I have a Science Fiction Aircraft Concept, looking for feedback!

[F5TigerIIGuy]

So, having quite the imagination, I came up with a what-if near future jet I’m kind of considering modding into the game (so long as I can figure out how to make the “pilot” and the skins for it.) 

I’ve dubbed it the “Q/F-16 Autofalcon” as a placeholder name.

I imagine all sorts of F-16s from the US Air Force being pulled from storage and taken apart before seeing deep modernization (especially with complete replacement of the radar, a slightly more efficient engine, and more fuel in place of some of the pilot accommodations.) So anyways, the cockpit is still glass, but it has this little “black box” with a “head” of glass lenses that allow it to see. This machine functions as a “pilot” and is the eyes of the AI that connects to the fighter and essentially gives it orders. (Similarly, the airbases these things land at would be entirely automated.) And anyways, they would essentially be on perpetual combat air patrol, with a pair of at least two always in the sky (and many more on standby at all times) searching for enemies. Also, for more Ace Combat vibes (yes this is 100% an Ace Combat-inspired thing), they have a language of like chirps and screeches and beeps that they use to talk amongst each other and to take some of the workload off the central giant computer. While not at all practical, I think it’s a cool idea.

I just personally love emotionless machines that are like ants almost in behavior, by far one of my favorite types of mildly terrifying science fiction tech.

If I do make a mod for it, I’m considering making multiple versions that are compatible with several of the F-16 mods on this site. Especially since this thing is supposed to be all converted older F-16s so having at the least an F-16A, C, and Block 60 version would be pretty neat (and would only be stat edits and pilot + skin swaps really. I would mainly have to compile a document with credits to the original F-16 authors and a organize the file structure as to not be confusing to add to the game, but that’s a task for if I actually make this thing)

 

(Note: Will also have to find out how to create the weird chirping sounds they’ll use and how to add them as dialogue but only for these things)

Edited Friday at 05:47 PM by F5TigerIIGuy
Just making it have clearer wording

[+Flanker562]

Okay, but you can also find decent models (and legit ones) online, like TurboSquid, etc. But if you get a source model, then the sky is the limit I guess. Anyway just learn how to code the stuff so a human player can't fly it and so on. As for the AI? I don't like it, I don't fly with it, and just avoid AI wingman, but that's just me.

[F5TigerIIGuy]

15 minutes ago, Flanker562 said:

Okay, but you can also find decent models (and legit ones) online, like TurboSquid, etc. But if you get a source model, then the sky is the limit I guess. Anyway just learn how to code the stuff so a human player can't fly it and so on. As for the AI? I don't like it, I don't fly with it, and just avoid AI wingman, but that's just me.

Tbh I was planning on flying it mostly just to see how it performs then using it as an enemy when I want to fly Russian planes against an overwhelming force (every so often it is cool to fight a ton of enemy patrols with a small squadron, and such a drone would be perfect for that sort of thing.)

[+simonmiller416]

I thought of this almost immediately

[+Flanker562]

22 minutes ago, F5TigerIIGuy said:

Tbh I was planning on flying it mostly just to see how it performs then using it as an enemy when I want to fly Russian planes against an overwhelming force (every so often it is cool to fight a ton of enemy patrols with a small squadron, and such a drone would be perfect for that sort of thing.)

I see. Well, something like that is something to think on, I mean good luck with that.

[F5TigerIIGuy]

1 hour ago, simonmiller416 said:

I thought of this almost immediately

Oh yeah that thing, it’s kind of the same concept if you think about it. I think it’s pretty interesting for sure!

[F5TigerIIGuy]

38 minutes ago, Flanker562 said:

I see. Well, something like that is something to think on, I mean good luck with that.

Well, thank you.

[+daddyairplanes]

not sure what youre looking to do here, but if i understand it its 80% ini work

is this player flyable? if not then you dont even need a pilot or cockpit. any real current drone isnt going to bother with replacing the canopy and smoothing out (the YQF-144 came that way out of the factory).  cheaper to leave the cockpit as is and have cameras/sensors around the airframe. even the seat would be left for balance reasons (easier/cheaper than reworking software or adding new build ballast)

the chirps and whistles could be recorded, and added as language in the game. several like Menrva who have worked whole campaigns have added other language packs that translate the basic comms. but again, not needed if its not a player flyable

as for name, why not keep what the USAF drone operators call the QF-16s? Zombie Vipers......

[+yakarov79]

okay....Science Fiction Aircraft...I thought something more like this:

not just "near real" mindless drone... based on what we can really have...

anyway...

sci-fi can be interpreted in many ways....

Have fun..

Edited yesterday at 11:51 AM by yakarov79

[F5TigerIIGuy]

15 hours ago, daddyairplanes said:

not sure what youre looking to do here, but if i understand it its 80% ini work

is this player flyable? if not then you dont even need a pilot or cockpit. any real current drone isnt going to bother with replacing the canopy and smoothing out (the YQF-144 came that way out of the factory).  cheaper to leave the cockpit as is and have cameras/sensors around the airframe. even the seat would be left for balance reasons (easier/cheaper than reworking software or adding new build ballast)

the chirps and whistles could be recorded, and added as language in the game. several like Menrva who have worked whole campaigns have added other language packs that translate the basic comms. but again, not needed if its not a player flyable

as for name, why not keep what the USAF drone operators call the QF-16s? Zombie Vipers......

The name was in part a placeholder just so I can think of something better. Also, thank you, I’ve only messed around with aircraft and weapon ini before but I’d imagine the other types of them are pretty simple too.

Also yeah there’s a few obvious things that make this idea not realistic but part of it is just that I think weird little cockpit robots (like the ones you see in Ace Combat 7) look really cool. Half of this is definitely “rule of cool” stuff.

[+daddyairplanes]

ok. not trying to discourage, more of a to each their own

even in fantasy scenarios, i myself like to be a realist ("oh, this country used this fighter because there were 100 laying around waiting to be scrapped" type of thing)

waiting to see where you go with this