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SF2 A-4C(65) VA-172 'Blue Bolts' 1966
By
Nyghtfall, in Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - File Announcements
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Similar Content
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By ValAstur
After having won the competition for a light attack plane, FIAT had encountered problems with the structural integrity of its two-part fuselage system in the G-91. The first model, built the way it was meant to, in the wind-channel showed the possibility of unusual wear in the connection system of the two fuselage parts, which could have lead to the breaking and the loss of the plane in medium to high-g exposures.
The construction team had to overthink a possibility for a workaround without making the airplane much heavier, more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
Italian minister of defense, Paolo Emilio Taviani, not happy about this matter, sought an other way to reinforce the italian air force with a suitable and comparable aircraft until the problems of the G-91 would have been solved.
He was then offered the A-4 Skyhawk, which was also a light and easy to maintain aircraft.
Three italian pilots of the Aeronautica Militare received the possibility to test the aircraft in the US. Their reports included a satisfactory review of this nimble aircraft. It was described as nice to fly and easy to maintain.
The ministry of defense, not willing to upset FIAT but showing impatience, ordered 72 A4D-2N (renamed A-4C; with an option for eventually more), which got allocated to squadrons of the 6th, 32nd and 51st Stormo in 1962.
An A-4C of the 32nd Stormo, 1962
At the end of the 1960s, the A-4Cs got replaced by the more modern A-4Es, with better engine and radar and also the possibility to take more payload on board. Some of the A-4C, which some of the italian pilots called "topolino" (little mouse), got retained for training purposes while most of the fleet got back to the US or sold to other countries.
A-4Es from the 51st Stormo, 1970
At the end of the 1960s, FIAT finally was able to start delivering G-91 to the air forces. Italy, though being local customer, was doubtful about replacing the Skyhawks with the Ginas, since all pilots were satisfied with the capabilities and the flight characteristics of the aircraft.
Mario Tanassi, then minister of defense, declared, after having discussed this matter with the Adreotti administration, that the Skyhawks would be replaced by G-91 in a matter of two years with the exception of the 6th Stormo. The replaced Skyhawks got then sold to other countries or scrapped for spare parts. The 6th Stormo was the last wing having the Skyhawk, receiving in 1973 the last upgrade with the A-4F.
A-4Fs of the 6th Stormo
The wing did not have the Skyhawk for a long time. In 1978, MoD Attilio Ruffini on behalf of the italian government, got into negotiations with SecDef Harold Brown of the Carter Administration about the purchase of 24 A-6 and 4 EA-6 aircraft of Grumman for replacing the Skyhawks. In Spring 1979, the negotiations were successful and Italy was to receive the new aircraft in early 1980. The days of the Skyhawk in italian service got fewer and fewer. The last Skyhawk was taken out of commission and sold to Brazil in April 1980.
A-6S' of the 6th Stormo, around Summer 1980
EA-6S', Summer 1980
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By Spinners
Douglas Skyhawk S.1 - 801 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1966
Template Credit: Nyghtfall
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By Nyghtfall
View File SF2 Vietnam Scooters
SF Vietnam Scooters - v0.95
===========================
*** SF2, SF2V required. Tested in full 5-merged installation ***
This pack includes 111 Skins for Thirdwires A-4 Skyhawk-models during Vietnam war from 1964 to 1972. It combines the former v0.01 and v0.02 releases into 1 pack.
The data.inis for the planes itself are changed from the stockfiles (rearranged weaponsstations, added invisible skids for belly-landings, added new droptanks and missilerails, etc.).
Sometimes a skin is provided for 2 different Skyhawk-models. This is done to represent different changes througout an ongoing deployment:
- transition from one Skyhawk-variant to another (for example A-4E to A-4F)
- retrofit of ECM-equipment (Project Shoehorn) (A-4C to A-4C_65, A-4E to A-4E_65, A-4E_65 to A-4E_67)
- change in Camouflage (VA-155)
Skins included (Timeframe 1964 to 1972):
(compl.) means, that skins, for all deployments to Vietnam are finished for a squadron.
Navy Squadrons:
VA-12 Flying Ubangis (compl.)
VA-15 Valions (1 of 2)
VA-22 Fighting Redcocks (compl.)
VA-23 Black Knights (compl.)
VA-34 Blue Blasters (compl.)
VA-36 Roadrunners (compl.)
VA-46 Clansmen (compl.)
VA-55 Warhorses (4 of 7)
VA-56 Champions (compl.)
VA-72 Blue Hawks (compl.)
VA-76 Spirits (1 of 2)
VA-93 Blue Blazers (1 of 4)
VA-94 Mighty Shrikes (3 of 6)
VA-95 Green Lizards (compl.)
VA-106 Gladiators (compl.)
VA-112 Broncos (compl.)
VA-113 Stingers (1 of 3)
VA-144 Roadrunners (5 of 6)
VA-146 Blue Diamonds (1 of 3)
VA-152 Fighting Aces (compl.)
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (compl.)
VA-155 Silver Foxes (compl.)
VA-163 Saints (compl.)
VA-164 Ghost Riders (compl.)
VA-172 Blue Bolts (compl.)
VA-192 Golden Dragons (compl.)
VA-195 Dambusters (4 of 5)
VA-212 Rampant Raiders (compl.)
VA-216 Black Diamonds (1 of 3)
Marines Squadrons:
VMA-121 Green Knights (compl.)
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers (1 of 4)
VMA-214 Black Sheep (compl.)
VMA-223 Bulldogs (compl.)
VMA-225 Vagabonds (compl.)
VMA-311 Tomcats (1 of 6)
H&MS-15 Angels (compl.)
Unfortunately I failed at finishing this MOD! For different reasons, I decided to not invest any more time into this.
I hope you can still enjoy this pack. Have fun!
Unpacking and installation:
===========================
!!! IMPORTANT !!!
!!! I recommend using this pack for a standalone-Vietnam-War MOD-folder, as planes.inis are changed accordingly
!!! That means, that no exportusers are in userlist.ini
Backup your A-4B. A-4B_65, A-4C, A-4C_65, A-4E, A-4E_65, A-4E_67 and A-4F planefolders, as .inis will be overwritten
1. Create a temporary folder, copy all 3 zip-files into that folder and unpack them into this folder (overwrite is ok)
Info: If you do NOT want to include the changed data.inis to your installation, just go to all planes-folders in the temporary folder (Objects/Aircraft/A-4B, etc.) and delete all ini.files in each planes-folder.
2. open "Put_Contents_In_Your_MOD_Folder" from the temporary folder and copy the contents you want to your Vietnam-MOD-folder
3. if asked to overwrite, say 'yes'
4. Thats it!
Credits
=======
- Thirdwire and TK the game and models
- FastCargo for the fakepilot
- Alejandro for Escapac-Seat
- OldDiego for pilotmodels
- ravenclaw_007 for AGM-12C+E Bullpup
- ???? for Walleye_I model
- ???? for sounds
- me - template, skins, decals, ini- and 3D-work of tanks, rails and addons, walleye-repaint
P.S.
====
This MOD or parts of it may not be included in any PAYWARE-packs, PAYWARE-mods or "PAY"-related. It is free!
If you use the MOD or parts of it, you should give proper credits.
Submitter Nyghtfall Submitted 10/13/2022 Category A-4
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By Nyghtfall
SF Vietnam Scooters - v0.95
===========================
*** SF2, SF2V required. Tested in full 5-merged installation ***
This pack includes 111 Skins for Thirdwires A-4 Skyhawk-models during Vietnam war from 1964 to 1972. It combines the former v0.01 and v0.02 releases into 1 pack.
The data.inis for the planes itself are changed from the stockfiles (rearranged weaponsstations, added invisible skids for belly-landings, added new droptanks and missilerails, etc.).
Sometimes a skin is provided for 2 different Skyhawk-models. This is done to represent different changes througout an ongoing deployment:
- transition from one Skyhawk-variant to another (for example A-4E to A-4F)
- retrofit of ECM-equipment (Project Shoehorn) (A-4C to A-4C_65, A-4E to A-4E_65, A-4E_65 to A-4E_67)
- change in Camouflage (VA-155)
Skins included (Timeframe 1964 to 1972):
(compl.) means, that skins, for all deployments to Vietnam are finished for a squadron.
Navy Squadrons:
VA-12 Flying Ubangis (compl.)
VA-15 Valions (1 of 2)
VA-22 Fighting Redcocks (compl.)
VA-23 Black Knights (compl.)
VA-34 Blue Blasters (compl.)
VA-36 Roadrunners (compl.)
VA-46 Clansmen (compl.)
VA-55 Warhorses (4 of 7)
VA-56 Champions (compl.)
VA-72 Blue Hawks (compl.)
VA-76 Spirits (1 of 2)
VA-93 Blue Blazers (1 of 4)
VA-94 Mighty Shrikes (3 of 6)
VA-95 Green Lizards (compl.)
VA-106 Gladiators (compl.)
VA-112 Broncos (compl.)
VA-113 Stingers (1 of 3)
VA-144 Roadrunners (5 of 6)
VA-146 Blue Diamonds (1 of 3)
VA-152 Fighting Aces (compl.)
VA-153 Blue Tail Flies (compl.)
VA-155 Silver Foxes (compl.)
VA-163 Saints (compl.)
VA-164 Ghost Riders (compl.)
VA-172 Blue Bolts (compl.)
VA-192 Golden Dragons (compl.)
VA-195 Dambusters (4 of 5)
VA-212 Rampant Raiders (compl.)
VA-216 Black Diamonds (1 of 3)
Marines Squadrons:
VMA-121 Green Knights (compl.)
VMA-211 Wake Island Avengers (1 of 4)
VMA-214 Black Sheep (compl.)
VMA-223 Bulldogs (compl.)
VMA-225 Vagabonds (compl.)
VMA-311 Tomcats (1 of 6)
H&MS-15 Angels (compl.)
Unfortunately I failed at finishing this MOD! For different reasons, I decided to not invest any more time into this.
I hope you can still enjoy this pack. Have fun!
Unpacking and installation:
===========================
!!! IMPORTANT !!!
!!! I recommend using this pack for a standalone-Vietnam-War MOD-folder, as planes.inis are changed accordingly
!!! That means, that no exportusers are in userlist.ini
Backup your A-4B. A-4B_65, A-4C, A-4C_65, A-4E, A-4E_65, A-4E_67 and A-4F planefolders, as .inis will be overwritten
1. Create a temporary folder, copy all 3 zip-files into that folder and unpack them into this folder (overwrite is ok)
Info: If you do NOT want to include the changed data.inis to your installation, just go to all planes-folders in the temporary folder (Objects/Aircraft/A-4B, etc.) and delete all ini.files in each planes-folder.
2. open "Put_Contents_In_Your_MOD_Folder" from the temporary folder and copy the contents you want to your Vietnam-MOD-folder
3. if asked to overwrite, say 'yes'
4. Thats it!
Credits
=======
- Thirdwire and TK the game and models
- FastCargo for the fakepilot
- Alejandro for Escapac-Seat
- OldDiego for pilotmodels
- ravenclaw_007 for AGM-12C+E Bullpup
- ???? for Walleye_I model
- ???? for sounds
- me - template, skins, decals, ini- and 3D-work of tanks, rails and addons, walleye-repaint
P.S.
====
This MOD or parts of it may not be included in any PAYWARE-packs, PAYWARE-mods or "PAY"-related. It is free!
If you use the MOD or parts of it, you should give proper credits.
-
By DinoGarner
Hello, Folks!
My upcoming coffee-table book is TOPGUN: The Otherworldly Dreams of a Lifelong Ten Year Old. It features breathtaking images from my flights at TOPGUN, plus units of the Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. Our colleague, Navy Captain “Heater” Heatley, said, “Pretty cool graphics and layout. Nice pics!” I’d like you and your colleagues and beyond to review an unfinished, first-draft copy my book, fall in love with it, and write testimonials/blurbs, please. The book will be published in early 2023, so you have some time to say yes. I’m also offering all the beautiful aviation images that appear in the book free of charge to air and space museums worldwide in perpetuity. My small way of giving back for inspiration over my lifetime. First, I’m Dino Garner, former scientist, Army Ranger, corporate merc, military aviation photographer, NY Times bestselling ghostwriter and editor of many cool books. Back in the day, I was the only independent civilian photographer to fly in all frontline fighters and attack aircraft of the US Air Force, Navy and Marines, plus helos of the Coast Guard. Had to quit that fun to report for duty as a US Army Airborne Ranger. Modesty aside, I took some stunning images that were on the covers and interiors of Smithsonian Air&Space, Newsweek, Time, US News and World Report, and in dozens of books, newspapers, articles, etc. The final book will be a 550-page coffee-table book that features my military aviation images, plus chapters by prominent people: Foreword by aviation neuropsychologist Dr. David Prewett, “Zatar” by Lt Gen Dave Deptula, Boyword by a 10-year-old boy/student pilot, and Afterword by Dave Senior’s son, Lt Col “Ghost” Deptula. There will also be a special dedication to "Heater" Heatley. This is also unique: I added dozens of candid pix of my fighter pilots and support personnel in scrapbook fashion and added some cool graphics that look like advertisements for the US military fighter aviation. I have spared no expense in the production of this book: it will be printed by the best offset-printing company of high-end books, in South Korea. Heavy, matte art paper interior; cloth hardcover with an added French-fold cover. A draft of the full cover is below. Dimensions: 8.5”H x 11”W x 2.5”D. If you’d like to see the entire book, I can email you a Dropbox link to download the full-color pdf file to view on your computer. It’s too large to view directly on Dropbox. Many thanks for listening. I hope you’ll consider my proposal. Cheers, Dino “Wang” Garner dino@topgun.photography
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