Piecemeal

One great '60s song comes to mind while testing Operation "Quick Sand" on the upcoming Desert V.4 terrain: Hot town, Summer in the city.... Cool cat, lookin' for a kitty....

Right. So I've managed to enable carrier operations in my upcoming Desert V4.0 terrain and I'm currently editing the stock campaigns to facilitate the same. The trouble is; every time I start the campaign flying with either a Merc or USAF squadron, there's the carrier group at the edge of the map despite the fact that they're not supposed to enter the arena for at least another week. Confused? Here's an example: Operation Quick Sand (Campaign3) Start date - December 25th, 1966. I fly with the Merc squadron on the same date as above. I've set up the campaign INIs so that the Oriskany carrier group isn't supposed to start until January 3rd. From the CAMPAIGN3.INI file: //---- USN Units [uSNUnit001] Squadron=VF111 ForceID=1 UnitID=2 StartDate=01/03/1967 DescFile=Campaign3Start.txt StartText=Campaign3Start.txt AircraftType=F-8E_66 [uSNUnit002] Squadron=VA163 ForceID=1 UnitID=3 StartDate=01/03/1967 DescFile=Campaign3Start.txt StartText=Campaign3Start.txt AircraftType=A-4B_65 [uSNUnit003] Squadron=VA164 ForceID=1 UnitID=4 StartDate=01/03/1967 DescFile=Campaign3Start.txt StartText=Campaign3Start.txt AircraftType=A-4B_65 From the CAMPAIGN3_DATA.INI file: [NavalUnit001] [AirUnit002] AircraftType=F-8E_66 Squadron=VF111 ForceID=1 Nation=USN CarrierBased=TRUE NavalUnitID=1 ShipID=1 DefaultTexture=VF111 BaseMoveChance=0 StartNumber=0 RandomChance=100 MaxAircraft=14 StartAircraft=14 MaxPilots=14 StartPilots=14 Experience=100 Morale=100 Supply=100 MissionChance[sWEEP]=70 MissionChance[CAP]=25 MissionChance[iNTERCEPT]=50 MissionChance[ESCORT]=70 MissionChance=0 MissionChance[CAS]=40 MissionChance[sEAD]=40 MissionChance[ARMED_RECON]=25 MissionChance[ANTI_SHIP]=0 MissionChance[RECON]=10 MissionChance[NAVAL_SEARCH]=0 MissionChance[NAVAL_ATTACK]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT_JAMMER]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT_DECOY]=20 MissionChance[CRUISE_MISSILE]=0 MissionChance[EARLY_WARNING]=0 UpgradeType=NEVER Supply[001].WeaponType=Mk82 Supply[001].Quantity=60 Supply[002].WeaponType=CBU-24B Supply[002].Quantity=25 Supply[003].WeaponType=M117 Supply[003].Quantity=40 Supply[004].WeaponType=AIM-9C Supply[004].Quantity=34 Supply[005].WeaponType=AIM-9D Supply[005].Quantity=36 Supply[006].WeaponType=LAU-33A_Mk16_Mk32mod2 Supply[006].Quantity=50 [AirUnit003] AircraftType=A-4B_65 Squadron=VA163 ForceID=1 Nation=USN CarrierBased=TRUE NavalUnitID=1 ShipID=1 DefaultTexture=VA163 BaseMoveChance=0 StartNumber=0 RandomChance=100 MaxAircraft=14 StartAircraft=14 MaxPilots=14 StartPilots=14 Experience=100 Morale=100 Supply=100 MissionChance[sWEEP]=0 MissionChance[CAP]=0 MissionChance[iNTERCEPT]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT]=0 MissionChance=90 MissionChance[CAS]=100 MissionChance[sEAD]=80 MissionChance[ARMED_RECON]=50 MissionChance[ANTI_SHIP]=0 MissionChance[RECON]=0 MissionChance[NAVAL_SEARCH]=0 MissionChance[NAVAL_ATTACK]=50 MissionChance[ESCORT_JAMMER]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT_DECOY]=25 MissionChance[CRUISE_MISSILE]=0 MissionChance[EARLY_WARNING]=0 UpgradeType=NEVER Supply[001].WeaponType=Mk82 Supply[001].Quantity=60 Supply[002].WeaponType=M117 Supply[002].Quantity=50 Supply[003].WeaponType=Mk83 Supply[003].Quantity=16 Supply[004].WeaponType=BLU-1 Supply[004].Quantity=36 Supply[005].WeaponType=CBU-24B Supply[005].Quantity=32 Supply[006].WeaponType=LAU-61A_Mk40_M151 Supply[006].Quantity=42 Supply[007].WeaponType=LAU-10A_Mk16_Mk24mod0 Supply[007].Quantity=32 Supply[008].WeaponType=Tank300_A4 Supply[008].Quantity=46 Supply[009].WeaponType=Tank300_A4_fuselage Supply[009].Quantity=20 [AirUnit004] AircraftType=A-4B_65 Squadron=VA164 ForceID=1 Nation=USN CarrierBased=TRUE NavalUnitID=1 ShipID=1 DefaultTexture=VA164 BaseMoveChance=0 StartNumber=0 RandomChance=100 MaxAircraft=16 StartAircraft=16 MaxPilots=16 StartPilots=16 Experience=100 Morale=100 Supply=100 MissionChance[sWEEP]=0 MissionChance[CAP]=0 MissionChance[iNTERCEPT]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT]=0 MissionChance=90 MissionChance[CAS]=100 MissionChance[sEAD]=80 MissionChance[ARMED_RECON]=50 MissionChance[ANTI_SHIP]=0 MissionChance[RECON]=0 MissionChance[NAVAL_SEARCH]=0 MissionChance[NAVAL_ATTACK]=50 MissionChance[ESCORT_JAMMER]=0 MissionChance[ESCORT_DECOY]=10 MissionChance[CRUISE_MISSILE]=0 MissionChance[EARLY_WARNING]=0 UpgradeType=NEVER Supply[001].WeaponType=Mk82 Supply[001].Quantity=60 Supply[002].WeaponType=M117 Supply[002].Quantity=50 Supply[003].WeaponType=Mk83 Supply[003].Quantity=16 Supply[004].WeaponType=BLU-1 Supply[004].Quantity=36 Supply[005].WeaponType=CBU-24B Supply[005].Quantity=32 Supply[006].WeaponType=LAU-61A_Mk40_M151 Supply[006].Quantity=42 Supply[007].WeaponType=LAU-10A_Mk16_Mk24mod0 Supply[007].Quantity=32 Supply[008].WeaponType=Tank300_A4 Supply[008].Quantity=46 Supply[009].WeaponType=Tank300_A4_fuselage Supply[009].Quantity=20 and further down: [NavalUnit001] UnitName=Oriskany Carrier Group ForceID=1 Nation=USN StartDate=01/03/1967 RetireDate=17/04/1967 RandomChance=100 MaxObjects=7 Experience=100 Morale=100 Supply=100 Intelligence=0 StartPosition=180000.0,900000.0 ObjectivePosition=400000.0,700000.0 HomePortPosition=180000.0,900000.0 MinFleetSpeed=10.289 Ship[01].Type=SCB-125 Ship[01].Name=USS Oriskany Ship[01].Number=34 Ship[01].Texture=USNGrey Ship[02].Type=SUMNERFRAM2 Ship[02].Name=USS Laffey Ship[02].Number=724 Ship[02].Texture=USNGrey Ship[03].Type=CG-16 Ship[03].Name=USS Richmond K. Turner Ship[03].Number=20 Ship[03].Texture=CG20 Ship[04].Type=GEARINGFRAM1B Ship[04].Name=USS William C. Lawe Ship[04].Number=763 Ship[04].Texture=USNGrey Ship[05].Type=SUMNERFRAM2 Ship[05].Name=USS Wallace L. Lind Ship[05].Number=703 Ship[05].Texture=USNGrey Ship[06].Type=CG-16 Ship[06].Name=USS Harry E. Yarnell Ship[06].Number=17 Ship[06].Texture=CG17 Ship[07].Type=SUMNERFRAM2 Ship[07].Name=USS Moale Ship[07].Number=693 Ship[07].Texture=USNGrey You still with me?? So I'm starting on day one flying in the Merc squadron. The US Navy aren't supposed to be on the scene until nine days after I start. Yet there they are at their start position at the edge of the map sailing along. Their F-8s and A-4s are flying missions as well. Anyone got any ideas on how exactly I can keep the carrier group from appearing until their start date?

Cheers. Thanks for that. Works fine now

They sure are. Modified it from a stock SF2NA Tu-16K-26 model and changed the loadouts on it. Will be releasing it soon.....

Special delivery for Dhimar....

I dunno if it's just me, but has anybody noticed anything strange with the stock SF2 Desert campaigns since the recent patches? Like having no other friendly units in the air during missions. Plenty of Parani air activity though. Strange.... very strange.

Does anyone know where I can find the FORMATION.INI file in the main folder CATs? I've looked everywhere with the SF2 Extractor and I just can't see it

Cheers Major! Of course that's the one place I never thought of looking.

AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (catches breath) What a f*cking fruitcake tosspot!!!!! We had a bunch of tree hugging nutjobs who did something similar down the road from me at Shannon Airport some years back when he got through the perimeter fence and attacked the landing gear of a C-130 with an axe. Another time they did the same only this time they spray painted peace slogans on the Hercs. .......... Sigh ............

It's good to see the F-4 Euro scheme making a comeback (even if it isn't free ) A nice addition to this would be a similar scheme for the late A-7Ds

I remember a joke from when I was a kid; save gas - fart in a jar. Perhaps this lad took it a little too seriously but couldn't find a jar?

Look who's moved in down the road today

Had a closer first hand look at this wonderful beast earlier today. XX897 - I was informed that this Buccaneer was the third last one ever produced and was indeed a radar test-bed machine for the Tornado GR.1 series. Not airworthy at the moment but they're currently trying to raise funds for that purpose. Unfortunately the weather was overcast with expected rain so they were playing it safe by keeping the canopy closed. Here's some pics I took:

1st Special Ops Squadron; Dhimar, 1974:

A bygone squadron in a fictional land 1417 Flight, Sharnak, 1985:

Up and at 'em early.....

I actually discovered its presence by accident when I was walking the dog a while ago. At first I saw it from a distance and my jaw just hit the ground with a thud!! I'll be able to scrutinise it more closely next Sunday when the flight sim centre is having a show with, among other things, a Hunter cockpit: Watch this space - pics to follow here after then

Long live the sounds of Pink Floyd....... The Great Gig In The Sky Wish You Were Here

The images alone speak for themselves....... Upcoming DLC

What I'm looking forward to is the potential to create other foreign 'E' variants. I'm even more curious as to how accurate the 'O' cockpit will be like. This hopefully?.......... http://combatace.com/gallery/sizes/11408-mirage-iii-cockpit/medium/

Just been looking through Gunny's Ordnance Shop for it. What's the designation? I'm f**ked if I'm gonna spend a Sunday afternoon looking through it all.....

A simple trick I've noticed is to simply NOT install the June '12 patch WEAPONDATA.INI file. I had my March edition file to hand and simply threw it into the mix after updating ti the latest patch. That way I've got all air to air missiles exactly the way they should be. I mean; if they're working OK, why replace them??

Didn't the Ali-Cats carry AIM-9Ps? All the screenshots I've seen of them so far show them carrying G/H variants. Soon as I get my hands on it I'll be rectifying that with a separate aircraft folder.

Just discovered this little gem of a site earlier today: LINK God, but it's a (much needed) laugh and a half here