Northrop T-38A Talon (ThunderBirds) for Gen 1 ThirdWire Sims

Readme for the ThunderBird T-38A for Gen 1 ThirdWire Sims.

 

********************************* Version 1.0 Original Release ********************************

Version 1.0

 

 

Thanks to the following folks:

 

TK - For the ThirdWire series of sims.

PappyChkSix - For the original skins, which unfortunately were lost when the model was remapped.

The Mirage Factory - For allowing me to use the cockpit, effects, damage textures and sounds from the F-5A. FM based off of Mirage Factory F-5A.

331KillerBee - For the skins and hanger/loadout/loading screens. And the tweaks to make the seperate ThunderBird version.

Lexx_Luthor - For the Airshow Smoke effect for the Thunderbird T-38A (borrowed from his missile exhaust effects).

USAFMTL - For beta testing and advice.

To my fellow Combatace moderators - For helping me beta test and work out bugs.

Any errors or mistakes are entirely mine.

 

 

What you will need first:

 

Strike Fighters Project 1/Strike Fighters Gold/Wings Over Vietnam/Europe/Israel. This is not for Generation 2 versions of ThirdWire sims.

 

What is in this archive:

 

1. This readme (duh!)

 

2. Effects, Objects, Sounds folder.

 

 

Instructions:

 

1. Read and understand this entire readme FIRST!

 

2. Copy the Effects, Objects and Sounds folders to your SFP1/SFG/WOx directory. Allow directory merging and overwrites (anything overwritten either belongs to me or is the exact same as the Mirage Factory F-5 effects and sounds).

 

3. That's it! You should see the aircraft in your selection screen.

 

 

Aircraft Information:

 

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-38_Talon

 

The Northrop T-38 Talon is an American supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and to date, is also the most produced. It remains in service as of 2009 in air forces throughout the world including the United States Air Force (USAF), which remains its largest user.

 

In the 1950s Northrop began studying lightweight and more affordable fighter designs. The company began with its single-engine N-102 "Fang" concept. The N-102 was facing weight and cost growth, so the project was canceled and the the company N-156 project was began.

 

Although the United States Air Force had no need for a small fighter at the time, it became interested in the trainer (N-156T) as a replacement for the T-33 Shooting Star it was then using in this role. The first of three prototypes (designated YT-38) flew on 10 March 1959. The type was quickly adopted and the first production examples were delivered in 1961, officially entering service on 17 March that year, complementing the T-37 primary jet trainer. When production ended in 1972, 1,187 T-38s had been built. Since its introduction, it is estimated that some 50,000 military pilots have trained on this aircraft. The USAF remains one of the few armed flying forces using dedicated supersonic final trainers, as most, such as the US Navy, use high subsonic trainers.

 

The T-38 is of conventional configuration, with a small, low, long-chord wing, a single vertical stabilizer, and tricycle undercarriage. The aircraft seats a student pilot and instructor in tandem, and has intakes for its two turbojet engines at the wing roots. Its nimble performance has earned it the nickname "White Rocket". In 1962, T-38s set four time to climb records.

 

In addition to USAF pilots, T-38s are also used by NASA astronauts, the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (other T-38s were previously used as USN aggressor aircraft), other NATO pilots under a joint training program, and some under civilian ownership.

 

 

Notes and Limitations:

 

External nozzles don't work...not sure why. Investigation continues.

 

ThunderBird Version skins included...resized to 1024x1024 for faster multiplayer.

 

Afterburner nodes and travel pod commented out in data.ini for ease of installation.

 

This uses the 'Open Cockpit' method to place the cockpit model 'inside' the external model. This also allows the ability to add flight controls to the cockpit, which originally didn't have them modeled. Downsides are the that during inclement weather, it will appear 'foggy' inside the cockpit.

 

Capable of being flown from either seat through editing of the T-38Atb.ini file. Simply uncomment the lines that have the seat you want to fly in, and comment out the lines with the seats you don't want to fly in. The default is the front seat. In the ThunderBird version, if you fly in the front seat, there will not be a rear seater (as in airshows, the aircraft was typically flown that way).

 

The FM is reasonably 'close' to the real thing...but defaults to being 'fun' vs being 'perfect numbers'. As a pilot with 3000+ hours in the aircraft, it gives a reasonable impression on how the aircraft actually flies...but don't expect to hit all the 'numbers' perfectly.

 

This is FREEWARE only, NO money is allowed to be made on the contents of these files, in whole or in part. Released IAW the freeware accords at CombatAce.

 

Feel free to redistribute, as long as the original authors are given appropriate credit.

 

Questions? Contact me at Combatace.

 

FastCargo

2 Jul 09