Night Landing Lights For Airbases
I use the campfire barrels from stationary objects in the FMB to setup night landing light patterns at the airbases I'm using for night missions.
I'm not sure how close this comes to what was really done, by anyone during WW2. I needed to do something simple, yet competent for night landings and takeoffs. I developed this simple method, which may not be unique.
Runway ends:
Basically, I put 5 fires at the two ends of the airbase. They cross the runway at each end. These define the runways pretty clearly.
Runway Turnoff Ramps:
At each Runway turn-off ramp (connection) there is a fire at the runway where the turnoff encounters the runway on each side of the turnoff. These fires help you visually to discern whether you're staying aligned on the runway while landing. They can be seen from the air clearly as well. Effectively, all you do when exiting the runway is turn between any two fires you see on the runway.
Landing Approach pattern:
I have an extended line of campfires, ten each, spaced pretty evenly in a straight line with the runway center line. The line of campfires extends out from the runway end in the direction of the approach. This line is one quarter (1/4) to one half (1/2) the length of the runway.
Effectively, when you approach you see a (pretty) straight line of 10 fires that provide a good straight in approach that follows straight through the runway center line. I have the five fires across the end of the runway...so it forms a kind of Tshape, and indicates the start of the runway. The further end of the runway also has five fires across it to help you realize how far you are from the running out of runway.
Basically, the light on each side of the runway turn-off ramps just tell you where you can turn. I don't have other fires, marking other things, because they became too confusing. That is, when you're taxiing after landing you can have too many fires in too many places.
Basically, when I've landed and made my turn-off. I either hit "A" for autopilot or esc the mission. I just don't try to get to the dead stop manually, lazy I guess.
Note:
I have a method to my madness. If I want to change the direction of the approach it's simple to do. I extend the 10 campfires from the opposite end of the runway in a straight line with the runway center line. Everything else is the same. Oh, I do remove the 10 campfires from the other end of course. LOL
Also, it is pretty easy to get a straight extended line for the 10 campfires. I just create an aircraft, create two waypoints, and the first is landing. The waypoint will immediately snap to the runway end...and I then drag the other waypoint till it is passing through the other end of the runway icon...allowing enough length to provide the extension line. I then have a good straight line described. I then just place the 10 campfires along the line, spaced pretty evenly along. When I'm done I just delete the two waypoints, along with the aircraft.
I do not try to be perfect with this setup...it would ruin the whole effect of campfire barrels being used for landing lights.