lazboy

By the looks of it unfortunately Fast cargo has his hands full at the moment with other projects maybe one for the back burner. At some point I would like to be able to fly from a carrier all of the Fleet Air Arm aircraft from the 50's onwards such as the Skyraider and of course the Buccanneer which has yet to appear as even a WIP. lazboy

UK-based Air Force Monthly magazine published in its January 2007 issue some estimated data of the J-10: Length: 15.50m; Wingspan: 9.7m; Wing area: 39m2; Empty weight: 8,300kg; Maximum take-off weight: 18,000kg; Air-to-air combat weight: 13,200kg; Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (high-level) or Mach 1.2 (sea-level); Internal fuel: 4,500kg. The Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft made some similar estimates: Length: 16.50m; Wingspan: 9.36m; wing area: 34.6m2; Empty weight: 8,300kg; Maximum range: 2,300km (internal fuel only) or 2,900km (with drop tanks); Service ceiling: 19,000m. Based on the above estimates, it was concluded that the J-10 is about the same size as a Lockheed Martin F-16. With its canard configuration and slightly larger wing, the J-10 probably has slightly better manoeuvrability than the F-16. The aircraft also features some major characteristics of Western third-generation fighters such as the F-16 and the Boeing F/A-18, including the computerised “fly-by-wire” (FBW) flight control; the use of high-thrust afterburning turbofan jet engine that ensures a near 1:1 thrust-to-weight ratio for high performance 8~9g combat manoeuvring; and the ability to employ advanced radar and weapons. The J-10 has made some significant improvements in avionics, which is traditionally a major weakness for all Chinese-made fighters. CAC revealed that the indigenous radar equipped by the J-10 is a pulse-Doppler (PD) design with a mechanically slewed planar array antenna, capable of tracking 10 targets and engaging 2 (using semi-active radar-homing AAM) or 4 (using active radar-homing AAM) of them simultaneously. Possibly based on Russian or Israeli technologies, the radar is believed to be comparable to the early 1990s era Western fighter radar designs. Alternatively the J-10 could be fitted with a range of fire-control radar introduced by Russian, Israeli, and European manufacturers on its export variant. For air-superiority mission, the fighter carries 2~4 PL-11 (semi-active radar-homing) or PL-12 (active radar-homing) medium-range air-to-air missiles (MRAAM), and two PL-8 or PL-9 all-aspect IR-homing short-range air-to-air missiles (SRAAM). The J-10 was the first Chinese-made fighter to have surface attack capability in mind right from the design stage. The fighter is fully capable of all-weather offensive strikes, and could be fitted with a forward looking infrared and laser target designator pod. The AVIC I has displayed a model of the J-10 carrying what were believed to be targeting and navigation pods, which would provide the capability of the J-10 to deploy laser and satellite navigation guided weapons. In a typical surface attack mission, the fighter carries up to eight 250kg bombs, along with two drop tanks and two PL-8/9 SRAAMs Below are some Links to details of Chinese Air to Air Weapons which might assist with the creation of the weapon models. http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl8.asp PL8 http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl9.asp PL9 http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl12.asp PL12 http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/weapon/pl11.asp PL11

I guess there are only just so many aircraft configurations possible to acheive the required levels of performance etc. which is why we are starting to see so many similar;y shaped EF-2000 does have 2 engines though. Lazboy

F-4 Mirage F-15 I would suggest choosing aircraft that were used by a number of nations and which actually have proven air combat records. Lazboy

Back on topic, I wonder if it would be possible using Fast Cargos patented technique of using the 'add a pilot' method to create the AEW BELLY pod for the FAA AD-4W AEW(MK1) which would then for all intents and purposes always become a loaded part of the model?

Well I am for one looking forward to the release of the J-10 especially now that the Formosa Straits terrain is a WIP, from the photos I have seen on the net it would appear to be fairly capable and able to carry a wide range of air to air and air to ground weapons.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Canadair says in that Strike Fighters meets my needs but could do with improving in certain areas that we are all aware of and then would be almost perfect. I would like a better multiplayer expierence as that is somewhat lacking compared with other games that I play such as COD4 and hasn't really been developed fully or exploited but I am unsure that a community produced game that is limited to only perhaps 2 aircraft would hold my interest as long as Strike Fighters has. Lazboy

I'd love to know when the Russian Military flew a TU-95 over a military base in England as that would have definetly been on the news here in the UK, over the North Sea maybe but certainly never over land or within territorial waters!

I have always had a soft spot for the Viggen instead of following the herd those scandinavians came up with something truly different that could fulfil a mutitude of roles and still operate from normal highways when airfields were unavailable.

Well I will add to the list the following golden oldies: A Gathering of Eagles - Rock Hudson B-52 - Karl Malden Bat-21 Gene Hackman The Hunters - Robert Mitchum and Ice Station Zebra the first time ever that as a kid I saw Migs in a film and probably the film that started my interest in aircraft. In the UK there is a a 2 disc boxset of BOB available with the secound disc crambed full of extras and which is readily available for less than a Tenner. Lazboy

Does Foxmonter also post here if so we should encourage and assist him to finish his model there seems plenty of interest and people eager to help however they can, if you know his email PM him and let him know that we would love to see his Rafalle and maybe could help him overcome his max problems in some way. Lazboy

Take your time Craig don't let the buggers rush you they have the F-22 to play with which will keep them occupied for at least "2 weeks". From what I have seen it is looking great and well worth the wait along with the Islander. As a Brit it would be great to have the EF-2000 to fly alongside the F-22 and the Flanker but patience is a virtue and I can wait, the real world must come first. Lazboy

News on the Pakistani versions -- got the pit straightened out (A-4F) on all but the F-7P skybolt, it uses the 21F pit by Magoo, as it apppears have a gun-ranging radar only. And those pits just look sssoooo good! The only problem is the lack of an actual pylon for the outer hardpoint, so those stores will remain 'suspended in space'. Hopefully, we'll be getting the correct body at some point in the near future. Wrench kevin stein Wrench just an idea but couldn't you create the missing pylons in the same way as Fast Cargo recently created new canards for the SU-27, and then place them in the appropriate places under the wings so that it appears that the stores appear to be suspended from them?

In a similar vein I recently came across the tale of the sale of the Varyag to China which is so farcical to be beyond belief. Sold at auction for $20 million as a tourist hotel in Macau only to turn up in a Chinese Naval shipyard painted grey and being refurbished to act as a training platform for the future Chinese naval air arm, how did I miss that bargain on Ebay!! Heres a link to a website deicated to the Mystery of the Varyag http://www.varyagworld.com/

Talos don't get me started on AT as I now have an image in my mind that I don't what to get rid of which isn't flight sim related! If the book is capable of doing that then its well worth a read!

Some pretty impressive flying and a good advertisment for you guys flying skills. I will for one love to fly the Islander should you release it and there are a host of skins that I would love to have ago at doing for it should you also release the template. I have seen a few Islanders operating in the skies of Iraq as intelligence gathering platforms and also shadowing convoys for which I believe they provide radio jamming protection against IAD's, unfortunately due to the nature of their work photos are few and far between. Lazboy

Fresh Meat I'm loving it! Don't suppose there is any chance of the single seat version as that would probably require a seperate model?

Great work pushing the flight envelope, perhaps we should have a race into space to see who can develop or modify a manned aircraft in WOE/WOV to reach the fringes of space or evn acheive orbit. Does the Strike Fighter series support rocket propulsion?

A Japanese F-2B fighter jet crashed soon after takeoff todayand went up in flames at an airport in central Japan, lightly injuring the two pilots, an official for aircraft's manufacturer has said. The F-2B fighter was being taken up on a test flight prior to delivery to Japan's air force when it crashed, said Hideo Ikuno, a spokesman for the Daiya public relations firm representing the plane's maker, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, on Wednesday. Footage on commercial broadcaster TV Asahi showed the jet takeoff from the runway in Nagoya, only to suddenly tip downward and skid along the ground in flames. National broadcaster NHK showed the pilots jumping from the burning fuselage. The flames were extinguished about 10 minutes after the crash, Ikuno said. The two crew members, both Mitsubishi Heavy employees, were taken to a hospital with light injuries, Ikuno said. The two were the only ones aboard. Ikuno said the company was seeking further details about the cause of the crash. Nagoya airport was closed indefinitely, spokesman Shinji Ono said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_70...sb=1&news=1 Link to BBC Website video footage of the crash

Thanks for uploading the J8 as I was also somewhat confounded when I visited the Chinese website, is there any chance that in due course you could also upload to CombatAce the J10 AND J-7's, the models look absolutely superb?

Boeing announced yesterday that it had fitted a high-energy laser cannon aboard a C-130 Hercules military cargo plane, creating a "Laser Gunship". The company expects to commence blasting "mission representative" test targets next year, firing deadly energy bolts from a "rotating turret that extends through the aircraft's belly".This flying-raygun project is called the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL) The ATL Hercules blaster-weapon is seen as a raygun for every day, zapping things or people during more routine battles as opposed to saving the USA from atomic destruction. This should let it operate closer to its targets, reducing the weight of the system and thus the size of aeroplane required to carry it. The ATL is a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL). This means that it uses large amounts of hazmat fuel and produces similarly copious amounts of deadly toxic fumes every time it gets fired. Boeing reckon they have this covered. The ATL's COIL is "closed-cycle", keeping its deadly exhaust products contained. The whole system supposedly weighs 20 tonnes, taking up most of a Hercules' payload. The ATL has a suggested useful ranges up to 10 or 20 km, and power outputs in the 100 kilowatt range - perhaps focused on an area only four inches wide. Chemical fuel capacity for 100 useful blasts has been mentioned, after which the six-tonne sealed laser module would need draining, refuelling with chemicals and liquid-nitrogen coolant and maintenance. Boeing has stated that the ATL's final US Air Force exam will be twofold, to surgically destroy a communications tower and to disable a moving truck.

Well I can see another Hercules version coming on based on Boeings proposed laser Gunship the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL),

I have a 3ds model of the Fencer which could be completed and with a little effort from an unemployed Modder (is there such a thing?) be flyable within WOE within 2 weeks if anyone wants to adopt it? If anyones interested in finishing it off send me a PM. lAZBOY

Have a look on this site www.migman.com link below to the page relating to the F-15 Strike Eagle 111 game, could that be the one that you were looking for? If not they have details of most released flightsims along with screen shots and details. http://www.migman.com/ref/1990_combat/F15_3/F15_3.htm Lazboy