Jump to content

LATEST NEWS

    Boeing gets $35 billion Air Force tanker contract
    DWCAce
    By DWCAce,
      Story by Marc Selinger   The U.S. Air Force announced Thursday that it has selected Boeing’s NewGen Tanker to be its new KC-46A air refueling jet.   The contract award, which follows a rigorous Air Force review of industry proposals, means Boeing will build the next-generation tanker that will replace 179 of the service’s 1950s-era KC-135s.   Boeing officials said they are honored by the selection and will meet the Air Force’s requirement to deliver the first 18 combat-ready aircraft by 2017.   “This contract award would not have been possible without the hundreds of Boeing employees across the entire company, and the thousands of our industry teammates, who remained laser-focused on our commitment to offer a solution that is first in capability and best in value,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This award is also a tribute to the Air Force and Defense Department officials who worked so tirelessly to make this procurement process fair, ultimately resulting in the selection of the right plane for the mission. We look forward to working with our Air Force customer to deliver this much needed capability to the servicemen and women we are honored to serve.”   Tankers are critical to the U.S. armed forces, extending the range of fighters, bombers and other aircraft by transferring fuel to them in flight. The NewGen Tanker combines the latest, most advanced technology with the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane.   The NewGen Tanker has a modern, digital flight deck based on the new Boeing 787 commercial airliner, and advanced defensive systems so it can safely operate close to the fight. It meets or exceeds all Air Force requirements.   Boeing will build the NewGen Tanker with a low-risk approach. It will use a trained and experienced U.S. work force at existing facilities in Washington state and Kansas, and an existing supplier network in more than 40 states.   Boeing has built and supported tankers for more than 60 years, and company employees said they are rolling up their sleeves to begin work on this newest tanker right away.   To learn more about the KC-46A tanker, visit www.UnitedStatesTanker.com.   From Boeing.com.   http://www.boeing.co...t_02_24_11.html   http://www.unitedstatestanker.com/splash/Announcement

    Rise of Flight Handley Page 0-400
    Dagger
    By Dagger,
        Handley Page 0-400   In the days of Red Baron 3-D squadron "wars", we would fly fighters as bombers. Why? Simply, there were no bombers that were flyable in game. This served the community well and still does, but it still wasn't the same.   Then 777 Studios announced they were going to have a true bomber in game, a real bomber. The first to be released was the Handley-Page 0/400. This was something most WW1 sims seemed to have forgotten about. A brief history of the airplane "The improved O/400 started to enter service in April 1918, gradually allowing the re-equipment of more squadrons, being used for both support for the ground forces on the Western Front, particularly during the German Spring Offensive, and for strategic bombing under the control of the Independent Air Force. In service, the O/400s could carry a new 1,650 lb (750 kg) bomb and were deployed in force, with up to 40 aircraft participating in a raid." The Handley Page is a BIG airplane, this is a size comparison with a Dolphin on the runway. The modeling is, as usual with 777 Studios, nothing short of breathtaking. The cockpit sits mid line of the airplane, with the nose gunner right in front of the pilot. It is actually pretty cool watching him look around and man his guns when an enemy fighter approaches. If you look back you can see the rear gunner looking also. The only gunner you can't watch is the belly gunner, for obvious reasons, but he is there, and the AI gunner is very good. One of the coolest features of this airplane is your squadron mates can fly as your gunners, even if they don't have the airplane. This will make for some great times in the air. It also will make "war" nights alot more fun.   Remember this is a bomber, and it climbs and turns like one. Take offs are longer than in a fighter, but once airborne just climb out, watch your airspeed, make a few wide circles of your home aerodrome, and then point the nose to the target and just climb as you are on the way. Don't try to climb to fast or you'll find yourself in a spin, a slow and easy hand for bombers. I am no pilot, and have never talked to anyone who flew one of these, but the fight model seems real enough for me. It takes some getting used to, but this is one fun airplane to fly. When fully loaded it is like flying a cross between a bus and a 1957 Chevy, My first car. It took forever to turn, but was so much fun. When empty it is easier to keep your speed up, and it turns some better. Landing takes more room, so keep that in mind when on approach, I start my approach so I can make a few wide sweeping turns to bleed speed, and have plenty of room to correct my approach.   Bombing in the Handley Page takes a little getting used to, but is not to hard with some practice. That seems to be the theme with Rise of Flight the more time you spend with it, the better you get. The bombsight is straight forward, and once you switch from pilot to bombardier seat, remember to switch on the "autopilot" this makes for a smoother and level bomb run. Lining up the sights is controlled by you as you seem to always need a "small" amount of corrections. Once you touch the button to release, you can tell when you are empty by the flag that pops up . I like the fact that you can see your bomb string as it drops, nice touch, and watch the impact. On this screenshot notice the port lower wing as it took a few hits from AAA you can see the fabric is gone and the frame is visible   The final verdict on the Handley-Page 0/400 is 9.5, for the graphics, the fact 3 of your squadron mates can fly with you(or just friends), and the fact it is a true bomber. I'm not a rivet counter, nor do I have a clue how the real one flew, so the flight model seems good to me. The Damage model is good, and it's just plain fun to fly. If you are a WW1 fan, and like bombers also, this is a great addition to your hanger in Rise of Flight. For squadrons making the move from Red Baron 3-D to Rise of Flight this is a great addition for "war nights".

    DCS: A-10C Warthog--Final Release!
    JediMaster
    By JediMaster,
    “DCS: A-10C WARTHOG” Released   DUXFORD, UK, February 21, 2011 – The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics now offer “DCS: A-10C Warthog” as a digital download for $59.99.   Purchase "DCS: A-10C Warthog" at: http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?end_pos=1322&scr=shop&lang=en   "DCS: A-10C Warthog" is a PC simulation of the U.S. premier Close Air Support attack aircraft. This is the second aircraft in the DCS series, following DCS: Black Shark, and raises the bar even higher in the DCS series. Warthog brings the most realistic PC simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. You also have the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience. Fly missions in the Caucuses region of the Black Sea against and with a wide array of air, land and sea forces with new and improved intelligence. Create your own missions and campaigns with the included Mission and Campaign Editors, and fly with and against friends online using the included online game browser.   Key Features: • Fly the A-10C “Warthog” in either realistic or game modes. • Fly missions in Georgia and Russia. • Interactive training missions shallow the learning curve dramatically. • Rich campaigns and single missions included. • Multiplayer cooperative and head-to-head. • Mission and Campaign editors allow user created content. • The most realistic flight dynamics ever done for a PC simulation. • Huge array of land, air and sea units to flight along and against. • Ability to command ground forces during missions with radio commands. • Fully interactive Forward Air Controller (FAC) that helps you find targets.   Website: http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/series/warthog   System recommendation Operating system: 64-bit Windows XP, Vista, and 7 Processor: CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600 or AMD Phenom X3 8750 or better Memory: 4GB Hard disk space: 7 GB Video: Shader 3.0 or better; 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT DirectX 9.0c or better Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible DirectX®: 9.0C     About The Fighter Collection: The Fighter Collection, as well as developing software for the entertainment and serious game markets, also operates, rebuilds and maintains Europe's largest collection of airworthy WWII fighters and is based at Duxford Airfield, in the UK. For more information visit our websites: http://www.fighter-collection.com/   http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1112308#post1112308

    DFW C.V. now available for preorder
    Dagger
    By Dagger,
    This is from Jason at 777 studios     Pre-Order DFW C.V   Dear pilots,   Today is an important day for us. Some time ago we took on the responsibility of trying to offer you something different, the embodiment of our ideas of what this hobby could and should be in this new age of technology. We did not try to emulate the current authorities and we did not try to merely copy others, but rather build something we ourselves would want to participate in. In this modern era of development and distribution, new ideas are challenging and hard to test and risk is everywhere. Many did not believe in us, said bad things about us and twisted our actions to look as though they were something other than a passion for the genre that we desire to share. Indeed, we have chosen this different path, one in which you are the direct investors that drive development, but one that comes with more risk. This decision made it necessary to seek new ways to do practically everything: such as create a system of regular updates to manage our complex product and invest in constant development to improve it from launch to ultimate completion. Not to mention, selling new aircraft direct to you without a middle man to steal our revenue. Without these forms of direct interaction with you, none of this would be possible.   At the beginning we were warned that this was too complex a system and difficult to manage effectively. And yes, when ROF was launched there were only a few aircraft to fly. Other products are measured by the sheer number of aircrafts available to fly, sometimes in the hundreds. We tried to choose quality over quantity. Few agreed that we could keep our promise of quality and progress, but over time the number of aircraft has grown steadily with no compromise in quality or progress. As a result, we feel that we chose the right path. Many difficulties have and will continue to be overcome and even more ROF flyers will have the opportunity to experience that same feeling we get when we dive into this highly detailed environment. After all, it is ultimately your emotions that are most important to us. We want to transport you back in time and into the cockpit during WWI, have you face certain death and hopeless situations just like the real pilots did. What would you do? Would you have survived? Our ultimate goal is to create strong emotions in you through technology. When we explain to people what it is we do, they often say, “It’s not real, it’s not a real aircraft, and it’s just a virtual model so why do people play?”Our response, “That may be true, but the skill is definitely not virtual.”   When ROF launched it had only two aircraft which was a small start, but from the beginning you have asked us to increase this number and we have. Thanks to your support and efforts of the team we have managed to drastically increase the plane-set fairly rapidly. So this day is very important to us, because we did not know in the beginning if you would trust us and give us the opportunity to reach this point. You believed in us and we have worked hard to get here. We thank you for your support!   And now, we proudly present to you an old friend, the multi-purpose German airplane – the DFW C.V. Of course, you think you know him as you have probably shot him down hundreds of times before. But we assure you, he will surprise you. Now you will be able to sit in the cockpit of the machine and operate it in combat. This aircraft is very interesting due to its versatility. It has two machine guns and can therefore be a full-fledged combat fighter aircraft. If necessary, it can be armed with bombs and serve as a front-line bomber. The presence of the second crew member armed with a gun in the rear cockpit makes it a dangerous opponent. He will attack you while you are trying to attack him.   So we have achieved another development milestone and it will fly very soon in the virtual skies of ROF! We hope that this will open a new and interesting chapter in ROF for you.      

    New Interview is Up
    Dave
    By Dave,
    Was my great fortune to run into LouG here at CA and he was kind enough to grant me an interview. Thank you sir.   http://combatace.com/topic/62553-an-interview-with-loug/

    An Interview with LouG
    Dave
    By Dave,
    Ran into a bit of luck and was introduced to LouG who just retired last year from the Marine Corp after 20 years. He is an F/A-18C pilot and was kind of enough to do an interview.   Can you tell us little about yourself? I was born in Twenty Nine Palms, CA and my Dad was a career Marine Corps Officer. We moved around a lot when I was a kid; Quantico, VA, El Toro, CA, Parris Island, SC, and Philadelphia, PA at the old Navy ship yard. My dad retired when I was 12 and settled in Mission Viejo, CA, which is right by El Toro MCAS. My neighbor was an Air Force WSO on exchange with a Marine Corps F-4 unit at El Toro. Through him I met many fighter pilots and around 7th or 8th grade I knew what I wanted to be. I attended Western State College of Colorado on a Football scholarship and graduated with a BA in History. I received my commission in 1990 from the Platoon Leaders Program (PLC). I went to The Basic School in Quantico, VA and then Aviation Indoctrination at NAS Pensacola, FL. I did primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, TX and I was winged as a Naval Aviator at NAS Kingsville, TX. I served 20 years in the Marine Corps and retired in July 2010. During my career I earned a Master’s degree in Aviation History from American Military University. I know work as the Senior Air Warfare Analyst at Valkyrie Enterprises in Virginia Beach, VA and I do contracting for the US Navy. I am married and we have two girls.     What all aircraft did you fly and how many hours have you accumulated? I flew the T-34C in Primary training in Corpus Christi, TX and then the T-2C Buckeye and the TA-4J in strike training in Kingsville TX. I have flown the F/A-18A, B, C, and D models with most of my time being the F/A-18C (single seat). I have about 2800 total hours with a little over 2500 being in the F/A-18. (My logbooks are in a box in the attic!)   What units did you fly with? After flight school I received Fleet Refreshment Training (RAG) at VMFAT-101 at MCAS El Toro. I then reported to VMFA-232 (Red Devils) in 1995 which had recently moved to NAS Miramar (now MCAS Miramar). I served three years and did two 6 month deployments to the Far East where we were based out of MCAS Iwakuni. After that tour I was selected to go to Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, VA for ten months and when that was done I reported back to VMFA-232. I did another deployment to Japan and when upon returning from that deployment I was selected to go to TOPGUN at NAS Fallon, NV and to attend the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor course run by MAWTS-1 in Yuma, AZ. I was the Pilot Training Officer for the Red Devils for one year and then I became the Marine Air Group (MAG)-11 Weapons and Tactics Instructor. I stayed in that billet for six months and then became the Operations Officer for VMFA-323 (Death Rattlers) in 2001. I served with VMFA-323 on board the USS Constellation during OIF I and flew 29 combat missions. From 2003 to 2007 I served USSOUTHCOM and USCENTCOM performing various staff officer functions. I finished the last three years of my career as an F/A-18 instructor pilot with VMFAT-101 at MCAS Miramar, CA.   What was one of your most humorous moments? There were so many humorous moments, trying to remember them all is difficult. One gag the power line Marines played on a fellow pilot when we were junior pilots in 232 sticks out. My buddy had just joined the squadron and we were deployed to Nellis AFB for a Red Flag. He started to taxi out and one of the Marines ran up and gave him a frantic brakes signal. When he slammed on the brakes, another Marine who was hiding under the nose of the Hornet, rolled a spare nose tire out in front of the jet and my buddy called on base radio that he had just lost his nose wheel. He was so mad that he canceled his flight which caused merciless ribbing from the rest of us. To make it worse, he had fairly thin skin for a fighter pilot.   What was one of your hairiest moments? I have had a few; a couple of sporty departures, a long night bolter on the Connie, landing in a 60+ knot night in Japan, and a wingmen ejecting. Surprisingly, none of these came in combat. The Iraqis shot at me a bit, but nothing too close. The closest I came to death was early in my career. I was in 232 and we were doing Low Altitude Training east of MCAS Yuma (R2301W range). This was back when we were allowed down to 200 feet. I was coming over a small ridge and passed within 50 feet of a CH-53E coming over the other side of the ridge. I swear I was within his rotor arc. It was one of those times when it happened instantly and you did not even react. Since I was junior, I am pretty sure I did a quick check on my lead's position and then looked forward just in time to see the helo pass.   TOPGUN? TOPGUN was nothing like the movie. I went through the course in 2000 and it was an all Marine student 6 week power projection course. The Navy had moved to a 10 week course that featured some air to ground training. There is now just one course that Marines and Navy go through. There were no pretty girls or other distractions since TOPGUN had moved to Fallon, NV, and it was awesome. 6 weeks of nothing but thinking, talking, and flying fighter tactics. Looking back it was hard work with 14 hour days being the norm, but it never seemed like work to me. It was by far the best time I ever had flying jets. My last graded sortie was me and three TOPGUN instructors taking on 2 F-14s, 4 F/A-18s, and 5 F-5Es. 15 jets airborne just for my training! Other than combat, this was the rewarding time in the F/A-18.   Why simulation? It is easy to explain why I play simulation games now since it is the only flying I get. I have not taken advantage of my commercial pilots license as of yet. I have been flying sims since 1992 though, starting with Yeager's Air Combat and Pacific air war. I have always enjoyed the history of aviation and flight simulation is the only way to experience what it might have been like back then. Plus I do not have the means to own a historic fighter. Most simulations of modern combat have not interested me because of the lack of realism. When you see the real capabilities of aircraft, missiles, and other systems, PC sims seemed to always be lacking except for a couple. The Falcon series (Falcon 3.0 and Falcon 4.0) was about as realistic as it gets. I actually used Falcon 3.0 during my early F/A-18 training, mostly as a procedural trainer for Low Altitude Training flights. I also played SU-27 Flanker for a time and found it fairly realistic, especially in the visual arena. As I stated before, I have a Master's degree in Aviation History and I enjoy World War II and the Korean War, so naturally i spend most of my time with simulation dealing with those subjects. I have played around with the Korean War mod for SFP1 and I have been building a USMC Pusan perimeter scenario. I am waiting for the MiG Alley mod for SFP2 and would like to build a few campaigns for that game to include the Pusan perimeter, Inchon, Chosin Resevour, and the stalemate the last two years of that conflict. I also would like to build a USMC night fighter campaign. During my master's degree I wrote a 70 page paper on the tactics and equipment used on the three Marine Corps Night Fighters, the F4U-5N, the F7F-3N, and the F-3D. This paper includes diagrams on how each radar operated and what the individual radar scopes looked like with various contacts. I have had parts of this paper published in the Marine Corps Aviation Association quarterly magazine. I am willing to share this paper and other documents to the community. My modding skills are still at the amateur level and my vista computer is not helping. I had a lot less trouble with my old XP, but it bit the dust in my last move. Time for a new computer.   The first one is me right after recovering onboard the USS Constellation from a strike into Iraq.   The second is a well published photo of our ordnance crew and pilots after that first strike. I am the first pilot on the left.   Third is a picture of me over Iraq   Fourth is me landing on the USS Constellation   Fifth is me tanking off of a KC-10   Sixth is cockpit view of tanking off a KC-135. I wore a helmet cam for a couple of flights   Last for now is a picture of my wingman getting gas and F-16s lined up on a KC-10     LouG   Thank you for your service, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for taking the time to do this interview.

Portal by DevFuse · Based on IP.Board Portal by IPS


×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..

  I accept