About This File
July 2021
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Royal Netherlands Air Force NF-5A Freedom Fighter Volume II VERSION 1.0
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We are proud to present the NF-5A RNLAF, the Canadair variant of the Northrop F-5a, one of the most enduring American military aircraft designs ever produced during the Cold War period. The Canadair NF-5A was essentially similar to the Canadian AF CF-5 but introduced several modifications, the most important being the more powerful J-85Can-15 engines, Doppler radar navigation system, arrestor hook, two large split air intake doors aft of the main wing trailing edge on both sides of the fuselage to provide extra air to the engines (later also used for F-5E type), and provision to carry the larger 275 gallon under-wing fuel tanks. The aircraft also featured maneuvering leading edge flaps, a strengthened windscreen, and was the only F-5a to operate a two position nose gear.
It has been our goal to provide to the simmer a highly detailed model and texture base which preserve the beautiful lines of this aircraft; and to engineer flight model files and a cockpit/gauge file-set that are authentic and add to the immersion of the flying experience within the Strike Fighters 2 series.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
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1. Copy the contents of the "To Mods Folder(s)" to your SF2 Mod directory.
Allow directory merging and overwrites, provided the overwrites pertain to "fake pilot" entries, as well as weapons made by ravenclaw_007, which are included in this and many other releases.
2. Add the entries of "ADD_TO_SOUNDLIST.txt" to your SOUNDLIST.INI (located in the "user\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2\Flight" folder).If one does not exist, then you will need to extract it using the 3rdWire CAT extract utility. You are simply required to substitute the "XXX"s with the next sequential number in the sound file section of the file.
NOTE 1:
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Both Regular and Higher resolution cockpit textures are included in their own distinct folders in the package.
The user may alternate between the two by "commenting out"
the relevant line in the NF-5A_COCKPIT.INI
[CockpitData]
Directory=cockpit <---This is the default
//Directory=cockpit_Lo-Fi
In order to "activate" the higher resolution textures
you would decomment the previous line and comment out
the next line, thus:
[CockpitData]
//Directory=cockpit
Directory=cockpit_Lo-Fi <---This is now Low-Res
NOTE 2:
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Another frame-rate friendly option for those with older hardware is to use the Next level of Detail Model as the primary external model. This simply involves changing the first line in the F-5A_HAF.ini from this..
[LOD001]
Filename=NF-5a.LOD
to this..
[LOD001]
Filename=NF-5a_002.LOD
Much effort was made to provide those with lower end systems an alternative lower poly-model to be able to enjoy the F-5a, so please take advantage of this _002.LOD model should you experience frame-rate issues. While not as "rounded" as the Higher poly version, it is nonetheless just as detailed and extensive.
NOTE 3:
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For those who may find loading times excessive, the .jpg files in the texture folders can be reduced to 50% of their size without sacrificing too much surface detail.
Keys:
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SHIFT+0 -> canopy open
-/= (Default thrust vector Keys) -> elevator trim
CREDITS:
Sophocles - 3D Model, Cockpit, textures
Ravenclaw_007 - Project "God-Father" 3D Modeling,
Animations, Weapons, Research,
Beta testing
Baffmeister - Flight model, weapons edits, Avionics,
Beta testing
Soulfreak - Decals, Research, 2 F-16 Camo scheme
skins and 2 NATO scheme skins
Crusader - Avionics and data tweaks, Beta testing
Guuruu -Sounds and Afterburner effects, Beta
testing
Guest contributors:
Gkabs - pilot figure
Logan4 - Avionics tweaks, radar ranging gunsight.
Cliff7600 -Avionics tweaks, functioning horizontal
trim indicator
Special Thanks to the staff and members of Combatace.com whose passion and efforts have enabled this game to endure, and to provide so much fun and excitement!
Additionally, many thanks to the following Combat-Ace Modders, who either actively contributed to the project over the years, or who invested their time either providing much needed hints and help, or researching various aspects of the model.
Brain-32 - Modeling advice, initial cockpit.cfg + more
NeverEnough - Initial work on the Flight model
Russouk2004 - Always answering questions when I
needed help..Cheers!!
Derk - Many, many references!!!
Blade - Excellent mini-tutorial on damage
textures
Finally, thanks to TK and Thirdwire for creating such a fantastic game.
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FEATURES:
* A highly detailed external 3d model, including all features specific to the NF-5A including "F-5E" type Nose gear, animated auxiliary engine doors, arrestor hook, underside air intakes for the more powerful engines, external chaff and flare dispensers, and 275 gallon external wing tanks.
* Specular color and Normal (bump) maps.
* Seven Level of Detail models (LODs), providing an almost seamless transition from distance to distance; and perhaps more importantly, ensuring that the frame-rate "impact" of the aircraft is as low as possible.
* Two sets of highly detailed external Fuel Tanks by ravenclaw_007; both the 150 gallon Factory tanks and the 275 gallon variants; the NF-5A being the only F-5a variant to carry them.
*Functioning AN/ALE-40 Chaff and Flare dispensers exclusive to the RNLAF NF-5A
* Extensively fine-tuned flight parameters in the aircraft data configuration files, emphasizing the NF-5A's agile and highly maneuverable characteristics - courtesy of Baffmeister.
* Functioning maneuvering flaps deployable up to 450 knots, which allow for tighter sustained turns .. also credited to Baffmeister.
* 5 high resolution texture sets; thoroughly researched historic depictions of the Aircraft fielded by many RNLAF Squadrons.
* Quality sound-set included. Base sounds, by Guuruu, were sourced from existing recordings of various aircraft at air-shows and were modified to match the prominent characteristics of the F-5A General Electric turbojets, the "buzz" of the M39 Pontiac 20mm machinegun, and the flap/Air-brake, undercarriage deployment and retraction sequences of the Freedom Fighter.
* Super detailed dedicated NF-5A 'Virtual Cockpit' with animated throttle control, rudder pedals, control stick, landing gear lever, canopy, canopy lever, drag-chute lever, weapons selectors and weapon station arming flick switches, ..and more.
*Accurate and functional representation of the Saab RGS2 lead computing gun sight, with accurate aiming mark (Mechanics by Crusader and Logan4).
* A full complement of highly (or should I say "insanely" detailed weapons carried by the RNLAF NF-5A, all by ravenclaw_007.
* Comprehensive RNLAF Loadouts representing the weapons carriage evolution of the NF-5A in Dutch service from 1972 to the 1991 by ravenclaw_007.
* Complex animation of canopy opening mechanism, and animated Turbine blades; both thanks to ravenclaw_007.
* GKAB's superb highly detailed crew figure with authentically modeled oxygen mask and flight helmet.
* All new afterburner, emitter, and engine smoke effects by Guuruu.
* Saab RGS2 lead computing gun sight with both Air to Air and Air to Ground modes.
* Functioning elevator trim controls and gauge, using the Thrust Vector Controls; courtesy of Cliff7600.
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PILOT NOTES
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NF-5A Limit and Reference Speeds. [Indicated Airspeeds]
FLAPS (FULL DEFLECTION): 300kts for both leading and trailing edge.
FLAPS (MANOUEVERING): 450kts for both leading and trailing edge
NOTE: The F-5A uses full flaps for take off but due to a game bug you must manually select full flaps for take off when player flown. The AI will use full flaps although you can hear the flap sound cycling between flap 1 and flap 2.
LANDING GEAR: 240kts
DRAG CHUTE: 165kts
CANOPY: 50kts
NOSE WHEEL STEERING: 65kts
MAXIMUM INDICATED AIRSPEED: 710kts [redline]
MAXIMUM MACH: 1.72 Mach design limit but thrust/drag limited to about mach 1.50 in a 60deg dive from 50,000ft.
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TAKE OFF ROTATION SPEEDS
13500lbs: 155kts [full internal fuel and two sidewinders]
20500lbs: 195kts [about the maximum weight possible with included stores]
NOTE: Use full flaps for take off! Adding 6kts for every 1000lbs above 13500lbs should give good aft stick/rotation speeds.
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CLIMB SPEEDS
Military Power
13500lbs: 375kts with a transition to mach 0.89
20500lbs: 310kts with a transition to mach 0.74
Maximum Power
13500lbs: 595kts with a transition to mach 0.93
20500lbs: 480kts with a transition to mach 0.85
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FINAL APPROACH SPEEDS
With 500lbs fuel remaining and some empty racks use 160kts. Add 5kts for every additional 500lbs of fuel.
NOTE: Target touch down speed is 20kts less than final approach speed.
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RGS2 Gunsight
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We have simulated the two main modes of the sight, one for Air to Ground, and one for Air to Air. The Air to Ground reticle assumes 3 different levels of depression according to the air to ground ordnance selected; bombs, rockets or guns. Due to game limitations, the Air to Air aiming mark is set up for lead computing of a target at 213meters (or 700 feet).
We have included another gun sight option, whereby lead is calculated for targets all the way out to 4000ft. This has involved adding a ranging radar (which the NF-5A didn't have) but this solution allows lead computing for targets further out than 700 feet - something the RGS2 was capable of.
The radar ranging option is the default but the user can copy the files from the "Standard" subfolder of the Avionics_Alt folder (located in the Aircraft folder) and switch out the ini files. If you're unhappy with either of the two options you can simply copy paste the files from the folder you prefer.
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Agreement
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THIS AIRCRAFT MOD OR ANY PART OF IT ARE TO BE EXCLUSIVELY HOSTED BY COMBATACE.COM AND MUST NOT BE HOSTED OR POSTED FOR DOWNLOAD ON ANY OTHER WEB SITE. THIS PACKAGE AND ANY PARTS HEREIN MAY NOT BE UPLOADED AS PART OF ANOTHER MOD NOR MUST THEY BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE EITHER IN PART OR AS A WHOLE WITHOUT MY EXPRESS PERMISSION.
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Sophocles
July 2021
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