Double refueling - why?

Does the plane refuel the first time following a patrol cycle or were they attacking already?

Also, does this happen in Beta game or in the regular one?

This is in the regular game.

I think this is after a direct strike and with no current orders, but I'm not sure. I will have to try it out.

The only thing that I can think of is that the first countdown you are seeing is actually the time it takes to return to the airbase before refueling can start, and then you start the actual refueling time, followed by the outbound flight timer.

VorlonFCW wrote:

The only thing that I can think of is that the first countdown you are seeing is actually the time it takes to return to the airbase before refueling can start, and then you start the actual refueling time, followed by the outbound flight timer.

I'm having trouble reproducing this. Probably because I'm not aware of the conditions that created it. But we'll see.

I've actually noticed this on a rare occasion as well.

So, did you figure out why?

Ah, no. I'm sorry. I didn't put much effort into it. When it has happened, it wasn't really at a time where my match relied on that plane getting somewhere in a hurry.

I found the problem. I guess it's an unforseen combo af actions that causes this.

If I have a plane enroute to an airfield and I then add a mission to carry out after it has arrived (e.g. patrol), then it will refuel twice.

If I just send the plane to the new airfield and wait untill it has refueled, I can go on patrol immediately without an extra refueling!

So I guess it is just 2 branches of air plane missions in the coding, that both have a refueling task in them, without checking if the plane has already refueled?

That's certainly feasible. If it's the likely culprit, it may be worth mentioning in the suggestions or bug report section.

NoobNoobTrain wrote:

I found the problem. I guess it's an unforseen combo af actions that causes this.

If I have a plane enroute to an airfield and I then add a mission to carry out after it has arrived (e.g. patrol), then it will refuel twice.

If I just send the plane to the new airfield and wait untill it has refueled, I can go on patrol immediately without an extra refueling!

So I guess it is just 2 branches of air plane missions in the coding, that both have a refueling task in them, without checking if the plane has already refueled?

Whenever a plane is involved in a direct attack there is a period of time that occurs to account for the return trip from the target to the airbase, and then refueling will occur. I believe you are confusing the countdown until the plane returns to base as the refueling countdown.

VorlonFCW wrote:

NoobNoobTrain wrote:

I found the problem. I guess it's an unforseen combo af actions that causes this.

If I have a plane enroute to an airfield and I then add a mission to carry out after it has arrived (e.g. patrol), then it will refuel twice.

If I just send the plane to the new airfield and wait untill it has refueled, I can go on patrol immediately without an extra refueling!

So I guess it is just 2 branches of air plane missions in the coding, that both have a refueling task in them, without checking if the plane has already refueled?

We have tested this and have been unable to duplicate this as a bug using these instructions or anything similar.

Whenever a plane is involved in a direct attack there is a period of time that occurs to account for the return trip from the target to the airbase, and then refueling will occur. I believe you are confusing the countdown until the plane returns to base as the refueling countdown.

A return time displaying a refueling symbol?

This still doesn't change the fact that I get different wait times depending on whether I q my orders or not.

Anyway, as I wrote to begin with, this only happens sometimes. If you can't reproduce it, it means I'm overloking some factor. Or that there is a random factor involved beyond my control.

I will observe again.

I dig this up because it happened again.

I had an interceptor and 2 strat bombers returning to an airfield. The interceptor had made an interdiction, the strat bombers were returning after a patrol.

Landed at the airfield, they merged to one fleet. Upon finishing their first 30 mins refueling, the refueling symbol re-occured and another cycle of 30 minutes had to pass.

It should be mentioned that this particular game was also hit badly by the out-of-control long distance flights bug (seems fixed now).

Google found this old thread for me because the bug just happened to me for the first time.

Tacs returned to airstrip (not factory) after a strike, I watched the refuelling time tick down from 30 minutes, and then as I was ready to launch them again the refuelling started all over again.

I had not issued any other orders to those tacs, but (is this a clue to the bug?)I did start a L2 airstrip upgrade while they were refueling.

No, that is not the only reason. I have had this happen without upgrading the airfield.

However, this bug was never resolved because it is very hard to reproduce and only happens rarely. So no wonder Bytro hasnt spent much time on it, but its still annoying when it happens because it is usually in a critical situation.

My theory is still that it has something to do with the way the game handles merged air fleets or queued orders.

The bug has evolved a bit btw. I now see them sometimes commence on the 2nd refueling cycle and then abort it after like 4-5 minutes. I suspect some kind of lag issue is involved here.

A more pressing issue is when patrol is denied without a return to base even if the new patrol is within the patrol cone. This really annoys me!

I've seen this happen when stacks on different refueling timers merge.