Bringing back immersion in BushTrip

Discussion Hub Tools & Utilities
1

Hi Everyone

I got fed up with how BushTrips works and got to write application to try bring it back a little bit to previous state.
Bush Trip mode was my favourite mode in MSFS (apart airliner flying with full ATC etc). I loved flying around various routes with BushTalkRadio in background. Thing I liked most about it was way how was saving state after leg. When I decided that next leg was last for a session I parked on apron shutdown and close sim. With next session I could start from same place with same amount of fuel and in cold and dark state as I left it. Unfortunately this has been changed and currently with every leg you are placed on beginning of runway in ready to go aircraft with full tanks. It is massive immersion killer for me and based on conversations around forum for many others too. This application is to bring back some of this immersion. I’ve written it for myself, but I hope others will find is useful too.

I’m not .Net dev and this is my first SimConnect application. Big thanks to KenZ8143 and his AircaftState application. It gave me idea to write something specific for BushTrips and I learned a lot from his github.

Functionality
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Application connects to MSFS using SimConnect protocol. Main goal is to read plane location and fuel state and save in internal database. Every record is one of the checkpoint that can be loaded at beginning of BushTrip leg. Is simply relocating plane to last saved location with same amount of fuel and cold and dark state if chosen.

Load Checkpoint

  1. Checkpoints: this is list of saved checkpoints. From here you can select which one to load. Checkpoints are saved in format: [Name]:[Name of used aircaft]
  2. Load fuel: If checked will load amount of fuel from last leg
  3. Load Time: If checked you provide time you want to start your leg. Currently every leg starting at same fixed time. I couldn’t figure out how to load actual time from sim but at least I can change it.
  4. Cold and dark: If checked aircraft will be loaded in cold and dark state. Should work with most of the GA planes.

Save Checkpoint

  1. Checkpoint name: This is name for checkpoint to save. It will be saved in internal database: Format for checkpoint saved is: [Name]:[Name of used aircaft]. Simply taxi to your parking position and hit save. New checkpoint will appear in a list above. Application is not saving full aircraft state so you doesn’t need to shut it down. On load you will be either cold and dark or fully started as default.

SimConnect controll
Bottom section controls connection with sim. I’m reading events every second which shouldn’t be to heavy but if you not use app better to disconnect so one less SimConnect app hanging around.

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Manage Fuel

In this section you change your fuel load. Is using left and right tanks as most of BushTrip planes I’m flying has this config mostly. Grey out fields displaying live fuel quantity and maximum tank capacity for current aircraft. Max capacity is taken from sim vars so should display accurate value for all aircraft. I’m not locking fuel amount to max capacity so if you would like to check if Cessna can take off with 600 gallons be my guest :slight_smile:

Manage Time

This is same functionality as with load. You can change time of a day at any moment.

Manage Sim Rate

I’m not using it often but I found it quite useful mostly if leg is over sea or very boring scenery and nothing interesting showing up on BushTalkRadio map.

You can load checkpoint at any point. Way how I’m using this app is to relocate plane on starting screen.

On runway.

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After load.

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Seems MSFS camera in starting screen is glued to aircraft so still is showing same pictures. After hit “Ready to Fly” You will be placed where you wanted.

Bit of technical notes

  1. I don’t know if is affecting achievements. I’ve never really care about them and don’t know how to test it. If you are hunting achievements safer will be to not use it or use on your own risk.
  2. I don’t know if is affecting logbook. My logbook never worked and I have random flights only saved from time to time there and never any record from bush trips. Again I don’t have possibility to test it so as per point 1.
  3. Local database is saved in /Local/Roaming/BushTripRelocator/. Is SqlLite single file database so if you would like to do backup is there. Loosing data is not that big deal as BushTrip will still work as intended by Asobo so you always can do more checkpoints on any leg.

I don’t have more ideas what will be worth adding to enhanced BushTrips so any feedback will be really appreciated.

Enjoy :slight_smile:

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