ST0RM

To All: I salute all of you for your courage to write some very private things about yourselves. As has been said, it's the first step in recovering. Alcohol almost got the best of me. Joining the AF at 18, away from home etc... It wasn'nt until I got married and almost destroying that, did I wake up and see what I was doing. I still enjoy a few beers, but I won't go all out and drink a 12 pack and chase it with shots. Plus I'm nearly 38. It hurts too much. I wish you all the best in your upcoming trials. It will be tough, but I'm sure you'll make it through. -Jeff

A recent report stated that the jet blast of the B-model in VTOL mode was too hot for the current deck plating on the ships. This becomes another issue for the Marines, in that they will have to dump more money into refurbing the ships to accomodate the aircraft. When was the last time the mission required the use of STOL/VTOL? 2003 maybe? The USMC has been attached/assigned to CVWs for years. They routinely replace or augment the USN squadrons. In 2006 VMFA-251 was assigned to the Ike. They split the Det between the ship and a land base. I've seen other units since, doing the same. If one version were to be procured, I'd have to agree that the C-model is the best choice. -S

Sadly, there are less than a dozen left in AMARC. They're disposal was accelerated and they were chopped up quickly. The Tomcat now only lives on in flightsims.

Thats awesome. Time to make sure my ductape rolls are packed for any leaks.

I love it when he says that. Since the quicker takeoff mod reduces the distance between aircraft on the runway, could an right/left offset be added to the parameters? Looks like FC is on to something good though. -S

Indeed! I'm curious to know if the Navy is now second guessing themselves on that decision. The task of swapping trapped out C-models for low-time A-models and back again, plus all of it's logistical qweep, has got to raise a few eyebrows. I wonder how keeping the new-build and low-time F-14s would have eased some of this drama. Getting back on track with the Golden Eagle, the active duty has given them all to the Air Guard, so I'm curious if the active duty will bail them back. Or maybe just stand up another associate unit and share the jets. -S

Very true, and valid points. However, the underlining fact is that Lock-Mart won the contract based on what they said the airplane could do, within the specs and timeline the DoD put out and at the cost they initially quoted per aircraft. So far, they haven't delivered. And who has to pick up the tab? We do, but we aren't in the position to keep dumping money into something that has outgrown it's usefullness. The F-22 has still yet to reach it's full potential due to funding that was earmarked for purchasing more aircraft, having to go toward fixing the OT&E problems. When do you finally say enough is enough and move on? The Army saw the light and pulled the plug on the Comanche after dumping billions into it. We've got the ability to build very modern and capable "legacy" aircraft (F-15E, 16Blk 50+ and 18E/F) but are stuck in the stealth mindset. Low cost UAVs can do the same job for cheaper, and won't place the human into the high threat ring. The manned aircraft can come in behind and finish off the rest. Just my $.02 -S

Wow, much as changed in 10 years. We've no longer got quite the diversity in aircraft types anymore. Thanks for sharing Ant. Even grainy shots are better than none. BTW, they aren't that bad for paper or slide film. Jeff

@Gunrunner Yep, I mistyped 3 Sqn instead of 1 Sqn. Thanks for the catch. -S

Ahh, gotcha. Thought you were onto a new edit. Nice!

What edit did you do to make your formation to start on the runway in that line-up? I use the "quicker takeoff" mod which edits the distance between aircraft, but this is something different. Or at least the coordinates you've used. -S

More out of the box thinking, but can the "Slaved Seeker" function be used for visual locking? Using the Easy mode for the HUD or Avionics, you can designate target wthin visual range. Closest to center or next visual target, etc. Can a JHMCS or DASH helmet/AIM-9X, Python IRM combo be created? -S

Kind of a sidebar, but how does seeker head coolant amounts play into this? Later models having more or better utilizing the amount on hand? And/or better optics, etc... With the LAU-138 BOL rails, I know it was meant to increase the number of chaff bundles a jet can carry, but I thought I read that the nose assembly has a larger coolant tank in it as well. Gunny can you enlighten? -S

Rest easy Sir.

Something that I've tried with success is to watch your radar screen. While the AIM-9B does not employ SEAM (Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode), you can use the screens display to give you a higher chance of hitting your intended target. When you switch from SAHM to IRM, you'll notice that the acquisition ring gets much smaller. I've found that if I keep my target centered within that, I'm ensuring my AIM-9 has the best chance to see my target. He, or I, must not be turning and I've got a good solid tone, my hit percentage has improved. I wish I could find the tutorial on using the radar screen, so I could use the correct terms. But I hope you've gotten my idea. -S P.S. I agree about the Il-28s. They'll take a beating and fly on.

They've got an interesting mix of former Eastern and Western equipement. Abrams MBTs alongside Russian T-72s(?). Hips, Gazelles and Hueys. Armed Cessna Caravans. Crazy. -S

Wow Ant. That shot is amazing. Reminds me of photos from the Mach Loop up in Wales. -Jeff

Took this up for a quick flight last night. SF2, with the Piecemeal's Desert terrain. All I can say is OUTSTANDING! Thanks to the MF for this work. BPao would be pleased!

JM, Your 3rd paragraph described many of the newer people to this sim. They've seen pics of all the new toys that have been added, but when confronted with a large or multi-place install, they come running here for help. Oh yea, and without reading the README or KB. It's the "I want this now" mentality. Getting back to the SF series though, there are still many things since Day 1 that have been broken or never implemented. People expect 100% for any amount of money paid. Be it $50 or in this case $15-20. Releasing a beta level product as a final was bad and it opened a floodgate of complaints. Some of which have been stifled for a long time. However, it's all about the way people compain that will either make or break us. Like that line in Saving Private Ryan. "This is the way to gripe..." If TK decides to lock everything, then I'd predict it would be the end of his sims. Mods have kept air in the TW lungs. They've bridged the gap between new products, keeping some freshness to an old sim. Without them, it's game over and people will move on. Jeff

Fabulous! Where the Rainbow emicon??

Really? It was more of a generic term for the MiG-29 and Su-27 flying in frontline service with the Russian AF, versus the actual two they've got.