[1776] Refueled Planes ditch while patrolling on station

[Knightpawn]

The attached is a Refuel exercise from another thread. I wanted to demonstrate that refueling can be integrated into a flight plan relatively easy. I did but I did not bother to see the behaviour of the bombers after they refuel. It appears that they reach station and despite reaching Bingo Fuel and RTB status they remain there until they run out of fuel because of this Unit AI logic

Screenshot 2026-01-08 235842.png (87.51 KiB) Viewed 332 times

I tried to understand where does this come from and my theory is the cause is probably the following logical contradiction. Same waypoint seems to preclude Air Refueling and allow it at the same time!

Screenshot 2026-01-09 000147.png (529.9 KiB) Viewed 332 times

If someone from the devs could look into it, it would appreciated

[Raptorx7_slith]

When you add a refuel WP to the flight plan it should ask if you want to make it so that planes can only refuel at refuel waypoints. Does it not override the contradiction you're seeing?

Thanks

[Knightpawn]

When you add a refuel WP to the flight plan it should ask if you want to make it so that planes can only refuel at refuel waypoints. Does it not override the contradiction you're seeing?

Thanks

No. I always answer this question in the affirmative in the first place. And this is reflected in the column [Tankers (AAR)] where all WPs are set to "Never" except the Refuel one.

The thing is, notwithstanding the above, the column [Remaining Fuel] keeps telling that AAR is allowed. This result is the AI logic message (first pic in my post) and eventual ditching of stationed A/Cs

[TyphoonFr]

FP.png (608.67 KiB) Viewed 237 times

From WP5 onwards, you authorize your aircraft to refuel (A) if it has reached the fuel level allowing refueling. From WP6 onwards, it will no longer have this right (B).

The information following the remaining fuel quantity (C) is regarding the calculation of the remaining fuel. At WP6, the fuel level is full because 'ARR allowed' is indicated. For WPs 7, 8, 9, and 10, 'Station Time not set' means that the patrol time is not specified, the fuel was calculated with a patrol time of zero minutes, and is therefore incorrect.

To set the patrol time, follow steps 1, 2, and 3.

[Knightpawn]

From WP5 onwards, you authorize your aircraft to refuel (A) if it has reached the fuel level allowing refueling. From WP6 onwards, it will no longer have this right (B).

The information following the remaining fuel quantity (C) is regarding the calculation of the remaining fuel. At WP6, the fuel level is full because 'ARR allowed' is indicated. For WPs 7, 8, 9, and 10, 'Station Time not set' means that the patrol time is not specified, the fuel was calculated with a patrol time of zero minutes, and is therefore incorrect.

To set the patrol time, follow steps 1, 2, and 3.

That is my point. I would expect that WP6 would not indicate that "ARR allowed" in column [Remaining Fuel]. In this case Bingo settings would be applied and the plane would remain on station until it reached bingo level and then head back to base. I can affect column [Tankers (AAE] by answering in the affirmative the question mentioned by @Raptor7_slith (i.e. that I wish planes only refuel at refuel waypoints). But I cannot remove the "AAR allowed" label from column [Remaining Fuel]. Yes, setting time on station is way to do it but one would need to make calculations about fuel consumption to come up with the time.

[blu3s]

That message appears when you uncheck "Launch missions without tankers in place", basically the unit will ignore RTB if they are on a flight plan waiting for a tanker refueling.

[TyphoonFr]

That message appears when you uncheck "Launch missions without tankers in place", basically the unit will ignore RTB if they are on a flight plan waiting for a tanker refueling.

UnitIA.png (953.83 KiB) Viewed 159 times

[Knightpawn]

That message appears when you uncheck "Launch missions without tankers in place", basically the unit will ignore RTB if they are on a flight plan waiting for a tanker refueling.

In the example, they should not be ignoring RTB because refueling is supposed to take place only between WPs 5 & 6 from tankers flying in a designated mission (which indeed happens and things work as intended between WPs 5-6). All other WP intervals however are "Never Refuel". To phase it as a question: what should one do differently if one wanted the bombers not to ignore RTB settings after WP 6 (Station Start) has been reached.
Thanks