gbnavy61

I think they had those for the MF F-14A - they used to be available at the column5 website. Unfortunately, the site has recently closed. To my knowledge, C5 is trying to get the files from that site and make them accessible again. He'd have the most details on that.

Well, I for one don't know enough about their jobs and the way the nuclear sites are run to say if these guys screwed up that badly. Obviously, it's not good to fall asleep at work, but it sounds like they were off duty anyway and always in the secure facility. Good on them for reporting themselves. Maybe the USAF should look at the way they run the sites and maybe adjust the scheduling if they are overworking their crews. Crew rest is a pretty big deal to the pilots, so why not others?

Every aircraft has a max trap weight. Usually you make this by dumping fuel, but you still need a minimum amount of fuel around the boat. At some point, if you are heavily loaded, you might need to punch off the tanks or bombs. Most of the time, you try not to launch with more than what you can trap with (excluding fuel). For example, an F-14 could launch off a carrier w/ 6 AIM-54's, but only trap with a max of 4 AIM-54's. At $1 million a pop, dunking a Phoenix to make landing weight was not practical. In the A/G role, the F-14 could only trap aboard with a limited bomb payload. So, basically, you try to avoid wasting ordnance and money by not taking more than you can bring back (unless you know all of your bombs/missiles are going on a target). But, in an emergency, or a combat situation, like mentioned above, you do what you have to do to get the crew and the jet down safely.

Sweet. I was wondering when someone would do a Super Bug. Looking good.

All I can say is this sounds like a horrible idea. Hollywood has been out of original ideas for some time now, but they still insist in destroying good movies by making s**tty sequels. Ugh. As was said, Top Gun's star is no more - and no, that wasn't a reference to Tom Cruise now being a total whack-job. No Tomcat = lame movie. Super Bug just doesn't have the soul. It's a cool jet, but c'mon - there's no comparison in sheer bad-assery. Mav, this is not a good idea.

Ah, I see. Yes, I would think that one would have to pour a lot of lead into a WWI aircraft to bring it down, unless you hit the pilot or possibly a fuel tank. It's all canvas and wood, so there's lots of places for bullets to go right through and not damage anything really.

Cool. Thanks. I look forward to it.

Only the A's used them. They were deactivated on the A+/B's and rebuild D's. I don't think they were even included on the new build D's.

Yes, I did find that out, after I attempted the suggested fix. At least, it's slightly better.

Thanks, gents.

He's probably had a few since he came in, forgot where he was. Cut him some slack.

First off, love the MF Crusaders. Just a tits airplane and well done by TMF. BZ, lads. Now onto the unpleasantness... Running Vista, using WOI w/ latest update, and TMF Weapons Pack for WOI (May '08). I experience this problem w/ some Crusaders but at times the starboard side Y rail appears upside down. Actually, it's more correct to say that the starboard rail appears to be the port rail, just just rolled 180 degrees and stuck to the starboard side. I think this is a glitch and not designed into the model on purpose. Every photo I found seemed to indicate that the rails on each side should mirror each other (on both sides the upper AIM-9 is slightly forward of the lower). It's not a major problem - she still flies like a dream (a Mach 1.7+ dream), but as one who appreciates the aesthetic qualities of the Crusader, it bugs me. Has anyone else encountered this phenomenon, and if so, is there a way to fix it? Also, not sure what that black bit is on the starboard side. Is it related, or is that supposed to be there? Lastly, anyone know if a true photo recce version is being pondered?

I'll repost this in its own thread. I don't think its getting the visibility here.

I was just going to suggest, stop getting shot. But, I suppose that's not as helpful as you wanted.

Hey I noticed a potential bug in a few of the F-8's (B, D, E) - at least what I think is a bug. The starboard side "Y" rails for Sidewinders appear to be the same as the port side rails, but on upside-down. I'm not sure if this is deliberate because of historical accuracy, or if this is a model glitch. I'm using WOI, with the latest patch, TMF Weaps pack May '08, in Vista. I have not yet been able to locate another thread that touches this topic, or a good picture to show if my suspicions are correct. Though, it would seem that symmetry would be correct and the the launch rails on both sides of the fuselage should mirror each other across the width of the aircraft. Anyone know if this is deliberate? If not, can you point me to a fix, or suggest a course of action? Thanks. Otherwise, I love driving the Gator. Completely kick-ass jet. Excellent job overall.

That sucks - making it all the way back to base only to succumb to your wounds later.

So many choices, yet so few at the same time... Modern: 1. Tomcat - A, B, or D - it's all good, baby! 2. Fighting Falcon - Just a sharp little fighter. Cold War: 1. Navy Phantoms - Double Ugly never looked so good. 2. Crusaders - When you're out of F-8's... Korea: 1. Sabre/Fury - A sleek jet, heart of a dogfighter. 2. Skyraider - The prop equivalent of the A-10. Carries a butt-load of ordnance and can loiter all day. WWII: 1. Spitfire - Any Mark, really - they're all gorgeous. 2. Wildcat - Held the line in the Pacific and turned the tide, in spite of a superior foe. WWI: 1. Se-5 - Always thought they were a cool looking bird. Watched "The Blue Max" a lot growing up. 2. Dr 1 Triplane - Red Baron, 'nuff said.

My worst damaged-aircraft scenario was self-inflicted. I was making a strafing run on the Range in a VF-32 F-14A. I botched my approach badly and was correcting while paying less attention to my altitude. By the time I realized I was coming in a little too low, I pulled up hard but couldn't avoid the ground completely. I ended up ripping the port external tank and the entire port stab clean off, along with tearing the leading and trailing edge flaps off the port wing. I was trailing smoke all the way back to the runway and it looked like I'd shed a few fan/compressor blades based on the holes in the port nacelle and the top of the fuselage. Both engines kept working fine, though. I was very relieved when I threw the handle down and got three down and locked. I dropped the hook and came in for the no-flap, short field arrest. Unfortunately, didn't think to grab screenies.

That would sure get the company's attention more than someone dying (as we've clearly seen). However, I think the odds of that happening aren't too good.

Fair winds and following seas, Shipmate.

That's the truth. But unfortunately we live in a society that largely cares about money first and foremost. People come second. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. This is the kind of bullcrap that happens when politicians are giving out freebies to companies that don't deserve them. I think the government should be coming down hard on all contractors for the slightest screw-up. As it is now, though, contractors get away with murder (in this case literally) - cost inflation, projects coming in excessively over-budget, unnecessary and lengthy delays, and shoddy workmanship. I think somebody ought to take all these folks to task. Any company that claims to 'support the troops' and pulls something like this is only BS-ing themselves. This disgusts me, but the sad part is, I can't say it's unexpected.

Everything I've read on the ship camo patterns says they probably did very little to confuse the enemy - that's why they stopped using them. Also, as for the false canopies, I agree with something I read - if you're close enough to see them, you're close enough not to be fooled. I think we ought to stick with varying combinations of dark and light greys and light blues. Seems that they would be the least visible across the broadest range of scenarios.

Holy jeez, dude. For me probably Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer. I remember all the box airplanes - at least I don't ever remember seeing any that looked sorta like the real thing . That game was a bit over my head for the age I was while playing it. The funniest part was after you bought the farm, ol' Chuck would pop up and fire off some stinging remark: "You call yourself a pilot?" or "That's a sorry way to land an airplane," etc. Then, probably, The Blue Max - another old Commodore game. I remember this one actually needed a cassette tape to play. Strike Eagle, Top Gun, some Harrier game, an F-16 game, and Ace of Aces all for the Commodore. Another good sim I've played between now and then is Warbirds II. That was just a fun game to play and you could fly a whole range of WWII planes - fighters, dive bombers, big-wing bombers, etc. Lots of fun. I remember that the damage modelling in that iteration of the game was some of the better stuff I'd seen to that point. Often you'd take hits that wouldn't just cause you to explode, but you're guns might jam, or you'd get an oil leak, or your tail would get shot off. Two of my other all-time favorites are Aces Over Europe and Aces of the Pacific - by Dynamix. Loved those games.

There was something similar at NAS Glenview - a highway that ran right along the perimeter fence. It also happened to run right across the end of one of the runways. My family used to go there every year for the airshows until the base closed. But sometimes, we'd just swing by the the base on Sunday mornings and park along the highway and watch. A couple times we got to see a few jets coming or going. I was so bummed when they closed the base down.

Well, just going by the pictures, I'd have to go with MacGyver. I don't see Jack Bauer toting a guided bomb/missile on his shoulder like it's no big deal. (It's a Baby Ruth. It's no big deal.) Also, I'm not up on my firearms, but it kinda looks like Jack's gun is sans magazine. But, in his defense, he's probably just going to pistol-whip the bad guys to death - so why waste money on bullets? Economical, I like that. Of course, if he were really that concerned with America's well being, he'd buy the bullets to support the economy. Tut tut, Mr. Bauer.