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NOTE - BETA VERSION IS NO MORE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
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Given that I will not have much time to work on the Viking during the next few weeks, I have decided to release the S-3B Viking "Beta" version as is.
This is a testing version only - you are welcome to download it and fly it, but you should expect several malfunctions and issues.
Please report any bug or issue you find - the preferred way is to leave a comment to this post.
As per my previous testing campaigns, the bug reports / change requests are color coded (you may want to specify if the problem you found is "green", "yellow" or "red" according to you):
Green - issue solved, or mitigated to the point is acceptable or not perceived by most users.
Yellow -issue open, and could be perceived as product defect by many users. Awaiting action or investigation. Or issue open, mitigated to the best of my knowledge but will still be perceived as defect by users. Or issue open but appears easy to fix.
Red - the issue is severe and spoils the experience significantly for many users; root cause not identified as of today or the problem is beyond my knowledge or impossible or very difficult to solve for me.
As I said, you are welcome to download the file, fly the Viking and report your impressions, but *PLEASE* stick to the following rules:
- Report your issues as comments to this post
- Before reporting an issue, make sure it is not aleady on the list
- Before reporting an issue please check what are the exact condition in which it happens.
- Please refrain from "opinions", if possible check against the flight manual (It can be easily found with Google, and can be read online at avialogs)
- Please understand this will not be a complete rendition of the S-3B Viking. The aicraft is very complex, and I am looking for a "medium" realism version. Specifically, weapon system will be very simplifed.
- TAKE YOU TIME: I won't be working on the Viking for a week or two. Take your time to test it: there is not hurry, and it is not a competition to report as many bugs as fast as you can. It is much more important to clearly identify the bug. Basically if you have not spent a couple of hours flying the Viking, it is probably too soon to report a bug.
- Rivet counters beware: I do not like you :-)
- Please DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE the file. It is a test version: it is not good enough for a wider release.
Project status (updated on 06-09-2014):
External model:
External model is almost complete and I do not envision making many changes in the final version. Please note that exit #2 is mapped to the refuel probe, exit#3 is mapped to the weapon bay doors, exit#4 extends flir, refuel hose and MAD boom. Note that, if a refuel pod is present, SENSO and TACCO and Mad Boom will be removed. If you do not have the Tacpack, external loads can be changed with following weights:
//STATION 1 and 6 (Underwing pylons)
//DUMB BOMBS MK84, 1992lbs; MK83, 986lbs;
//MK82, 558lbs + LAUNCHER 250lbs = 808lbs
//LAU68, 250lbs + LAUNCHER 250lbs = 500lbs
//AGM65, 650lbs + LAUNCHER 200lbs = 845lbs
//ON AUX STATIONS:
//MK82, 558lbs; LAU-68, 250lbs.
//REFUEL POD 843 lbs
//EXT FUEL TANK 381 lbs
//AGM-84D 1400 lbs
//STATION 2 to 5, only MK82, 558lbs
Open issues:
EX01 - Mk.46 Torpedos not modeled: CLOSED - Modeled REXTORP and added to external model. 20/6/14
EX02 - Change animation sequence of refuel hose to make it compatible with multiplayer: OPEN
EX03 - Refuel tanks are missing the specular maps: CLOSED. Added specular map to fuel tanks. 20/6/14
EX04 - Beacon light on the tail fin does not follow the fin folding animation: CLOSED - fixed 3D model and hardcoded light into mdl and linked to tailfin animation. Fixed on 9/6/14
EX05 - Bug in flap animation: CLOSED - Known issue from previous build, flap system not in sync with commanded positions. Error in aicraft.cfg prevented proper link of the animations.
EX06 - Left aileron animation incorrectly mapped to horizontal stabilized: CLOSED - fixed 3D model. Fixed on 9/6/14
EX07 - Request to have separate textures for flaps inner surfaces (in order to add Modex digits). FIXED. Upper surface of inner port flaps no more mirrored. Fixed on 25/6/14
EX08 - AoA indexer light is reversed in the external model. CLOSED. Visibility tags assignment was wrong... Fixed on 25/6/14
EX09 - Wheels animation is incorrect (only 180°) - Status: CLOSED 27/7
EX10 - Small gap between bay door and fuselage - Status: CLOSED, not completely solved bit mitigated. 27/7
Virtual cockpit:
Modeling of the VC is almost complete too - there are some minor details missing, but it will not change much. Most of the instruments needed to conduct a safe VFR flights are in place and working, but cockpit functionality is not complete.
Open issues:
VC01 - ILS not showing on ADI: CLOSED. Added ILS Needles to ADI, both for regular Navaids and Tacpacl carrier. 27/6/14
VC02 - Armament digital display not working (shows moving map as placeholder): CLOSED - Added basic SMS indications, 27/7
VC03 - Minor bugs in radio controls: CLOSED. Fixed errors in XML code. 7/7/14
VC04 - Minor details in COTAC station missing, also station not accessible: CLOSED. Added missing details and point of view. 7/7/2014
VC05 - Autopilot controls incomplete: OPEN
VC06 - Missing refuel pod controls: OPEN
VC07 - Some warning lights stay lit even in power is off: CLOSED. All warning lights now enslaved to battery status. 14/7
VC08 - Tacpack driven weapon system interface incomplete:CLOSED 28/7
VC09 - Missing Copilot view. CLOSED (left ouut on purpose on Beta, added to .cfg file). 20/6/14
VC10 - Red beacon light peeks through VC. Closed (modified strobe light effect). 20/6/14
VC11 - Missing speed target indication on ADI. Status: CLOSED. Added 26/7
VC12 - Missing VOR station / Tacpack Tacan indication on HSI: CLOSED. Added ILS in ADI and VOR Bearing in HSI. Also, support for Tacpack-generated navaids added. 28/6
VC13 - Fix course deviation indicator on HSI: CLOSED. Scale factor fixed. 28/6
VC14 - Missing mirror reflections in rearview mirrors: CLOSED. Went for regular bitmap 26/7
VC15 - Backlighting issues in some instruments. CLOSED - fixed backlighting conditions. 14/7
VC16 - Flight Control System lights peed through upper panel. CLOSED - fixed mdl. 14/7
VC17 - For consistency, some 2D details in the copilot VC should be turned into 3D. CLOSED 24/7
VC18 - Copilot EFIS control not working. Status: CLOSED 25/7
VC19 - Add ECM ready light. Status: CLOSED 28/7
VC20 - Add STA5 and STA6 missile fire lights. Status: CLOSED 28/7
Flight modeling:
The Beta features a "draft" flight model... I have not spent much time in testing the flight model, although generally the behaviour seems acceptable, including carrier landings.
Open issues:
FM01 - Takeoff run too short: OPEN - Check against NATOPS
FM02 - Carrier approach slightly too slow: OPEN - Check against NATOPS
FM03 - Weird "bouncing" issue before cat-launch (apparently only on Tacpack-driven carriers, a/c can be shot and issues disappears when throttles are at idle...). OPEN - Apparently the fix applied does not work every time...need to think of another solution :-(
FM04 - Wrong wing station location: fix aicraft.cfg file. CLOSED - wrong fuel external fuel tank location in aicraft.cfg. Fixed on 9/6/14
FM05 - Missing fuel dump entry in aircraft.cfg. CLOSED - Added missing entry to aircraft.cfg file, 20/6/14
FM06 - Outdated reference to old DSB Viking effects (remove). CLOSED - Removed entries from aircraft.cfg file, 20/6/14
FM07 - Minor issues with Landing gear dynamics. To be investigated. CLOSED - Fixed 29/7
FM08 - Wrong references to HTML files in the checklists. CLOSED - HTML are now poiting to a aicraft limitations information file. 29/7
FM09 - Automatic retraction of the launch bar fails. CLOSED - Note that this is an expected behaviour for SDK-compliant aicrafts and happens in many other aicrafts. Users still perceive this as a defects, so an XML automatic switch for launch bar was added. 25/6/14
FM10 - Incorrect wing apex position. Status: CLOSED. Fixed wing position flight dynamics 26/7
FM11 - Gear retraction too slow. Status: CLOSED. Gear retraction time was the same indicated in the NATOPS but this appeared to be slower than the real thing. 27/7
Tacpack functionalities:
This version was not meant to have any Tacpack functionality, but given that some are already in place I left them in. Basically, the weapon configurator should work, and you can fire rockets and dumb bombs. AGM-84 missiles will not work, nor will the refuel pod, chaffs and flares. NOTE: FILES ARE *NOT* SIGNED: will not be possible to fly in multiplayer if the server cheat control is active.
Open issues:
TP01 - Internal weapons can be released even if doors are closed: CLOSED. Fixed Tacpack code. 8/7/2014
TP02 - Radar functionality not implemented: CLOSED. Implemented basic Radar functionalities (controls on Rio Stations)...
TP03 - Refuel pod functionality not implemented: OPEN
TP04 - ECM functionality not implemented: CLOSED. Implemented basic ECM functionality (Jammer, flares, chaffs)... 26/7
TP05 - AGM-84D/H functionality not implemented: CLOSED. Implemented release capability of AGM-84 missiles.
TP06 - Tacpack-based Navaids will not show on EFIS: CLOSED. ILS now shows on ADI, Tacan pointer shows on the HSI. 28/6
TP07 - Tacpack IFR functionality not correctly implemented. CLOSED. 26/7
Miscellaneous issues:
MI01 - Inclusion of additional repaints: CLOSED. Added repaints received from Antonio Diaz and Russel R. Smith. 7/7/2014
MI02 - Create new thumbnails for all the liveries: CLOSED - Redone thumbnails. 7/7/2014
MI03 - Create final installation documentation: OPEN
MI04 - Create checklists: OPEN
MI05 - Create product documentatio (either flight manual or reference sheets): OPEN
MI06 - Missing carrier trap sound: CLOSED. Fixed on 24/7/2014
BETA VERSION IS NO MORE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD, SORRY!
45 comments:
Beautiful work Dino! Love it! Flew it for about 30 minutes so far.
Obvious issues are
1_ right external tank is mapped to left side (causes uneven load)
2_ left outboard aileron is mapped to elevator pitch axis
LOve the Hoover......
Issues.....
Launch Bar does not go all the way to the Cat during launch. I tested on a clear deck Nimitz and found that when I try to hook up to Cat , the Viking bounces at least twice and disconnects from the cat. This happened on all Cats.
Dino , do you have Vlso data for the Viking??????
Unable to use Vlso without it.
Javier,
actually I could not replicate the cat issue... it seems to work fine on my machine in most cases, although sometimes (under Tacpack) the bouncing issue shows. I'll look into that.
As for the VLSO I have no data right now.
BTW I just realized that I have not uploaded the latest and greatest... my mistake. Anyway this is good enough for testing anyway.
are we able to use as a tanker for tacpac
Hi Dino, amazing plane ! That another master piece ! I noticed one bug on the external model that could be fixed, the tail fin light does not move with the tail fin when retracting the fin, the red light is "hanging" in the air. Otherwise, I didn't notice anything other thna what has already been said, but i'll keep investigating.
Sincerely
Sebastien
Flaps:
External model only shows full or no flaps. Flap position gauge in cockpit also only shows full or no flaps in cockpit.
in multiplayer I got an error message "Unauthorized aircraft modification" and FSX crashed. Anybody else get that ?
Very nice work Dino.
It will be possible to have a usable tanker version without the tacpac?
Michel
@Timber29
Agreed on flap animation issue - actually it was a known bug I forgot to mention.
@1999FRC
As stated in the post, files are NOT signed for Tacpack. Server will kick-out if the anti-cheat mode is on. Files will be signed once I have confirmation that there are no game balancing issues.
@Anonymous
A tanker-only model to use as AI plane will be provided at a later stage.
Thanks Dino !
1. Could you map the internal flap area(red) so there is a left and right side? Right now there is a single map that covers both sides. If you separate it us texture people can add the tail number to the flap area and it will display properly.
2. My version seems to tilt to the left.
3. It has a tendency to jump(hop) around in different views.
Thanks
Russ
Many thanks Dino for an AI tanker.
Michel
There is what appears to be a clickspot on the lower left side of the MFD - but clicking does nothing when I use it (FSX Acceleration).
Not sure also if the APU door is supposed to be animated but it remains open all the time. There are also lights behind the upper panel that show behind the panel instead if the indicators.
@Russ
Flap texturing - I'll see what I can do
"Tilt" is due to a wrong location of the fuel tank (see post - I have fixed it in my build)
Jump - there seems to some funky thing happening in the Landing gear dynamics
@Anonymous
There are several click spots in place which have no actual use in the Beta (prepared for future use)
@Timber29
APU Door is not animated.
I am not sure I understand your second comment...
Flew all night , works great ( the cat launch to )
I made my best carrier landings with this plane .
Soooo happy with this aicraft !
The checklist and reference notes do not show on the kneepad. The lines in the aircraft.cfg file for checklist and reference don't match the file names. Rather than edit all of the [Fltsim.x] sections just rename the two files in the aircraft folder.
"s3_check.htm" should be "s3b_check.htm" and
"s3_ref.htm" should be "s3b_ref.htm"
The refueling pod does not show up on my plane.
great plane. some comments:
1. i saw that beacon on fin will be baked into the next mdl, wish it wasn't as the fx based method allows light splash on the surface. maybe toggle strobe off when fin fold down?
2. the fx_beacon_t45.fx throws light into the vc, this can be fixed by shortening the distance of the particle: reduce X,Y Scale to 2.00, 2.00 from 3.00, 3.00. still get light splashing off the nacelle, which looks good. (i can send modified fx file if you like to test it)
3. wasn't able to find the formation, wingtip, beacon switches in the vc, using key strokes at the moment, which is ok.
4. DLC engaged but not seeing spoilers activate and deploy at touchdown. it works fine on the f14d. like conventional a/c, can arm spoilers and it deploys at touchdown.
5. guess carrier ils needles should show up in the adi or hsi if turned to nav1=112 like the f14/t45?
Hi Dino,
many thanks for this great aircraft. That was the one i always waited for :)
check this out http://youtu.be/3rZ0jYDj5nI
Hope you like it,,,,
Is there a AI tanker anywhere? Tomcat22
Hey Dino, great work. This is an amazing aircraft so far!!
Control-W makes the tail fin fold but no main wing fold? Is this an issue or is there a control in the cockpit?
Regards,
Andrew
The Fuel Flow gauges are reading much higher than actual fuel flow. At altitude I calculated at Total FF of 4100 lbs/hr, while the gauges were showing ~5600 per side.
Dino
Are the tail and control surfaces mapped to the same scale? I have been having trouble getting textures to line up when I do textures that over lap the two textures?
Russ
Dino
Are the tail and control surfaces mapped to the same scale? I have been having trouble getting textures to line up when I do textures that over lap the two textures?
Russ
Thank you all for your feedback!
PLEASE NOTE THAT BETA 1 WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM DOWNLOAD IN FEW DAYS...
Dino, I think most users have found all the significant bugs and reported them here. I did notice one minor issue that I have not seen mentioned yet which is that there appears to be a slight gap or texture issue with the external bay doors(landing gear, weapons bay, etc.). At certain angles(and only when the doors are closed), there seems to be either ground or other textures visible in between those doors. It's barely noticeable but it does exist.
Here is a pic of what I was talking about Dino.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/doogin73/Untitled-1_zps141f821a.jpg
The S 3 is great and I was surprised at how clickable the VC was. One question, how do you turn off the engines?
Thanks a lot for the plane
-Jonathan Bass
Dino, great job on the S3, I love it. I searched through the known issues and was unable to find this, so apologies if this is already known:
The AOA indexer in the cockpit is reversed from the one on the nose gear: IE when the cockpit is green (underspeed) the nose is red (indicating overspeed), and vice versa. This is very minor and am very impressed so far from the work you have put into this jet. Thanks Dino!
Dino,
Love the aircraft. Great work here mate.
I noticed when I took off that the launch bar did not automatically rise. I had to use the emergency launch bar switch to get it up before the landing gear would raise into the fuselage.
Cheers
one item, would it be possible to tilt the vc front panel forward a little so the gauges can be read a little easier? photos of s3 cockpit shows about 3-5deg forward tilt wrt vertical.
it's as if the pilot's eye has to be at the level of his mid torso to properly read the gauges.
@Anonymous
It would be theoretically possible to tilt the panel a little... but the work need to do that is huge, so I will check that but most probably I will not do that...
After ALOT of tinkering.....I finally found vLSO data that works for this Viking....
VLSO NOTEPAD:
[Aircraft.10] ;
ATC_model=S3
Type=Viking
Name=S-3
Slow=8.2
Fast=6.2
AbeamClose=0.8
AbeamWide=1.2
Vlso FILE :
ATC MODEL: S3
TYPE : Viking
NAME : S-3
SLOW : 0.20 FAST:6.20
CLOSE: 0.80 WIDE:1.20
Javier
Hi Dino,
there will be a V.1 of the Viking by the end of July? I can't wait to try it :)
I am having some difficulties in solving some of the issues - and finding the time to work on it.
My plan is to release "something" (maybe a 0.9 release) by the end of the month in any case.
Regards
Dino
I used FSRecorder and noticed when I played back the S-3 as traffic , when I approached in the F-14D the refuel drogue was not there . It showed up with standard tanks and no buddy refuel pod . Don't know if that has happened to anyone else or was known yet so I figured I'd let you know .Thanks again Dino !
at aircraft.cfg the last textuer
most change the number from
[fltsim.18]
to
[fltsim.19]
it is the NASA one
Hi Dino,
A thousand thanks for your excellent planes. Absolut payware standard!
My comment re S-3 Viking and F-14 just downloaded:
The wheels dive into the ground shortly during take off and landing. Any fix possible?
Thanks for that and best regards
Alfredo
a_gruetzner@yahoo.de
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