Kinetic Assistant

Kinetic Assistant is a SimConnect utility that covers missing simulation or gameplay elements of the Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020). Desktop application read sim variables and return adjusted values (like speed and rotation) back into the game to simulate some specific conditions, uplift inside of artificial hotspot for example. Also it can insert objects into the game, like AI tow planes.

Currently, these features are available: Winch, Tow, Hotspots, Catapult and Arresting gear, NMEA data exchange. All of them have limitations, so please read the description for each below.

* Kinetic Assistant has ALBATROSS competitions app integrated. All flight plans, weather presets and other kind of data related to race events are property of their authors, you are not eligible to republish them anyhow without author approval.

* Fully compatible aircraft:
DG808S (freeware, available on msfs.touching.cloud)
Discus2C (freeware, flightsim.to)
Turn off Winch page on front panel tablet to avoid scripts conflict

* Partially compatible aircraft: any native or legacy MSFS glider or carrier based aircraft.

* Hotspots data provided by thermal.kk7.ch and maps.openAIP.net services.

Package includes

* EXE application (installed .NET Framework is required)

* Towplane tracks – can be used on any runway, just choose takeoff direction properly

* Detailed PDF manual

* KineticPanel – MSFS toolbar with navigation and quick control buttons (winch, push, tow), spiral and birds for hotspots, animated ropes and winch vehicle.

Key features

This is an open source project – if you are a developer and wish to contribute, or just curious about how it works – find msfsKineticAssistant project on GitHub (link in the header).

Version difference

How to get Kinetic Assistant+

• purchase on SimMarket
• join testing team in our Discord
• join our Discord as Media Content Creator (provide some proof)

1. Requirements

Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)

.NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher

Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable

2. How to install and launch

1. Unpack archive content into Community folder
2. Launch “Kinetic Assistant.exe” file that inside of touchingcloud-tools-kineticassistant folder
3. Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
4. Choose aircraft and start the flight
5. Press CONNECT button in the program window
6. Choose the tab you are planning to use
7. Activate features of the selected tab
8. You can bind hotkeys with required buttons if you are not willing to leave program on the screen

3. How to uninstall

Delete touchingcloud-tools-kineticassistant from Community folder.
If you have used kinetic version prior to 0.7, remove file SimConnect.cfg from My Documents folder.

4. Racing events

4.1 Before the race or training

1. Your nickname (will be displayed on results page) or ALBATROSS Racing Club private key
2. Refresh events list (happen automatically when you change filters)
3. Filter events by aircraft type
4. Filter events by visibility setting (private events require password to be installed and activated)
5. Preferred server option will affect participants count for each event and visibility of other players on the world map (icon will be blue if player on the same server)
6. Event title and category – click to see details (right side of the window)
7. Participants count for selected server
8. Difficulty level
9. Delete event files from MSFS folder (will remove flight plan and weather preset)
10. Start training for selected even – some limitations like engine thrust and slew mode will not interrupt event
11. Start race for selected event (you have to be a club member), you will experience all kind of cheat tests like engine thrust and slew detection
12. Install event files (flight plan, hotspots data, weather preset) – MSFS should be restarted to make weather preset appear
13. Currently selecteded event
14. Race title – click to open related web page
15. Race dedicated Discord channel – click to open
16. Race schedule (in your local time)
17. Route data and limitations
18. Waypoints data

4.2 How to active ALBATROSS Racing Club account

This is optional step that will give you some extra features, like participation in competitions and profile page with personal flights statistics.

1. Follow the link https://albatross-racing.club/membership-account/membership-levels/ and press Select button (a) of only available plan
2. Fill in:
   a. Name – it can be MSFS user ID (like MYNAME#1234) or just your nickname. It will appear in results and world map.
   b. Private password
   c. Email
   d. Press SUBMIT button – you will get 3 months free trial, no payment credentials will be requested
3. a. Press View Membership Account link
4. a. Copy your unique ALBATROSS Private Key – it will be used to link application with your member profile
5. In the application window, insert Private Key into the Name field (a). If account loaded properly, you will see your name above the field (b)
6. Refresh your profile page – if you did some flights before registration, your older results should appear in the list (a). If some did not – feel free to contact us and it will be done manually.

4.3 During the race or training

1. Abort active race or training, you will be able to restart it immediately
2. Abort and close active event
3. Store training result (for the race will happen automatically)
4. Download LittleNavMap flight plan (if included)
5. Download XCSoar flight plan (generated automatically)
6. Aircraft data
7. Race/training timer
8. Active event title and type (race or training), results page link after event completion
9. Waypoints indication with altitude limits
10. Waypoints list with timestamps, altitude overpass/underpass indication if happen

5. Winch

5.1 User interface

1. Connection Point is the hook position that will be used for winching. Center of Gravity hook allows you to gain more altitude. Nosehook makes controls easier as the string directs your glider to the winch position, but you can’t reach much altitude with it as it will pull you down right after take off – use it for tow plane only.
2. Initial distance to the winch value determines how far from takeoff position virtual winch will be inserted. Longer string length will make the towing process longer, and final altitude higher.
3. Higher Maximum winch speed value will make towing faster, lower – slower. Too low for your glider performance value will make climb less effective, as the aircraft will stall instead of gliding.
4. Attach winch cable button will start counting before winching.

5.2 How to use

Assistant creates an imaginary winch in a selected distance from the player and then shortens the cable. Cable release can be performed manually by pressing the button or pulling handle inside of cockpit (if supported), automatically when climb angle is high enough, or if string fails because of overload (threshold can be increased in settings).

To activate winch:

1. shut down engines with Ctrl+Shift+E
2. in the program set required values: higher Initial distance value will make towing longer, so you can get higher altitude, Maximum Winch Speed will set your average airspeed during towing (it will be decrease while you are climbing), Initial Acceleration (Settings) will adjust speed up duration, Rope Elasticity (Settings) – how much string length will change because of tension (lower value – steel, higher – rubber)
3. while you on the ground and parking brakes disengaged, set flaps at 0-3 degrees
4. when you ready, press Attach winch cable button or configured hotkey – virtual winch will be positioned in front of you at the same altitude, at selected distance minus 10m to avoid string tension
5. you will have 5 seconds delay before launch; bank angle of the glider will be leveled, rudder pedals can be used for heading adjustment in this period
6. after reaching takeoff airspeed, lift and hold horizontal flight until you reach maximum speed (selected on Winch page)
7. when speed normalized, pitch up to 30-45 degree and hold selected airspeed until you reach required altitude, or winch will start to drag you down
8. to release manually, press Release winch cable button in application or configured hotkey, or pull release handle in glider cockpit (if presented)
9. if the angle to the winch position will be greater than 70 degrees, the cable will be released automatically

6. Tow

6.1 User interface

1. For air towing Connection Point is recommended to set as Nose hook, it will make the towing process simpler. CG hook can be used as well, but you will experience problems with holding position behind the towplane. Tail bar suitable for ground towing (in reversed direction), but it still simulated as rope so you can’t push aircraft, only pull.
2. Who will tow you menu contain available towing options:
   – Another player aircraft will scan nearby players’ aircraft or vehicles. Click the player label on the radar – tow string will be attached to him.
   – Recorded Flight Track will reveal another menu 2.1, where you can select one of the towplane tracks. Track name contain model of the towplane, direction of movement, and total lift in feet (relative to your current altitude). Once track selected, 2.2 button will insert towplane into the game.
   – Groundcrew is sort of pushback, just without AI units involve. You can use your stick/pedals to control movement of the aircraft, like it moved by your crew by hands.
   – AI vehicle, AI helicopter, AI boat modes are similar to the Another player – you just click on AI unit to which tow string will be connected.
3. You can change Scan range by increasing/decreasing zoom of the nav screen.
4. SEARCH button activates scanning of the nearest objects. If towrope connected, this button will disable scanning and release the rope at the same time. It is recommended to stop scanning after the towing finishes, avoiding CPU power consumption.
5. Attach To Closest button will attach rope to the first object in the list. If a connection is already made, button will release the rope and continue to scan.

6.2 Multiplayer towing

You can attach your glider, or any other aircraft, to another sim object by invisible rope. By current limitation, the game does not return other players’ aircraft on SimConnect request, so you can connect to the AI/Live traffic planes and ground service units only. However, most native MSFS planes have pilot objects inside, which can be detected by program. So if tow plane was chosen wisely by another player, you still can connect cable to it using Another Player item in Who will tow you dropdown. However, some MSFS planes have issues with pilot position calculation, so they can’t be used as a multiplayer tow plane. Known examples: DR400 Asobo, Cessna Skyhawk G1000 Asobo, FlightDesignCT Asobo.

1. set scanning radius (towrope length is variable – 80m in the air, 40m on the ground)
2. select elastic value; as string will be really short and low elastic value can’t be processed properly at such low update rate, minimum total elastic stretch can be 5m minimum. It means for 100m string, even if 1% set in settings, it will be 5% in fact.
3. select connection point; Nose hook recommended for the towing to make controls simpler
4. Set Who will tow you value as Another player
5. press SEARCH button
6. on the nav screen, find the aircraft (or pilot object inside an aircraft) to which you want to be attached
7. click on the name label
8. once towrope connected, its length will be slowly decreased/increased automatically to the target length (80m or 40m)
9. press on aircraft label or STOP button to release tow string
10. string will be released automatically if the angle to the tow plane will be more than 90 degrees in the air or 179 on the ground

6.3 Request AI Tow Plane

When Recorder flight track option selected, you will have extra options – Flight track and Insert towplane. AI plane will follow a selected route and ignore terrain or buildings, so choose track wisely.

To create AI tow plane:

1. Press Connect button
2. Open Tow tab
3. Choose suitable flight track
4. Choose Elasticity (Settings) and Connection Point
5. When you ready – press Insert towplane button, towing process will be started immediately so be ready to avoid buildings and trees as there is no altitude control for this kind of AI aircraft
6. press STOP button to release towrope and disable scanning (it consumes CPU power)
7. You can add your own towplane track – record flight from takeoff moment to the final altitude by Ghost Replay tab buttons, then copy GPX file into TOWPLANES folder and rename like you want. When you load your track next time – it will rotate straight to your heading, so be sure you are pointing in the right direction. You can add record <message></message> inside of <trkpt></trkpt> with custom message by text editor, like
   <message>Prepare to release!</message> to show custom tooltip
   or system command
   <message>RELEASE</message> which will trigger string release automatically when track point will be reached.

7. Catapult

7.1 User interface

1. Takeoff Speed will set the maximum speed of the catapult. When this speed value is reached, engines only will be the source of acceleration.
2. Ready to launch can be pressed when parking brakes engaged. Press the button again to initiate acceleration.

7.2 How to use

Catapult is a simple script that accelerates aircraft to the selected airspeed. Launch aborts in case if preferred speed was reached, or aircraft takes off.

1. as aircraft experience significant overload during launch, you need to disable crashes in the game settings, or enable Developer mode
2. take launching position – it can be on the carrier or on the land, just be sure you have enough space to take off
3. Engage parking brakes
4. set Takeoff Speed value – catapult will accelerate aircraft to this speed
5. press Ready to launch button
6. set required throttles level (normally about 80%)
7. Disengage parking brakes and aircraft will receive acceleration immediately

8. Arresting gear

8.1 User interface

1. Full Stop Time will determine how long landing running takes. Lower value will cause stronger drag force – 2-3 seconds can be set for carrier jets with higher landing speed. For slow planes value can be 4-5 seconds for smooth deceleration.
2. Deploy tailhook should be pressed at the same time as gear extraction triggered.

8.2 How to use

Arresting gear does not have any kind of hook/string collision calculations and activated after plane touching surface by one of the wheels or appear lower than 0.3m to the surface, while tailhook extracted (regardless is it presented/animated in the aircraft model or not) and speed more than 40 knots. After landing, aircraft experience negative drag force for the selected period of time. However, deceleration is limited to 5G and if landing speed is too high, aircraft will roll more then ~100m which will cause arresting string failure.

1. while in the air, set required Full Stop Time value – depends on landing speed of your aircraft, set lower value for high speed aircraft
2. press Deploy tailhook button, if model has animated tailhook – it will be deployed
3. land on the carrier, or runway, or field; after first touchdown aircraft will experience drag force until full stop
4. if you are not able to stop in ~100m, arresting string will fail (can be disabled in settings)
5. after full stop string will be released and tailhook will be retracted automatically

9. Hotspots

9.1 User interface

1. Amount of hotspots loaded into program memory, includes both CSV and API data. Button click will erase hotspots list.
2. LittleNavMap hotspots map button can be used to load manually made hotspots map in CSV format. You can load several maps one by one.
3. Enable API hotspots button will toggle automatic hotspots loading for current area. You can check coverage of the Thermal.KK7.ch (online method – requires an internet connection) and openAIP.net (offline method) services. You need to check HotSpots option in the left top corner to see the data loaded by Kinetic.
4. After clicking on CSV icon, hotspot data can be saved as a CSV file and then loaded in LittleNavMap as Userpoints.
5. Hotspots height value affect API hotspots and CSV hotspots with elevation near to 0 (+/- 1000). You need to select lower edge of the clouds for current weather profile so hotspots will work only below clouds level.
6. Wind behavior dropdown enable wind modes – with Leaning hotspots top of the hotspots will lean to the wind direction.
7. Soaring birds settings (KineticAssistant+ only) – amount (none, few, group, flock) and size (small, random, large)
8. Enable hotspots button will activate extra lift calculations while you are inside of the hotspot.
9. Visible spirals toggle button

9.2 How hotspots works

Hotspots are just coordinate points placed into program memory. Assistant does not affect the weather system anyhow, wind specifically, as such capabilities are not implemented into MSFS SDK, so lift calculations happen outside of the sim.

Hotspot lift power calculated from different modifiers:

• how close plane to the center of the hotspot (horizontally, nonlinear)
• how close plane to the top of the hotspot, nonlinear; above hotspot top you will not experience any lift
  
• pitch/bank angle modifier
• wind (0-50m/s, then hotspot disappear): width increasing from 100% to 200%, strength decreasing from 100% to 0%, Static/Lean hotspot behavior type on choice (drift positions will be reset after each hotspots data reload)
• weather: hotspot became weaker relative to precipitation level, linear
• time of the day: 100% daytime (no sun height dependency), 10% dawn, 0% dusk/night
• forward velocity modifier to prevent overspeed
• additional forward speed compensation as SimConnect script creating unwanted drag force
  

Smooth transition of ambient modifiers simulated by transformation delay, so it is normal that effect will be not changed immediately after weather change, teleportation or flight start/restart.

With time hotspot strength value transformed from knots into symbolic modifier – 5 knots does not mean you will get 2.5m/s lift inside of it. Somehow accurate is map indication – 10m/s is vertical airflow speed inside of hotspot, and you will be able to get 6-8m/s from it best case.

9.3.1 Create hotspots map manually

1. Open flight plan in Little Navmap (or just to navigate to the area where are you planning to glide)
2. create Userpoints at hotspots locations with these parameters: ident – “thermal” or “hotspot”, type – “location”, tags – hotspot radius (in nautical miles, digit only) – space – hotspot power in knots (optional), elevation (above ground in hotspot location, in feet; if less than 1000 – hotspot height will rely on selected by user Hotspots height option, while elevation value became modifier)
3. Choose menu item Userpoints – Export CSV

Examples:

Elevation: 3000
Tag: 1
if ground level at 500 feet MSL, hotspot top will be at 3500ft (MSL, barometric altitude), 1nm radius, lift power 10kn by default

Elevation: 2500
Tag: 1.5 10
hotspot top at 3000ft MSL, 1.5nm radius, best lift inside of hotspot will be ~8kn on the top, in the middle – about 5kn

Elevation: 500
Tag: 0.5
hotspot height will be measured by MSL value, selected by user in Hotspots tab; if it set 6000, then hotspot height will be 6500ft above sea level, 0.5nm radius, 10kn best lift value

Elevation: -500
Tag: 2 8
with same clouds level value, top of the hotspot is 5500ft above sea level, 2nm radius 8kn strength

9.3.2 Create hotspots by the Thermal Generator

• Visit website https://www.matmax.de/generator/
• Follow instructions from manual
• Download generated CSV file

9.3.3 Load CSV hotspots map

1. Press LittleNavMap hotspots map button on Hotspots tab
2. Select CSV file
3. Set Hotspots height value to fit current weather preset (altitude of lower clouds layer, 10000 if no clouds at all); only hotspots with elevation value from -1000 to 1000 will be affected
4. Press Enable Hotspots button

9.4 Load API hotspots

You can load high lift areas data from thermal.kk7.ch and maps.openAIP.net API services:

Both online services provide hotspots data mainly around Alps and some other areas. Coverage is low globally, but some locations are fully filled.

• Follow website and find preferred soaring location
• Enable Hotspots layer (kk7 top left corner, openAIP – right sidebar)
• If you see hotspots in your area, launch the game, press Connect button, and then Enable API hotspots
  
• Program will load hotspots available for current location (normally 1×1 degree grid)
• You can use custom (CSV) hotspots map together with API data
• Set Hotspots height value to fit current weather preset, otherwise hotspots effectiveness will be unrealistic
• Press Enable Hotspots button
• In the flight, when you reach bounds of loaded area, program will update hotspots data automatically
• hotspots strength and radius calculated from probability factor (radius vary 0.2-0.5nm, strength 2-6kn)

While you are inside of hotspot cylinder, you will experience additional lift; maximum lift power in the center of the cylinder, at selected altitude, after that power will decrease smoothly. To check hotspots position and their effectiveness, press > button near to Top bar where you will see navigation screen with nearby hotspots data.

10.1 NMEA (XCSoar)

1. XCSoar server – program will send aircraft data to the XCSoar client on selected IP address. Choose local or network IP, depends where XCSoar client is running – on local computer or on another device (like smartphone)
   
2. XCSoar port – should match the app setting
3. Common aircraft data
4. Vario data
5. Ballast data
6. Time source – real or from the simulator
7. Reset NMEA settings to default values

10.2 Configure XCSoar

1. In KineticAssistant select server IP (1) 127.0.0.1 in case of desktop version of XCSoar, 192.168.x.x in case of mobile version. Ensure that mobile device connected to the same network as PC.
2. Press CONNECT button
3. In XCSoar, open Settings – Devices – select device #1 and press Edit
4. Ensure that TCP client and Generic driver selected, set same IP and port as in Kinetic Assistant (1) (2)
5. Press OK to close device settings, ensure that GPS Fix label appear under device. If there “disabled” – press Enable button
6. Close settings, your glider should be placed on the map accurately.
7. If not – check KineticAssistant log, there may be some errors. Common issue – NMEA port is busy, you can chose another one in XCSoar settings and type it in the KineticAssistant related field.

Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/65ciymx7Oxs

11. Settings

1. Realistic Failures affect winch, aerotow and arresting gear. It makes the failure threshold lower so you need to be more accurate.
2. Random Failures cause short time peaks of the winch/tow cable tension. Each step increases chances and multiplies the tension peak. Training Mode is like using damaged rope that will fail during the next launch but you still have a chance to avoid it.
3. Enabled Realistic Restrictions forbid to use winch and tow in the air, connect tow rope with parking brakes engaged.
4. Display popup tips will make Kinetic notifications appear in the game. Because of MSFS bug, they always stay on the screen for 10 seconds, so you may see that old and new popups are overlapped.
5. Play sounds enable sounds notifications created by Kinetic events.
6. Play speech enable conversations with ground crew and towplane pilot – select preferred speech pack
7. Volume of sounds and speech can be adjusted with a slider.
8. Elasticity makes the winch/tug pull you harder or softer when tension appears.
9. Initial Acceleration is the amount of time that takes winch to accelerate from zero winch speed to chosen in the String Speed field. Higher value will make launch smoother.
10. Ingame panel option should be activated if you are using KA PANEL script, otherwise panel will not receive any data from KineticAssistant. You will find new icon in panels bar that toggle KA radar or worldmap:
11. Path to MSFS system files should be set for proper events extraction and load. After first launch, this folder set automatically, but if it does not correct – you can set valid path manually. Default paths to the MSFS:
    MS Store version: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe
    Steam version: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator
12. Always on top
13. Transparent mode
14. News and updates indicator – left click open news page in web browser, right – reset counter.
15. SimConnect data exchange frequency – you can decrease value if you experience program unstable behavior or game FPS became lower when KineticAssistant connected.

12. Nav screen – radar

1. Nav screen toggle button
2. Nearby towplane (red when connected)
3. Active (red)/closest (green) target info
4. Winch position
5. Hotspot area (transparency depends on current dynamic modifier); maximum lift amount value and hotspot top AGL altitude (not displayed if MSL)
6. Wind direction and strength (knots)
7. Vertical wind indication (+/- 20 knots)
8. Systems messages log, click to copy content into clipboard
9. Zoom slider

13. Nav screen – world map

1. radar / world map toggle
2. current server (should match selected in MSFS multiplayer server, otherwise other pilots will appear as grey glider icons)
3. trigger server heartbeat (inoperate in private mode)
4. toggle map center mode
5. pilots filter – only me will deactivate feature completely (both send and get), only competitions will show only pilots with active ALBATROSS events (coordinates are incorrect until next update), only free flight will show pilots without task active, all – everyone will appear on the map
6. last appearance interval (i.e. 1 minute – real time data, 24hours – every pilot used KA/ALBATROSS in last 24 hours)
7. your glider position
8. other pilot on the same server in a free flight
9. other pilot on the same server participating in competition (read as “no disturb”)
10. other pilot on different server in a free flight, or his/your server not selected
11. teleport to location (left click to set)
12. teleport to altitude (MSL, set 0 to appear on ground level)
13. perform teleportation
14. abort teleportation

14. Controls configure

• to bind keyboard/joystick/mouse button to the Assistant function, press CTRL icon near to event button
• select desired MSFS sim variable (currently lights only)
• configure this event in MSFS controls settings
• press this button twice in short period of time (with interval between 0.25-1.0 seconds), process can be described as “blink by lights”

15. Issues

• compatibility issue with Dicus 2C – when you activate built-in Discus winch, KineticAssistant winch start to work as well if program connected
• compatibility issue with Dicus 2C – if winch page active on the navigation screen, Kinetic Assistant tow rope releases right after towing process started
• if winch/tow does not work for some gliders in v0.8.4, update to newer version
• to fix program crash on attempt to load KK7 hotspots data, update to version 0.8.1 or later
• to fix “Flight plan not found” error after AI TOW button pressed, update program to the version 0.7.1 or later
• if you have problem with loading CSV file into assistant (hotspots map), update to version 0.7 or later
• if some other mods, add-ons or SimConnect utilities does not work properly after Kinetic Assistant usage, start Assistant version 0.7 or later and connect to the game once to fix the problem; if did not helped – remove SimConnect.cfg file from My Documents manually)
• planes, controlled by other players, does not appear in nearby objects list due to SimConnect bug; as temporary workaround – pilot inside of the other player’s plane can be selected as towing target. That means planes without pilot objects inside can’t be used as a tow plane. But some stock aircraft has issue with pilots entities, they are not moving together with airplane, so can’t be used for multiplayer towing (only as AI tow plane, list in the description)
• inserted AI planes often does not act predictable – taxiing in opposite direction to the runway (no taxiways in this airfield), stuck in the taxiing process (some other game object blocking his movements), gain altitude too fast, or to slow, or crash into buildings, etc. be ready for surprises.
• no visible winch cable, arresting strings, launchpad
• old tooltip does not disappear after new one added (SimConnect bug)
• no launchpad animation (even if it exists) due to disabled related sim variable
• catapult and arresting gear can be activated anywhere, not only on carriers

FOR AIRCRAFT DEVELOPERS

To add tow/winch support for your glider, you can use these model.xml examples for handles:

Release handle

<!-- TOW RELEASE HADLE -->
<Component ID="TOW_RELEASE" Node="lever_tow_release">
 <UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Switch_Code">
  <ANIM_NAME>lever_tow_release</ANIM_NAME>
  <ANIM_CODE>(A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) 2 *</ANIM_CODE>
  <ANIM_LAG>500</ANIM_LAG>
  <ANIMTIP_0></ANIMTIP_0>
  <ANIMTIP_1>Release the rope</ANIMTIP_1>
  <WWISE_EVENT_1>parking_brake_switch_on</WWISE_EVENT_1>
  <WWISE_EVENT_2>parking_brake_switch_off</WWISE_EVENT_2>
  <LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>0 (&gt;A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent)</LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>
  <WHEEL_DOWN_CODE>0 (&gt;A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent)</WHEEL_DOWN_CODE>
 </UseTemplate>
</Component>

Attach winch switch

<!-- INSERT WINCH BUTTON -->
<Component ID="WINCH_SWITCH" Node="switch_winch">
 <UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Switch_Code">
  <ANIM_NAME>switch_winch</ANIM_NAME>
  <ANIM_CODE>(A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) 50 == 100 *</ANIM_CODE>
  <ANIM_LAG>500</ANIM_LAG>
  <ANIMTIP_0>Insert winch</ANIMTIP_0>
  <ANIMTIP_1></ANIMTIP_1>
  <LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>(A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) 10 &lt; if{ 50 (&gt;A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) }</LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>
 </UseTemplate>
</Component>

Insert towplane switch

<!-- INSERT TOWPLANE BUTTON -->
<Component ID="TOWPLANE_SWITCH" Node="switch_towplane">
 <UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Switch_Code">
  <ANIM_NAME>switch_towplane</ANIM_NAME>
  <ANIM_CODE>(A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) 100 == 100 *</ANIM_CODE>
  <ANIM_LAG>500</ANIM_LAG>
  <ANIMTIP_0>Insert AI towplane</ANIMTIP_0>
  <ANIMTIP_1></ANIMTIP_1>
  <LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>(A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) 10 &lt; if{ 100 (&gt;A:WATER RUDDER HANDLE POSITION, percent) }</LEFT_SINGLE_CODE>
 </UseTemplate>
</Component>

To override hotspots behaviour insert this script into model.xml (both interior and exterior if you have separate models) and edit for your needs. In this example three different manipulations happen – vertical and forward velocity increased proportionately to hotspot lift power (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second), and pitch down applied as compensation for the hotspot side effect.

<Behaviors>
 <Component ID="Custom_code">
  <UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Update">
  <FREQUENCY>30</FREQUENCY>
   <UPDATE_CODE>
   (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) 0 == (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) 20 &gt; or if{
    0.1 (&gt;A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second)
   }

   (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) 0.1 &gt; if{
    (A:VELOCITY BODY Y, meters per second)
    (A:ACCELERATION BODY Y, meters per second) (A:ANIMATION DELTA TIME, seconds) * +
    (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) (A:ANIMATION DELTA TIME, seconds) 0.033 min * +
    (&gt;A:VELOCITY BODY Y, meters per second)

    (A:VELOCITY BODY Z, meters per second)
    (A:ACCELERATION BODY Z, meters per second) (A:ANIMATION DELTA TIME, seconds) * +
    (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) 2 / (A:ANIMATION DELTA TIME, seconds) 0.033 min * +
    (&gt;A:VELOCITY BODY Z, meters per second)

    (A:ROTATION ACCELERATION BODY X, radians per second)
    (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second)
    0.17 (A:PLANE PITCH DEGREES, radians) (A:ROTATION VELOCITY BODY X, radians per second) + - 0 max 0.34 min * +
    (&gt;A:ROTATION ACCELERATION BODY X, radians per second)

    (E:ABSOLUTE TIME, seconds) 1 % (A:ANIMATION DELTA TIME, seconds) &lt;= if{
     (A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second) 0.5 * 0.1 max (&gt;A:FOLDING WING RIGHT PERCENT, meters per second)
    }
   }
   </UPDATE_CODE>
  </UseTemplate>
 </Component>
</Behaviors>