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GPU-2A update , i still have to add some more details unfortunately i dont have a good picture from the right side of the gun pod so i cant guaranty that my interpretation oft the right side would be correct

A bit of background for Valastur new amazing work! When the Saab Viggen first versions were introduced, Swedish Air Force was still reliant on the Saab 35 Draken for air defense and altough it was still a viable fighter is starting showing its age. Work was well underway for a new fighter variant of the Viggen, but the development of the new engine was not going without its own problems as it doesn't genearated enough power and some modifications were needed to improve the results. Swedish air force seek a multirole variant to complement the separated fighterbomber/fighter Viggen, but with SAAB busy creating the Viggen Sweden, the Flygvapnet turned to Europe as it did just before WW2. The choosen fighter was the Mirage as it was readily available and can carry enough weaponry to complement the Viggen. 24 single seat fighters and 4 twin seaters were bought with small modifications done by SAAB adding certain radios and countermeasures pods. In service the Hägring as it was known was well loved by pilots and servicemen and it enjoyed a long career retiring almost at the same time of the Viggen.

You'd think they would be more appreciative: I wasn't using nukes on this missile strike.

Fans of ThirdWire's Strike Fighters, I'm happy to announce an upcoming re-release of Operation Desert Storm: 30th Anniversary Edition, due between this December and next January (yet to be defined). Since the last public release in January 2022, the development team has worked in spare time for more than a year in overhauling the mod with brand new creations, tons of improvements and bug fixes, additional content and much more. Here below some sneak peeks at what's to come. With the intent of delivering the most complete Gulf War experience, players will now be able to fly with the three unique F-4G aircraft that were deployed to the conflict with Euro I camo (namely serial numbers 69-0269, 69-7566, 69-7234) and the only Grey colored F-111E (serial number 68-0050) deployed alongside the more common camouflaged F-111Es. F-4G aircraft 3d model and skins courtesy of @ravenclaw_007. To complement the already huge list of flyable aircraft offered by the mod, new aircraft have been added! Say hi to the wonderful, brand new Mirage F1EQ-5, Mirage F1EQ-6 and Mirage F1CR by @ludo.m54 and his Mirage F1 Team. Moreover, let's welcome a couple of two-seaters; the F-16D-40 Fighting Falcon by @ravenclaw_007 in its Bahraini livery (skins and decals by @Viper63a) and the F-5F available in Royal Saudi Air Force camo and Grey Bahraini livery (skins and decals by @paulopanz). I decided to allow players to choose from experimental camos devised before the Gulf War for some of the most known aircraft of the war. The A-10As are getting the experimental Flipper and Peanut camouflages (both were meant for the Gulf War, respectively for night time and day time missions) and the F-16C Block 25, serial number 84-1212, gets the unique desert camo it sported during Desert Shield, before it was later decided to remove it. These three new skins have been made by yours truly. The original Lizard camo for the F-16C Block 25 is from the Viper Team, it has been upscaled and detailed a bit more by yours truly, as a bonus. On the fun side of things, additional skins have been added to important aircraft of the war; these include prototype paint schemes for the F-117 and the F-15E, Iranian liveries for the F-5E, MiG-29, F-14A and F-4E, and the VX-4 black livery for the F-14A. These skins exist only for player use and won't be seen in normal gameplay during the campaign and single missions, so rest assured the mod won't be breaking any reality check by default. The F-117 skins are brand new and made by yours truly. Okay, so we get to see more variety and beauty in third-person view, but what about cockpits? Numerous cockpits have received a face-lift in the way of brand new textures, mapping fixes, recolouring, better calibrated and standardized HUD colors, corrected view-points and much more. The Mirage Factory's F-14A cockpit now takes the place of the stock one by ThirdWire which looked inappropriate for early 1990s Tomcats, alongside small texture improvements by yours truly. Cockpits for the F-15C, F-15E, RF-4C and for F-7s were revised by yours truly, given hi-res textures and/or proper recoloring for consistency's sake. The S-3 Viking is now flyable, with Foxmonter's original cockpit getting a fresh hi-res repaint by @Viper63a. MiG and Su cockpits received similar treatment by yours truly, and thanks to the works of @OlWilly and @michaelk. If you've had enough of the sky, do know that our master 3d modelers have been busy producing dozens of brand new 3d models for land and sea warfare. One huge, major update regards the Iraqi ground forces; @yakarov79 produced a vast number of brand new vehicles never seen in a flight simulator before; from exclusive Iraqi versions of known Soviet tanks to not-so common howitzers, proper Iraqi command vehicles, artillery units, APCs and more. The Iraqi ground forces have never been reproduced so accurately before, so you can be sure they are a real treat of the mod. Coalition units also got a high-definition treatment with brand new objects by fellow @guuruu, including the M270 MLRS, M102 and M110 howitzers; he also worked on brand new ship 3d models, from generic boats and bulk carriers and cargo ships, to the Iraqi Zhuk-class patrol boat. Moreover, he reworked all data and sound design of guns used by most ground objects; guns now feature unified warhead weight based on caliber and standardized light range and tracer size. Ground battles feel much more intense and gun-only dogfights now feel incredibly realistic, as you or the AI can survive multiple hits (whereas in stock Strike Fighters it's usually an unrealistic one-shot one-kill). The terrain has received noticeable improvements. All terrain objects have been given DetailLevel statements in order for them to be scalable depending on Ground Object graphics settings; this means that less important terrain objects will appear only at Medium, High or Unlimited settings as required. More importantly, Iraq got brand new airbase 3d models by @Jimbib accurately portraying the layouts of the time, alongside a proper Kuwait Int'l airport and Iran's Kharg island airport. Be on the look-out for easter eggs, especially at Iraq's Tallil Airbase. You'll be able to see @Jimbib's recreation of the Ziggurat of Ur, and you might find a bird by @guuruu inside one of the hangars, seemingly out of context. This actually is an historically correct easter egg; history aviation enthusiasts should know about it. There's also a not-so secret single mission available for you to experience. It's not Gulf War related, apart from the fact you'll be flying an F/A-18A of the VMFA-314 Black Knights. Mission date? July 4 1996. Hmm, what could it be? You can tell the amount of effort and passion that went into the mod by reading the complete changelog below. Changelog: Remade installer to allow users to install the mod folder to a path of their choice. Major overhaul of effects with great help by guuruu; improved Stary's Unified Effects package and fixed various issues. Modified DTV filter data for all avionics files to use a different BlendOp for better visibility at night. Resized various cockpit and aircraft .TGA textures to improve performance and reduce memory load. Cleaned up Pilots folder of unnecessary files, fixed few occurrences of missing textures. Optimized Decals folder, resized void and/or plain color decals to 1px, removed unnecessary decals. Standardized control keys for all kinds of animations on all aircraft. Standardized HUD color values, gunsight textures and night lighting for all cockpits. Added DetailLevel statements to all terrain objects in order for them to be scalable depending on Ground Object graphics settings. Added new runway models for major Iraqi airports (as well as Kharg Island and Kuwait Int'l airports) recreated very accurately by Jimbib. Added proper 3d model of the Ziggurat of Ur in the vicinity of Tallil air base, by Jimbib. Added realistic Easter Egg to Tallil air base, 3d model by guuruu; history aviation enthusiasts should look for an aircraft. Added four missing Saudi Arabian airports: Buraydah, Al-Artawiyah, Jubail and Al-Khafji. Added Veltro2k's C-2A(R) aircraft released by Wrench and properly reworked for the ODS environment. Added FastCargo's F-5F with brand new RSAF and BAAF skins made by paulopanz. Added brand new Mirage F1CR by the Mirage F1 Team, with specific tweaks for the ODS mod. Added brand new Mirage F1EQ-5 and Mirage F1EQ-6 aircraft by the Mirage F1 Team, with specific tweaks for the ODS mod. Added latest versions of the Mirage F1EQ-2, F1EQ-4 and F1EDA aircraft released by the Mirage F1 Team. Added proper Saudi Arabian E-3A (E-3A with CFM engines) 3d model made by Sundowner, with brand new skin and decals done by PeacePuma. Added huge ground objects update by yakarov79 with brand new 3d models for tanks, radars, SAMs, howitzers, anti-air guns, vehicles for the Iraqi faction. Added dozens of nicely detailed 3d models standing in as destroyed models for ground objects, by yakarov79. Added new, nicely detailed 3d models; M270 MLRS, RORO ship, Zhuk-class patrol boat, Bulk Carrier ship, M102 and M110 howitzers by guuruu. Added revised weapon data for all AIM missiles including additional sub-variants, all by Crusader, and revised loadouts for aircraft. Added missing CBU-78 and updated 3d models for some other CBUs, all made by ravenclaw_007. Added airburst version of the 1000-lb GP Bomb Mk.13 and more realistic SEAD loadouts for the Tornado GR.1, by dtmdragon. Added smokeless rocket effects by simonmiller416 for the AIM-120A and for all AGM-88s and all AGM-65s. Added specific Kuwait skin to the BMP-2 ground object by yakarov79, for use in the Invasion of Kuwait campaign. Added experimental desert camo skin applied on one F-16C Block 25 aircraft before Desert Storm began. Added experimental Peanut and Flipper A-10A paint schemes conceived for the Gulf War (scrapped before Desert Shield). Added prototype Lizard camo to the F-15E Strike Eagle as a fun bonus, with its correct serial number. Added prototype paint schemes to the F-117A Nighthawk as a fun bonus, with proper serial numbers. Added overhauled skins and decals for all Mirage 2000 aircraft, as well as new hi-res textures for fuel tanks, by ludo.m54. Added period correct Euro I camo and Shark Mouth skins to the F-4G aircraft with correct ODS serials and decals, by ravenclaw_007. Added overall grey skin for the F-111E representing the unique 68-0050 serial number that took part in Desert Storm. Added Improved Countermeasure Effect mod by simonmiller416, increasing realism and improving looks of flares. Added BQM-34 Firebee by yakarov79 as a target drone eventually for training missions for the Coalition aircraft. Added KDS-155 dispenser by Coupi to the MiG-25PD, with specific tweaks for use by the AI in the ODS mod. Added much better detailed AGM-62 Walleye bombs made by ravenclaw_007 in place of old ones. Added F-16D Block 40 aircraft made by ravenclaw_007, with Bahraini skin and decals previously made for ODS by Viper63a. Added new hi-res skins and decals for the KC-135s by daddyairplanes with templates produced by yakarov79. Added Lizard camo skin based on the F/A-16C proposal to the F-16C Block 25 aircraft as a fun bonus, with correct serial numbers. Added Iranian camo skin to the F-5E aircraft by Crusader as a fun bonus. Added Iranian camo skin to the MiG-29A aircraft by The Mirage Factory a fun bonus. Added Iranian camo skins made by ravenclaw_007 to the F-4E aircraft as a fun bonus. Added Iranian camo skins and VX-4 black livery skin to the F-14A aircraft as a fun bonus. Added improved sight textures by michaelk for Stary's Su-7 cockpit. Added M992A2 and proper V-150 APC, 3d models created by GKABS. Added MovementX and MovementZ data to all cockpits to allow XY slewing for TrackIR users. Added The Mirage Factory's F-14A cockpit in place of the stock one by ThirdWire, alongside reworked textures and data. Added Foxmonter's original S-3 Viking cockpit to make the aircraft flyable, with a hi-res repaint by Viper63a. Added working canopy animation to both aircraft and cockpit 3d models for all MiG-21s/F-7s. Added shells ejection update for the MiG-29s and reduced MiG-29UB's gun rounds to 50, as suggested by Crusader. Added KS-3 and KS-4 ejection seats created by 76.IAP-Blackbird and Flogger23 to all Iraqi Fitter aircraft. Added correct list of serial numbers to the Iraqi skin of the Su-24MK aircraft. Added reworked, higher resolution strobe light texture for aircraft and runways, for improved in-game looks. Added numerous real Gulf War pilots to the campaign data and correct ranks for the Iraqi air force. Added bonus Unknown Contact mission as a fun Easter Egg, inspired by a rare demo video of F22 Total Air War. Added more RWR sounds specific to certain aircraft in order to increase variety. Fixed many inaccurate hitboxes for most of the more 170 ground objects included in the mod. Fixed inaccurate hitboxes and/or collision points still present on few aircraft. Fixed weapon stations data for the F-117A so that now it carries LGBs only, including GBU-10s. Fixed weapon stations data for the UAE Mirage 2000s, the RAD variant now carries the Harold recon pod. Fixed weapon stations data for the F-15E in order to avoid weapon 3d models clipping between each other. Fixed data for the F-15E so that the AVQ-14 pod does not appear on loadouts with dumb bombs, by dtmdragon. Fixed wrong gun ammo count for the MiG-21F and the F-7s; the MiG-21F-13 carries 1x60 rounds, the F-7s 2x30 rounds. Fixed exaggerated BaseRCSModifier value for the F-117A, now it can be targeted by other aircraft. Fixed exaggerated jammer strength value for the MiG-25PD, now it can be properly locked on by other aircraft. Fixed AimAngles values for the internal gun on all F-15s, so that the HUD gunsight is properly aligned. Fixed Hawk's cockpit so that it features correct viewpoint, working HSI, lighter reflections and proper gunsight data. Fixed some cockpit data for all MiG-21/F-7 cockpits, as found in a topic written by Crusader. Fixed misplaced RWR screen on the Jaguar GR.1A's cockpit 3d model. Fixed misplaced wingtip vortex effects on all F-111s, all Su-20/22s, the MiG-23UB and the Su-24MK. Fixed missing exhaust emitters on the A-10A and OA-10A aircraft. Fixed exhaust emitters on the AV-8B so that they appear not just on thrust vectoring controls. Fixed nose landing gear being textured improperly on the S-3 aircraft. Fixed pilot's head stuck looking in the same direction on the AV-8B aircraft. Fixed excessive fuel flow values and sluggish flight model on all F-16C aircraft. Fixed wrong, outdated flight models and data for all F-15 aircraft. Fixed few loadout.ini files referencing the AGM-84A instead of the more period correct AGM-84D. Fixed few gun sounds not playing in-game due to their filenames containing a dot character. Fixed overlapping parking spot reported by Viper63a on Ali Al-Salem and Ahmed Al-Jaber airfields by Jimbib. Improved terrain target areas and objects, removed unused and duplicate terrain objects. Improved AI altitude and strafe, rocket and bomb attack values to reduce weird flight behavior at low altitudes. Improved ViewList.ini file, now you can take better screenshots of your preferred aircraft and gameplay instant. Improved and optimized all files of the Sounds folder, now being less than half the original size for faster loading, by guuruu. Improved guns data, now featuring unified warhead weight based on caliber, standardized light range and tracer size, by guuruu. Improved visibility of ground objects at night through the DTV camera by increasing MaxVisibleDistance, by guuruu. Improved aircraft data for all Mirage F1s for proper AI use of ECM and countermeasures, by pvince. Improved all MiG-21 cockpits with reworked gunsight and cockpit textures, removed gunsights embedded into the 3d models. Improved F-7B and F-7M cockpit textures by using the hi-res repaints of MiG-21 cockpits by comrad. Improved MiG-25 cockpit and avionics with tweaks done by OlWilly. Improved MiG-23 cockpits between variants with OlWilly's improvements and with different gunsight textures. Improved Su-7 cockpit with fixed typos and additional tweaks, by OlWilly. Improved A-6E cockpit by reworking few textures and by making the bombing gunsight reasonably sized. Improved RF-4C cockpit by using and tweaking hi-res cockpit textures by streakeagle made for the F-4 cockpits of SF1. Improved F-15C and F-15E cockpits, repainted HUD glass and needles, moved misaligned 3d model parts through .ini tricks. Improved F-16A cockpit with more accurate position of indicator light boxes. Improved little skin texture details on the MiG-23UB, added cockpit files to make it flyable by the player. Improved small texture details on the F-7B, F-7M and Hawk aircraft. Improved F-5E with flight model and cockpit tweaks by baffmeister. Improved exhaust emitter effect size on most aircraft, by guuruu. Improved viewing angles in all F-16C cockpits to feel more natural, as suggested by TaktischesGenie. Improved SpeechText subtitles, now on par with the Speech Enhancement mod by yours truly. Improved data and drag values of chaff and flare to be more realistic, by orsin. Improved FlightEngine.ini values to provide better texture quality on lower settings and to reduce out of memory events. Improved realSKY mod with modified cloud shaders, purple-ish twilight transitions and reworked lens flare textures. Improved SoundList.ini data for better doppler effects, extended sound range for engines and explosions, guuruu. Removed the Maverick EO aiming symbol from the A-10A's HUD, to reflect Gulf War avionics, as suggested by dtmdragon. Removed GBU-15 from being selectable for the F-15E, as no data confirms it was used by F-15Es during ODS. Removed double versions (EOGR and ASM) of AGM anti-ship missiles, now only ASM ones are selectable. Removed SA-13 9S80 radar as it is historically inaccurate for Iraq in 1990-1991. Removed anachronistic AIM-7 and AIM-9 missile variants from the Weapons folder. Removed RWR from the F-117A since it never had one in reality, as pointed out by dtmdragon. Removed ECM from the MiG-25PD aircraft as it did not have any in reality. Removed R-73 missile from the mod and corrected loadout of the MiG-29UB to use R-60s instead. Removed JATO from C-130s and from Tu-22s as they are not needed and not proper for the Gulf War scenario. Removed tracer texture from specific guns where tracers rounds were not used operationally, as suggested by dtmdragon.

Nice strike! First time, that 40 mm Bofors Flak hit me. Never thought, that could happen.

@Gepard i think the Brits noticed all that construction you've been doing in France two more tigers for tonight

Successfull strike.

coming home from another deny flight hop

Over... China !

Boooo....hisssss, fighter pilots make movies...........mud movers make history....

My extended thanks to @yakarov79, @guuruu, @daddyairplanes, @GKABS, @Jimbib, @ravenclaw_007, @ludo.m54, @dtmdragon, @Crusader, @Coupi, @paulopanz, @TaktischesGenie, @simonmiller416, @pvince and @swambast for supporting me and the mod during its latest development. The year 2023 has been bitter for some members of CombatACE.com and it is marked by the sad loss of dear Marty ‘NIELS’ Nielsen. I send the CombatACE.com community all my heartfelt thanks and best wishes. The release of the mod is going to be dedicated to the memory of 'NIELS', who has been one of the major beta testers of the ODS 30AE mod before it got its official public release. Blue skies and tailwinds…

Hoping for a TAV-8B in 2024... (from my letter to Santa )

I dont know who needs to hear this * but NOT A POUND FOR AIR TO GROUND! (thats what the Mud Hen is for ) * ok yes i do know. names withheld to protect the guilty.

Now this is one of the best ones I've seen so far, nice work!

To add new nations and have them with working insignia like on stock aircraft is not trivial, it is not just a matter of modifying the nations.ini file nor a matter of copying an insignia.tga file. Anyway, it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel, the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force had been added already with the following mod:

Russian Military Aviation Su-25A, Su-25UB ( Georgian camo ) style Mi-28N , Mi-28NM and Kamov Ka-52 Alligator

Russian Attack Helicopters Mil Mi-28N, Mi-28NM and Kamov Ka-52 Alligator ;)

Anything going on with EAW? I get plenty of visits still to my site. I wonder if the few pilots are getting enough help?

I “repurposed” a 32” Samsung TV as my “new” PC Monitor. And I am stuck on 1366x768 rez which kinda sucks as I was getting 1920x1080 out of my old 24” monitor. The TV is about 5 years old. So…: - Am I missing a setting? - Is this TV too big? What’s typical size these days? - Should I just buy a new monitor? Feel free to offer suggestions. (This is not at all my area of expertise, so thanks in advance.)

Make sure you have something similar. I use the Strike Fighter Israel 2 as default "game" and interface. Click on the attached picture to zoom in.

Moved to the correct location. The original post was in the Forum for issues with the site itself, not specific game.

BAC Lightning F.2 - No.92 Squadron - 'The Blue Diamonds'

Blender rigged 'universal soldier' .

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MR, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, 4° Grupo de Caza, 1982 Credit for the front badge goes to Spinners

more airfield action all that to set up the big Boss fight.......

An outstanding mod gets better. Truly appreciate the passion you all put into this mod.

Due to various reasons, my contribution is still very small. It makes me feel honored to be mentioned.

Deep Blue

NATO Tigers

Rick, good to see you here! I'm enjoying your video series. Journal of FCdr Douglas Bell-Gordon, DSC 9 Squadron, RNAS Part 25 16 March 1917. On board SS Middleham Castle. "From there it was a simple matter of staying above the barrage balloons…" Had a bit of excitement on 4 November – led a defensive patrol down to Bailleul, providing protection for the several aerodromes in that sector. We had scarcely arrived when a cluster of white-grey Archie bursts drew our attention to a lone Hun two-seater about a mile and a half off to the south. I waggled my wings and led the flight to cut off the Hun’s retreat. The EA was a new type with a biplane tail. My first burst from behind and below sent the fellow into a steep spiral dive. Edwards and I followed him down firing all the way, until I caught him pulling out around 8000 feet. One last push of the trigger levers sent at least fifty rounds into the cockpit area, and the Hun fell vertically, streaming smoke. It fell a couple of miles south of Arras, my twenty third official victory. Over the next several days we typically flew only one patrol a day. We chased away some Albatri one afternoon, and on another day harried a Rumpler. Nothing conclusive – just longer and colder patrols. Meanwhile, the big push at the salient drew to a conclusion. The Canadians took their objectives on the final ridge. On the larger stage the situation in Russia seems out of control and we are worried that the Ruskies will pack it in and leave the Germans to us in the West. Just what we need, I think not! By 10 November, the whole of our sector from Diksmuide to the coast was quiet, the Huns having gone into hibernation for the winter. On 15 November, I completed the early patrol. We enjoyed a touch of excitement when we ran into a group of Pfalz scouts. They put up the briefest of fights and then ran away before anything of significance happened. The Pfalz machines dive like gannets. The squadron commander sent for me as soon as I’d completed my report. “Your Canada leave has come through, Douglas,” he said. “But the last ship I can get you on that will have you in Canada before Christmas sales from Liverpool at nine this evening, our time.” The clock on the office mantle told me it was eight-thirty. Squadron Commander Norton gave me the use of a driver and his car to get me to Naval Five at Petite-Synthe. They had a worn out DH4 that needed to go back to England. I was to pick up Shaw from 5(N) Squadron and fly to a place called Hooton Park. This is an RFC aerodrome not far from Liverpool. Arrangements had been made for Shaw to spend the night with the RFC training establishment there and return the aircraft to Eastchurch in the morning. It was hoped that I could get a drive into Liverpool or at least a taxi. Then there was the matter of the ship. No troop ships or passenger ships were Halifax bound for a week or more, so I had been booked on one of two open cabins on a cargo vessel – SS Middleham Castle. With luck I’d be home in a week and half. I threw my things together in minutes. There was a lace tablecloth I’d bought for Mum and a lovely French pipe for Pop. I’d not had a change to shop for Maggie, my sister. But I wasn’t even sure that she was in Halifax. Last I heard she was part of a Canadian Red Cross VAD contingent bound for England and perhaps France. Things would get sorted once I landed at home. The boys at Naval Five were a fine lot. Flight Sublieutenant Shaw introduced himself and invited me into the wardroom for a coffee laced with brandy and a bacon sandwich with brown sauce. We went over our maps together. The plan was to follow the coast to Calais and thence west northwest to Dover. We would skirt the west and north side of London and point ourselves in the general direction of Birmingham. This would be the hardest landmark to miss, and as our only map was a large railroad map of England and Wales, we could not afford to be overly detailed in our navigation. From Birmingham we would head northwest, hoping to meet the Mersey River somewhere between the ocean and Liverpool. We would then drop down and follow the coast to Hooton Park aerodrome. After a quick briefing on the DH4, we headed out to the sheds. Our machine was ready and nearly up to temperature. I climbed aboard and settled into the spacious cockpit. Wonderfully rugged, it seemed. This machine was powered by a 200 horsepower Royal Aircraft Factory engine. Most of the type enjoyed more powerful motors, so that is why our mount was being put out to pasture in England. We took off and turned over Dunkirk, following the coast. By the time we arrived at Calais we were already up to 8000 feet. Shaw’s voice came through the speaking tube, reminding me of the course to Dover. It was a sunny, cold morning with moderate gatherings of cumulus clouds from 7000 to 10,000 feet. We continue to climb clear of the cloud. After about twenty minutes I heard Shaw saying something I could not make out. I turned and saw him pointing downwards. Through a gap in the cloud one could see the white cliffs. Now we dropped down to around 6000 feet, all the better to navigate and a bit warmer. The Thames became visible ahead. I recognised the southward bend in the river east of Gravesend, and then the distinctive landmark of Tilbury docks. From there it was a simple matter of staying above the barrage balloons and following the indistinct edge of the metropolis north and then west until the straight line of ancient Watling Street stood out clearly. All praise to Emperor Claudius! This road became our guide all the way to Birmingham. Or at least I thought it was Birmingham. I began to set a course for the Mersey until I remembered that Coventry lay to the east of Birmingham. Sure enough, I picked out the famous cathedral below. Then the smoke haze of England’s second city became obvious, and I headed west until I was really over Birmingham. Now it was a simple matter of flying northwest to the Mersey. But of course, matters are seldom as simple as they should be. The cloud became heavier and we descended to around 4000 feet. There was a bit of ground haze, so it took me by surprise when a line of hills emerged just ahead on to our port side. I’d forgotten how hilly Wales was supposed to be. The railway map did not show hills and mountains. Besides, it was massive and if I pulled it out now it would be torn away in the slipstream. Another mountain appeared dead ahead. We climbed and followed a gap around the peak. Yet more mountains appeared. The compass was still moving about and I held the machine steady for several minutes. We were heading nearly directly west. This course would bring us into more high terrain and deposit us directly onto the Irish Sea. I decided to turn due north. About twenty minutes later I made out shoreline ahead. It was running roughly east and west. Must be the mouth of the Mersey. When we arrived over water I turned east. If this was the south shore of the Mersey, why could I not see the north shore? Now the shoreline turned southeast and a far shore appeared, but there was no sign of Liverpool. We were flying over a wide bay that soon began to narrow. I had no choice but to turn north-east and pick up the main coastline once more. My mistake became obvious in a few minutes. I had completely forgotten about how the River Dee joins the open water just below Liverpool. We had been heading up the wrong river. Soon the proper entrance to the Mersey appeared and we descended over its south bank, passing low over Birkenhead. The challenge now was to find the aerodrome. Finding aerodromes was an easy task in France where they stood out clearly in the flat farmland of Flanders and Picardy. The problem here was the sprawl of built-up areas. Every time I thought I’d spotted the place, it turned out to be a part or a football pitch. It was Shaw who drew my attention to Hooton Park. By the time I’d heard his call through the speaking tube, the aerodrome was over my left shoulder. The sheds were unusually dark and did not appear distinct. We turned back over a built-up area and began our descent. I arrived at the edge of the field much too high and much too fast. We went around again. On the second approach we were lower but still too fast. Feeling like a fool, I went around for a third time. I missed the ability to blip the engine! The damn DH simply would not slow down. This time I shuddered over the treetops onto the field at the edge of the stall. Even then, I used all the ground available to bring the machine to a stop. “You realise that will cost you a drink or two, don’t you?” Shaw said. A tender with two Ack Emmas pulled up and I asked the petty officer in charge to get the machine back to the sheds. I really didn’t want to see the bloody thing again, I explained. To my delight there was a Navy car waiting for me. “It is you!” the driver said. “Remember me, sir?” I studied the man’s face. Where had I seen him before? “Luxeuil, of course You were the chap that picked me up at the train station. My God! That was August of last year. What brings you back here?” Sure enough, my driver here was the same fellow who had brought me to 3 Wing on my arrival in France. I remembered that he was a Liverpudlian. The driver explained something about a medical issue and a doctor, but his accent had not become more decipherable in the past year. He waited while I spoke with the RFC station commander and thanked him for his patience with my landing and for hosting Shaw for the evening. I also left a few shillings to ensure that Shaw’s drinks were covered. From there I made a quick stop at the latrines and headed out to the car. It took a very long time to get to the docks where I finally boarded the SS Middleham Castle around four in the afternoon. I met the captain, Captain Irvine and the first officer, Mr Gwilliam, who showed me to my billet. The cabin was a spartan affair. An iron bed frame was bolted to the wall and topped with a thin mattress. The sheets and blankets were like the standard Navy issue. A bedside table held a shaded reading lamp. Its wooden base was screwed to the tabletop. There was no closet for clothes, merely a couple of open shelves and a row of three hooks. The nearest toilet and bath were at the far end of the passageway outside. I had a chair but no writing table. Fortunately, Mr Gwilliam showed me to what he described as the ship’s library. This was a room of modest proportion with three wooden card tables and a collection of chairs, including two comfortable armchairs. There was a bookshelf with an odd assortment of novels and maritime-themed non-fiction works. They had today’s Daily Post and a collection of magazines. I settled into an armchair and pulled over a standing ashtray. After a quick smoke and read, I fell sound asleep.

Version 11.0 (RPM Control & Canons), Oct. 14, 2023 - New type added is the early, 200 hp SPAD XII. Also includes several modifications to the SPAD XII 220 hp, as well as to the late/rare Alb. D.Va 200 hp. Further additions include limited RPM control on the Fokk. E.Ia, E.II, E.IIa, also the E.III, as well as the Morane Saulnier Type N, etc. As always, check over the newest, included READ ME file for more info. Happy flying,