McDonnell Douglas F-4M (USAF) Phantom for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:Europe
This is a simple mod of the stock F-4M_75 to give a fictional USAFE Phantom F-4M with markings for all three squadrons of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath during the mid 1970's.

BACKSTORY
During late 1966 with the USA getting more and more embroiled in the Vietnam war it was decided to re-equip several USAFE units with the British licence-built F-4M so as to release older tactical aircraft such as the F-100D and F-105D for Vietnam where attrition was now a very serious issue. 
McDonnell Douglas had already brought together a UK sub-contracting team consisting of BAC, Hawker Siddeley, Rolls-Royce (for the Spey turbofan engines) and Shorts with final assembly and flight testing being carried out at St. Louis but, with one eye on the European market, McDonnell Douglas moved final assembly to Brough (North Humberside) with flight testing at Holme on Spalding Moor. This decision came a bit late for the Royal Navy whose F-4K aircraft continued to be assembled and flight tested in the USA but all F-4M's were produced in the UK with all odd production numbers being allocated to the RAF and all even numbers to the USAFE with Lakenheath and Bitburg becoming the first USAFE wings to re-equip with the type.
Entering service with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in England in 1970 the F-4M's received a modest upgrade during 1973-1974 to emerge with the Marconi ARI18228 RWR mounted on the fintip and also gained 'slimer' formation-keeping strip lights. The USAF F-4M's had a relatively long career with USAFE and were eventually replaced by F-15E's during 1990 and just missed out on participation in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4M_74 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4M_74 folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 16th, 2024.

Vought F-8EJ Crusader for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:VIETNAM
This is a simple mod of the stock Crusader F-8E to give a fictional F-8EJ in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) during the 1964 - 1985 timeline with markings for;
 
203rd Hikotai (overall grey).
302nd Hikotai (overall blue with sharkmouth).

BACKSTORY
After a long selection process the Vought F-8EJ was finally selected by the JASDF in 1962 as its standard interceptor-fighter. With it's impressive unrefuelled range, reliable Pratt & Whitney J-57-P-20J engine and powerful Magnavox APQ-94J radar the F-8EJ served with a total of eight JASDF squadrons with initial deliveries commencing in late 1964. 
Compared to the superb multi-role F-8E, and because of Japan's own 'self-defense' status and imposed peace treaty terms, the F-8EJ was stripped of much of it's surface-attack capability but gained a modified APQ-94 radar, wing-mounted AIM-7E Sparrow missiles and also had a very useful anti-ship capability (deemed acceptable as being an 'anti-invasion' capability) and all eight 'Hikotai' had maritime attack and reconnaissance as a secondary role. The F-8EJ's served until the mid-1980's with the 302nd Hikotai being the last to surrender this very popular aircraft in JASDF service in 1985.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-8EJ folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-8EJ folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 13th, 2024.
 

Northrop/McDonnell Douglas F-23J for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of Dels' excellent F-23A 'Black Widow' to give a fictional F-23J 'Tora' (Tiger) of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force with markings for the 302nd Hikotai in a retro 'Zero' scheme (suggested by Canadair).

BACKSTORY
(This backstory was for my Israeli F-23 but explains why the Black Widow ended up in the land of the Rising Sun).
With the success of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle in Heyl HaAvir service the Israeli's were hoping that the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas F-23A 'Black Widow' would win the USAF's ATF competition to continue their relationship with the McDonnell team at St. Louis but unfortunately Lockheed Martin's victory in the ATF competition looked like bringing an end to a long and enduring partnership.
However in a brave move, in May 1991 the Northrop/McDonnell Douglas team secured permission from Congress to actively market the F-23 to (State Department) 'approved' nations and offered a single-seat multi-role 
version called the F-23I (International) to Germany, Japan, Israel and the UK. With Germany looking for any excuse to get out of the Eurofighter consortium and facing high reunification costs they persuaded the UK to team up in a combined purchase of 200 F-23I's. In return, this led to the German and UK Governments persuading Northrop/McDonnell Douglas to make BAe and MBB prime sub-contractors for any further export sales. 
However, with only 200 F-23I's on order Northrop/McDonnell Douglas were not convinced that it was enough to start a viable programme but the breakthrough came in January 1994 when, due to increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the USAF agreed to purchase 100 F-23A's for PACAF (the air component of United States Pacific Command) and this move finally saw Japan and Israel also join the programme with 100 F-23I's each.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-23J folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-23J folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Massive thanks to Dels for this superb add-on aircraft - one of the very best.
Special thanks to Canadair for suggesting the retro Zero style F-23J.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 12th, 2024.

Mirage F1CR F5/6 standard
When it became clear that the Mirage F1 was becoming a successful production aircraft, Dassault began investigating the possibility of a dedicated reconnaissance version for its most important client, the French Air Force. However, the escalating cost of fighter aircraft meant that add-on pods for this purpose were a more economical alternative. Many French Air Force aircraft, as well as those of some export clients (such as Iraq's Mirage F1EQ), did indeed have a variety of reconnaissance pods available, which were attached to the underside of the main fuselage. However, the development of a tactical reconnaissance aircraft for the French Air Force continued, and the first Mirage F1CR flew on 20 November 1981.
F1CR F5/F6 standard specifics:
Corail gondolas (P0 station)
RWR BF double wingtip position lights Thomson CSF RAPHAEL TH SLAR Side Looking Aiborne Radar Recon Pod (P1 Id on AMCP) ASTAC (Analyseur de Signaux TACtiques) ELINT pod (P3 Id on AMCP This addon is and will in all cases remain freeware.
Released under CombatAce Fair-Use terms.
Enjoy
The Mirage F-1 Team

Dassault Mirage 5 'Inde' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 (Merged)
This is a simple mod of the stock Dassault Mirage 5D to give a fictional Mirage 5 in service with the Indian Air Force during the 1970 - 2000 timeline with markings for;
 
No.1 Squadron - 'Tigers' (in a camo scheme).
No.24 Squadron - 'Hawks' (in a silver scheme).

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the Mirage5IA folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the Mirage5IA folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 11th, 2024.
 
 

Republic F-7S Thunderstorm for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 
This is a simple mod of the stock MiG-23P to give a fictional Republic F-7S Thunderstorm in service with the Aeronautica Militare during the 1970-2005 timeline and includes the famous 'Devil' markings of 6 Stormo (154 Gruppo).
You'll need to have SF2E for the Mig-23P LOD's (not included) and the pit from the F-105D_66 is used to get you flying.  Radar and avionics are not my thing so forgive me if I've overlooked something but I like to make my mods nice and simple, just like me. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-7S folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-7S folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 9th, 2024.
 
 

McDonnell Douglas F-15A_AMI for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 
This is a simple mod of the stock F-15A to give a fictional F-15A  in service with the Aeronautica Militare Italiano during the 1980 - 2010 timeline and includes markings for 18° Gruppo, 37° Stormo.
You'll need to have SF2E for the F-15A LOD's (not included) but SF2I owners will have the option of using the F-15A_Baz with minor editing.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-15A_AMI folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-15A_AMI folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 8th, 2024.

Canadair CF-103 Callisto for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock MiG-19S to give a very fictional 'what if' Canadair CF-103 Callisto with markings for No.423 Squadron and No.433 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. I did this as a request back in 2009 and this update is just to add a screenshot to the listing but I've changed the name to fit in with the Canadian system of aircraft designation (the real CF-103 never left the drawing board) and I've also tweaked a few things including the Third Wire MiG-19's ferocious rate of roll at low-level.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the CF-103 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the CF-103 folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to Rambler 1-1 for his request which lead to this bit of fun. 
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - February 7th, 2024.