Projects updates...suggestions welcome!

In the past weeks I have been mostly working on the Tacpack SDK - understanding the basics and exploring its possibilities...therefore my plans have changed a little. Also, in order to make the Tacpack work, I had to venture into features which I had not implemented before, with benefits also to non-Tacpack versions of my models. In general, however, I am trying to code Tacpack features so that the model are "Tacpack aware" i.e. they can be used with and without the Tacpack (although, of course, weapons and tactical systems will only operate if the Tacpack is present). Anyway here is a brief update of all the projects I am working on. Suggestions are welcome!

Grumman F-14D Super TomcatThis is my testbed for Tacpack integration. To properly intergrate the Tacpack, I would have to write completely new codes for the avionics (which are currently aliased from the stock Hornet) - and I do not have the time to do that. Besides, Aerosoft is working on a top-notch F-14A which will surely be much better, realistic and more detailed than mine...and it makes no sense to compete with them in realism. So, for the moment: Guns, AIM-9M (visual launch), ECM, NVG and refuel features will be implemented. Actually most of the already are in place and they seem to work fine. AIM-7M and JDAM implementation is also feasible, but it may come at a later date. The new .mdl file will have weight-dependent loadouts.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Since the F-35 already has code for custom avionics, it will be much easier, for me, to integrate Tacpack functions in it. F-35A and -B have already been modified to include variable, weight dependent loadouts (AIM9X, AIM120, GBU31, GBU12, CBU-not supported by Tacpack, JSOW and fuel tanks and missionized gun pod) - I am not sure I will be able to achieve "full" intergration with Tacpack (again, lack of time). Also, several minor fixes to texturing and modeling are planned.

Boeing T-45C Goshawk
At the moment the Tacpack does not support BDU-33...so I am not sure it is work updating the Goshawk for this. However, some minor tweaks to the cockpit (like "click" sounds when you activate the switches) could be a nice addition...

S-3B Viking
I have to confess I have neglected the Viking a little lately... but work is proceeding and the tail section of the outer model is done - and just needs animations. Given several factors, it will be a early (i.e. prior to MAD boom removal) S-3B...

Suggestions and comments are welcome as usual!

VRS Tacpack integration (i.e. WORKING WEAPONS!)

Killing drones over NAS Fallon

Shooting drones is a quite fun way to learn the basics... 

 ...although I have to admit I am pretty bad at aerial combat!

Guns only for the moment....but still, it is quite fun!

I never ventured into the "working weapons" functionalities so far, for several reasons - mainly the lack of time, and the fact that I am more interested in flying rather than shooting things. However, the people at Vertical Reality Simulations were kind enough to provide me with access to the Tacpack Software Development Kit - and I was very impressed.
For those who don't know (very few I assume), VRS has developed an incredibly complete and realistic rendition of the F/A-18E Super Hornet - which is IMHO the best military plane for FSX - and, on top of that, they have developed the Tacpack - an add-on module for FSX which implements working weapons (an a lot of other features, like the drones you see in the screenshots). Not only weapons are working, but they have a realistic behaviour and can be used in multiplayer. For the moment, their Superbug is the only plane supported, and it is required for the installation - but this will change in future. More information here:

http://www.vrsimulations.com

Long story short, I fell in love with the Tacpack - and I am working to integrate some of its functionalities into my projects. For one, the F-14D has now a working gun and can shoot down things in Tacpack (well, only in the SDK build for the moment...you will have to wait a little!).
The Tacpack module provides many functionalities that, I have to confess, I thought they were impossible to implement in FSX and they bring a completely new perspective for military flying in FSX.
Unfortunately, due to my (ever increasing) lack of time, it is unlikely that I will be able to fully support the package - so the Tacpack integration from my side will be limited to very basic functionalities. But still, shooting things is fun!

F-35 Lightning II updated to version 2.12 - screenshots over NAS Fallon

NOTE: IT TOOK LONGER THAN I EXPECTED TO UPLOAD THE FILES...BUT THEY SHOULD BE UP AT GOOGLE DOCS NOW, AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT AVSIM AND FLIGHTSIM SOON.

In order to create the RIO PTID screen, I had to learn a thing or two I did not know on FSX mapping functions - thanks to a wonderful manual from Bob McElrath: "CustomDraw fs9gps:Map - An empirical xml guide"...  It is a really good an informative document for the FSX standard mapping and radar functions - I highly suggest you Goggle for it and read it if you want to develop this kind of features.
Of course I could not resist and implemented some changes to the MAP mode of all the F-35 models. So here is an update to the F-35, which is now upgraded to version 2.12.

Here is the list of changes:

Version 2.12

March 17th 2013

Minor fix to F-35C VFA-101 “Grim Reapers” livery

Redone code and graphics of radar/map and terrain mode of MFD for better readability. 

Terrain graphics closer to the real deal (NOTE:extremely heavy on fps – use at your own risk!)

Airborne and ground vehicles should be visible with details in map mode

Minor fix to external views pan rate

Minor adjustment to HMD superimposed graphics

So it is a minor update, but you may still want to download it from the link on the side column of this blog, in either the "full install" (about 220Mb) or "upgrade only" (about 70Mb). Upgrade also includes version 2.11, so it works with either version 2.10 or version 2.11.

I will also upload the upgrade to avsim and flightsim (although lately I had many difficulties sending file to flightsim...).

By the way, let me remind you that in the "docs" subfolder of the F-35A (in your SimObjects/Airplanes folder) there is a short user manual tha goes through all the features of the package - including the STOVL operations and limitations.

Below are some screens of the F-35B neraby NAS Fallon, Nevada. Photoreal scenery by Blue Sky Scenery (http://www.blueskyscenery.com/), airport by Jim Dhaenens (BTW my understanding is that Jim wanted his files to be removed from all repositories)

T-45C Goshawk officially updated to version 2.40

Following the largely positive feedback on the new flight model, the T-45 is now officially upgraded to version 2.40 and has is being uploaded to both avsim and flightsim. No further modifications to the file posted previously on this blog have been applied. Download link to version 2.35 has been removed.

VERSION 2.40

- Completely redone flight dynamics. All input values to match NATOPS as close as possible with some corrections when needed.
- Changed all MOIs using Roskam methods and changed many Mach tables, resulting dynamics are less responsive at low speeds, but  also much less prone to uncontrollable departures.
- Roll rate dependency on Mach no should be more accurate, also rudder authority vs. Mach and roll moment due to rudder deflection should be more accurate (rudder effectiveness decreases significantly above Mach 0.80 and A/C will roll in the opposite direction above Mach 0.85)
- Added speedbrake blowback feature (as in the real thing, extending the speedbrake above 340kts may result in partial extension only).
- Fixed AoA needle bug, failing to report actual AoA
- Fixed Reference HTML documents
- Fixed main landing gear "wobble"
- Fixed several typos in the VNATOPs manual

F-14D Tomcat for Flight Simulator X:Acceleration version 2.00 Initial Release (limited introduction)

 VF-101 Grim Reapers "retro" demo bird BuNo.164601. The virtual cockpit has been modeled on pictures of this very same bird, as preserved at Castle Air Museum - courtesy of its "plane captain" at the museum, mr.Ken Simmons.

Virtual cockpit features highly accurate HUD from Jivko Rusev. Some of the graphics on the lower corners can be difficult to read due to the projection method used...

VF-2 Bounty Hunters, high visibility repaint courtesy of Jiri Soukup, who also kindly provided other amazing liveries. Also, the package has accurate custom sounds courtesy of Serge Luzin.

Ok...it is ready, more or less.Here is the release build of the F-14D. It is not 100% bug free, and some functions are not working as they should or could... but at this point I believe it is good enough for release and, although I do not like too much patches and fixes, they are a good method of improving the product quality - so expect some coming for the F-14, too.
This is a "limited" introduction - that is the file will initially be available only on Google Docs. This is done ONLY to verify that the file works (i.e. there are no catastrophic issues) before releasing to repositories like Avsim or Flightsim. The file is 128Mb so, Google Docs is likely to have bandwith issues. Rest assued that the file will be released to the usual servers asap.

I'd like to thank all the contributors, the testers and the supporters that allowed this freeware project to reach its current level of quality and features. Credits as follows:3D model,textures,virtual cockpit and flight model by: Dino Cattaneo;

Head Up display by Jivko Rusev, based on code by Scott Printz;

Custom XML controls by Rob Barendregt;

Sound package by Serge Luzin;

VF-31 and VF-2 repaints by Jiri Soukup;

VF-213 repaint reworked on an original by Hanimichal;

After installation, you may want to read the manual (in the SimObjects/Airplanes/Grumman_F14D/docs folder of your main FSX installation folder) or at least read the Readme file, as some special functions (like the auto/manual wingsweep) may require some explanation.

You can download the file from Google Drive by clicking HERE

Please note that Beta and development files have been deleted from the server.

T-45C Version 2.40 limited introduction, F-14D draft manual, and facebook

The latest modifications I have made to the T-45C dynamics have been a bit controversial - and I have to admit that some of them were a bit rushed and not properly tested. In the past few weeks, while I was fine-tuning the F-14, I've made a number of changes to T-45 which will hopefully make it a better trainer.

So here is a link to the TEST version 2.40 - I will not upload it to Avsim or Flightsim until more testing has been performed - which you are welcome to do if you have some time.  IMHO even if dynamics are less responsive now, they are more suitable to the training purposes of the T-45C.

VERSION 2.40

- Completely redone flight dynamics. All input values to match NATOPS as close as possible with some corrections when needed.
- Changed all MOIs using Roskam methods and changed many Mach tables, resulting dynamics are less responsive at low speeds, but  also much less prone to uncontrollable departures.
- Roll rate dependency on Mach no should be more accurate, also rudder authority vs. Mach and roll moment due to rudder deflection should be more accurate (rudder effectiveness decreases significantly above Mach 0.80 and A/C will roll in the opposite direction above Mach 0.85)
- Added speedbrake blowback feature (as in the real thing, extending the speedbrake above 340kts may result in partial extension only).
- Fixed AoA needle bug, failing to report actual AoA
- Fixed Reference HTML documents
- Fixed main landing gear "wobble"
- Fixed several typos in the VNATOPs manual


Download link by clicking HERE.

As for the Tomcat, it is almost cleared for takeoff. The only outstanding item is to clean some bugs minor in the cockpit and write the Caution/Advisory lights code (most of which is missing).

Here is a preview of the F-14D VNATOPs manal - download by clicking HERE

Last, the very first days of IndiaFoxtEcho on facebook were quite positive and I think it is a very quick method of keeping in touch. I'll probably use it more - using the blog for main updates/news only.

Facebook and Tomcat

Past and present of the Tomcatters  

F-14D 164601 in Grim Reaper retro livery flying with F-35C Lightning II CF-6 

I've received several friend requests on facebook from many fellow simmers - I am sorry but I use facebook to connect only with my "real-world" friends, so I do not accept friend requests from people I don't know in person.

Still, facebook is a great tool - so I have created an indiafoxtecho page at facebook. Just search for it in the search bar... at the moment there are just a couple of placeholder images... but it may become a good tool to stay connected.

As for the Tomcat - it is very close to relase. I took some extra time to write down a manual, much like the "Virtual NATOPS" I created for the T-45C Goshawk. It is almost complete... then there are few minor things to be fixed and it will be released. It is a question of (hopefully very few) days!