Silberpfeil

Interesting article by Russ Niles from this morning's AvWeb e-zine: An artificial intelligence algorithm beat an "experienced" F-16 pilot in five straight simulated dogfights in a project designed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on Aug. 20. The pilot was up against an AI system named Heron and the two duked it out in a Second World War-style forward firing gun battle. The human didn't score a single hit. Heron, which was developed by Heron Systems, competed against five other AI algorithms for the right to fight the human in a computer simulation and the result of the final battle neither surprised nor concerned observers. While significant, the milestone is an early one in DARPA's goal to develop a machine-learning enhancement to human performance with the ultimate goal of "a future in which AI handles the split-second maneuvering during within-visual-range dogfights, keeping pilots safer and more effective as they orchestrate large numbers of unmanned systems into a web of overwhelming combat effects". It's also not the only AI/human research being undertaken by the military. As we reported earlier, a human pilot in a fighter is expected to go up against an AI-controlled drone in 2021 although it's not clear what aircraft will be used.

Great video footage for prospective Spitfire drivers, and an interesting short portion on how to get a Merlin started:

Thanks for the above, Crawford! I note the BrisFit has a wing-mounted "generator fan" - will it work with the same code? And going back a couple more, I never saw the "Stachel" pilot model except in George's post but it reads like VonS has it somewhere in his files. Can that be released for general use? I'm in the process of re-doing my "Blue Max" install and that would be a welcome addition!

As a sign of the times and courtesy of FlightAware, course track of high school student testing a new compass in his father's airplane. Link for the Military Times article is just below the pic: https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2020/04/30/19-year-old-pilot-spells-f-k-covid-19-in-flight-path-joins-trailblazers-of-military-aviation/

Saw that the initial post of Eugene2 was showing a FE1 Camel with black exhaust, so I went into FE2's CamelF1_150 and changed the ExhaustEmitterName= to display "InlineExhaustEmitter2" and trailing is the result: Looked pretty reasonable, so then I tried the same combination on Eugene2's no-exhaust FE2 SPAD_13 and got this result: A little less distinct, but it's there - so, the file gives the desired effect. Looked in my Effects folder and it's not there, so I'm guessing that maybe it's an original TW FE2 file?

Not really sure if this is what you're looking for, but see below from stock TW Salmson2A_DATA.INI file - under [ENGINE] subfile, there is an entry for ExhaustEmitterName=InlineExhaustEmitter2 which appears to give a pretty reasonable effect.

From this morning's AvWeb e-zine. Case 1 recovery - good weather, all visual, no comms...

Have to dust off my paint kit!

Note that in FE2, pressing "R" during a mission allows re-loading and "U" works for un-jamming.

Excellent! How about some FE2 and WWII pilots?

Could be - close examination shows he has already already upgraded the original drum brakes to the SuperCub conversion kit for disc brakes. Magic Christmas dust or not, he still has to stop on those icy roofs!

Always liked this Tom Newsom print of Santa inspecting the J-3's propeller. By the look of things, I hope he is as thorough with his weight and balance calculations and that he's upgraded that powerplant to the 65 h.p. version! In the background, looks like Santa's six will be covered by a S.P.A.D. XIII this year. Peace on Earth and good will towards men!

Thank you, Stephen1918, for another great WWI model! While I can't hit anything with them, the M17s with their grenade rack look and work great. Now I'll have to learn how to paint it to look like the CL.IV just down the road...

Looks like some of my airshow pix. Subject a/c is usually about an inch or two on the other side of the right or left margins!

See trailing link from National Defense magazine: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/9/16/what-to-expect-from-sixth-gen-aircraft

As always, good job Stephen1918! Flies nice right out of the box and everything works well!

Roger that - and perhaps the PB4Y-1's observation stations as an option?

Worth-your-while video from this morning's AvWeb e-zine:

Been there...done that...!

U.S.C.G. Grumman JF-2 "Duck" (1941)

Courtesy of AvWeb, detailed video with pretty impressive ending...

Just beautiful! A thing to behold! What do you think - release the package in a week or two?

Grumman G-64 "Albatross" / U.S.C.G UF-1G "Goat" (1957) Grumman G-234 "Albatross" / U.S.C.G. UF-2G "Goat" (1962) Grumman G-288 "Albatross" / U.S.C.G. HU-16E "Goat" (1977)

Got sworn in fifty years ago today - so long ago the Eagle didn't have her racing stripes yet! Happy Birthday America!

U.S.C.G. Douglas R5D-4 (1955)