S-64/Pod System
SECTION 9. POD SYSTEM
The S-64 includes 7 hardpoints at which pods may be attached. The hardpoints are numbered from 1 to 7 from the front of the helicopter. Spacing between all hardpoints is uniform except between Hardpoints 5 and 6 which has a slightly wider spacing due to the main gear struts between those positions. Pod attachment is controlled through the @Pod menu. Through the pod menu you can list attached pods, identify pods that are ready for attachment, detach any attached pods, or attach new pods. Pods are attached by placing them under the helicopter at approximately the desired point of attachment and then choosing the "Attach" option from the pod menu. You can use the "Identify" button to show what attachment will take place before actually attaching. When using the "Detach" button you will be asked which pod you wish to detach along with its current attachment point.
Pods are physically linked to the helicopter. As such, pods effectively become part of the helicopter once attached. Because linking in new parts changes the link number of all existing parts, and because the scripted link/unlink functions in SL will unsit any avatars sitting on the helicopter, pods attach/detach operations should only be performed with the helicopter fully shut down with no avatars sitting on it. After an attach or detach, all necessary scripts will be reset. You should allow all the script resets to complete before performing any other attach or detach operations.
Since SL does not provide a clean way to detach a linkset from another linkset, a detach is actually a destructive operation that destroys the original pod. Instead the helicopter will attempt to rez a pod from its inventory as the recently "detached" pod. If you wish the pod to detach and not delete, you should place a copy of that pod in the helicopter inventory (or replace the any existing pod with that name).
This helicopter is distributed with a universal (cargo) pod, and a pod development kit to assist in creating your own pods. Permissions on the pod are set to allow you to share (or sell) your pods to other S-64 owners (see the pod development kit for further details on creating your own pods). The universal pod includes a cargo door at the back of the pod, and smaller doors on the front and left sides of the pod. While the pod is detached, you can bring up the pod menu by clicking on any of the glass windows in the pod. The menu includes a Weight option that shows the current weight of the pod and anything you have linked to it. The pod weight will affect helicopter performance. There is also a Paint menu to allow you to apply paints from SA paint cans designed for the pod.
