying that goes... "Perfection is the enemy of good." The current parameters will allow for a good balance and allow us to enjoy fun battles. I have a lot of previous experience with these types of challenges. With what you tell me, and what we learn here, we'll improve the next challenge.
@Rakoval500k It's fixed, the weight limit has been increased ;-)
@TheMikolorian
Take a look these videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ydwj2PVW90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLyqjNYJT0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__MQiQvYv5E
And this one... (This is the answer to what you ask me)
+1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZTg9DBwIQ
@GhostHTX Yes, you can use it, no problem. This challenge has a validator programmed in Python to check that the G-force limit is being used.
+1@marcox43 The weight limit has been extended ;-)
@F8boa BFM??
@F8boa test it in dogfight 😉
+1@Rakoval500k Hey! Great eye spotting those multiple low-power gyros stacked along the spine behind the airbrake. Instead of using one big gyro, this setup spreads out several smaller ones for a few cool reasons:
It adds redundancy, so if one gyro acts up, the others keep things stable.
The distributed arrangement helps balance forces better and reduces any wobble or weird interference.
Smaller gyros use less power and weigh less individually, which fits nicely into tight aircraft designs.
Together, they can give smoother, more precise orientation info without limiting how you can maneuver the plane.
So basically, this design keeps your plane’s stability sharp, smooth, and reliable without getting in the way of your flying tricks. Pretty smart engineering for a flexible and stable ride!
Nice design!!
This is a nice creation for 50s Jet Dogfight Challenge... https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/4Dhia0/CHALLENGE-50s-JET-DOGFIGHT
+1Very nice copter! The next challenge will be Comanche Mission for helicopters! Congrats!
+1@Rakoval500k
Hey! Thanks a lot for your feedback, I really appreciate the time you took to check the cannons and write down your thoughts.
For this challenge, the main idea is to keep things balanced and fair, so the custom weapons I included are not meant to be 100% historically accurate but rather simplified and standardized to avoid power differences. That way, what really shines is each player’s creativity, engineering skills, and innovative designs, instead of one weapon choice giving a big advantage over the others.
I understand your suggestions about the AN/M3, N-37, and NR-30 — they are indeed iconic guns of the era — but to keep the challenge even for everyone I’ve decided to stick with the current set of weapons and rules. This ensures that the dogfights are fun and competitive while highlighting design skills more than firepower.
Thanks again for pointing this out, and I hope you still join in and show us your best build!
+1@CallSignLancer
Use this tools mods...
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/483588/Fine-Tuner
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/870822/Upload-with-Screenshots
https://www.simpleplanes.com/Mods/View/524146/Overload
And take a look these videos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ydwj2PVW90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLyqjNYJT0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__MQiQvYv5E
And this one... (This is the answer to what you ask me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHZTg9DBwIQ
@MajorMapleLeaf If there is a marginal difference of less than 20 parts, I will try not to be too strict.
@bennyhhy Yes, of course, go ahead, go for it.
Incredible design! Congrats!!
Impresive! You Win!! :-D
@Randomplayer You have to make it the successor to this challenge. This is done using the cockpit provided in this post. Take a look how to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqA0l2X3INo
@Matuoka443
Yes, it is possible to use your expression that includes the PitchRate term:
clamp(Pitch - PitchRate * 0.01 + Trim/2 * smooth(clamp01(GForce < 8), 0.5), -1, 1)
This expression incorporates the rate of change of the pitch angle, which can make the control more responsive and dynamic, especially during fast or sharp pitch maneuvers. The G-force limiting function using smooth and clamp01 still works with this expression, so the G-limit is retained.
However, the reason the simpler expression without the PitchRate term is usually recommended:
clamp(Pitch + Trim/2 * smooth(clamp01(GForce < 8), 0.5), -1, 1)
is that it tends to produce more stable and predictable control behavior. The inclusion of PitchRate adds a reactive component which can make the behavior more twitchy or harder to control for some users or aircraft designs.
If you want to experiment, you can try using the version that includes PitchRate, but consider tuning the coefficient (currently 0.01) to balance sensitivity and smoothness based on your aircraft and flying style.