McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4M_89 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M_75) to give a fictional 'Kiwi' Phantom with markings for No.2 squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as they might have appeared during the 1990's. It goes without saying that you will need to have the F-4M_75 from SF2:Europe.
BACKSTORY
During the build up to Operation Corporate (the UK's military operation to retake the Falkland Islands) the UK Government were overwhelmed at the support given by the countries of the Commonwealth and, in particular, the response of the Australian and New Zealand Governments who provided ships to maintain the UK's NATO commitments and thus allow the Royal Navy to maximise the number of ships it could send to the South Atlantic.
In the following years there were many reciprocal deals made and favours given to the Commonwealth nations (and even Chile!) and one such 'favour' was the transfer of 18 ex-RAF Phantom FGR.2's in 1988. The 18 FGR.2's, only recently withdrawn from RAF service, were ferried out to New Zealand (most still in their dirty grey camo scheme) during Operation Saddleback before arriving at Ohakea for refurbishment by a joint McDonnell Douglas/RNZAF team that saw the aircraft eventually emerge in a new 'Forest' style camo scheme and with digital INAS, upgraded RWR and new outer wing panels. Entering service with No.2 squadron in early 1989 (supposedly as the Karearea but they were always simply called Phantoms) the aircraft gave good service to the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the 1990's until finally being retired in December 2001 when, indeed, all 'Air Combat Force' aircraft were sadly withdrawn from service.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4M_89 folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the SUU-23G folder into your Weapons 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 18th, 2024.
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.
McDonnell Douglas F-4L (USMC/USN) Phantom for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-4M_75 to give a fictional USMC Phantom F-4L with markings for VMFA-333 'Shamrocks'. Also included is a USN VF-111 scheme that generally uses stock decals but is included here to give a blank F-4L tail for you to do other squadrons by using stock decals. It goes without saying that you will need to have the F-4M_75 from SF2:Europe.
BACKSTORY
With all the considerable design effort being put into the marriage of the Phantom airframe and the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine McDonnell Douglas thought it might be a good idea to propose a version to the US Navy to allow the Phantom to operate from the smaller carriers that were limited to F-8E Crusaders. In June 1966 the designation F-4L was given to the proposed Spey-powered Phantom and in October 1966 an initial order for 130 F-4L's (USN/USMC) was made, followed by an unexpected export order of 30 F-4L's for the Royal Australian Navy.
Deliveries to the US Navy commenced in February 1969 with VF-24 becoming the first operational squadron followed by VMFA-333. By this time the wisdom of operating such a relatively large aircraft on the older, smaller carriers was being questioned and most F-4L's served aboard the larger carriers or with land-based units.
When the decision was made not to re-equip the USMC 'fighter-attack' Phantom squadrons with the hugely expensive Grumman F-14A Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas pushed hard for low-rate production of the F-4L to continue specifically for USMC use and they were eventually successful meaning that production continued until 1976 with an eventual total of 306 F-4L's being built. Apart from Australia, F-4L's also served with the Royal Air Force where 15 ex-USN F-4L's were sold to the UK Government to allow the formation of an additional home-based Phantom squadron to release a squadron for the defence of the Falkand Isles.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4L_75 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4L_75 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 17th, 2024.
Gloster Javelin F.Mk56 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the Veltro2K's superb Gloster Javelin to give a fictional Javelin F.Mk56 'Dhanush' of the Indian Air Force with markings for the equally fictitious No.36 'Trishula' squadron and, in this revised upload, I've also included markings for No.14 Squadron (Bulls).
BACKSTORY
The expansion of the Indian Air Force during the mid-1950's saw the planned procurement of the Hawker Hunter fighter-bomber and the English Electric Canberra bomber in substantial quantities but Indian Air Force planners saw the lack of an all-weather interceptor as a problem and urged the Indian Government for increased funds for a suitable aircraft. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru initially blocked the idea but soon agreed to allow a delegation from the Gloster Aviation Company to make a presentation to the Indian Government and the Chiefs of the Indian Air Force.
With the end of the Javelin production line looming Gloster were proposing two new export version of the Javelin Mk8 to India - the F.Mk55 (Sapphire-enginned) and F.Mk56 (Avon-enginned) versions. Indian Air Force chiefs were very enthusiastic about the possibility of having its three main combat aircraft use the same jet engine (albeit the Javelin's Mk.205 Avon engines had a simple afterburner fitted) and urged Nehru to proceed with the purchase of 80 aircaft but Nehru demanded to meet the Gloster delegation himself to thrash out terms. Gloster cannily sent Graeme Kimmage, who had attended Cambridge University with Nehru, to conduct the negotiations and eventually secure a deal for 80 Javelin F.Mk56's.
Entering service with No.36 'Trishula' squadron based at Pathankot in 1958 the Javelins only really became a complete weapon system when mated with the indigenous 'Baan' (Arrow) air-to-air missile which entered service in 1960. From this time the Javelins quickly earned the most appropriate nickname of 'Dhanush' (bow) and saw limited service over Goa (in the recconnaisance role) but played a major role in the 1965 war with Pakistan claiming several kills including three F-86's, one F-104 and six B-57's. However, with the MiG-21 entering service the Javelin's days were numbered and the Javelin force slowly faded away and by 1975 the popular and legendary 'Dhanush' had gone for good.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the Javelin56 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the Javelin56 folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the 'BAAN' and 'TANK300_JAV' folders to your Weapons folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to the prolific Veltro2K for producing 'the harmonious dragmaster'.
Thanks also to Paulopanz for the excellent skin used in this revised upload.
Thanks to ghostrider883 for suggesting the 'Dhanush' and 'Baan' names and for suggesting the serial numbers used.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - 14/06/2020
Version 1 - 12/02/2010
Republic Thunderstreak FGA.1 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:EUROPE
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-84F in Strike Fighters 2:Europe to give a fictional Thunderstreak FGA.1 with markings for the following squadrons;
No.67 Squadron, Royal Air Force Germany
No.71 Squadron, Royal Air Force Germany
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the ThunderstreakFGA1 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the ThunderstreakFGA1 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 - November 18th, 2023
Saab/BAE Gripen FGR1 For Strike Fighters 2.
Simple mod of the Gripen Team's Saab Gripen to represent a fictional angloised RAF version of the Gripen.
Small changes made such as Eurojet2000 engine instead of Volvo unit. Slightly up rated pylon weights and RAF spec loadouts.
3 new skins to represent 6, 25 & 74 Squadrons.
Installation.
Drop all folders into your desired mod folder.(let it over write)
Run and save both weapons and guns editors.(I think this is necessary for new weapons to show up)
That should be it.
Best used with the SF2 Weapons Pack by 331Killerbee.
Thanks to:-
The Gripen team for creating the Gripen mod.
Brain32 for converting the Gripen to SF2.
Spinners for his RAF decal pack.
Tk for the SF2 series games.
The Combatace community for helping me out when
ever I need it.
Freeware use only!
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.
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.
BAC Thunderstrike S.1 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of bongodriver's outstanding BAC TSR.2 to give a fictional Thunderstrike S.1 strike aircraft in service with the RAF during the 1968 to 1980 timeline. Three RAF squadrons are covered and all with toned-down (pale) markings;
No.100 Squadron.
No.139 (Jamaica) Squadron.
No.617 Squadron - The famous 'Dambusters'.
BACKSTORY
In the House of Commons on April 6th 1965, when Chancellor James Callaghan stood to deliver his budget day speech most of the British aviation industry were prepared for the worst but nothing about the TSR.2 was mentioned and a collective sigh of relief was heard. On April 9th, Prime Minister Wilson made an unannounced visit to BAC Warton and, after raised voices were heard coming from the boardroom, Wilson was given a tour of the TSR.2 front office by an enthusiastic and passionate Roland Beaumont. Playing to the assembled crowd of BAC workers and the Press corps, Wilson announced that whilst some economies were needed this important aircraft was "an amazing example of British engineering and will form the backbone of a modern Royal Air Force" adding that a production order for 30 examples would be immediately placed plus another four pre-production aircraft. Astounded BAC officials looked at each in disbelief, swallowed hard and smiled for the cameras.
In the months that followed, everything seemed to fall into place. The undercarriage retraction problems disappeared, the new Olympus 321 engines ran faultlessly both at Filton (and soon after in the newly flown XR222) whilst various highly classified black boxes arrived at Warton, were fitted and worked like a charm. Testing continued into 1966 and on April 6th, 1966 Mary Wilson (the wife of Prime Minister, Harold Wilson) smashed a bottle of champagne across the nose of XR225 in a naming ceremony christening the aircraft 'Thunderstrike'. In August 1966, the Air Ministry announced that to ease the aircraft into squadron service a Thunderstrike Test and Evaluation Squadron (TTES) would be formed during 1967 at RAF Coningsby operating the last four prototypes (XR223 to XR226) and the four pre-production aircraft (XR556 to XR559).
During the Spring of 1967 the excellent results coming from the Thunderstrike Test and Evaluation Squadron allowed the RAF to begin to plan the introduction into service of the BAC Thunderstrike S.1 and it was hoped
to initially re-equip No.617 'Dambuster' squadron at RAF Scampton first and hopefully by April 1st, 1968 (the RAF's 50th birthbday). However, during August 1967 the RAF top brass became aware of the onset of fatigue
problems with the two Victor B.2 squadrons at RAF Wittering and, fearful of another Valiant style mass grounding, it was decided to move the Victor B.2's away from the arduous low-level role as a matter of urgency and re-equip them with the Thunderstrike.
Deliveries to No.100 and No.139 squadrons commenced in February 1968 but by April 1st only seven aircraft had been received and these early production machines had varying standards of both engines and nav/attack
systems but the photo-shoot held on April 1st at least gave the impression that the aircraft had entered service but it was not until February 1969 that both squadrons were declared operational and available to NATO Sacuer.
By this time, No.617 squadron at Scampton had also began to re-equip with the Thunderstrike S.1 and had moved to Wittering at the end of March 1969. During April 1969 all three squadrons took part in Exercise Clansman, a
NATO exercise based on mock-attacks on several Scottish hydro-electric facilities, with all three squadrons returning exceptionally high scores for serviceability, penetration and bombing accuracy.
Following this solid entry into service the Thunderstrike programme never looked back with orders placed for 60 Thunderstrike S.2's for RAF Germany plus 90 S.3's for RAF Strike Command as Vulcan replacements and a hugely
successful export campaign saw the aircraft sold to Australia, Canada, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia and West Germany.
Nurse, my medicene please.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the ThunderstrikeS1 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the ThunderstrikeS1 folder into your main Decals folder.
3. From the EFFECTS folder move the three 'Olympus' files into your Effects folder.
4. From the PILOTS folder move the TSRSeat folder into your Pilots folder.
5. From the SOUNDS folder move the two 'Oly' files into your Sounds folder.
6. From the WEAPONS folder move the AS-30 folder into your Weapons folder.
COCKPIT
Please note that this mod uses a slightly modified stock Phantom pit with the pilot position altered and the air-to-air modes disabled. Cockpits and Avionics are not my thing so I'm open minded to any suggestions
for improvements but please note that I do like to make my mods as simple as possible so rivet counters need not apply.
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Massive thanks to bongodriver for bringing the TSR.2 to the Third Wire Community. Genius! It's impossible to improve on his outstanding TSR.2 add-on so this version is just a different flavour.
Equally massive thanks to sundowner for the awesome skins on this version and, indeed, on all the TSR.2's plus his developed versions... check them out!
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 3 - February 6th, 2024.
BAC Thunderstrike S.2 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of bongodriver's outstanding BAC TSR.2 to give a fictional Thunderstrike S.2 strike aircraft in service with No.213 Squadron of RAF Germany during the 1970 to 1991 timeline.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the ThunderstrikeS2 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the ThunderstrikeS2 folder into your main Decals folder.
3. From the EFFECTS folder move the three 'Olympus' files into your Effects folder.
4. From the PILOTS folder move the TSRSeat folder into your Pilots folder.
5. From the SOUNDS folder move the two 'Oly' files into your Sounds folder.
6. From the WEAPONS folder move the two 'Martel' folders into your Weapons folder.
COCKPIT
Please note that this mod uses a slightly modified stock Phantom pit with the pilot position altered and the air-to-air modes disabled. Cockpits and Avionics are not my thing so I'm open minded to any suggestions for improvements but please note that I do like to make my mods as simple as possible so rivet counters need not apply.
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Massive thanks to bongodriver for bringing the TSR.2 to the Third Wire Community. Genius! It's impossible to improve on his outstanding TSR.2 add-on so this version is just a different flavour.
Equally massive thanks to sundowner for the awesome skins on this version and, indeed, on all the TSR.2's plus his developed versions... check them out!
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - February 6th, 2024.
Russouk2004's fantastic What If aircraft updated to SF2 standards with kind permission
Sud-Ouest Farandole II for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire MiG-15bis masquerading as a fictional Sud-Ouest competitor and rival to the Dassault Mystere IIC. Naturally, you will need the Strike Fighters 2 Expansion Pack One as it contains the MiG-15bis and also the Mystere IV pit.
BACKSTORY
When the straight-wing Sud-Ouest Farandole I lost out to the Dassault Ouragan for a production order they quickly schemed an improved swept-wing version known as the Farandole II utilising the same Hispano-Suiza Nene 104B engine. Working at speed the Sud-Ouest team flew the first prototype in October 1950 and the scintillating performance soon attracted the Armee de l'Air who ordered 150 production aircraft almost immediately leading to the cancellation of the Dassault Mystere IIC. Entering service in November 1952 the Farandole II was considered to be an interim type but served until 1960 with the Armee de l'Air and until 1974 with the Israeli Air Force who were the only export customer.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the Farandole2 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the Farandole2 folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the Farandole_Tank into your Weapons 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 5th, 2024
Saab-Fairchild F-13A Draken for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very fictional 'what if' Saab-Fairchild F-13A Draken in USAF service and with markings for the following;
1. 125th FW Florida ANG
2. 177th FW New Jersey ANG
3. 4451st TS Tonopah Test Range, Nevada
I've used the excellent Draken J35D 'David' from the Draken pack uploaded at CombatACE by lindr2 to create this 'what if' USAF Draken but heartily recommend the Draken pack which has no less than 8 Drakens and is a superb effort by all concerned.
In this update I've removed the grey skin and added a black skin for the 4451st TS at Tonopah. I've also added 'extra' pylons so as to be able to have date specific loadouts and also allow for selectable silver and black drop tanks with the black drop tanks a better match for the all black 4451st TS skin from 1982 onwards. For the F-13A's early service years of 1967 to 1968 you'll be limited to AIM-4D Falcons in the default loadouts... good luck with those!
BACKSTORY
During mid-1965 with attrition rates rising as the Vietnam conflict progressed (sic) the USAF's plans for re-equipping the ADC and ANG interceptor squadrons with F-4C's fell apart. Undaunted they launched a quick study into an off-the-shelf purchase of an alternative interceptor looking at the BAC Lightning, the Dassault Mirage IIIC, the Saab Draken J35F and the homegrown Lockheed Starfighter 'ADC' (an F-104G optimised for air-defense duties). With some considerable weighting given to low cost in the detailed analysis the Saab Draken soon became the front-runner being the only aircraft with a fly-away price below $1M but, in fact, the USAF study team scored the Draken highly in most areas.
In July 1966 the USAF announced that Saab's outstanding J35F was the winner of the competition and that Fairchild, who had recently taken over Republic Aviation, were to partner Saab in producing the aircraft by now redesignated F-13 (despite objections from Fairchild to the 'unlucky' number although Saab didn't seem too bothered). Entering service with the Florida Air National Guard in March 1967 the F-13 was initially viewed as the poor relation by the F-106 squadrons, a situation that soon changed with the success of the F-13 in the 1970 William Tell competition. F-13's served until the mid-1980's when they were generally replaced by F-16A's although one squadron remained in service until 1990 at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada in a ruse designed to mask operations of the F-117 Stealth Fighter.
During the flight-testing and the early service years of the F-117A 'Nighthawk' the F-13A Draken was used as a surrogate aircraft to maintain pilot proficiency and to provide part of an eloborate cover story for the existence of the 4450th Tactical Group. Whilst in no way similar to the shape of the F-117A the rakish lines of the Draken did have an unusual planform and was therefore chosen as the 'cover' aircraft for the specially created 4451st Tactical Squadron based at Tonopah. It is believed that 18 F-13A's were given a modest refurbishment to extend their operational lives and initially wore a two-tone grey scheme to give them more of an operational 'front-line' appearance. F-13A's entered service with the 4451st TS at Nellis AFB in May 1981 and wore 'LV' tailcodes due to their proximity to Las Vegas. From about 1983 at least half of the F-13A's were re-painted matt black and operated from Tonopah at times of day to to coincide with the F-117A test programme and it became a deliberate policy to park some of the matt black F-13A's out in the open so as to give the impression that Tonopah was simply a normal operational F-13A base. At least four derelict ex-Florida ANG F-13A's arrived by low-loader and were given an overall coat of matt black paint to help maintain this impression.
The F-13A's were extremely popular with the pilots of the 4451st TS and were often used as 'Red' assets in Red Flag exercises and even made the occasional guest appearance in 'Constant Peg' operations when MiG's became unserviceable or simply to provide dissimilar bogeys. As the F-117A gradually moved from 'black' to 'grey' towards the end of the 1980's the 4451st TS's F-13A operations slowly dwindled and the unit was disbanded on April 30th, 1990.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-13A_Draken folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-13A_Draken folder into your main Decals folder.
3. From the SOUNDS folder drag and drop both 'Avon' files into your SOUNDS folder.
4. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop both folders into your main WEAPONS folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
I've lifted these credits from the Draken pack and also from the skin I've used. If I've left anyone out then please accept my apology and do not hesitate to contact me to allow me to amend this download.
Lud von Pipper -- Lead 3D Modeller
BPAO -- Additional 3D Modeling
Sony Tuckson -- Textures and Decals
Crab_02 -- Weapon and Drop Tank Models
column5 -- Flight Model and INI files
Matthew Ouellette -- Bare Metal Skin
Jug - Landing lights, Taxi lights, ECM, Flares and Chaff mod.
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 3 - December 17th, 2023.
De Havilland F-74A Vampire for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Vampire FB.5 to create a fictional F-74A 'Aggressor' in service with the United States Air Force in the 1950-1960 timeline.
This revised upload now includes additional bonus skins for three 'what if' NATO Vampire operators.
N.B. Requires SF2 Expansion Pack 1
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-74A folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-74A folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the SOUNDS folder drag and drop the Goblin folder into your Sounds folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Thanks to Stary for the excellent Vampire Cockpit (not available for this when first released).
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - October 13th, 2023
North American F-109A 'Retaliator' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of Julhelm's superb North American A-5A Vigilante to make a fictional 'Retaliator' interceptor-fighter in service with the USAF in the 1964 to 1988 timeline. There was actually several North American proposals for 'fighter' Vigilantes offered to the USN and to the USAF and it's a pity that the enormous potential of this amazing aircraft was never fully realised. Anyway, 'what if' markings are enclosed for three ANG squadrons;
1. 101st Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Massachusetts ANG
2. 159th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Florida ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
BACKSTORY
Development of the North American A3J-1 Vigilante progressed well during the late 1950's and the first flight of the YA3J-1 prototype in August 1958 revealed it to be a real thoroughbred, packed from nose to tail with outstanding technology. However, a strong faction against the Vigilante was forming within the USN arguing that strategic bombing was not part of the USN's business and North American decided not to assume that large orders for the 'basic' A3J-1 would follow and they began to look at other roles for the Vigilante.
One line of development would eventually lead to the reconnaissance Vigilante (RA-5C) but another line of development transformed the A3J-1 into various fleet defender and ADC fighter options. Fortunately, the wing of the A3J-1 was designed for zero wind over deck launches and this resulted in a wing too large for low-level attack missions but ideal for a fighter. During early 1959 North American offered a long-range fighter version to the USN and USAF but had only a lukewarm response. However, following the cancellation of their F-108 Rapier in September 1959 things now became a bit more urgent for North American and they schemed a revised A3J-1 Fighter with uprated J79 engines and semi-recessed Sparrow missiles.
Trying again in 1960 they received a firm no from the USN (who by then knew they had a winner in the F4H-1 Phantom II) but the USAF agreed to a detailed analysis of an optimsed land-based interceptor fighter (named Retaliator in May 1960) and in June 1960 they announced that the Retaliator was to be ordered as an immediate follow-on to the F-106 programme with 350 ordered although this figure was later reduced to 240.
The prototype YF-109 flew on April 30th 1962 and production F-109A's entered service in late 1964 with the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The only export order was from Canada who ordered 60 in 1968 and these entered service with No.409 squadron in 1969 remaining in service until 1990.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the PILOTS folder drag and drop the F-109A_FuelPod into your Pilots folder.
That's it!
NOTES
Julhelm's Vigilante comes with an authentic Vigilante pit so rather than just slap a Phantom pit into this bird I've used his pit and just tweaked the ini's for the interceptor-fighter role. I'm not the greatest on avionics but it works!
In this revised upload I've chosen to include the Fuel Pod as a pilot (in the same way that we add a Fake Pilot) as I'd noticed my wingmen were jettisoning it when the action started even when adding NoJettisonTank=TRUE. I've also added AIM-9 Sidewinder's to the Retaliator's inner wing pylons.
This aircraft needs/deserves a gun but I've resisted the temptation. However, you can add one if you like and the space from the redundant linear bomb bay could easily accommodate a neat M61 installation slap-bang on the centreline.
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Big thanks to Julhelm for bringing one of my personal all-times favourites to the community.
And thanks to Julhelm for also releasing his templates for ham-fisted amateurs like me to screw around with!
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 3rd, 2024
Fictional Hawker Sea Hawk France Aeronavalle 14 Flotille F Suez
This skin is for the SeaHawkF_1 originally done by Bunyap, converted for SF2 by HGBN
This MOD will only work in Gen 2 Sims
Skin is done with the templates from Bunyap.
I painted it, caused of a request by Stratos.
In General, I´m not a friend of these fictional things!!!!
You have to read the readme.txt!!!
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this Mod is released under the freeware licensing agreement
http://forum.combata...showtopic=26131
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I hope you´ll like this fictional skin.
YOU HAVE TO READ THE README.txt!!!!
Peace.
Carlo "Soulfreak" Vecchi
Schapen, 9th of June 2010
McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4E 'ADC' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of the stock F-4E_72 to make a fictional interceptor version of the Phantom for service with the USAF in the 1973 to 1998 timeline. 'What if' markings for four ANG squadrons are included;
1. 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Texas ANG
2. 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - New Jersey ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
4. 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Puerto Rico ANG
BACKSTORY
During early 1970 a USAF review of America's air defence assets highlighted the increasing obsolescence of several aircraft including the F-101, F-102 and F-104 and whilst early F-4C Phantoms were trickling down to the ANG units McDonnell Douglas could see an opportunity to sell an optimised 'Air Defense' version of the F-4E to the USAF to swiftly and cost-effectively modernise a large proportion of Aerespace Defense Command. During this time McDonnell Douglas had studied various single-seat or stripped-down versions of the F-4 for the German Air Force but for the USAF they proposed a version of the slatted F-4E with all air-to-ground capability removed, slightly more powerful 'clean burn' J79 engines, simplified air-to-air only radar and the new solid-state AIM-7F Sparrow missile offering longer range with its two-stage rocket motor.
By this time the massive production run of the F-4 had meant that the fly-away unit cost for this simplified version of the F-4E made it one of the cheapest Phantoms ever and such was the confidence that the USAF had in McDonnell Douglas that in March 1971 they simply asked for a fixed-price quotation for 300 F-4E 'ADC' aircraft and ordered them in April 1971! First flown in June 1972 the F-4E 'ADC' were delivered in a smart and glossy 'air defense' grey scheme and entered service with the 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Puerto Rico ANG in February 1973 replacing the F-104C's and F-104D's of that unit. Sadly, eight of the 198th's Phantoms were destroyed in a terrorist attack at Muniz ANGB in January 1981 and the unit operated several 'standard' F-4E's until 'ADC' versions could be allocated to them.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC 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 - January 5th, 2024
Westland Whirlwind FB.2 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the prolific Veltro2K's Whirlwind to give a fictional Whirldwind FB.2 in service with No.6 Squadron (the famous 'Flying Can-Openers') of the RAF's Desert Air Force. This mod is meant for SF2 and, ideally, you'll have Expansion Pack 1 for the stock 250lb bombs. More experienced WW2 modders will have access to more correct bombs but I just wanted this to be as simple as possible to install. This is an older 3D model that has a few problems that will not get fixed now so it's all released 'as is'. One possible problem that could be fixed by the community here is what sounds like the undercarriage collapsing when working up to rotation speed but this rarely affects your ability to complete the mission. I've played around with it and copied other aircraft's landing gear for ideas but I can't fix it.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the WhirlwindFB2 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the WhirlwindFB2 folder into your Decals folder.
That's it! But you may need to add a suitable WW2 Pilot (not supplied).
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to Veltro2K for all of his delightfully esoteric aircraft, this is just one of many! Check them out!
Thanks also to Syrinx for the Whirlwind template which I lost back in 2016 when I suffered a complete data loss : (
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 24th, 2024.
Dassault Mirage IIIPN, Servicio Aérea Nacional (Panama National Air Service) 7/20/09
-- For SF2 Full-4 Merged Installs !ONLY! --
This is a mod of the stock 3W MirageIIIC into a "What If..." MirageIIIPN if used by the Panama Air Force. It makes use of various stock lods, cockpit, and cockpit bits that are ONLY in a full-4 merged install. It is also completly non-usable in any 1stGen versions of 3W games due to extensive use of various lods, inis and tgas ONLY available in a Full-4 Merged install.
Extensive editing of all the inis created a 'mix-match' of old and new; old airframe with modern avionics. All weapon fits, excepting the R-530F are stock. I've included the R-530F (and variants), for those that don't have Gunny's Ordanance Shop installed. The canopy has also bee activated, use Shift/0 to open and close it.
You =will= be extracting the Nations.ini, to add the new nation of Panama. Instructions are below, in the "To Install" section.
As always, it's reccomended -no, REQUIRED- that you read the enclosed document through before installing this mod. If you are unfamiliar with any procedures, post questions in either the Release Announcment Thread, the regular CA forums, or via PM to me. It really isn't all that hard.
Good Hunting!
Wrench
Kevin Stein
ps: should maybe have been posted in the "What If..." section, but that's Spinner's section!
MiG-21MF Fishbed-J, Fuerza Aérea Ejército de Nicaragua
For SF2 only, Full-4 Merged (or possibly unmerged) Game installs
Just a little something I started a couple of years ago; thought I'd just go ahead and finish it off.
Represtents fictional MiG-21MF Fishbed-Js, had they actaully arrived and gone into serivice with the Nicaraguan Air Force. This mod makes use of pretty much all stock items; weapons and so forth (excepting the cockpit by Palandrin), just using ini edits to create this "What If..." bird. It is a Nationalized, non-exported, single user aircraft. A new hangar screen, SF2 style only, is incuded. The canopy has also been activated via an animation key, use Shift/0 to open and close it.
It'll probably work in ANY install, merged or not, as the 21MF is pretty much a stock- in-all versions aircraft. It may even work in SF/Wo* at the 08 patch level, but this has =NOT= been tested. Some minor editing, to remove the UserList callout, and some changes in the Data ini will be necessary for 1stGen usage. All inis are saved in ANSI, for ease of possible backdating. This has NOT been tested, however, and you do so at your own risk; no support will be available from this modder. Be advised, the data ini IS setup ONLY for SF2, making use of several SF2-only avionics statements and flight modeling.
As always, read the enclosed readme text for fairly easy to follow install instructions, and a historical/semi-historical background in the "Notes" section.
Happy Landings!
Wrench
Kevin Stein
PS: another that should be in the "What If..." section, but be that as it may....
AMD/BAC Taranis FGA.1 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire Kfir C1 to give a fictional AMD/BAC Taranis FGA.1 fighter-bomber with markings for No.1, No.6 and No.54 squadrons of the Royal Air Force in the late
1960's and 1970's.
BACKSTORY
The RAF's search for a Hunter replacement took many twists and turns but by 1962 the focus had come back to a more basic and austere fighter-bomber but still with supersonic performance.
Dassault had previously proposed the promising Avon-Mirage (first flown in February 1961) to the RAF and had also unsuccessfully offered it to both Australia and Switzerland but by 1963 Rolls-Royce and SNECMA were offering their outstanding Sequanna turbofan to Dassault with the potential for 12,000lbs of dry thrust and 18,000lbs with reheat.
However it was not until the cancellation of the TSR.2 in April 1965 that BAC and Dassault could formally combine to offer a version of the Mirage IV delta-winged bomber to the RAF and also the
proposed Mirage 'Angleterre' fighter-bomber, both powered by the Sequanna and both immediately accepted by the UK Labour government with a formal order issued in 1965. BAC's involvement was
clearly politcal (and initially confined to the production of the UK versions of both aircraft) the BAC Warton team threw themselves into both projects being just grateful to actually have something
on the assembly line after the Lightning.
Whilst based on the proposed Mirage V (to meet an Israeli requirement for a simplied Mirage III) the Sequanna powered version of the Mirage required slightly larger intakes and also an additional air
inlet installed at the base of the vertical stabilizer for additional cooling air needed for the SNECMA designed afterburner. In June 1965 the 'Taranis' name was bestowed upon the aircraft and development moved swiftly during 1965 and 1966 culminating with René Bigand flying the first prototype from Istres in early December 1966 whilst the second prototype flew from Warton in the following March flown by Roland Beamont.
The Taranis entered service with EC 1/2 'Cigognes' Armée de l'Air in August 1968 and with No.1 Squadron of the Royal Air Force in January 1969.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the TARANIS_FGA1 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the TARANIS_FGA1 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 - April 18th, 2021
Martin B-57B (Dhimar) for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Third Wire B-57B to give a flyable B-57B (Dhimar) in service with the Dhimari Air Force with markings for;
No.7 Squadron - 'The Rattlesnakes'
No.8 Squadron - 'The Scorpions'
Please note that this updated package now requires you to have SF2 Expansion Pack 2 as the stock B-57B was revised (much nicer - check it out).
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the B-57B_Dh folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the B-57B_Dh 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 3 - 17/06/2020
Version 2 - 18/12/2010
Version 1 - 21/08/2010
Douglas A-4D Skyhawk for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Third Wire A-4E Skyhawk to give a flyable A-4D (Dhimar) in service with the Dhimari Air Force with markings for;
No.6 Squadron - 'The Eagles'
No.7 Squadron - 'The Rattlesnakes'
BACKSTORY
During the early to mid-1950's almost every US Navy aircraft programme hit some sort of propulsion trouble with either engines that were either down on thrust or simply so unreliable that they were a hazard to flight safety. Douglas were no exception and the SkyKnight and Skyray programmes were hit especially hard and the A4D Skyhawk programme initially didn't fare much better with the J65 down on thrust and the Pentagon bizarrely ordering that reconditioned Air Force J65's should be used for Skyhawk production. Ed Heinemann's wish to shoehorn the Rolls-Royce Avon into the Skyhawk fell apart when a production licence was granted to Westinghouse who then decided to only produce (with Navy funding but without telling Douglas ) a six-tenths scale version as the XJ64 giving less thrust than the J65!
However, by 1955 the Navy BuWeps had decided to fund the promising Pratt & Whitney JT8, essentially a scaled-down JT3 or J57 and by 1957 the resultant J52 was running sweetly on the bench and Ed Heinemann could plan growth versions of his brilliant 'Bantam Bomber'. At about the same time the Navy were hinting that perhaps a more flexible machine was required than the high-altitude nuclear bomber of the original A4D requirement and the increased thrust of the J52 meant that two more stores pylons could be added and higher gross weights permitted.
Douglas had planned to introduce the engine in the A4D-3 (A-4D) and A4D-5 (A-4E) variants but the US Navy cancelled the A4D-3 in 1959 and slowed the A4D-5 programme down. Douglas then looked at export opportunities resurrecting the A4D-3 designation to produce a multi-role fighter version later designated the A-4D which introduced the new J52 engine rated at 8,500lbs thrust plus a small and simple multi-mode radar. Oil-rich Dhimar became the launch customer ordering 60 A-4D's in 1961 and these were delivered in early 1963 initially to No.6 Squadron of the Dhimari Air Force who operated the type until 1982.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the A-4Dh folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the A-4Dh folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to salvatorestupido for the USN Aggressor skin used for the No.7 Squadron machine.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - November 5th, 2023
Gloster Meteor F.8 'Iberia' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Third Wire Gloster Meteor F.8 to give a fictional Meteor F.8 in service with the Spanish Air Force (3 skins) and the Portuguese Air Force (2 skins) in an overall 1954 to 1972 timeline.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the Meteor8_Ib folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the Meteor8_Ib 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 - October 24th, 2023.
Ilyushin IL-28 'Beagle' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the stock Third Wire IL-28 to give a flyable (and fictional) IL-28 in service with the Fuerza Aérea Argentina with markings for;
Grupo 1 de Bombardeo in the silver scheme as delivered.
Grupo 2 de Bombardeo in the later 'sea grey' scheme selected for 'over-water' operations.
I've put a patch.psd 'template' in there in case you'd like to switch things around and have both in silver or both in grey.
COCKPIT
I've used the A-4B pit as I think the cockpit framing looks quite suitable and the pit is nice and low-tech. The disadvantages are that there is no radar (not that the Beagle's radar was of much use) and that the A-4B pit is, of course, single-enginned. However, you can easily switch to another stock pit or go third-party.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the IL-28_FAA folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the IL-28_FAA folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the PILOTS folder drag and drop the PILOT_COAN folder into your Pilots folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
Thanks to Third Wire Productions for a great little game/sim.
And thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 3 - 26/01/19
Republic Thunderstreak FGA.1 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:EUROPE
Saab/BAE Gripen FGR1 For Strike Fighters 2.
McDonnell Douglas F-15A_AMI for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
Russouk2004's fantastic What If aircraft updated to SF2 standards with kind permission
De Havilland F-74A Vampire for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
Fictional Hawker Sea Hawk France Aeronavalle 14 Flotille F Suez
Martin B-57B (Dhimar) for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
Gloster Meteor F.8 'Iberia' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2