Thursday, February 18, 2016

Eurofighter Project (and a couple of notes on DCS and other things)...


 
 
A quick post to officially introduce the new Eurofighter Typhoon project I am working on to people which may not have a Facebook account. The main scope of this project is to create a detailed Eurofighter model for use in FSX / P3DV2 / P3DV3 environment - including support of Tacpack for weapons functionalities. This is not an easy task as most of the data on the Typhoon is still classified. I managed to get my hands on some very detailed avionics documentation, but performance data is hard to find (and will be guesstimated). I also had the chance to test the EADS rapid-deployment simulator of the Typhoon... which was very interesting in terms of handling (although I have no idea on the actual dynamics accuracy as it is a simulator conceived for area familiarization).

Here are the main features I am working on:
- Highly detailed visual models (external and VC)
- Realistic (although guesstimated) flight model and dynamics
- Realistic avionics (at least for HUD and MFDs), and pilot interface including BAe Striker HMD Helmet
- Support for Tacpack weapons (AIM-9L/AIM-120/GBUs)
- Realistic procedures based on real-world checklists

Aside, I'd like to implement also other features...but these are kind of "nice-to-have" things...but I cannot confirm them at the moment:
- Support for IRIS-T and ASRAAM missiles
- PIRATE implementation (most likely for P3Dv2 / v3 only)
- "Naggin'Nora" implementation
- Custom sound package based on real-life audio samples

At the moment, the external model is almost complete...but still unfinished.
I do not think we'll have a Beta before this summer... so release may well be in August/September.
...below are some other screenshots of the latest build.

Now...some other things...

DCS Compatibility:
I have received several emails and messages asking for DCS support and long story short DCS support will not happen, at least in the foreseeable future. For one, I do not have the time. Then DCS does not offer an open, royalty-free and publicly accessible SDK and requires developers to be highly qualified and acceptance of very stringent requirements.
Note that this does NOT mean that you are entitled to try your own conversion and share them. Sure, you can do whatever you want for your personal use, but converting and than sharing the models and artwork or other stuff is not allowed (see the reasons why below...).

Other Simulators...and exporting my models:
I have also received requests to support other simulators (e.g. FlightGear and XPlane)...but again, I lack time and resources. Then there are a number of users that converted the data of my files and want to share them on the Internet. Again... THIS IS NOT ALLOWED - and it is explicitly forbidden in the documentation of my projects.
The main reason for this is not that I am jealous of my work or anything like that...but the fact that most of my project contain data and artwork from a variety of sources: there is a lot of work from yours truly, but there is also stuff from contributors and (most important) vendors. My models or parts of them are often based on commercial data which I paid for and it is quite expensive. You cannot use them in your projects - as it is a copyright infringment. Full stop.

Project updates:
As usual, I am working on updates to all of my projects... I have spotted a minor flaw to the latest T-45C package, and I'll relase an update which will also contain some special files for cockpit builders. The Military Avatars package and the F-35 also need some bug-fixing... although they have very minor flaws, and there are no red-alerts.
Sooner or later I'll also need to release the long-awaited Viking update.

Future projects:
A quick recap of other stuff I'd like to work in future... but God knows when I'll have time to work on it. And then I am an atheist... so this is more a "wish list" than actual projects:

MB.339 - I have an extrenal model 60% ready, but needs textures...and then there is no VC at the moment. On the good side, flight model and sound package could be reused from the MB.326.

E-2 / C-2 Package - I will soon have some news on this project...

F-14D Tomcat 2016 - I am not happy yet...

So...as you can see there is A LOT of stuff going on. Much more than what I can actually handle... So we'll see. For now Eurofighter Typhoon is the top priority.


21 comments:

JAVIER said...

VERY HAPPY TO HEAR YOU WILL WORK ON E2 /C2 PROJECTS. WEVE NEEDED THESE PLANES FOR SO LONG...IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD TO USE USE THE ABACUS MODELS WITH SOUND UPGRADES AND ADDED HUDS. CANT WAIT FOR YOURS TO COME OUT. WE NEED THE 6 BLADE MODELS WITH BEEHIVE SOUNDPACKS AND UPGRADED AVIONICS THATS IN THE E2Ds and UPGRADED C2s.

Unknown said...

I am so happy you have made the Typhoon your top priority. I really need a good rendition of this aircraft and looking at the complexity of your F-35, I am sure you won't dissapoint!

Unknown said...

Let us know if you need any help with sounds . Get us at military sound studio. Facebook

Unknown said...

This is a great update Dino. Although the Typhoon is a great aircraft, I am most excited to hear about the E-2/C-2. Old and New style props would be a great option. I also am glad to hear Viking and Tomcats will get more updates. Can you tell I am a U.S. Naval Air guy? -Woog

Sammy H said...

Spectacular work Dino as always. Looking forward to Beta time for the Typhoon. All the stuff you have on the back burner sounds very fun and interesting as well including the E-2 which could be very fun. The C-2 is what it is and since the Navy has already purchased V-22's to replace the C-2 we shall see what happens. Never the less I will fly and love them all equally as much as I do all the other stuff you have released. Good luck my friend and god willing lets wish for more time for Dino :)

Anonymous said...

The first thanks sou much for working in your amazing aircraft`s.

I know that your time is limited,It might be a good idea to try to import the T-45 Ghosthawk to DCS, which is in project the F/A-18C Hornet, and it will take a coach so we can qualify to aircraft carrier operations to fly the Hornet.

I almost abandoned FSX and I move to X-PLANE V10, of which I am very satisfied because X-PLANE is an improvement performance thanks to 64bit.

Regards!!
EC-LPZ

John said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said...

The euro-fighter looks great.If it is half as good as the F35 then I cant wait for it to be available.

JG

Wanderfalke said...

Hi Dino!
I have seen that your Eurofighter Model in the Pictures still has SideWinder on it's racks. Are you working on the Trance 1 only? BtW. Even the Austrian Trance 1 EF's have IRIS-T since 2008! Also English and German use no SideWinder anymore! IRIS-T and ASRAAM only! It is okay to use the AMRAAM instead of the METEOR though!

Regards,
Wanderfale

Gianfranco said...

Ciao

Are you planing to have the eurofighter only as payware?

ScimmiaSpaziale said...

@Wanderfalke

The weapon availability of the Typhoon is quite clear to me. IRIS-T and ASRAAM are planned (just not there in the model yet). However, as explained on my facebook page, currently the IRIS-T and ASRAAM are not supported by Tacpack. I am trying to gather the required information to have them implemented in Tacpack - hopefully these will be added in the next few months - otherwise they will be "dead" visual models only.

@Gianfranco

Considering the development effort and costs, yes - it will be payware only.
Maybe a limited feature demo will show up, but I cannot guarantee.

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Nate said...

C-2 and E-2 has me pumped!! I would happily pay top dollar for well built examples of each. So much needed.

Carss said...

I have a question dino. Ok I know you can't have these models in DCS as flyable planes, but is it ok if you could put in a word with ED and have them add some of your models as simple AI planes that can be computer flown in the game?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

What about a Fairchild Merlin 300 and IIIC & IIIB

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hello,
I am still with FSX, I shall wish to know if it there's a 2D window for FLIR and LGB?

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