Co-op style

[Sokol1]

1 - CloD allow COOP? (some players and IA done some pre-set missions) YES

2 - CloD allow COOP like in il-2 1946? (players take slots, hit ready, host
hit start mission...) NO

Suposedly some players lobby to Oleg change the "old" 1946 COOP mode, allowing players take "any plane at ANY moment" - that now is used as exploit for unfair players online in dogfight servers... So thanks to "UBiZ00 crowd".

Moving on.

Based in this 'limitations", try adjust to what CloD allow.

I did this test with a small dogfight map that I made with spawn areas and AI flights - launching then as Multiplayer Server.

One AI group is a flight of 6 Blenheim - I mark the first as "player plane" and set the group to start "idle".

At beggining of mission this group appear at runway, engines iddle.
And dont take-off - if because player plane on front or iddle I dont know - need investigate.

I left the mission running for 10 minutes, after I "leave" the first plane and take the third in row, planes ahead dont take off, so I take the first again and take off.

The other 5 stay in runway, then I leave first and take the second and take-off, the other 4 stay in runway...

So I think this fit to your premises of planes in runway awaiting players.

Other possibility is set only two waypoints to AI flight, one for take off and the second inside airport radius. AI planes without a "flight plan" land immediately after take-off (see as "aborted" flights )...

have 12 aircraft on a runway waiting to take off, engines off.

Here's has a problem, after last (1c/MG) Patchs* to plane spawn with "engines off" you need tick the "parket" option that make they appear in the parking areas - some fields have 60 or more... that are used from hightest (farther) to the lowest number...

* In first versions was possible start with engines OF on runaway... probable remove due complain of people that blow engines seconds after start them...

Perhaps with C# script you overcome this, I dont know...

Sokol1