Sign in to follow this
Followers
0
-
Similar Content
-
By Spinners
View File [Fictional] McDonnell Douglas F-4E 'ADC' USAF
McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4E 'ADC' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of the stock F-4E_72 to make a fictional interceptor version of the Phantom for service with the USAF in the 1973 to 1998 timeline. 'What if' markings for four ANG squadrons are included;
1. 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Texas ANG
2. 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - New Jersey ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
4. 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Puerto Rico ANG
BACKSTORY
During early 1970 a USAF review of America's air defence assets highlighted the increasing obsolescence of several aircraft including the F-101, F-102 and F-104 and whilst early F-4C Phantoms were trickling down to the ANG units McDonnell Douglas could see an opportunity to sell an optimised 'Air Defense' version of the F-4E to the USAF to swiftly and cost-effectively modernise a large proportion of Aerespace Defense Command. During this time McDonnell Douglas had studied various single-seat or stripped-down versions of the F-4 for the German Air Force but for the USAF they proposed a version of the slatted F-4E with all air-to-ground capability removed, slightly more powerful 'clean burn' J79 engines, simplified air-to-air only radar and the new solid-state AIM-7F Sparrow missile offering longer range with its two-stage rocket motor.
By this time the massive production run of the F-4 had meant that the fly-away unit cost for this simplified version of the F-4E made it one of the cheapest Phantoms ever and such was the confidence that the USAF had in McDonnell Douglas that in March 1971 they simply asked for a fixed-price quotation for 300 F-4E 'ADC' aircraft and ordered them in April 1971! First flown in June 1972 the F-4E 'ADC' were delivered in a smart and glossy 'air defense' grey scheme and entered service with the 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Puerto Rico ANG in February 1973 replacing the F-104C's and F-104D's of that unit. Sadly, eight of the 198th's Phantoms were destroyed in a terrorist attack at Muniz ANGB in January 1981 and the unit operated several 'standard' F-4E's until 'ADC' versions could be allocated to them.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 5th, 2024
Submitter Spinners Submitted 06/13/2010 Category What If Hangar
-
By Spinners
McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4E 'ADC' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of the stock F-4E_72 to make a fictional interceptor version of the Phantom for service with the USAF in the 1973 to 1998 timeline. 'What if' markings for four ANG squadrons are included;
1. 111th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Texas ANG
2. 119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - New Jersey ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
4. 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Puerto Rico ANG
BACKSTORY
During early 1970 a USAF review of America's air defence assets highlighted the increasing obsolescence of several aircraft including the F-101, F-102 and F-104 and whilst early F-4C Phantoms were trickling down to the ANG units McDonnell Douglas could see an opportunity to sell an optimised 'Air Defense' version of the F-4E to the USAF to swiftly and cost-effectively modernise a large proportion of Aerespace Defense Command. During this time McDonnell Douglas had studied various single-seat or stripped-down versions of the F-4 for the German Air Force but for the USAF they proposed a version of the slatted F-4E with all air-to-ground capability removed, slightly more powerful 'clean burn' J79 engines, simplified air-to-air only radar and the new solid-state AIM-7F Sparrow missile offering longer range with its two-stage rocket motor.
By this time the massive production run of the F-4 had meant that the fly-away unit cost for this simplified version of the F-4E made it one of the cheapest Phantoms ever and such was the confidence that the USAF had in McDonnell Douglas that in March 1971 they simply asked for a fixed-price quotation for 300 F-4E 'ADC' aircraft and ordered them in April 1971! First flown in June 1972 the F-4E 'ADC' were delivered in a smart and glossy 'air defense' grey scheme and entered service with the 198th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Puerto Rico ANG in February 1973 replacing the F-104C's and F-104D's of that unit. Sadly, eight of the 198th's Phantoms were destroyed in a terrorist attack at Muniz ANGB in January 1981 and the unit operated several 'standard' F-4E's until 'ADC' versions could be allocated to them.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-4E_ADC folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 5th, 2024
-
By Spinners
View File [Fictional] North American F-109A Retaliator
North American F-109A 'Retaliator' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of Julhelm's superb North American A-5A Vigilante to make a fictional 'Retaliator' interceptor-fighter in service with the USAF in the 1964 to 1988 timeline. There was actually several North American proposals for 'fighter' Vigilantes offered to the USN and to the USAF and it's a pity that the enormous potential of this amazing aircraft was never fully realised. Anyway, 'what if' markings are enclosed for three ANG squadrons;
1. 101st Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Massachusetts ANG
2. 159th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Florida ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
BACKSTORY
Development of the North American A3J-1 Vigilante progressed well during the late 1950's and the first flight of the YA3J-1 prototype in August 1958 revealed it to be a real thoroughbred, packed from nose to tail with outstanding technology. However, a strong faction against the Vigilante was forming within the USN arguing that strategic bombing was not part of the USN's business and North American decided not to assume that large orders for the 'basic' A3J-1 would follow and they began to look at other roles for the Vigilante.
One line of development would eventually lead to the reconnaissance Vigilante (RA-5C) but another line of development transformed the A3J-1 into various fleet defender and ADC fighter options. Fortunately, the wing of the A3J-1 was designed for zero wind over deck launches and this resulted in a wing too large for low-level attack missions but ideal for a fighter. During early 1959 North American offered a long-range fighter version to the USN and USAF but had only a lukewarm response. However, following the cancellation of their F-108 Rapier in September 1959 things now became a bit more urgent for North American and they schemed a revised A3J-1 Fighter with uprated J79 engines and semi-recessed Sparrow missiles.
Trying again in 1960 they received a firm no from the USN (who by then knew they had a winner in the F4H-1 Phantom II) but the USAF agreed to a detailed analysis of an optimsed land-based interceptor fighter (named Retaliator in May 1960) and in June 1960 they announced that the Retaliator was to be ordered as an immediate follow-on to the F-106 programme with 350 ordered although this figure was later reduced to 240.
The prototype YF-109 flew on April 30th 1962 and production F-109A's entered service in late 1964 with the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The only export order was from Canada who ordered 60 in 1968 and these entered service with No.409 squadron in 1969 remaining in service until 1990.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the PILOTS folder drag and drop the F-109A_FuelPod into your Pilots folder.
That's it!
NOTES
Julhelm's Vigilante comes with an authentic Vigilante pit so rather than just slap a Phantom pit into this bird I've used his pit and just tweaked the ini's for the interceptor-fighter role. I'm not the greatest on avionics but it works!
In this revised upload I've chosen to include the Fuel Pod as a pilot (in the same way that we add a Fake Pilot) as I'd noticed my wingmen were jettisoning it when the action started even when adding NoJettisonTank=TRUE. I've also added AIM-9 Sidewinder's to the Retaliator's inner wing pylons.
This aircraft needs/deserves a gun but I've resisted the temptation. However, you can add one if you like and the space from the redundant linear bomb bay could easily accommodate a neat M61 installation slap-bang on the centreline.
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Big thanks to Julhelm for bringing one of my personal all-times favourites to the community.
And thanks to Julhelm for also releasing his templates for ham-fisted amateurs like me to screw around with!
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 3rd, 2024
Submitter Spinners Submitted 06/03/2010 Category What If Hangar
-
By Spinners
North American F-109A 'Retaliator' for Strike Fighters 2
This is a simple mod of Julhelm's superb North American A-5A Vigilante to make a fictional 'Retaliator' interceptor-fighter in service with the USAF in the 1964 to 1988 timeline. There was actually several North American proposals for 'fighter' Vigilantes offered to the USN and to the USAF and it's a pity that the enormous potential of this amazing aircraft was never fully realised. Anyway, 'what if' markings are enclosed for three ANG squadrons;
1. 101st Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Massachusetts ANG
2. 159th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Florida ANG
3. 186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Montana ANG
BACKSTORY
Development of the North American A3J-1 Vigilante progressed well during the late 1950's and the first flight of the YA3J-1 prototype in August 1958 revealed it to be a real thoroughbred, packed from nose to tail with outstanding technology. However, a strong faction against the Vigilante was forming within the USN arguing that strategic bombing was not part of the USN's business and North American decided not to assume that large orders for the 'basic' A3J-1 would follow and they began to look at other roles for the Vigilante.
One line of development would eventually lead to the reconnaissance Vigilante (RA-5C) but another line of development transformed the A3J-1 into various fleet defender and ADC fighter options. Fortunately, the wing of the A3J-1 was designed for zero wind over deck launches and this resulted in a wing too large for low-level attack missions but ideal for a fighter. During early 1959 North American offered a long-range fighter version to the USN and USAF but had only a lukewarm response. However, following the cancellation of their F-108 Rapier in September 1959 things now became a bit more urgent for North American and they schemed a revised A3J-1 Fighter with uprated J79 engines and semi-recessed Sparrow missiles.
Trying again in 1960 they received a firm no from the USN (who by then knew they had a winner in the F4H-1 Phantom II) but the USAF agreed to a detailed analysis of an optimsed land-based interceptor fighter (named Retaliator in May 1960) and in June 1960 they announced that the Retaliator was to be ordered as an immediate follow-on to the F-106 programme with 350 ordered although this figure was later reduced to 240.
The prototype YF-109 flew on April 30th 1962 and production F-109A's entered service in late 1964 with the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minot AFB, North Dakota. The only export order was from Canada who ordered 60 in 1968 and these entered service with No.409 squadron in 1969 remaining in service until 1990.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-109A folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the PILOTS folder drag and drop the F-109A_FuelPod into your Pilots folder.
That's it!
NOTES
Julhelm's Vigilante comes with an authentic Vigilante pit so rather than just slap a Phantom pit into this bird I've used his pit and just tweaked the ini's for the interceptor-fighter role. I'm not the greatest on avionics but it works!
In this revised upload I've chosen to include the Fuel Pod as a pilot (in the same way that we add a Fake Pilot) as I'd noticed my wingmen were jettisoning it when the action started even when adding NoJettisonTank=TRUE. I've also added AIM-9 Sidewinder's to the Retaliator's inner wing pylons.
This aircraft needs/deserves a gun but I've resisted the temptation. However, you can add one if you like and the space from the redundant linear bomb bay could easily accommodate a neat M61 installation slap-bang on the centreline.
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Big thanks to Julhelm for bringing one of my personal all-times favourites to the community.
And thanks to Julhelm for also releasing his templates for ham-fisted amateurs like me to screw around with!
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 2 - January 3rd, 2024
-
By Spinners
View File [Fictional] Lockheed F-104H Starfighter for SF2
Lockheed F-104H Starfighter for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock F-104G to create a fictional F-104H in service with Air/Aerospace Defense Command in the 1966-1986 timeline. Markings are provided for the following squadrons;
111st Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Texas Air National Guard)
178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (North Dakota Air National Guard)
186th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (Montana Air National Guard)
318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (a regular USAF unit attached to the 25th Air Division)
BACKSTORY
On March 15th 1963, two Soviet bombers overflew Alaska and despite a desperate chase the F-102A's of Alaskan Air Command were unable to intercept them. The immediate response to this embarrassing intrusion was to deploy ten F-106A's drawn from various Air Defense Command Fighter-Interceptor Squadrons to Alaska and to recall the remaining F-104A's that had previously been transferred to the Air National Guard back in 1960.
Despite the excellence of the F-106A it did come with a pretty hefty price tag (and was actually out of production) and Air Defense Command realised that in order to replace the earlier F-101's and F-102's a cheaper alternative was required. With Lockheed's multi-role F-104G Starfighter in a high-rate of production the relatively low unit cost attracted the attention of the US Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara who authorised production of the F-104H a dedicated interceptor version based on the F-104G and an initial order for 200 was made.
The F-104H was powered by the uprated General Electric J79-GE-10 engine rated at 11,905 lbf dry thrust and 17,844 lbf thrust with afterburner although initial deliveries were powered by the earlier J79-GE-8B. The F-104H incorporated the advanced Litton LN-3 inertial navigation system and also featured the Autonetics NASARR F-15J-50 radar and fire control system optimised for the air-to-air mode with all ground-mapping, contour-mapping and terrain-avoidance modes deleted. After some debate, the M61 20mm cannon was retained but the main armament for the F-104H was the AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active homing missile, the AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red heat-seeking missile and the AIR-2 Genie unguided air-to-air rocket with a 1.5 kt nuclear warhead.
Entering service in April 1965 the F-104H eventually served with nine squadrons. Whilst the USAF's F-104A's and F-104C's had suffered the highest accident rate of any of the USAF Century Series fighters (25.2 aircraft destroyed per 100,000 flight hours) the F-104H's fared much better and were second only to the Spanish Air Force who actually achieved the perfect safety record of losing none of 21 F-104's over a total of 17,500 flight hours. The F-104H was gradually withdrawn from Aerospace Defense Command service from the late 1970's onwards although two Air National Guard units soldiered on until 1986 when the type was finally retired.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-104H folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-104H folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!
CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Thanks to bobrock for the excellent F-104G template.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards
Spinners
Version 1 - December 30th, 2023
Submitter Spinners Submitted 12/30/2023 Category What If Hangar
-