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Showing most liked content on 01/18/2022 in Posts

  1. 4 points
    Next I will be completing the M109 and the M992A2 they shouldn't take long. The project for the drone will be the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. It will be another team work with the same talented friends.
  2. 4 points
    Many stories to get caught up on… In the meantime, here’s Hawkwood’s latest. Journal – Sergeant David Armstrong Hawkwood, Royal Flying Corps Part 3 The next week and a half were uneventful. During that time, I ferried Lieutenant Osborne about over the lines while he took notes on enemy traffic and rail movement. Twice we spotted for the guns. We still have not been fitted out with W/T equipment and so must depend on an Aldis lamp. I was becoming rather proficient at Morse, but Mr Osborne prefers to handle all the signalling himself and I am beginning to forget. Lest we become too comfortable in our billets and too familiar with the front lines in our sector, the higher powers have decided to move 4 Squadron south. Our new home is a place called Vert Galant Farm. It is a country crossroads on the road between Amiens and Doullens. There is a large L-shaped farmhouse on the north-east corner, owned by a family named Bossu. We bedded down in the farm the first night until all our tentage arrived in the morning. The aerodrome itself is splendid – wide fields either side of the main road with only a shallow slope fading away to the south. The crossroads and farm are easily identifiable from the air and only a few minutes’ flight west from Doullens. It was easy to get our bearings. We soon learned the reason for our relocation. Our army has taken over a new section of the front from the French, extending our lines down to the River Somme. Third Wing, of which we are part, has responsibility for the aerial defence of the sector. We share the aerodrome at Vert Galant with 11 Squadron, newly arrived from England. 11 Squadron is unique in that they are equipped with the Vickers fighting machine. This is a rugged machine with a “pusher” configuration that allows the pilot to be accompanied by a gunner with an unobstructed field of fire to the front. It is hoped that we will be able to dominate the air with his new instrument of war! From Vert Gallant, I flew a half-dozen patrols in the last two weeks of July, most of them to drop bombs on a Hun aerodrome east of Bapaume or on road and rail connections to the enemy’s front lines. Archie in this sector is moderately heavy, but I have yet to see a German machine in the air. Ned Buckley and I have re-established our comfortable “pleasure dome,” as he calls our tent. We have yet to get time away from the camp to explore the mysteries of the surrounding towns. I am hoping to get into Amiens one of these days. On a bright note, I have been assigned a newer BE2c and this one is equipped with a Lewis gun. Mr Osborne is in charge of the gun, which is mounted on a sort of bent post and which is pointed backwards over my head! Occasionally when we are flying, he fires a short burst to warm the gun and the noise deafens me for minutes afterwards. Until we received the new machine, Mr Osborne had never handled a machine gun. He does not seem tremendously keen about the thing, and I must gently urge him to get some additional practice at the butts. Received a lovely surprise this week. After I completed my final advanced flying training, the army sent me a cheque for £75, repayment for my initial flying course at the Grahame-White school in Hendon. I deposited it and wrote a cheque for the same amount to Mr Cust, my employer, who paid for my course. Last Wednesday I received a lovely letter from Mr Cust enquiring after my experiences with the Flying Corps and enclosing two £5 notes with the request that I buy something to make myself comfortable while I am here. I have tucked the notes away inside a small Bible my mother gave me, as that seems to be the last place anyone here would look. Tomorrow begins August.
  3. 3 points
    I've been sick since Dec 31. Came home with chills and joint pain. That only lasted one day but through that, I contracted pneumonia which has lasted since then (3rd week now). I am on the mend and getting better slowly. Lucky for me because the hospitals are full to the point that patients are lining the corridors completely on at least 2 floors with both vax and non. I was vaxed but I missed my booster appointment 2 weeks before I got it. My work office shut down because 60% of the workers are sick, so everyone but a skeleton crew of managers is at the office, everyone else is working from home. The threat is real, if you don't believe it, go to your local hospital and see for yourself.
  4. 3 points
    Paroni: Congrats on your first confirmed victory! Albrecht: Enjoyed your reports and the atmospheric way you write. Maeran: Super update - loved the historical detail and dislike the thought of McCudden being treated snobishly because of his background! Hassel: Hopefully the 'Spaniard's' embarrassment will work out for the advantage of his whole escadrille as he seeks to prove his worth! Trustworthykebab: Hope school goes well! ___________ Flight Lieutenant Theodore Aloysius Andrews (AKA 'Runt) RNAS-1 St. Pol-sur-Mer Missions flown: 25 B.E.2c Hours: 37 Claims confirmed:2 Claims Unconfirmed:1 26-31 July 1915 Climbing out over the Channel - Blighty lies just beyond the early morning mist The pace on the squadron has picked up over the last week of July. We have flown every day and once or twice both morning and evening patrols. It's been pretty exhausting, if I'm honest, on account of Cleaver the C.O. who has wanted us on the airfield ready to go at 4 am most days - which is bally early in you ask me. On those days I can see the advantages of Davies' silences. Early in the morning no one wants a fuss, as my father used to quote with regularity, "He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him." It's somewhere in the Bible or Shakespeare, I think, but he quoted it often enough to me as a boy that it's imprinted itself on my thinking. There's been some comings and goings in our squadron too. A couple of chaps have transferred out (There's talk of another RNAS squadron being formed) and we've had some new arrivals. Jefferson (The singer and mess piano player) who was my first observer has been attached to one such. Redford Mulock, a Canadian chap we all have taken to calling Red. He and Jefferson fill the morning air with their singing and their ofttimes bawdy songs. So it looks like I'm with Davies full time. Not that I'm complaining, he's got two good eyes and a quiet, deep temperament and I think that means a lot. He reminds me somewhat of the Harpooner in Moby Dick, a childhood favourite of mine. While sailors on the whaleboat curse and battle fiercely the foaming, crashing sea, he remains silent and watchful. The sailors labour with oars, shouting over the din of the howling wind and raging demonic depths - while he is languid, quiet and poised, waiting and watchful. I remember this sentence from the book, and it sums up Davies, "To ensure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpooners of this world must start to their feet out of idleness, and not from out of toil." That's good old Davies, through and through. Though I am no Captain Ahab to be sure - far too young. These early mornings have one distinct advantage - the first hour of flying is spectacular- one might even hazard, magical. Up before the lark We are not the only ones upping our flying hours. The Germans too have been more active over the last few days. At a distance, I've spotted a number of their aircraft. Much too far away to excite any interest from our flight leader, though I'm chomping at the bit. My chance came on the last day of July. Another early morning patrol over Passchendaele. We were up before the lark, or the Hun (for that matter) and spotted two Aviatiks flying West as we were flying NNW over Hunland. We were a tad over 10,000 feet, while they were in formation below us at 8000 feet. I tried to signal Mulock, who was flight leader, but either his singing was too loud or he was lost in the magic of the day, either way, I couldn't rouse him. As the planes slid beneath me, I turned with them, cut the throttle and stalked them. The sun was not very high so it was easy to keep it behind me and follow them - unseen. As they crossed onto our side they changed course, flying northwest towards Furnes and Dunkirk. I waited until they were a good way into our side and then dropped on them like an osprey. At once they began to head east, all thoughts of patrol gone. It took about 12 minutes, but with some steady flying and Davies' shooting, we shot one down. The Aviatik began streaming smoke at about 5000 feet, nosed down and crashed to earth just north of the ruins of Passchendaele. We watched their dive and circled above, with that familiar feeling of pride, and horror at what we have become. Again I prayed for the families, sweethearts and friends. I'm not a murderer, I think, but a sailor at war. I had dropped to about 3500 feet, which is far too low over Hunland - the anti-aircraft battery started as we turned west hammering the air around us with ugly puffs of death and twisted metal. We had strayed far too close to a German Observation balloon - and they weren't happy. Maybe they don't consider it sporting to attack unarmed German planes or they just didn't like the colour of our hair. But they let us have it with gusto. I put the nose up as high as I dared, and attempted to gain some height - the wind, though not strong was against us and we hung motionless in the air as 'Archie' pounded us. We took a very near miss to the fore of our craft. Fuel, oil and coolant were everywhere, streaming behind us, coating our faces. The engine groaned and shook, cluttered and spluttered angrily. I pointed the nose down and attempted to fly to safety, due west, at speed. The engine held ... just. We cleared the brown scared ground that marks the lines and I gently put our B.E.2 down. As we came to a stop the oddest thing happened. For the very first time I heard Davies's laugh. Not quietly, but uproariously, deep belly laughs teeth sowing white amidst his oily face, his eyes creased up with mirth. Our aircraft was not in such good heart. She had held me since that day in May when I first climbed in her at Gosport. I was familiar with all her ways, her quirks and foibles. Looking at her now - I couldn't imagine she would ever fly again and it seemed a miracle we had got as far as we did. Looking up in another prayer, this time of thanksgiving, I saw B flight who had circled back to Passchendaele and had spotted our battle and proud demise. They flew overhead I swear I heard singing ... "Daisy Daisy Give me your answer do ..." Later, on stepping off the tender back at St. Pol-Sur-Mer, the C.O., his proud red face glowing in the setting sun grabbed me by the arm. "Andrew's your victory was confirmed before you arrived - good show! ... And your papers came through this morning, you are prompt to Flight Lieutenant with immediate effect!" I limped to the mess an older, quieter man. To ensure the greatest efficiency in the dart, the harpooners of this world must start to their feet out of idleness, and not from out of toil.
  5. 2 points
    August 12-22 Armand's Diary Everyday patrols to Arras and Vimy Ridge. Loos front is now familiar too.Enemy air activity quiet.Few battles but are unconclusives. Peaceful sky but how long? Rumours that Boche had a new deadly single-seater makes me nervous!
  6. 2 points
    This is a 2 part issue and now it's resolved. The graphics settings indicated it was running off the Intel GPU. I corrected this and now it's running off my Nvidia. You can tell it is way smoother now too! The J-31 I installed was causing the game to go black screen. Moving the folder out of the mod folder and excluding it also resolved the black screen in 21st century single missions. That is weird.
  7. 2 points
    View File Panavia Tornado F.3 A.M.I. for ODS edition upgrade In the early 1990s, the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, or AMI) identified a requirement for a fighter to boost its air defence capabilities pending introduction of the Eurofighter Typhoon, expected around 2000. These fighters were to operate alongside the service's obsolescent F-104ASA Starfighters. The Tornado ADV was selected from, amongst others, the F-16. On 17 November 1993, Italy signed an agreement with the RAF to lease 24 Tornado F3s from the RAF for a period of ten years. First training of AMI pilots began in March 1995 at RAF Coningsby while technicians gained experience at RAF Cottesmore and Coningsby. The first aircraft was accepted on 5 July 1995 and flown to its Italian base the same day. Delivery of the first batch was completed by 1996; these aircraft were deployed at Gioia del Colle in Southern Italy. The second batch was delivered between February and July 1997, these aircraft were of a slightly higher specification. They served with 12° Gruppo 36° Stormo at Gioia del Colle AB from 1995 to 2004 and with 21° Gruppo 53° Stormo at Cameri AB from 1997 to 2001. In 1999 it joined 36° Stormo at Gioia del Colle AB and in 2001 was disbanded. The AMI returned its Tornados to the RAF, with the final aircraft arriving at RAF Saint Athan on 7 December 2004. WHAT'S IN: - 3 new High Rez skins covering all A.M.I. service - All historical group numbers and planes matricole - edited data.ini with taxi dancing fixed with Italy export time - edited userlist.ini with Italy CREDITS: - Bobrock: plane and templates - Menvra: new ODS edition Tornado F.3 taiored to use with - Paulopanz: skins & decals, ini tweakings NOTE: - Ready for Kosovo War duty Enjoy @ paulopanz Submitter paulopanz Submitted 01/17/2022 Category Tornado  
  8. 2 points
    No smart bombs, and 1 VERY lucky aviator Always reminded me of a Manta Ray..
  9. 1 point
    I dont have track ir, maybe you can ask the Community in the official il2 Forums, there has to be a solution for it Best regards Martin
  10. 1 point
    My P-39L in BOS has a problem with the HUD gunsight using TrackIR5. For some reason, the image is buried 1/2 way down in the glass (see pic). The head position looks correct though. I have tried to find a way to move it up, but there doesn't seem to be one. All other aircraft work fine, it's only the Airacobra. If anyone has a fix, please share it.
  11. 1 point
    August 23 Armand's Diary Big news! We change aerodrome today closer to the front. Aerodrome name is Savy.About 13km further east.
  12. 1 point
    I think you need SF2: NA for that to work. Since you got the Editor Solomo you need to open the Single Mission screen and look at the bottom right for the pen icon. Click on that and you'll go into the selected mission. You can add a deck by moving the map and putting the crosshair on some water. Go to the upper right and click on the ship icon, and that will place a ship icon on the water. Scroll through and find a carrier. I know Nimitz is SF2: NA but another deck (as well as a third--party deck) will work and you will place it on the map. Go to the Aircraft icon and select your flight. Change the takeoff base to the deck (as well as landing there if you prefer) and you will take off from the deck. Remember to adjust the waypoints as preferred and go fly.
  13. 1 point
    Of course, I guess that number is just a hard limit, in the end it will depend on your thrust and drag. But merely changing that number already worked, which might be some sort of asymptote, since it didn't just accelerate at the same pace and just stop when it reached the mach number.
  14. 1 point
    Messing with the stock F-104C data ini With the original I managed to get .96, with the modified one it was past 1.07, but they still don't get all the way to the limit, with both clean and in a shallow dive. Mind you, I also buffed the engine to GE-19 levels of thrust, an engine only used with F-104S and a few F-104As, AFAIK
  15. 1 point
    yeah, I guess. funnily enough, the old marcfighters Su-27 flight model had a supercruise ability in it (already fixed in the later Su-27 upload). whenever I'd play NATO Fighters 5 1986 campaign on the Soviet side, I'd just leave the Flanker throttle at 50 something percent and I'd reach Mach 1.1 speeds it's crazy and hella overpowered. I guess I just had the idea to put the same and improved version of that on the Su-35 Found on the Modern Warfare campaigns package, maybe being able to hit Mach 1.2-3 at 50-60 percent throttle (which I'd reckon would be the closest to the real-life Su-35), but thanks for the answer anyways friend!
  16. 1 point
    There is no way that I know of that you can enable supercruise into the aircraft. Remember the focus was on pre-supercruise aircraft so there's no option to do it. I mean I have never seen it discussed so I may be on a limb but overall as far as I know the answer is no you can't.
  17. 1 point
    Another good shots, which shows that stencils (obviously, stickers) on the aileron really have, as well as on tail rudders. The factory shield on the ending of the wing is also visible.
  18. 1 point
    @TeargasHorse feel better soon and you're not kidding about hospitals right now.
  19. 1 point
    No, never forgiven. We have a ZERO TOLERENCE for piracy. Consider this, AmigoPilot, your first and ONLY warning. Next time ... the consequences will be quite severe
  20. 1 point
    Now I have uploaded the TB2 I will be moving on to another project to complete. I may consider making a new US drone ;)
  21. 1 point
    Excellent stories so far everyone. Congratulations on the victory Paroni! And welcome to the campaign, Albrecht. I did actually fly this mission to Douai (by ignoring my actual orders, don’t tell the CO). Didn’t see anything myself though... --------------------------------------- There was an air of excitement as the officers of 2 squadron relaxed in their mess after dinner on the 31st of June. “It’s a big raid,” observed Lieutenant Reid as he swished his brandy speculatively. “3 are in and so are 16. That’s pretty much the whole Wing.” “We aren’t all going,” grumbled Clarke, from B flight. “Just C flight with bombs and ‘A’ flying escort.” “Well, we shall need you wireless chaps doing the day job,” Le Mesurier replied from behind a copy of Shaw’s Three Plays for Puritans that Loraine had loaned him. “You should be glad we will be taking the heat off you.” “Lots of heat,” Captain Hearson, who had taken over C flight from Dawes earlier in the month. “We have to do something about the Huns. I’ve been attacked three times this week!” “And got into Comic Cuts* as a result,” Captain Collins laughed. “Nice to be recognised, I must say,” said Lt Smith, who had also been mentioned in the RFC dispatch. The raid was to begin early in the morning and the contingent from 2 squadron took off from Hesdigneul at 5am. They were not to meet up with the pilots from 3 and 16 squadrons, but rather to bomb the airfield and sheds at Douai and Vitry independently. They reached Douai without much more that a smattering of Archie. The bomber pilots had to forgo an observer, because the BE2s could not carry bombs and a second man. The escorts from A did have observers armed with Lewis guns on Strange mounts. The bomber flight consisted of Smith, Leather, Reid and Le Mesurier. A flight flew above and there were some Parasols from 3 squadron who had arrived at the same time. Le Mesurier wished that he had copied Smith’s bombing practice as he tried to line up on the hangars. As it was his bombs went wide and sent up clods of earth in a field nearby. Some of the others’ bombs detonated amongst the sheds and a nice crater was created near the ‘T’ marking that was laid out on the landing field proper. It would probably take an hour to fill in. Le Mesurier turned around and headed for home. He was close to the escort flight and soon was joined by Smith. Leather and Reid seemed to have swung wider, but Le Mesurier was not concerned. They knew what they were doing. After they landed back at Hesdigneul, the atmosphere was a curious mix of elation and disappointment. They had coordinated 3 squadrons to attack a target far into enemy territory but then there had been little damage done. Leather turned up a little while after, but by lunch there was still no sign of Reid. Reid’s dog, Frisquette slunk around the entrance to the hangars and whined. Lt Reid with Frisquette After lunch a sergeant pilot from 3 squadron called McCudden came from Auchel to visit his friend, Butcher**, who was Le Mesurier’s engine fitter. Le Mesurier took the opportunity to ask if 3 squadron had any news. “I’m afraid not, sir,” McCudden answered. “Captain Barratt and Lieutenant Cleaver had to drive off a monoplane. One of those Morraine knock-offs that we are told Fokker are making.” The action was repeated the next day. The bombers stuck closer together this time and Le Mesurier’s bombs hit the landing field in front of a tent hangar. He hoped that he had done some damage. That evenin, an Aviatik sped over the field at Hesdigneul. It dropped a bag with a note in it. The note claimed that Reid was a prisoner having been injured by ainti-aircraft fire in the arm. It was signed by a Leutnant Immelman. The officers of 2 squadron returned to their huts with a heavy heart. Captain Hearson sat stroking Frisquette with a thoughtful expression. *yes, historical notes; I’m not sure that the RFC Communiques were called Comic Cuts this early (the action referenced here is in communique number 2, so very early). I was surprised when I read (in Smith’s diary) how many times 2 squadron machines were attacked by German machines in late July 1915. The period before the Fokker Scourge wasn’t peaceful really. **The future ace McCudden would often visit Butcher and other old acquaintances because he wasn’t treated very well by the officer pilots at his own squadron at this time. Barratt and Cleaver probably fought off Boelke, who was reported by Immelmann as chasing a monoplane (3 squadron flying Parasols). For Immelman’s own account of his first victory, see here. http://www.apw.airwar1.org.uk/immelmann ac.htm
  22. 1 point
    Jean-Fidele Hierrot, Report #3: 3-9 July, 1915 Just as Jean-Fidele started finding himself a bit more at home with Escadrille MS 12, the squadron's assignment for 3 July very nearly brought him back home in the most literal sense possible. The mission was an extended patrol behind friendly lines - nothing new there - but this assignment was projected to be over two and a half hours, much longer than the previous two missions. And, most poignantly for Jean-Fidele, this patrol was going to bring him just within miles of his family's home in Meaux. Captain Caillebotte talked out the orders for the day, and the men proceeded to load up their Morane-Saulniers and take off. Surrounded by comrades As the formation neared a factory somewhat northeast from Paris, Aldric noticed the young pilot giving a good, hard look at the scene below them both. "What are you looking at? Any boches I need to know about?" the observer asked. "Oh no, nothing like that." Jean-Fidele sighed. "It's just that a couple months ago, I was working at a factory much like this one, and not too far from here, either. I like to imagine maybe in another life, maybe somebody else would be flying this plane and I'd be building an engine or a spigot or whatever down there right now." "Go ahead, let's give this place a few turns." "But what about the formation?" "Never mind the formation. Does it look like they need us right now? Besides, we can just catch up with them. Go on, let's do a few circles over this town." Jean-Fidele complied. He had often thought about what he was fighting for, how the same Germans who'd pushed his family out of Alsace very nearly pushed his family out of Paris. Yet, at times the new pilot felt like he was living an entirely different life in an entirely different world than the one he'd been in before; for the first time since reporting to MS 12 in Rosnay, he felt in the most concrete terms how the world he'd left behind still very much cast a shadow on the new life he was now pursuing. *** The next day, Jean-Fidele read in the newspapers about how Germany's Kurt Wintgens had been credited with his second kill: another French pilot, dead at the hands of the enemy's new Fokker Eindecker weapon. "What I'd give to put a few holes through one of those things," Jean-Fidele told Aldric at the time. "Leave that to me," the observer replied. "Whatever magic the Germans have worked out, I've still got the gun and you've got the aircraft. We'll take an Aviatik down one of these days." That day, however, was still a ways away. On 5 July, Captain Caillebotte led Escadrille MS 12 on a scramble mission to intercept a formation of Aviatik two-seaters that were approaching Rosnay. The Aviatiks had gotten a good head start, though, and while the Morane-Saulnier L had somewhat of a speed advantage, that advantage wasn't great enough to close the gap quickly. The pursuit dragged on for over an hour, in part because the Aviatiks had disappeared at one point behind some clouds. Next thing Jean-Fidele knew, oil was splattering all over the cockpit. "WHAT ON EARTH?!" he shouted out, partly in pain but mostly out of sheer surprise. "Petit sous, look, smoke!" Jean-Fidele took a look back and sure enough, the engine was streaming smoke all over Aldric. The petit sous took the parasol down in desperate circles, looking for a clear landing spot. At this moment, thankfully, fortune smiled upon him and Aldric alike: an airfield. How convenient! From what Jean-Fidele knew of the area, this was likely the airfield at Ambrief. The Morane-Saulnier touched down at Ambrief, and the crew spent the next day or so working out arrangements to return to Rosnay. Upon their return, Aldric and Jean-Fidele found the entire squadron celebrating Captain Caillebotte's confirmed kill. "Heh, apparently le capitaine took down a two-seater while we were busy not dying," Aldric muttered. Jean-Fidele gained an appreciation for just how difficult that task truly is - for, a couple days later, MS 12's formation chanced upon a couple more Aviatiks, and Jean-Fidele & Aldric once again attacked the two-seater only for the two-seater to limp back towards German lines. There was clearly some damage to the engine - progress, at least! - but no cigar. At least not yet.
  23. 1 point
    August 11 Armand's Diary Back to Bryas again! Mission offensive patrol Vimy Ridge again. Near St.Vith we encaged two Aviatiks.We get good position and after 150 rounds,EA make half-split and almost collide us.Pilot hit sure! Schneider saw plane smashed near railway station.Le Sort claimed another plane. Mon Dieu! The first confirmed victory! I joked to Jean that she was on a shooting range on vacation. His response was that I had probably taken flight lessons!
  24. 1 point


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