Heard there'd been a redeployment of resources (a group of hardcore enthusiasts were on the verge of riots or even rebellion over in the western regions of Simworld and the F16s were needed in case of any serious developments) so I nipped out to the carrier off Massachusetts in the Xingu to check out the replacement equipment.

Hmmm....surprising. Heard about the cuts but can this really be serious  











It's not often that I'm looking at kit that's almost older than me

Roger

Lovely shots there Roger

Mark

Ps. I'm not sure how well I can calculate your age from the kite, but around 40?

Quote:



It certainly is you beady eyed little expert you!  8)

There just aren't enough suitable aircraft around either for AI (must be late GMax or FSDS2) or even statics (must be compatible FS98/2000).

This carrier was gonna have F18s but the current model that's available has big problems as AI - the gear isn't very pretty but more importantly when the burner starts up, the cockpit, jet nozzles and intakes go transparent and no burner shows ayway. So it had to go.

Got the idea of the Prowler/Intruder from Ozzy's recent posting although it's older than I really wanted. It works fine as AI but although the only suitable FS98/2000 models (all the same one actually) make great looking statics, they don't have a nose wheel and sit with their nose on the deck! Nothing you can do about either unfortunately (the problems of scenery design, see, that no-one appreciates).

So I'd already found a Skyhawk that worked as a static and the Blue Angel which initially didn't make a macro (had an error) had the same texture set. The rest, as they say, is history!

So you've got a TA-4J Skyhawk Blue Angels #7 visitor sitting on the side of the deck of a carrier with A-6E Intruders - look upon it the same as you would a migrating duck. There to be shot at! But.....it might still be changed!

Ah well, it's really just a fun package anyway. It's not as elaborate as a Waikato or the FS2004 9 carrier package but it comes with programmable AI and as you can see, with a bit of tweaking just about any kind of AI can be made to take off and land with my FDE files. And the F14s and F4s on the other carriers are so nice just to watch in the circuit, the models are so good.

Anyway, still playing with it on and off as a get a coupla moments. Haven't decided what to do with it yet but might upload if I get round to asking permissions from the guys whose planes I've used.

Roger

Two questions concerning that Xingu:

a) Virtual Cockpit?
b) FS9 model?

Nice shots...now where can I get the Blue Angels Skyhawk? I'm trying to get all of the planes that they flew in the team paint scheme...

Just checked the file. Model and textures by Marc Siméon (marc.simeon@ifrance.com & http://fly.to/fafzone). No compatability problems that I know of. It's fine in FS9

???

Thanks for looking Bird but unfortunately it's the same plane with the same problems.

It works fine as an AI but I guess no-one else has looked as closely as I have while it's airborne (you know, cockpit mode, Ctrl-Q and then toggle Ctrl-W until you get to the right AI ie this one, W to make it full screen and then sit back and watch using your hat button to move the viewpoint all round the plane...who needs ActiveCamera even before it became payware)

It takes off, gear up but I think it's when the burner would fire - jet nozzles and cockpit go totally transparent and you can see right through to the other side. Whether it's a texture problem (bad or missing) I don't know. But as far as I know this is the only suitable F18 out there!

Roger