FastCargo

Awesome review Rugg! FC

Don't be absurd....your sarcasm is off the mark. Laser pointers make horrible combat zone weapons, because they basically are a big green 'drop a JDAM on my forehead' arrow pointing at their location. Considering the potential targets are probably armed, on the lookout for threats (SAMs, AAA, etc), and are high speed or high alt (exception being helos), a laser pointer isn't a great idea to try to down an aircraft in that regime. But, laser pointers make good terrorism weapons. They are unregulated, are great against 'soft targets', either commerical aircraft or military aircraft in the slow and low part of the envelope in a critical phase of flight. They can be stored, distributed and hidden easily, and the target probably can't instantly retaliate either at the moment of illumination because they are not armed, or aren't weapons hot at the time. As a person who has been blinded by one, it's not fun to shine one in someone's face. FC

Now that's some heavy metal! FC

That's probably the better piece of advice... FC

Check to make sure the landing gear names aren't different on the LODs. FC

Before you do anything, start here: http://combatace.com/forum/99-thirdwire-woewoiwovsf-1-knowledge-base/ If you do not start here, you will become hopelessly confused by the terms most folks use around here. Then, for WOV, a good campaign is this one: http://combatace.com/files/file/10281-wov-air-ground-war-expansion-pack-gold-part-1/ Realize there are 3 parts of the basic download, plus 2 updates. Read all the readmes! FC

Oh come on Dave... B-Eagle = Beagle! FC

Dang that's pretty! FC

That's what I've noticed as well...reducing a particular mod's aircraft requirements to only what it used vastly speeds up loading...esp on slower computers. FC

Yep, there's a key for that...check the Options panel, Controls, Keyboard, Customize... FC

Bombers are the only aircraft I know that have a specific parameter in the data.ini to set the altitude for their bomb runs. FC

A bit of slight of hand, but good enough for the purpose. Expect a release soon... FC

Waiting to takeoff... FC

WSJ: FAA Modifies Airspace Restrictions for New Boeing Jets Photo by Joe Contreras By Andy Pasztor and Peter Sanders Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Article A week after issuing interim rules to protect aircraft from the wake turbulence generated by Boeing Co.'s (BA: 70.39 ,-0.97 ,-1.36%) latest jetliner models, federal regulators abruptly reversed course and said the restrictions were premature. The FAA's surprise move on Tuesday left industry officials and safety experts uncertain about the potential hazards of flying closely behind the 787 Dreamliner and the larger 747-8, both of which are currently undergoing flight tests. The original rules mandated many aircraft maintain roughly double the typical distance when flying behind other widebody Boeing or rival Airbus aircraft. The situation was further confused when an FAA spokeswoman said the interim rules--distributed to air traffic controllers nationwide--contained "some mistakes." The guidelines were signed on Sept. 27 by Nancy Kalinowski, an FAA vice president of system operations services in the air traffic organization. But the spokeswoman, Laura Brown, also said the replacement standards, which could be announced shortly, may turn out to be similar or in some cases identical to those that were withdrawn. Ms. Brown didn't provide details about the revised airspace separation guidelines. Boeing officials on Monday said only they were in discussions with the FAA about the agency's initial restrictions placed on aircraft following the Dreamliner and the 747-8. The interim rules, requiring aircraft to remain at least 10 miles behind the new Boeing jets during large portion of the descent towards the airport, would have remained in effect until October, 2011. By then Boeing expects to deliver a handful of 747-8's and possibly more than a dozen Dreamliners to airlines. Such spacing and other restrictions--especially around busy hub airports--could frustrate airlines such as All Nippon Airways Co. (9202.TO), Japan Airlines Corp. and Cargolux Airlines International S.A. that are among the first slated to put the Boeing models into service. Boeing 787s are scheduled to commence passenger service with ANA after the first quarter of 2011, and the first deliveries of 747-8 cargo planes also are expected to occur around the middle of next year. Maintaining extra safety margins during late phases of approaches to congested airfield could reduce overall capacity and complicate the introduction of the new jets. The FAA's notice said studies indicate that wakes generated by 747-8 and 787 models--essentially cones of spinning air spreading out from the tip of each wing--"may be more substantial than those" created by existing wide-body or jumbo jets such as the Boeing 747-400 or Airbus A340. Nearly three years behind schedule, the 787's development has been beset by design issues, manufacturing problems and engine malfunctions. Development of the stretch 747 has been delayed by production and testing difficulties, including aerodynamic issues discovered during flight tests that could affect its wake characteristics. Copyright © 2010 Dow Jones Newswires

Related article: New 747 cargo plane tested at Fresno airport Boeing 747-8 is a jumbo freighter. Posted at 11:22 PM on Monday, Sep. 27, 2010 By Tim Sheehan / The Fresno Bee Photos by Joe Contreras Article A spanking-new Boeing 747-8 cargo airplane and one of its older siblings rumbled through the skies over Fresno on Monday, part of a flight-test program before the giant jet is delivered to its first commercial customers. Boeing is testing its new jumbo freighter at Fresno Yosemite International Airport and several other airports to learn about its flight characteristics in different conditions, Tim Bader, a spokesman for the company, said. The second airplane, a Boeing 747-400, is accompanying it so engineers can compare the two aircraft. The new 747-8, outfitted in the red, white and blue paint scheme of its future owner, Luxembourg-based Cargolux, and its Boeing-blue-and-white companion, flew to Fresno from different airfields near Boeing's manufacturing plant in Everett, Wash. The 747-8 that flew around Fresno on Monday is one of only four built so far, Bader said. Their arrival within minutes of each other about 11 a.m. Monday attracted a crowd of onlookers to streets with a vantage point of the airport runway. Some spectators began gathering on a frontage road next to Chestnut Avenue, near the northwest end of the runways, a couple of hours before the planes touched down. "It's not often that something that big and that technologically advanced comes to Fresno," said Lorence Liscano, a self-described aviation fan and technology buff. "It's going to be the biggest civilian airplane in the world. ... This is big-time." The 747-8 is the newest member of Boeing's 747 family, and with a wingspan of almost 225 feet and a length of more than 250 feet, it's also the largest -- 13 feet wider and 18 feet longer than the 747-400. It boasts a cargo capacity of almost 148 tons -- about 20 tons more than the freighter version of the 747-400. "I'm just impressed and heartened by these big aircraft coming in here," said Tom Skypeck, who bicycled with his wife, Jeanette, from their Fresno home to the airport. "It makes you proud that they chose this place to do the testing." Skypeck, a retired high school teacher who was also a career Air Force man, was armed with a video camera and a radio scanner tuned to the airport's frequency. He listened in as the Boeing test pilots talked to air-traffic controllers when pilots maneuvered their planes over the Valley. After landing, the 747-8 trundled down the taxiway, followed by the 747-400. About 15 minutes after it touched down, the big jet roared back down the runway, kicking up a cloud of brown dust before lumbering into the sky. The 747-400 followed suit about 8 minutes later. The two jets then swung large arcs around the airport before passing over the runway, each making two low-level flyovers scarcely 60 feet off the ground. By 12:15 p.m., both jets had completed their maneuvers over Fresno and were winging their way to San Bernardino. Airport officials said the testing program is expected to visit Fresno intermittently over the next couple of months. Under a formula based on aircraft weight, Fresno Yosemite International will send a bill to Boeing for landing fees for the two jets. Those charges have not been calculated, said Vikkie Calderon, an airport spokeswoman. Monday wasn't the first time Fresno has hosted gigantic aircraft. The largest airplane ever to visit the airport was an Antonov 124-100, a Russian-built cargo monster that spent several days here in 2001. And on several occasions since 1995, presidents have been ferried to and from Fresno aboard Air Force One.

SpaceShipTwo Flies Free SpaceShip Two Flies Free SpaceShipTwo, the spacecraft that will take paying passengers to the edge of space, had its first manned free flight Sunday, dropping from the launch aircraft mothership Eve 45,000 feet above the Mojave Desert. Owner Virgin Galactic said the spacecraft, now named VSS Enterprise, glided to successful landing 11 minutes later at the Mojave Air and Space Port in the high desert of California. On board were pilot Pete Siebold and copilot Mike Alsbury. Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson was on hand in Mojave with his trademark enthusiasm in full force. "Now, the sky is no longer the limit and we will begin the process of pushing beyond to the final frontier of space itself over the next year," Branson said. All gushing aside, there were some substantial practical accomplishments achieved with the flight. As the first commercial suborbital space venture, Virgin is being watched closely by government and the industry and safety is, of course, a primary consideration. All systems were checked, the reusable spacecraft's stall characteristics and general flight behavior were assessed and actual performance was checked against data projected by simulation. Siebold and Alsbury got in one practice approach at altitude before heading for the real thing. "The VSS Enterprise was a real joy to fly, especially when one considers the fact that the vehicle has been designed not only to be a Mach 3.5 spaceship capable of going into space but also one of the worlds highest altitude gliders," Siebold said.

Did you say you want volumetric clouds? Calling Lexx Luthor...I have a project for you... PM me...I think I have the answer... FC

That's very uncharacteristic of TK. He's usually real good at solving problems quickly. One thing I would do is check your spam folder...make sure his email links or response didn't get sent straight to the trash (check your ISP too on that). Second, have you posted directly in the Tech Support part of the ThirdWire (not here) forums yet? FC

Elbit Systems U.S. Subsidiary Receives $68 Million ID/IQ Contract to Supply Head-Up Displays for U.S. Department of Defense Elbit Systems Press Release HAIFA, Israel, October 13, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT) announced today that its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America, LLC, was awarded a 5-year, $68 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Huntsville, Alabama to supply the U.S.Army, Navy, Marines Corps and Coast Guard with AN/AVS-7 Head-Up Display components including the latest Elbit Systems of America Flat Panel Day and Night Head-Up Display units. Initial delivery orders totaling $23 million have been awarded under the ID/IQ contract. This is a follow-on contract to a $75M ID/IQ contract awarded in September 2005. The new display units increase situational awareness and safety by allowing pilots to fly "head out of the cockpit" during day and night operations. Commenting on the award, Elbit Systems of America President and CEO, Raanan Horowitz noted, "This follow-on order attests to our customer's satisfaction with our systems and performance track record. Elbit Systems of America is pleased to provide cutting-edge technology for the warfighter, delivering high quality Helmet Mounted Displays at accelerated pace and supporting critical missions and needs. The AN/AVS-7 has proven itself by providing situational awareness and added safety to Army aviators on all US Army helicopter platforms and we are proud we can provide now an upgrade to these systems." via Elbit Systems

Still working on that TGA to make the effect look just right... FC

A future where there will be no war, no famine, no crime, no sickness, no oppression, no fear, no limits, no shame, no death. Everlasting and immortal...where everything you can ever want is available to you just by asking. http://www.kuro5hin.org/prime-intellect/mopiidx.html A novel about the perfect life after the Singularity....and it's consequences. Be advised, this novella contains graphic descriptions of sex and violence. It's not gratuitous but may be a bit much for anyone sensitive to such matters. Read at your own risk. FC

Whoops...for some reason I thought it was 12...I can neither confirm nor deny my involvement in the nuclear world.... FC

Updated to Version 2.3. F-15E_04, F-15SE, F-15SG updated with new Sniper Pod model. Textures by JAT81500. FC

Okay, this topic is done. FC

Dave, It takes someone smarter than me to activate your paid account. Dave, Erik or Fates will fix it once they hit the site. FC