About This File
The S-16 was designed by Igor Sikorsky as fighter escort for bombers and was the first Russian-built aircraft with a synchronized machine gun. The plane was small and highly maneuverable, but had a smaller engine than intended and was outclassed by German aircraft of the time.
The dual axle landing gear was designed for landings on rough ground. Several versions of the S-16 were produced with variations in engines and wing configurations. Relatively few S-16s were produced, but were used throughout the war and in the Russian Civil War.
This plane carries the markings of the Eskadra Vozdushnykh Korablei (Squadron of Air Ships), the world's first strategic bomber group.
I have included four skins, several plain linen, and one gray-green. I have included my skinning templates so others can make new skins if they want.
Credits
And my thanks to ojcar, who created the FM to reproduce the nimble characteristics of the plane.
My thanks to Nix, who provided the sound for the Gnome 80hp engine (and revised it until I was happy.)
Historical Notes
The Russian Banner with the yellow square and two-headed eagle was the imperial banner and was not used on aircraft, but the replica in Connecticut uses it, so I used it on mine. The gray-green version uses a more accurate fuselage marking. If historical accuracy is important to you, change the decals.ini for texture set 1 to use "EVKBanner" instead of "ImperialBanner".
Wings Palette shows the gray-green plane with a red triangle on the fuselage. I believe this was a Bolshevik plane in which red was painted over the standard Russian markings. I used the standard markings on mine.
Version 2 Notes
I have made slight changes to model, especially to the way the plane is rigged, and Ojcar has made a new FM for this plane. I have also improved the skins and made new skins for some different Russian squadrons.
Version 3 Notes
I have made all new LODs, with higher detail and lower poly count, and with all new skins. Ojcar has made a new FM for this plane.
Installation instructions
This is a completely new plane, if you have already installed the Sikorsky S-16, delete it and replace it with this version, including the decals. The sound file remains the same.
For FE1 - Unzip the file and move the folder named "SikorskyS16" into the "Aircraft" folder in the FirstEagles/Objects folder. If you don't already have it, move the sound file "gnome80m4.wav" into the FirstEagles/Sounds folder.
For FE2 - Unzip the file and move the folder named "SikorskyS16" into the "Aircraft" folder in the FirstEagles/Objects folder. Then in the FirstEagles/Objects/Decals folder, create a new folder named "SikorskyS16". Move the folder named "D" from the Aircraft/SikorskyS16 folder into the Decals/SikorskyS16 folder you just made. If you don't already have it, move the sound file "gnome80m4.wav" into the FirstEagles/Sounds folder.
What's New in Version v3
Released
- Version 2 - May 2012 - Improved model and rigging, all new LODs - New FM by Ojcar - New skins with different Russian squadrons
- Version 3 - June 2018 - I have made all new LODs, with higher detail and lower poly count, and with all new skins. This version includes damage nodes. Ojcar has made a new FM for this plane.
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