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IL-2 WW1, Part 2
By 33LIMA,
IL2 - World War One
Fighting the First World War in the air, IL-2 style - part two
Code of Honour - the campaign continues...
Plan for this mission report was, I'd fly one in a different campaign. But my first mission in the Code of Honour campaign left me wanting to have another crack at the Huns in my Dark Blue World 1916 SE5...considering I'd barely seen the enemy, on the first outing.
So back I went to 56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and the Third Battle of Ypres, July 1917; which battle the campaign designer had moved south from its actual location, so as to make use of DBW 1916's excellent Somme map.
I loaded up the next mission...and got my first surprise. Here's the briefing screen:
As before, the mission seemed to be in the form of a Line Patrol, flying up to, then along, the area of the trenches. My task could have been stated more clearly, I think, as it is, for example, in the Rise of Flight missions you get with Pat Wilson's Campaign Generator. But the surprising thing in this briefing was the warning to look out for low-flying Zeppelins! Now, the French and the Germans - the main operators of large airships in WW1 - had learned much earlier in the war, through painful experience, that the front was no place for airships, especially in daylight or at low level. I dare say that attacking Zeppelins can be fun - I haven't done that since the last time I played Crimson Skies! - but I don't care for such departures from historical reality in a flight sim. Modern jargon like 'Primary Recon Marker' also jars a bit, in a WW1 briefing.
"Oh well, I've started, so I'll finish", I thought to myself. I needn't have worried.
The mission loaded, putting me in the virtual cockpit view for the briefest of moments, before there was a series of bangs as my SE5 and the others lined up for take off blew up noisily. I reloaded the mission; same result. The 'Frankenplanes' and balloon ground crew looked on sadly, as our SE5s burned.
Fortunately, this was a campaign formed of a succession of single missions, so my virtual pilot suffered no long-term harm in this unpleasant mishap. On to the next mission, then! This turned out to be a solo effort. Again, my destination was the Lines, but this time, my target was rather more realistic...though there were rather a lot of them. Apparently, the Old Man, perhaps understandably unimpressed at my performance against enemy aircraft in my first mission, had decided that I would benefit from some target practice, under operational conditions, against some rather larger and less mobile potential victims - a string of Hun observation balloons. These were tethered in a long row just on the enemy side of the trenches.
Off I went, and whatever it was had caused the flight line explosions last time, it was gone, now. The rain had showed up, though, and it was a thoroughly murky day to go balloon-busting, with visibility quite limited. For a bit of variety, I had chosen a different skin, one of 60 Squadron's short-lived but colourful schemes.
Anyway, off I went and I was soon airborne and heading up to the front, just a short distance from our airfield.
As my virtual pilot climbs east towards Hunland for his intended fiery rendezvous with the German observation balloons, I'll digress to offer a few of my impressions of the DBW 1916 Flight Model and the in-flight experience, generally. If you don't like digressions, you may want to bypass this next bit and read it last.
The FM for the DBW 1916 SE5 (or early SE5a, if that's what it is) has a few features which stand out. Firstly, the aircraft is quite tail-heavy. In this respect it is reminiscent of the Rise of Flight equivalent. I believe the real SE5 was one of the few WW1 aircraft which had a facility for trim in pitch, in the form of a variable-incidence tailplane. Other aircraft may have been able to be trimmed to fly level at a given speed, by rigging the elevator accordingly. Given the choice I would have done this in preference to having to maintain continual forward pressure on the joystick, especially as I find it makes flying level turns harder. Doubtless IL2 trim controls can be used here.
The other noticeable feature of the FM is torque, which is significant at high throttle settings. Between this and the tail-heaviness, flying the DBW 1916 SE5 takes a bit of concentration, but it's otherwise a fine ride. Rate of roll is perhaps a little faster than the Over Flanders Fields SE, perhaps a bit slower than the (modded) First Eagles version. General manoeuvrability appears good and I have not noticed any tendency to stall, spin easily or to sideslip too much in turns. Climb and dive rates I've not attempted to assess. Likewise damage models; all I've noticed is a possible 'glass nose', from a head-on hit on a quick mission, which immediately stopped the engine dead.
The DBW 1916 aircraft I've flown so far - SE5, Albatros DIII and Nieuport 28 - all seem to fly faster when flown by Artificial Intelligence pilots. En route, they take full advantage of this and you have to cut corners in turns to catch up; or at least, I do. I tend to fly without 'complex engine management' and don't know if being able to adjust fuel mixture manually would help. Anyway, the speedy AI is another reason why flying as leader rather than wingman is a good idea, to my mind. The AI also seem to be very agile, plane for plane, capable of suspiciously sudden or violent manoeuvres, which I seem to recall from IL2-WW2.
Engine sound in the DBW 1916 SE5 is distinctly underwhelming, even in the cockpit view. I know WW1 pilots wore helmets (apart from a few exceptions, which actually included 56 Squadron's Albert Ball) but even so...I have never been in an open-cockpit aircraft but this made sitting in a Cessna with headphones over my ears seem rather noisy.
OK, let's get back to the mission. The murky weather was a good excuse to call up the in-flight map to navigate (although I tend to do this anyway, murk or no murk). As you can see, I have elected to display my own plane's icon and the 'mimap path', but I have it set to hide other aircraft icons.
Looking down as I came up to the Lines, I noticed a balloon well below; not far from the ground, in fact. This I judged to be a British one and therefore left severely alone. You can see this balloon just off my starboard wingtips.
A little further on, with shells bursting below, I looked down again. Another balloon! This time, it could only be a Hun 'sausage', hopefully the northernmost in the string that I was expected to clobber. Like its opposite number, this gasbag was very low indeed. Undeterred, I throttled well back, banked hard left, and spiraled down, right onto him.
I opened fire as my sights came on and was surprised to see my target blow up immediately. That was easy...too easy, really. No need for le Prieur rockets or anything fancy.
I pulled up hard, into a steep climb. No sooner had the thought occurred to me, 'Wot about the anti-aircraft guns, then?' than there was a flash and the first of a series of very loud bangs, as the Hun Archie woke up to my presence. I reckon it was about their fifth or sixth round that abolished most of my tailplane.
Making the best of what control I had remaining, I managed to swing around and point my nose towards friendly territory. My engine was still running, at least....
...or it was, until another Hun salvo arrived, neatly and simultaneously placing rounds right under my nose and what was left of my tailplane.
This could not go on much longer and in fact, it didn't.
Well, that was that. I don't know if I would have been any more fortunate had I refused to be drawn into an attack at virtually ground level and instead continued down the Lines in search of easier and higher prey. But even so, I really think the accuracy of the enemy AA fire was as excessive as the anti-balloon properties of my .303 rounds.
If you bypassed my earlier digression into Flight Models and stuff, you might want to read it now.
But this isn't quite the end of my Code of Honour campaign. Not just yet! I was determined to get a better flavour of DBW 1916's air-to-air combat. And I'll report on just how that turned out, in the next installment. Watch this space!
Fighting the First World War in the air, IL-2 style - part two
Code of Honour - the campaign continues...
Plan for this mission report was, I'd fly one in a different campaign. But my first mission in the Code of Honour campaign left me wanting to have another crack at the Huns in my Dark Blue World 1916 SE5...considering I'd barely seen the enemy, on the first outing.
So back I went to 56 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and the Third Battle of Ypres, July 1917; which battle the campaign designer had moved south from its actual location, so as to make use of DBW 1916's excellent Somme map.
I loaded up the next mission...and got my first surprise. Here's the briefing screen:
As before, the mission seemed to be in the form of a Line Patrol, flying up to, then along, the area of the trenches. My task could have been stated more clearly, I think, as it is, for example, in the Rise of Flight missions you get with Pat Wilson's Campaign Generator. But the surprising thing in this briefing was the warning to look out for low-flying Zeppelins! Now, the French and the Germans - the main operators of large airships in WW1 - had learned much earlier in the war, through painful experience, that the front was no place for airships, especially in daylight or at low level. I dare say that attacking Zeppelins can be fun - I haven't done that since the last time I played Crimson Skies! - but I don't care for such departures from historical reality in a flight sim. Modern jargon like 'Primary Recon Marker' also jars a bit, in a WW1 briefing.
"Oh well, I've started, so I'll finish", I thought to myself. I needn't have worried.
The mission loaded, putting me in the virtual cockpit view for the briefest of moments, before there was a series of bangs as my SE5 and the others lined up for take off blew up noisily. I reloaded the mission; same result. The 'Frankenplanes' and balloon ground crew looked on sadly, as our SE5s burned.
Fortunately, this was a campaign formed of a succession of single missions, so my virtual pilot suffered no long-term harm in this unpleasant mishap. On to the next mission, then! This turned out to be a solo effort. Again, my destination was the Lines, but this time, my target was rather more realistic...though there were rather a lot of them. Apparently, the Old Man, perhaps understandably unimpressed at my performance against enemy aircraft in my first mission, had decided that I would benefit from some target practice, under operational conditions, against some rather larger and less mobile potential victims - a string of Hun observation balloons. These were tethered in a long row just on the enemy side of the trenches.
Off I went, and whatever it was had caused the flight line explosions last time, it was gone, now. The rain had showed up, though, and it was a thoroughly murky day to go balloon-busting, with visibility quite limited. For a bit of variety, I had chosen a different skin, one of 60 Squadron's short-lived but colourful schemes.
Anyway, off I went and I was soon airborne and heading up to the front, just a short distance from our airfield.
As my virtual pilot climbs east towards Hunland for his intended fiery rendezvous with the German observation balloons, I'll digress to offer a few of my impressions of the DBW 1916 Flight Model and the in-flight experience, generally. If you don't like digressions, you may want to bypass this next bit and read it last.
The FM for the DBW 1916 SE5 (or early SE5a, if that's what it is) has a few features which stand out. Firstly, the aircraft is quite tail-heavy. In this respect it is reminiscent of the Rise of Flight equivalent. I believe the real SE5 was one of the few WW1 aircraft which had a facility for trim in pitch, in the form of a variable-incidence tailplane. Other aircraft may have been able to be trimmed to fly level at a given speed, by rigging the elevator accordingly. Given the choice I would have done this in preference to having to maintain continual forward pressure on the joystick, especially as I find it makes flying level turns harder. Doubtless IL2 trim controls can be used here.
The other noticeable feature of the FM is torque, which is significant at high throttle settings. Between this and the tail-heaviness, flying the DBW 1916 SE5 takes a bit of concentration, but it's otherwise a fine ride. Rate of roll is perhaps a little faster than the Over Flanders Fields SE, perhaps a bit slower than the (modded) First Eagles version. General manoeuvrability appears good and I have not noticed any tendency to stall, spin easily or to sideslip too much in turns. Climb and dive rates I've not attempted to assess. Likewise damage models; all I've noticed is a possible 'glass nose', from a head-on hit on a quick mission, which immediately stopped the engine dead.
The DBW 1916 aircraft I've flown so far - SE5, Albatros DIII and Nieuport 28 - all seem to fly faster when flown by Artificial Intelligence pilots. En route, they take full advantage of this and you have to cut corners in turns to catch up; or at least, I do. I tend to fly without 'complex engine management' and don't know if being able to adjust fuel mixture manually would help. Anyway, the speedy AI is another reason why flying as leader rather than wingman is a good idea, to my mind. The AI also seem to be very agile, plane for plane, capable of suspiciously sudden or violent manoeuvres, which I seem to recall from IL2-WW2.
Engine sound in the DBW 1916 SE5 is distinctly underwhelming, even in the cockpit view. I know WW1 pilots wore helmets (apart from a few exceptions, which actually included 56 Squadron's Albert Ball) but even so...I have never been in an open-cockpit aircraft but this made sitting in a Cessna with headphones over my ears seem rather noisy.
OK, let's get back to the mission. The murky weather was a good excuse to call up the in-flight map to navigate (although I tend to do this anyway, murk or no murk). As you can see, I have elected to display my own plane's icon and the 'mimap path', but I have it set to hide other aircraft icons.
Looking down as I came up to the Lines, I noticed a balloon well below; not far from the ground, in fact. This I judged to be a British one and therefore left severely alone. You can see this balloon just off my starboard wingtips.
A little further on, with shells bursting below, I looked down again. Another balloon! This time, it could only be a Hun 'sausage', hopefully the northernmost in the string that I was expected to clobber. Like its opposite number, this gasbag was very low indeed. Undeterred, I throttled well back, banked hard left, and spiraled down, right onto him.
I opened fire as my sights came on and was surprised to see my target blow up immediately. That was easy...too easy, really. No need for le Prieur rockets or anything fancy.
I pulled up hard, into a steep climb. No sooner had the thought occurred to me, 'Wot about the anti-aircraft guns, then?' than there was a flash and the first of a series of very loud bangs, as the Hun Archie woke up to my presence. I reckon it was about their fifth or sixth round that abolished most of my tailplane.
Making the best of what control I had remaining, I managed to swing around and point my nose towards friendly territory. My engine was still running, at least....
...or it was, until another Hun salvo arrived, neatly and simultaneously placing rounds right under my nose and what was left of my tailplane.
This could not go on much longer and in fact, it didn't.
Well, that was that. I don't know if I would have been any more fortunate had I refused to be drawn into an attack at virtually ground level and instead continued down the Lines in search of easier and higher prey. But even so, I really think the accuracy of the enemy AA fire was as excessive as the anti-balloon properties of my .303 rounds.
If you bypassed my earlier digression into Flight Models and stuff, you might want to read it now.
But this isn't quite the end of my Code of Honour campaign. Not just yet! I was determined to get a better flavour of DBW 1916's air-to-air combat. And I'll report on just how that turned out, in the next installment. Watch this space!
Business Proposal: World Languages
By Erik,
I want to update our language packs that we use on our site. The language packs change the features and functions to a user set language for easier operation of our software. There are no limits to the languages we support to make our boards more user friendly to members around the world. For obvious reasons some languages are in higher demand than others. My business proposal is simple and available to anyone who can translate from English to another major language. I will award the work and set up a simple way for those interested to translate and verify their work. This is an on-going opportunity that will appeal to sites around the world that use the same software as we do, and there are thousands. If you're interested in making some extra spending money each month contact me by PM so we can discuss the details.
Interview With Wrench
By Skyviper,
CombatACE Spotlight Special Featuring: Wrench
Wrench has been a member here at CombatACE since November of 2004. It's come to my attention that he deserves a little time in the spotlight. He has created or helped with over 300 mods that have accumulated roughly 60,000 downloads!
“CA is just a great place. For the most part, everyone gets along and respects one another… I think the people here are just as they are in real life; and THAT's the best thing.” -Wrench
Hello everyone! It is my great pleasure to bring you the interview of a long time member here at CombatACE the one and the only Wrench who is an awesome guy that has made or helped with hundreds of mods over the years. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview with us.
So, Wrench, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Well, I'm a native Californian, spent 30 years in the automotive industry as a repair technician (when electronics starting flooding cars, we got a title change from mechanic to technician, doncha know! Didn't get any more money, though.) I specialized in Emission Controls and Drivability. That led me to a certain type of thinking ... a very 'follow the charts and procedures' mentality that keeps one on track to locate, isolate, and fix the problem. Of course, being a "Type A" personality helps. Keeps you on track.
What interests you about aviation?
Being able to leave the ground, and float in the sky. Being one with the sky, the clouds, the winds ... almost as free as a bird. The old turn-of-the-last-century romantic notions do still live within, as does the little boy that is constantly looking up at any passing aircraft over the horizon. Being an acrophobe limits one to about 6 feet off the ground!!! LOL!!
What is your favorite aircraft and why?
It all depends on what era you're talking about. Could be the Mustang or B-17 or Sabre or the Phantom (but Phantoms are pretty much a given for just about everyone!!)
What got you interested in flight simulation?
Growing up and living just east of historical Santa Monica airport. So many important civil and military aircraft came out of there when Douglas Aviation was still here. When personal computers started their rise in the 80s and 90s, and flight sims started being developed, it was just a natural progression for someone that loved aircraft.
Do you remember the first flight sim you ever played?
360 Pacific's "Megafortress", on my 386 DOS machine. That one taught me a lot about multi-tasking, because as the player, you had to 'jump' between crew stations to perform their tasks.
What motivated you to arrive here at CombatACE and become a prolific member who submitted 354 mods that have accumulated well over 61,000 downloads?
Well, when modding started for the SF series, there really wasn't anywhere else to go.
Wrench you’ve been a member here at CombatACE for a long time. Has being a member of the CombatACE community affected your life any?
I'm sure it has; I just don't know how. Maybe ask my wife!! (LOL!!)
When did you start modding?
Way back in the days of ATF and FA (Fighters Anthology). I did a lot a 'novel conversions'. Meaning, you used a set of missions (and suitably modified terrains) to tell the story of the book, by "flying" the book. I also did a LOT of mission conversions and some new builds for X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Converting the XW and TF original missions for use in X-Wing vx Tie Fighter. I don't remember exactly, but somewhere around 1500 individual files; many were complete campaigns. Even did some for XWA
What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing and neat hobby etc?
It's relaxing and frustrating at the same time. Working within the restrictions imposed, in my case, by the Terrain Engine and its wacky tiling set up. The research I do for each terrain can be unbelievable -- navigational charts, satellite photos, etc. One needs to literally immerse oneself in the region that you're building. When building terrains, you need to look at the whole geo-physical structure of the region. It ain't just slapping down tiles and cities and then filling them in with targets (ie: things to blow up). It's the "hows and whys" certain things ARE where they are. A passing knowledge of geology, hydrology and maybe even ethnology comes in handy.
What modding tools do you use and why?
Since my major focus is terrains (giving all those neat 'toys' an appropriate sandbox.), the 3d Wire Terrain editor. Gerwin's TFD tool is a helper app, but not something I use to really build with. Of course, skinning and decaling aircraft requires the Usual Suspect - Photoshop. And a good (free!!) Hex Editor for those pesky lods that need a slight rewrite.
What is your favorite mod you have created?
I don't really know if I have one. My WW2 mods at near the top. But I'd have to say my terrain works. The KAW terrain has to be near the top, if not the #1. So much work went into that one that was unbelievable. That one pretty much crossed the OCD border to "must get this as right as possible".
Who is a Modder you admire or inspired you to start modding?
I can think of several I admire for their work, but as for inspiration to start, that had to come from within. You can take the mechanic out of the shop, but the desire to tinker with the workings always remains (yes, ex-Hot Rodder!) Most, if not all my admiration has to go to the 3D guys, and the FM gurus. They're like wizards, conjurers and sorcerers, pulling things seemingly out of thin air. Guys like Ravenclaw, Raven, FastCargo, RussoUk, Stary, Veltro2k. Of course, the late Bpao of the Mirage Factory. Absolutely one the best. Oli's passing was a substantial loss to the SF community. All these 3d modelers have my respect and admiration. I've always said, as a terrain guy "I've given you the sandbox; others have given you the toys. Make what you will of it".
Do you have favorite quotes or thoughts about being here at CombatACE you’d like to share?
None printable on a family site!! LOL!! No, seriously. I ask the people and think about some of their requests. There's far to many of the "gimmies" and "I wants". Before making requests, THINK about how said item would/could/should be used in game. Some are just so impractical, as to be jokes. CA is just a great place. For the most part, everyone gets along and respects one another. In these days of net anonymity, it's easy to hide behind a persona. I think the people here are just as they are in real life; and THAT's the best thing.
Thank you Wrench for taking the time to do an interview with us. A huge thank you for all of the hard work and dedication you put into your mods, for sharing them with us, and helping this community grow.
And much thanks to all of you out there that help our community to stay strong. I'm Skyviper with the CombatACE News Team wishing everyone out there good hunting.
Interview With SidDogg
By Skyviper,
An Interview With SidDogg
SidDogg's Favorite Quote: - "May God have mercy on my enemies. Because I won't..." --- Patton
Hello everyone! This week I had the wonderful privilege of interviewing a long time member and mod author, SidDogg, who very kindly agreed to do an interview with us. Thank you, SidDogg.
So, can you tell us a little about yourself?
Well, for those who know what it is, I'm from South Tacoma. Born and raised most of my years as a kid. Been in the U.S. Navy for 8 years now. I'm an Aviation Electronics Technician.
What interest you about aviation? I was born on an airbase, grew up around airplanes, even in the city. Always had a far different aspiration as a kid. Being a zoologist, a paleontologist, even a bus driver when I was really small. Then again, by a twist of fate, I came back around to aviation, especially air combat, once I realized it was the one thing I could be truly good at. From then on, I grew to love it, more and more... What is your favorite aircraft and why? Eek! It's a hard tie between Crusader and Tomcat. Both airplanes were ahead of their time (still are...), both airplanes perhaps underrated in Washington. But both airplanes TOOK respect and fame abroad, while flying in combat. Did I mention both airplanes can out fly many more modern types, even those of today? If you ask me, there's nothing up there that's f***in' with that. What got you interested in flight simulation? While beginning to mess with aviation as a kid, I ended up slowly happening into contact with , and thus the knowledge of this type of game. Previously, although I was into airplanes like crazy by then, I had no idea such games even existed! THEN i got FS98 for my 11th birthday. I think that's when things really took off... Do you remember the first flight sim you ever played? MiG-29 Fulcrum. Heroes Of The 357th. Top Gun: Fire At Will! iF-16! Sabre Ace! The list could go on for a bit, messing with the good old games back in those days. What motivated you to arrive here at Combat Ace and stay here 9 years? Good Question. As I started learning more and more about flight simulation, I began to notice gaps, as far as subject matter was concerned. It was also around this time that I learned much about the air war in Vietnam. We had games like EF2000 and AHX-1 and A-10! Cuba and F-22 Lightning, but what about airplanes from the 60s, ESPECIALLY the less popular ones? In 2003, my question was answered when I bought a neat little game from an EB in Tennessee. Called STRIKE FIGHTERS: PROJECT 1. Had an F-100 on the back. AND an A-4. I saved up my 15 dollars and bought that sucker. Pretty sure I have the last original (buggy) retail copy in the U.S. because I never saw another copy ever again. Started seeing about addons online. Ran into SFP101.net. Then I found Biohaz Central. They required membership, so I joined. Not too long after, the site became CombatACE. Been growing with this family ever since. When did you start modding? Funny you should ask. Around the turn of the century, I found Flight Sim Toolkit. Games were fun already, but BUILDING one from scratch was another thing altogether!!! I immediately began putting work in on getting games that had been made and playing them, as well as seeing about making my own. After a couple years, my life took a turn of events that would force me to part with FST. By that time, I had full Vietnam, Top Gun, and Tuskegee mods complete. Airplanes and everything. What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing, a neat hobby, etc? Modding in SF basically does for me what FST once did. Make my "own" sim within required parameters, without having to conform to whatever commercial markets think we should have. Let's face it aside from games like DCS series, War Thunder and a few others, the market on combat flight simulation has gone WACK (looking at YOU, JASF!...how dare you). IMO, SF is untouchable, though. What modding tools do you use and why? I WISH I had 3DS Max, so I can get back to doing what I did best --- making models. But for right now , it's all about GIMP, TE and TFDTool. Keeping it simple. What is your favorite mod you have created? Still working on it! I work it so much, it throws me into boredom, and I have to take a break from time to time. But I enjoy it very much, and I hope you all will, as well. What is your favorite mod that you did not create? Just ran through a whole "career" as an A-7 pilot, SF2V ex pack, mixed with SF2NA ex pack, then on through ODS to "retirement". Good stuff. Who is a Modder you admire or inspired you to start modding? Since I was modding as a kid, and got up on SF the same way, I can't really say I've looked up to anyone...with that said, there is a WEALTH of skill, experience and sheer talent, gathered here at CombatACE. The reason I am still here is because I sincerely believe that as far as combat flight simulation goes, there is NO ONE else out there who can even f*** with us. Hand these folks any game engine. They commit mass murder. Of course, I love SF, and I am thankful that TK gave flight simulation players AND modders such an opportunity. Once again, thank you SidDogg for taking the time to do an interview with us and being here at CombatACE and thank you so much for all you do to help defend freedom. Well folks that’s all for this interview. I hope you enjoyed it. I’m Skyviper with the CombatACE News Team wishing you all out there, good hunting. SidDogg's Hashtags. #howdareyou #megamod #thatisall
What interest you about aviation? I was born on an airbase, grew up around airplanes, even in the city. Always had a far different aspiration as a kid. Being a zoologist, a paleontologist, even a bus driver when I was really small. Then again, by a twist of fate, I came back around to aviation, especially air combat, once I realized it was the one thing I could be truly good at. From then on, I grew to love it, more and more... What is your favorite aircraft and why? Eek! It's a hard tie between Crusader and Tomcat. Both airplanes were ahead of their time (still are...), both airplanes perhaps underrated in Washington. But both airplanes TOOK respect and fame abroad, while flying in combat. Did I mention both airplanes can out fly many more modern types, even those of today? If you ask me, there's nothing up there that's f***in' with that. What got you interested in flight simulation? While beginning to mess with aviation as a kid, I ended up slowly happening into contact with , and thus the knowledge of this type of game. Previously, although I was into airplanes like crazy by then, I had no idea such games even existed! THEN i got FS98 for my 11th birthday. I think that's when things really took off... Do you remember the first flight sim you ever played? MiG-29 Fulcrum. Heroes Of The 357th. Top Gun: Fire At Will! iF-16! Sabre Ace! The list could go on for a bit, messing with the good old games back in those days. What motivated you to arrive here at Combat Ace and stay here 9 years? Good Question. As I started learning more and more about flight simulation, I began to notice gaps, as far as subject matter was concerned. It was also around this time that I learned much about the air war in Vietnam. We had games like EF2000 and AHX-1 and A-10! Cuba and F-22 Lightning, but what about airplanes from the 60s, ESPECIALLY the less popular ones? In 2003, my question was answered when I bought a neat little game from an EB in Tennessee. Called STRIKE FIGHTERS: PROJECT 1. Had an F-100 on the back. AND an A-4. I saved up my 15 dollars and bought that sucker. Pretty sure I have the last original (buggy) retail copy in the U.S. because I never saw another copy ever again. Started seeing about addons online. Ran into SFP101.net. Then I found Biohaz Central. They required membership, so I joined. Not too long after, the site became CombatACE. Been growing with this family ever since. When did you start modding? Funny you should ask. Around the turn of the century, I found Flight Sim Toolkit. Games were fun already, but BUILDING one from scratch was another thing altogether!!! I immediately began putting work in on getting games that had been made and playing them, as well as seeing about making my own. After a couple years, my life took a turn of events that would force me to part with FST. By that time, I had full Vietnam, Top Gun, and Tuskegee mods complete. Airplanes and everything. What does modding do for you? Is it something that is relaxing, a neat hobby, etc? Modding in SF basically does for me what FST once did. Make my "own" sim within required parameters, without having to conform to whatever commercial markets think we should have. Let's face it aside from games like DCS series, War Thunder and a few others, the market on combat flight simulation has gone WACK (looking at YOU, JASF!...how dare you). IMO, SF is untouchable, though. What modding tools do you use and why? I WISH I had 3DS Max, so I can get back to doing what I did best --- making models. But for right now , it's all about GIMP, TE and TFDTool. Keeping it simple. What is your favorite mod you have created? Still working on it! I work it so much, it throws me into boredom, and I have to take a break from time to time. But I enjoy it very much, and I hope you all will, as well. What is your favorite mod that you did not create? Just ran through a whole "career" as an A-7 pilot, SF2V ex pack, mixed with SF2NA ex pack, then on through ODS to "retirement". Good stuff. Who is a Modder you admire or inspired you to start modding? Since I was modding as a kid, and got up on SF the same way, I can't really say I've looked up to anyone...with that said, there is a WEALTH of skill, experience and sheer talent, gathered here at CombatACE. The reason I am still here is because I sincerely believe that as far as combat flight simulation goes, there is NO ONE else out there who can even f*** with us. Hand these folks any game engine. They commit mass murder. Of course, I love SF, and I am thankful that TK gave flight simulation players AND modders such an opportunity. Once again, thank you SidDogg for taking the time to do an interview with us and being here at CombatACE and thank you so much for all you do to help defend freedom. Well folks that’s all for this interview. I hope you enjoyed it. I’m Skyviper with the CombatACE News Team wishing you all out there, good hunting. SidDogg's Hashtags. #howdareyou #megamod #thatisall
CERA - Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk Now Available!
By ST0RM,
The UH-60 Black Hawk, developed by Sikorsky, is a utility tactical transport helicopter, is a four bladed, twin-engine, and non-retractable landing gear.
Exclusively for Flight Simulator X Acceleration.
Required Reality-XP GNS 530 (If you want GPS, you MUST have the Reality XP gauges - they mentioned on their Facebook page that they will eventually offer a variant with the default GPS). However, further checks with Cera has revealed that it will work without that GPS, but lose that function. A default GPS version with be released.
Features:
Realistic flight dynamics.
Original stereo sound.
Fully clickable 3D virtual cockpit.
3D gauges.
HD quality exterior and Interior textures (2048 x 2048).
Additional animations
Wipers.
Pilot, copilot, gunner and crew chief.
Pilot’s doors.
Gunner’s windows.
Machine gun.
Engine inlet and exhaust covers.
Pitot covers.
Chocks.
Nose compartment door.
Door cargo hook
Protective armor wind
Engines cowling.
Jettison pilot’s door.
Main and tail rotors fully animate.
High detail 3D model in the interior and exterior.
Auxiliar power unit.
Navigation lights: steady and flash / dimming and bright position.
Anti-collision lights: lower, both, upper/ day and night position
Formation lights.
Landing and search lights.
Separate switch dim cabin lights.
Night vision NVG Effect (beta).
5 Liveries.
Paint kit.
NO 2D Panel Is provided
http://secure.simmarket.com/cera-sik...hawk-fsx.phtml -Storm
Exclusively for Flight Simulator X Acceleration.
Required Reality-XP GNS 530 (If you want GPS, you MUST have the Reality XP gauges - they mentioned on their Facebook page that they will eventually offer a variant with the default GPS). However, further checks with Cera has revealed that it will work without that GPS, but lose that function. A default GPS version with be released.
Features:
Realistic flight dynamics.
Original stereo sound.
Fully clickable 3D virtual cockpit.
3D gauges.
HD quality exterior and Interior textures (2048 x 2048).
Additional animations
Wipers.
Pilot, copilot, gunner and crew chief.
Pilot’s doors.
Gunner’s windows.
Machine gun.
Engine inlet and exhaust covers.
Pitot covers.
Chocks.
Nose compartment door.
Door cargo hook
Protective armor wind
Engines cowling.
Jettison pilot’s door.
Main and tail rotors fully animate.
High detail 3D model in the interior and exterior.
Auxiliar power unit.
Navigation lights: steady and flash / dimming and bright position.
Anti-collision lights: lower, both, upper/ day and night position
Formation lights.
Landing and search lights.
Separate switch dim cabin lights.
Night vision NVG Effect (beta).
5 Liveries.
Paint kit.
NO 2D Panel Is provided
http://secure.simmarket.com/cera-sik...hawk-fsx.phtml -Storm
Another: DCS Sale
By MigBuster,
DCS AUTUMN SALE
From 20 to 29 September 2013, Eagle Dynamics will have a 60% off Autumn sale for the following DCS products:
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight, Pre-Purchase Beta. $49.99 now $19.99
DCS: UH-1H Huey, Pre-Purchase Beta. $49.99 now $19.99
Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3. $49.99 now $19.99
DCS: A-10C Warthog. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: Black Shark 2. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: P-51D Mustang. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: Combined Arms. $29.99 now $11.99
DCS: Black Shark 2 Upgrade. $29.99 now $11.99
A-10A: DCS Flaming Cliffs. $14.99 now $5.99
Su-25: DCS Flaming Cliffs. $14.99 now $5.99 http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114121
From 20 to 29 September 2013, Eagle Dynamics will have a 60% off Autumn sale for the following DCS products:
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight, Pre-Purchase Beta. $49.99 now $19.99
DCS: UH-1H Huey, Pre-Purchase Beta. $49.99 now $19.99
Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 3. $49.99 now $19.99
DCS: A-10C Warthog. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: Black Shark 2. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: P-51D Mustang. $39.99 now $15.99
DCS: Combined Arms. $29.99 now $11.99
DCS: Black Shark 2 Upgrade. $29.99 now $11.99
A-10A: DCS Flaming Cliffs. $14.99 now $5.99
Su-25: DCS Flaming Cliffs. $14.99 now $5.99 http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=114121
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