PROJECTS ROADMAP UPDATE - JUNE 2020

As the M-346 is approaching the public release, I thought it was time to share my current plans.
This is basically what I have on my hard-disk...in no particular order. Completion of the projects will depend on a number of factors.

The general plan is as follows:

- Lead platform: for the time being, the lead platform is still Prepar3D V4.4 / v4.5 /v5.0. The lead platform may change in future. The general idea, however, is to pick the best platform for each project depending on where it will be possibile to create the best product.

- Microsoft Flight Simulator: the plan is to support the new Microsoft Flight Simulator, initially by converting the planes we thing are most fit for conversion and with proper quality.

- X-Plane 11. Still some work going on with XP-11...mostly conversion of existing projects.

- Other platforms: we are actively working on partnerships and cooperations.

F-35 LIGHTNING II - VERSION 4.00 for MSFS / P3Dv5

The general idea is to have a new baseline of the F-35 project, rebuilt to comply with MSFS standard.
At the moment, however, STOVL capabilities in MSFS are unclear… so the project is limited to the F-35A for the time being.
PROJECT STATUS: PRELIMINARY WORK

TA-4J FOR X-PLANE 11

The conversion is almost complete...it just needs some minor tweaks to the flight model and avionics before moving to the Beta stage.
PROJECT STATUS: ALPHA BUILD COMPLETE

MC.72 for MSFS / P3Dv5 (and XP-11 maybe?)

The Macchi Castoldi MC.72 is established the world speed record in 1934, and held it until 1939 and is still, to date, the fastest piston seaplane ever built. I thought it would be fun to have one in the sim.
PROJECT STATUS: PRELIMINARY 3D MODELING

F-14D SUPER TOMCAT REBUILD for MSFS/P3Dv5

The idea here would be to rebuild from scrathc my F-14D Tomcat. Given the high quality of the F-14B in DCS, the interest on this project may not be great. Still it is looking cool.

PROJECT STATUS: ON HOLD - PRELIMINARY 3D MODELING COMPLETE - NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES AT THE MOMENT.

BOEING T-X for MSFS/P3Dv5
I quite like this plane...but at the moment the infomation on the cockpit and the avionics is scarce. Waiting for more info.
PROJECT STATUS: ON HOLD - AWATING MORE INFORMATION

BOEING MQ-25 STINGRAY for MSFS/P3Dv5
This started as an experiment to make a naval drone. Looking good and seems a great complement to the F-35 in some scenarios.
PROJECT STATUS: 3D MODELING COMPLETE - NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THE MOMENT

BOEING T-45 GOSHAWK for MSFS/P3Dv5
I had started a remake of the Goshawk project… but there may be competing products in development...so no further progress has been done.
PROJECT STATUS: ON HOLD - POTENTIAL CANCELLATION

M-345 for MSFS/P3Dv5
There is now some information available on the new M-345 trainer...and it would be cool to transform the M-345 prototype in the M-345 production model.
PROJECT STATUS: ON HOLD - DOCUMENTATION REVIEW

SIAI Marchetti S-211 / Aermacchi M-311 / M-345 PBR Update (and other news on this project)

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IMPORTANT: FILES UPLOADED INITIALLY (v1.20)
HAD A CORRUPTED NORMAL MAP REFERENCE
AND CAUSED VISUAL ISSUES IN THE S-211 MODEL.
FILES HAVE BEEN REUPOLOADED AND UPDATED 

TO VERSION 1.21 - ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED NOW

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While the S-211/M-345 has been my test bed for PBR technologies, I've never found the time to properly package the resulting files into a coherent update...but I decided to dedicate some time to release this update for a number of reasons.
For one, the S-211 has been also developed for other platforms including X-Plane 11... it is basically done, but needs improvement on the flight model and then some further testing will be needed. XP11 has a very neat PBR implementation which looks cool… you can see some photos on my facebook page.
Speaking of other platforms, I have just received a notice that AFS2 is being updated and the update can break the compatibility of the S-211... Right now it is still working, but if is breaks I will fix it when I'll have some time.
Anyway, here is the change log for the Prepar3D version. NOTE THAT THIS UPDATE IS COMPATIBLE ONLY WITH P3Dv4.4 AND ABOVE. If you install it on previous versions of Prepa3D or Flight Simulator, you will not be able to load the plane in the sim anymore...and you'll have to reinstall the base package.

CHANGE LOG

Version 1.20 - 23/05/2019
THIS UPDATE IS COMPATIBLE ONLY WITH P3D V4.4 AND ABOVE
- Redone all external models and added textures to support PBR technology

The update can be downloaded by clicking HERE or from the side bar.

Also, few months ago Leonardo made the first flight of the first M-345 from serial production. The aircraft is a little different from the demonstrator and the prototypes that I have depicted. There are a number of changes which you can see in the photo below, and which I'd like to implement some time in the future. The major changes are:

- New nose shape (shorter than the prototype, closer to the S-211 nose)
- New wing tips
- Addition of formation lights
- New Landing gear
- New auxiliary air intakes and exhausts
- New LED landing lights
- New panelization of the fuselage
- Adoption of MK-16 ejection seats
- Different positions of antennas and sensors

…these are not big changes, but some of are quite annoying to make. But I'll do them when I will have some more time.

On the left (in primer), the first production aircraft, on the right (grey livery) the prototype.

SIAI Marchetti S-211 / Aermacchi M-311 / M-345 / M-345 HET PAINT KIT

Upon request, here is the paint kit for the payware S-211/M-311/M-345 package (actually I had already uploaded it on my Google Drive and sent it upon request).
Files are provided in layered PSD format - with separate layers form mechanical details, servicing decals, rivets, panel lines and ambient occlusion.

A sample file is provided for each of the 3 visual models (S-211, M-311/M-345 prototypes and M-345 HET) - this should be enough for most repainters to work proficiently.
Just remember that the M-311 and -345 have ventral fins which the S-211 does not have, and then the M-345HET has longer fuselage and different air intakes.

The paintkit is also valid for the freeware S-211 for Aerofly FS2 and for the future S-211 for X-Plane 11.

These files are provided for free to repainters ONLY to create new liveries for the S-211/M-311/M-345 and M-345HET model: any other usage is prohibited.

As usual, you can download the paintkit by either clicking HERE or from the menu on the side bar.

SIAI Marchetti S-211 Beta Testing Applications

First, thank you all for the interest you have shown to my SIAI Marchetti S-211 project! I know this is not a very popular aircraft - and frankly I do not expect this to be a big commercial success - but it is a nice jet, and I believe that its new incarnation, the Aermacchi M-345 has a very good potential.

Just to recap the scope of this project: the intent is to provide a reasonably realistic representation of the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 light jet trainer. The project features a realistic analog cockpit and flight model - and a visual model which is buit with attention to frame rates (I think it is essential in a trainer).
The package will also contain models of the M-311 / M-345 prototypes (inlcuding the Frecce Tricolori livery) and the M-345 prototype. These will feature the new digital cockpit which is being developed by Aermacchi. These "digital" models are kind of a bonus feature, as they information on these models is still quite scarce, but they should serve well as a depiction of the difference between digital and analog training.
This is a PAYWARE release - price will be in line with my previous releases.

Should you have some time to spare (say 2-3 hours at least) and should you want to help with the Beta testing phase, you can apply by sending an email to indiafoxtecho@gmail.com with:

- SUBJECT OF THE EMAIL MUST BE "S-211 BETA TESTING"
- System specifications (no need to go in minute details, just CPU, GPU, RAM and OS)
- Which simulators you intend to test the S-211 on (FSX:A, FSX:Gold, FSX:SE, P3Dv2, P3Dv3, P3Dv4)
- Please specify if you own Tacpack and/or intend to test it in multiplayer
- Your knowledge/experience in real and simulated aviation
- Also, please include any special reason why you want to test this aircraft

...just to set the record straight (as I had some remarks in the past), non paid job (but you get to keep the test copy).

Also, the Beta test "slots" are limited (15-20 maximum) as in my experience it is the best way to test these products. I will pick testers with various skills, knowledge and system specs - so if you do not get in the Beta it does not mean that you "do not qualify"...it may be just because there are other testers with similar skills or system.

Last, the Beta will be released around Christmas.