Jump to content

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'f-16'.



More search options

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • CombatACE General Forums
    • The Pub
    • CombatACE News
    • Military and General Aviation
    • Digital Recon
    • Virtual Squadron Chat
    • Site Support / Bug Reports / Suggestions
  • Editorial Reviews and Interviews
    • Hardware Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Mission Reports
  • Modding and Developer Forums
    • CAF - Development
    • When Thunder Rolled
  • Eagle Dynamics Digital Combat Simulator Series
    • Digital Combat Simulator News
    • Digital Combat Simulator Series File Announcements
    • Digital Combat Simulator Series General Discussion
    • Digital Combat Simulator Series Modding/Skinning Chat
    • Digital Combat Simulator Series Mission/Campaign Building
  • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters Series News
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - File Announcements
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - Knowledge Base
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - General Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - Screen Shots
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - Mods & Skinning Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - Mission & Campaign Building Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - Sci-Fi/Anime/What If Forum
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 2 Series - World War II Forum
  • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - File Announcements
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters - Knowledge Base
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - General Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - Mods/Skinning Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - Mission/Campaign Building Discussion
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - Sci-Fi/Anime/What If Forum
    • Thirdwire: Strike Fighters 1 Series - Prop Heads Forum
  • OBD Software: WW1 & WW2 Combat Flight Sims
    • OBD Software - News Releases
    • WOFF BH&H2 - General Discussion
    • WOTR - General Discussion
    • WOFF/WOTR - FAQ/Technical Issues
    • WOFF UE/PE - General Discussion
    • WOFF UE/PE - Knowledge Base
    • WOFF UE/PE - File Announcements
    • WOFF - Retired Threads
  • WW1 Flight Simulation
    • WWI Flight Sim Discussion
    • Thirdwire - First Eagles 1&2
    • Rise of Flight
  • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover
    • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover: News
    • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover: File Announcements
    • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover: General Discussion
    • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover: Mods & Skinning Chat
    • IL-2 Series / Pacific Fighters / Cliffs of Dover: Mission & Campaign Building
  • Canvas Knights WW1 Game
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - Official News Releases
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - General Discussions
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - Works In Progress (WIP)
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - Other Mods
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - Videos and Screenshots
    • Canvas Knights WW1 Game - File Announcements
  • EAW - European Air War
    • EAWPRO - New Location Redirect
    • EAW - File Announcements
    • EAW - General Discussions
    • EAW - Support and Help
    • EAW - Skinning, Modding, Add-ons
    • EAW - Online Multiplay
    • EAW - Knowledge Base
  • Flight Simulation
    • General Flight Sim News
    • General Flight Sim Discussion
    • Microsoft Flight Simulator
    • Jet Thunder
    • Falcon 4 Series
    • Combat Pilot Series
  • Helo Simulation
    • The Hover Pad
  • World Language Forums
    • Español
    • Português
    • Deutsch
    • Polski
    • עִבְרִית
    • Italiano
    • 한국어
    • 中文 (正、简)
    • 日本語
    • Русский
    • Français
    • Česky
  • West Coast ATC / PROPS Racing
    • West Coast ATC General Topics
    • PROPS Racing General Topics
  • Racing Sims
    • Racing Simulations General Discussions
  • Tactical Sims/FPS
    • The Bunker
    • Americas Army
    • Armed Assault Series
    • Call of Duty
    • BattleField
  • Naval Simulation
    • Naval Combat Information Center
    • Killerfish Games - Cold Waters, Atlantic & Pacific Fleet
    • Silent Hunter Series
    • Dangerous Waters
  • Space Simulations
    • Sci-Fi Simulations
    • Star Trek Legacy
    • Star Wars
    • Battlestar Galactica
  • Hardware/Tech/Gadgets
    • Hardware/Software Chat
    • Game Controllers
    • Case Modding
  • Odds & Ends
    • Strategy Simulations
    • Game Console Corner
    • Buy/Sell/Trade Corner
  • EAWPRO's Discussions

Calendars

  • Community Calendar

Categories

  • Strike Fighters by Thirdwire
    • Strike Fighters 1 Series by Thirdwire
    • Strike Fighters 2 Series by Thirdwire
  • First Eagles by Thirdwire
    • First Eagles - General Files
    • First Eagles - WWI and Early Years 1914 - 1920
    • First Eagles - Golden Era 1920 to 1940
  • Digital Combat Simulator Series
    • DCS Aircraft Skins
    • DCS Aircraft Mods
    • DCS Singleplayer Missions
    • DCS Multiplayer Missions
    • DCS Campaigns
    • DCS Object Mods
    • DCS Sound Mods
    • DCS Tracks / Videos / Tutorials
    • DCS Utilities
    • DCS Joystick Config Files
    • DCS Misc. Files
    • DCS Patches
  • Wings Over Flanders Fields by OBD Software
    • Aircraft Skins
    • Aircraft Models
    • Scenery and Ground Objects
    • Maps, Missions, and Campaigns
    • Modding Tools and Add-on Software
    • OFFice / OFFbase / OFFworld
  • Canvas Knights WW1
    • Main Game Files and Updates
    • Aircraft
    • Aircraft Skins
    • Ground and Sea Vehicles
    • Scenery, Maps, and Objects
    • Missions
    • Miscellaneous
    • Mods
    • Tools
  • EAW - European Air War
  • IL2: Forgotten Battles / Pacific Fighters by Ubisoft
    • IL2 Series Aircraft Skins
    • IL2 Series Campaigns & Missions
    • IL2 Series Game Mods
    • IL2 Series Utilities/ Editors
  • Rise Of Flight
    • ROF - Aircraft Skins
    • ROF - Missions and Campaigns
    • ROF - Miscellaneous Files
  • FALCON 4.0: Allied Force by MicroProse
  • Flight Simulator by Microsoft & PROPS Racing Files
    • FSX by Microsoft
    • FS9 and Pre-FS9 by Microsoft
    • PROPS Racing Files
  • Racing Simulations
    • rFactor
    • GTR/GTR2
  • Sci-Fi Simulations
    • Star Trek Legacy
    • Star Wars Games
    • Misc - Other
  • First Person Simulations
    • Armed Assault
    • America's Army
  • Naval Simulations
    • Silent Hunter Series
    • Dangerous Waters
  • Reference Materials
    • Aircraft Flying Manuals / Pilot Operating Handbooks
    • Air Combat Tactics
    • Miscellaneous

Group


AIM


MSN


ICQ


Yahoo


Jabber


Skype


Location


Interests


Website


Twitter


Facebook

Found 66 results

  1. View File Astore - UPEO SKIN PACK FOR STRIKE FIGHTERS 2 Hi to all, I'm Astore. Thanks for downloading my skin pack ! The UPEO (Universal Peace Enforcement Organization) is a fictional faction featured in the Ace Combat game series, and the main faction of Ace Combat 3 Electrosphere. The Universal Peace Enforcement Organization is an international peacekeeping organization under the Neo United Nations. UPEO maintains the SARF (Special Armed Response Force) when military intervention is required for peacekeeping duties, as well as the Euro-Asia Public Network for neutral, continent-wide broadcasting. Despite its aim of enforcing peace, UPEO was a puppet of General Resource Limited until the late 2030s. The organization became more independent with the rise of Neucom Incorporated and with Gabriel William Clarkson taking office as UPEO's representative. UPEO is the player's initial organization at the start of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. In the Japanese version of the game, the player can defect from UPEO to either General Resource or Neucom. It has shown that their equipment is of two main aircraft carriers, a Nimitz class and an Air Vector UI-4053 Sphyrna, still in construction during the early events of the game. Their main base, is a military airport at the center of Expo City, the eastern city of the USEA continent excluding Megafloat, which is a floating-island city. The UPEO Air Fleet is composed by future versions of actual aircraft and some fictionals since the game is set in 2040 of the Strangereal Universe, but the only fictional continent invented at the game exit was the USEA, so, since the faction seems to be universal, there could be several other planes operative in other nations, which have been introduced only in Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War (That is set in 2015). Main air fleet EF-2000 Typhoon II -Base plane, multirole fighter- Mig-33 Fulcrum SS -Interceptors- F/A-18 Hornet ADV -Multirole, got from the General Resource LDT faction F-16XF Gyrfalcon -Air superiority, got from the General Resource LDT faction R-101U Delphinus I -Base plane of the R Fleet from Neucom.Inc faction R-201U Asterozoa -Heavy attacker fighter, Attacker from the R Fleet of the Neucom.Inc Faction SU-37 SUPERFLANKER II -Multirole, mainly Air Supremacy.- SU-43 Berkut -Multirole, mainly Air Supremacy.- UI-4053 Sphyrna - Heavy Air vector with the fuction of a flying aircraft carrier with jamming capabilities and interior hangar to store at least 20 planes. R-505U -Presidential plane of Rapresentative Gabriel William Clarkson Aces: [From Ace Combat 3] -2040- Erich Jager Fiona Chris Fitzgerald Rena Hirose Nemo [From other continents] -...- Unknown [From original SF2 Campaigns and missions] Aurelia-Astore Squadron-(F-35C Lightning assignated to the CVN-56 Aircraft Carrier)-2025- ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Skin Pack: F-15 D ACTIVE -UPEO and GR Skins- F-16A_Blk1 (Stock F-16) -UPEO skin- FA-18a (Stock F-18) -UPEO skin- FA-27C (Yukikaze Planes Addon) -UPEO and NEU Skins- Mig-29C_RUS -UPEO Skin- Su-27SKM -UPEO and Upeo Ace Rena Hirose Skins- SU-47 -UPEO Skin- Typhoon -UPEO Skin and Typhoon ace skin- CVN-56 / Admiral 56 (Yukikaze Aircraft Carrier Addon) -UPEO Skin- Installation: Open the aircraft folder from the downloaded content, and copy/move the UPEO (and variant) folders to the plane's folder in your SF2 (StrikeFighters2>Objects>Aircraft>Your plane folder. Same for the Aircraft Carrier skin: StrikeFighters2>Objects>GroundObjects>Admiral56) There's no need to overwrite on other folders, just add them in the specific folders. My skins does not requires decals, since the emblems are painted in the skin. If the skin doesn't work or shows leaving your aircraft black, it's possible that you are using a different version of the plane from an another addon, or that your game doesn't read the skin format. When this happen, copy the skin files to save them, then try to change their format (Like JPG). If the skin sets are the same for other models with the same skin mapping, they should work too. You can make a UPEO Nation in your INI Files continuing the list of nations. Be sure that the Nation number continues the series. In my case since I already got 271 Nations in my file, I've wrote Nation272 to make it work. But you could have to change the number. [Nation272] Name=UPEO DisplayName=UPEO Alignment=FRIENDLY PilotNameList=NamesUSN.lst RankList=RanksUSAF.lst CallsignList=CallsignsUS.lst Formation.Fighter=USFighter Formation.Attack=USFighter Formation.Bomber=USBomber Formation.Transport=USBomber Formation.Tank=USTank Formation.MobileAD=USAD PilotTrainingStandard=NORMAL GenderRatio=0 DebriefSuccessMusic=DebriefSuccess.wav DebriefFailMusic=DebriefFail.wav DebriefKilledMusic=DebriefKilled.wav SpeechFile=USAFSpeech.cat SpeechTextFile=USAFSpeechText.str Link to planes and models: F-16: http://www.fxinteractive.com/it/p156/p156extras.htm F-18:http://www.fxinteractive.com/it/p156/p156extras.htm OR https://combatace.com/files/file/16682-fa-18a-made-by-tmf-themiragefactory/ Typhoon: https://combatace.com/files/file/6398-ef-2000/ F-15 D Active: https://combatace.com/files/file/7256-f-15-active-for-the-thirdwire-series/ F/A-27C and CVN-56 from Yukikaze: https://combatace.com/files/file/12522-yukikaze-fa-27cadmiral56/ SU-27 SKM: https://combatace.com/files/file/14316-su-27skm-flanker-for-sf1woe/ SU-47: https://combatace.com/files/file/14312-su-47-berkut-for-woe-sf1/ MIG-29C: https://combatace.com/files/file/13792-mig29c-ukrainerar/ Most of these planes should work also on SF Gold. I've started working on the skin pack from Gold and then moved to SF2. Actually, also the F-18 has been downloaded from the FX Interactive site, but the addon from CombatAce should work too. To install manually the aircraft from that site, download them, the site will give a laucher-sort file. Ignore it, do mouse-right click and extract the files. You should obtain the aircraft folder to put in your SFG/SF2 aircraft folder, and it should work. Some of the templates for aircrafts were missing, then I had to make some new by hand, like for the F-15D Active. The older skins could be not at the same quality since I was working on SFG, but they'll be remade in future. Bugs and errors: The files shouldn't damage your game, if something doesn't work just remove the folder of the skin. The only bug I actually know is in the F-15 D ACTIVE canards, which couldn't be painted. It was the only Active I found, if you use it in SF2 be sure to insert also a cockpit file. You can customize the skins if you want to, credit me when you post screens or other in way to allow other players to find the download. Don't forget to rate, good or bad. This was my first skin pack, I hope I didn't messed up and that everything works. Maybe I'll do other skins in future. Have fun ! Submitter Astore Submitted 03/26/2018 Category What If Skins  
  2. Version 1.0.0

    53 downloads

    Hi to all, I'm Astore. Thanks for downloading my skin pack ! The UPEO (Universal Peace Enforcement Organization) is a fictional faction featured in the Ace Combat game series, and the main faction of Ace Combat 3 Electrosphere. The Universal Peace Enforcement Organization is an international peacekeeping organization under the Neo United Nations. UPEO maintains the SARF (Special Armed Response Force) when military intervention is required for peacekeeping duties, as well as the Euro-Asia Public Network for neutral, continent-wide broadcasting. Despite its aim of enforcing peace, UPEO was a puppet of General Resource Limited until the late 2030s. The organization became more independent with the rise of Neucom Incorporated and with Gabriel William Clarkson taking office as UPEO's representative. UPEO is the player's initial organization at the start of Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. In the Japanese version of the game, the player can defect from UPEO to either General Resource or Neucom. It has shown that their equipment is of two main aircraft carriers, a Nimitz class and an Air Vector UI-4053 Sphyrna, still in construction during the early events of the game. Their main base, is a military airport at the center of Expo City, the eastern city of the USEA continent excluding Megafloat, which is a floating-island city. The UPEO Air Fleet is composed by future versions of actual aircraft and some fictionals since the game is set in 2040 of the Strangereal Universe, but the only fictional continent invented at the game exit was the USEA, so, since the faction seems to be universal, there could be several other planes operative in other nations, which have been introduced only in Ace Combat 5 The Unsung War (That is set in 2015). Main air fleet EF-2000 Typhoon II -Base plane, multirole fighter- Mig-33 Fulcrum SS -Interceptors- F/A-18 Hornet ADV -Multirole, got from the General Resource LDT faction F-16XF Gyrfalcon -Air superiority, got from the General Resource LDT faction R-101U Delphinus I -Base plane of the R Fleet from Neucom.Inc faction R-201U Asterozoa -Heavy attacker fighter, Attacker from the R Fleet of the Neucom.Inc Faction SU-37 SUPERFLANKER II -Multirole, mainly Air Supremacy.- SU-43 Berkut -Multirole, mainly Air Supremacy.- UI-4053 Sphyrna - Heavy Air vector with the fuction of a flying aircraft carrier with jamming capabilities and interior hangar to store at least 20 planes. R-505U -Presidential plane of Rapresentative Gabriel William Clarkson Aces: [From Ace Combat 3] -2040- Erich Jager Fiona Chris Fitzgerald Rena Hirose Nemo [From other continents] -...- Unknown [From original SF2 Campaigns and missions] Aurelia-Astore Squadron-(F-35C Lightning assignated to the CVN-56 Aircraft Carrier)-2025- ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Skin Pack: F-15 D ACTIVE -UPEO and GR Skins- F-16A_Blk1 (Stock F-16) -UPEO skin- FA-18a (Stock F-18) -UPEO skin- FA-27C (Yukikaze Planes Addon) -UPEO and NEU Skins- Mig-29C_RUS -UPEO Skin- Su-27SKM -UPEO and Upeo Ace Rena Hirose Skins- SU-47 -UPEO Skin- Typhoon -UPEO Skin and Typhoon ace skin- CVN-56 / Admiral 56 (Yukikaze Aircraft Carrier Addon) -UPEO Skin- Installation: Open the aircraft folder from the downloaded content, and copy/move the UPEO (and variant) folders to the plane's folder in your SF2 (StrikeFighters2>Objects>Aircraft>Your plane folder. Same for the Aircraft Carrier skin: StrikeFighters2>Objects>GroundObjects>Admiral56) There's no need to overwrite on other folders, just add them in the specific folders. My skins does not requires decals, since the emblems are painted in the skin. If the skin doesn't work or shows leaving your aircraft black, it's possible that you are using a different version of the plane from an another addon, or that your game doesn't read the skin format. When this happen, copy the skin files to save them, then try to change their format (Like JPG). If the skin sets are the same for other models with the same skin mapping, they should work too. You can make a UPEO Nation in your INI Files continuing the list of nations. Be sure that the Nation number continues the series. In my case since I already got 271 Nations in my file, I've wrote Nation272 to make it work. But you could have to change the number. [Nation272] Name=UPEO DisplayName=UPEO Alignment=FRIENDLY PilotNameList=NamesUSN.lst RankList=RanksUSAF.lst CallsignList=CallsignsUS.lst Formation.Fighter=USFighter Formation.Attack=USFighter Formation.Bomber=USBomber Formation.Transport=USBomber Formation.Tank=USTank Formation.MobileAD=USAD PilotTrainingStandard=NORMAL GenderRatio=0 DebriefSuccessMusic=DebriefSuccess.wav DebriefFailMusic=DebriefFail.wav DebriefKilledMusic=DebriefKilled.wav SpeechFile=USAFSpeech.cat SpeechTextFile=USAFSpeechText.str Link to planes and models: F-16: http://www.fxinteractive.com/it/p156/p156extras.htm F-18:http://www.fxinteractive.com/it/p156/p156extras.htm OR https://combatace.com/files/file/16682-fa-18a-made-by-tmf-themiragefactory/ Typhoon: https://combatace.com/files/file/6398-ef-2000/ F-15 D Active: https://combatace.com/files/file/7256-f-15-active-for-the-thirdwire-series/ F/A-27C and CVN-56 from Yukikaze: https://combatace.com/files/file/12522-yukikaze-fa-27cadmiral56/ SU-27 SKM: https://combatace.com/files/file/14316-su-27skm-flanker-for-sf1woe/ SU-47: https://combatace.com/files/file/14312-su-47-berkut-for-woe-sf1/ MIG-29C: https://combatace.com/files/file/13792-mig29c-ukrainerar/ Most of these planes should work also on SF Gold. I've started working on the skin pack from Gold and then moved to SF2. Actually, also the F-18 has been downloaded from the FX Interactive site, but the addon from CombatAce should work too. To install manually the aircraft from that site, download them, the site will give a laucher-sort file. Ignore it, do mouse-right click and extract the files. You should obtain the aircraft folder to put in your SFG/SF2 aircraft folder, and it should work. Some of the templates for aircrafts were missing, then I had to make some new by hand, like for the F-15D Active. The older skins could be not at the same quality since I was working on SFG, but they'll be remade in future. Bugs and errors: The files shouldn't damage your game, if something doesn't work just remove the folder of the skin. The only bug I actually know is in the F-15 D ACTIVE canards, which couldn't be painted. It was the only Active I found, if you use it in SF2 be sure to insert also a cockpit file. You can customize the skins if you want to, credit me when you post screens or other in way to allow other players to find the download. Don't forget to rate, good or bad. This was my first skin pack, I hope I didn't messed up and that everything works. Maybe I'll do other skins in future. Have fun !
  3. The F-16XL was a design named after………..a golf ball………..that being the Top Flite XL for any who ever played Golf. Harry Hillaker was also a golfer….one with a problem in that the USAF wanted to use his A-A fighter (F-16A) in an A-G role, hanging lots of pods and bombs off it, which was just not on! So, what did he do and why? He and his design team at General Dynamics redesigned the F-16 to be more suitable to an A-G role using such concepts as high internal fuel loads and conformal carriage of weapons to get that nasty drag and radar cross section right down. In fact when he first started going to the Air Force with plans for the XL they were so enthusiastic about it they apparently accused him of holding the design back so that they (General Dynamics) could sell the F-16 twice. Goals to improve operational effectiveness included: • Improve the A-G role without degrading A-A capability. • Increased survivability, though increased speed, manoeuvrability and low radar cross section. The idea was to replace the F-16 and remain a lower cost fighter to the high cost F-15. So, some concept demonstrators were knocked together for testing? Yes, two of the Full Scale Development (Block Zero) F-16s were converted by doing such things as stretching their fuselages, removing the ventral strakes and gluing on some new cranked delta wings or double deltas. F-16XL-1 was 75-749 and had the F100-PW-200 engine, and F-16XL-2 was 75-747 which started life as single seater but was converted to the XL as a duel seater with the higher thrust F110-GE-100 engine. Were the goals met? Most of them, the low drag weapons carriage and lots of internal fuel meant vastly improved range over the F-16A (that already had comparative long legs), carried more A-G weapons, with ability to lug along 6 x A-A missiles on top. High AoA handling and instantaneous turn was improved. Cruise speed was also improved. This is a part of a 1989 write up by General Dynamics test pilot Joe Bill Dryden: Pitch rate in all configurations was as good as to slightly better than a Block 10 A model (No slouch in itself) and the roll response was better. On several occasions, during demonstrations with VIPs, I had to remind them that we had 12 MK82s on the airplane! They would frequently forget because of the ease with which the airplane would attain high airspeed…….How high an airspeed? Mull this over for a while, you put 6 MK82s on your little airplane, plus tanks and try to get close to my radius. ill put 12 x MK82s on board with no tanks, still go further than you can and for the same fuel flow by going 60 to 80 knots faster than you. I risk going in to the classified arena, but with the right fuses on the bombs you could get well on the plus side of the Mach, all the while enjoying a much better ride. Is there a but here? Yes using the F100-PW-200 engine from the F-16A, it was a tad underpowered, more F-14A than F-16A………..so take off requirements were nowhere near and some of it’s A-A capability was a bit degraded you could say. Perhaps an example from one of the Red Eagles pilots who flew some BFM against it in a MiG-21F-13: [Red Eagle Matheny flying the MiG] “We briefed each other about our airplanes and they [Edwards F-16XL pilots] turned to me and said they would be all over me – they had a roll rate of 800 degrees per second, which was the fastest in the inventory. – I got to thinking about that and it turned out the roll rate meant nothing. The problem with that airplane[F-16XL] was that it was a big bleeder: it just bled speed like nothing else when forced to turn hard – I ate them alive in the MiG-21. The F-15E on the other hand was a pretty good performer – they resisted the urge to get slow and jump in a phone booth with a MiG. They flew around the ranges at low level trying to burn off all this gas and he still needed to burn off more when we joined up on each other”. Could they not have improved that somewhere? Potentially, the second F-16XL had higher thrust F110-GE-100 engine but unfortunately the majority of the evaluation data and the Dual Role Fighter evaluation was done with the lesser thrusted F-100-PW-200. In fact Harry Hillaker stated they were not allowed to use the GE engine in the evaluation (see below) for whatever reason. NASA later got it supercruising with a F-100-GE-129 (29,500 lbs class), and by the late 1990s both General Electric and Pratt & Whitney offered suitable engines with a potential max thrust class to 36,000lbs and 37,000 lbs respectively. Was there some competition against the F-15 at some point? There was a USAF competitive evaluation originally called the Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) competition, which in 1981 was renamed to became the Dual Role Fighter (DRF) competition. Technically not really a competition because both were evaluated and flight tested to totally different sets of conditions and to different flight test plans it seems. Why did the USAF run this evaluation? It was felt by some in the USAF the F-111F was becoming a bit outdated and instead of just an upgrade they wanted something that had A-A capability and a good precision night strike role against the Soviet masses. So, they chose two short assed fighters to replace the F-111? Pretty much – they would both get LANTIRN eventually and have a good A-A capability but still lacking in range. Surely the F-16 was cheaper was it not? On unit cost and cost per flight hour yes – but the USAF considered the F-16XL a radical new airframe compared to the F-15E, which was considered just a modification, so the USAF estimated research and development cost would be higher for the F-16XL. Okay but in the end the F-15 was chosen as the winner and that was that. No – following the DRF decision that the F-15E was going into production in February 1984, the USAF announced its intention to put the Single seat F-16XL into production anyway with the designation F-16F. So, work began on the F-16F design concept and Full Scale development into 1985. So where is it then? The program was terminated in late 1985 by the USAF it later appears there was no budget for every program out there such as the ATF (F-22) and black projects such as F-117 that were unknowns to most who ran the DRF so sadly the F-16F had to take the chop - basically lack of funding finally killed it off. End of the F-16XL – not quite The two F-16XLs were given to NASA in the late 1980s for various types of flight testing and we can thank them for taking some time to research into the history of the F-16XL and providing useful information on it. But there’s more An interesting rebuttal, ten years after the DRF, written by Harry Hillaker in response to an article in Aerotech News and Review which perhaps gives a passionate and better insight into how farcical some of these things can be: As the recognized “Father of the F-16,” and Chief Project Engineer during the concept formulation and preliminary design phases of the F-16XL and Vice President and Deputy Program Director during the prototype phase, the article was of considerable interest to me. The disappointment was that only one side of the issue was presented, a highly biased, self-interest input that does not adequately, nor accurately, present the real story of the selection of the F-15E. First, it should be understood that we (General Dynamics) did not initiate the F-16XL as a competitor to the F-15E, then identified as the F-15 Strike Eagle. We stated as unequivocally as possible to the Air Force, that the Dual-Role mission should be given to the F-15: that the F-15 should complement the F-16 in ground strike missions in the same manner that the F-16 complements the F-15 in air-air missions. A fundamental tenet of the F-16, from its inception, has been as an air-air complement to the F-15—no radar missile capability, no M=2.0+ capability, no standoff capability: a multi-mission fighter whose primary mission was air-surface with backup air-air capability. We proposed the F-16XL as a logical enhancement of its air-to-surface capabilities. The F-16C represented a progressive systems enhancement and the XL would be an airframe enhancement optimized more to its air-surface mission—lower weapons carriage drag and minimum dependence on external fuel tanks. The statement that “a prototype version of the F-15E decisively beat an F-16 variant called the F-16XL,” is misinformation. I don’t know what was meant by “beat,” it is patently true that McDonnell-Douglas clearly won what was called a “competition.” However, by the Air Force’s own definition, it was, in reality, an evaluation to determine which airplane would be better suited to the dual-role mission. In a formal competition, each party is evaluated against a common set of requirements and conditions. Such was not the case for the dual-role fighter. The F-15 Strike Eagle and the F-16XL were evaluated and flight tested to different sets of conditions and to different test plans—no common basis for evaluation existed. The F-15 had only one clear advantage in the evaluation—a “paper” advantage. The weapon loading for one of the missions used in the evaluation precluded the use of external fuel tanks on the F-16XL; the F-15 could carry that particular weapon loading and still carry external fuel tanks, the F-16XL could not. That one mission was the only place the F-15 had a clear advantage. (It should be noted that a fundamental design feature of the XL was the elimination of external fuel tanks with their attendant restrictions on flight limits and their weight and drag penalty.) Further, the Air Force would not allow us to use the GE F110 engine in our proposal even though the No. 2 XL, the 2-place version, was powered by a F110 engine and provided better performance than the P&W F100 engine. And although you would expect the F-16’s clear advantage to be cost, the Air Force treated the F-15E as a simple modification to a planned production buy and the F-16XL as a totally new buy. Neither airplane used in the flight test evaluation was a “prototype” of a dual-role fighter. The F-15 was closer systems and cockpit-wise than the F-16XL and the F-16XL was closer, much closer, airframe-wise. The F-16XLs were designed to, and flew, at their maximum design gross weight of 48,000 pounds, whereas the F-15, more than once, blew its tires while taxiing at 73,000 pounds, well below its maximum design gross weight [which was 81,000 pounds], a condition not demonstrated in the flight test program. In a meeting that I attended with General Creech, then TAC CINC [Commander-in-Chief], the general stated that either air¬plane was fully satisfactory. When asked why he and his staff only mentioned the F-15 (never the F-16XL) in any dual-role fighter statement or discussion, he gave a reply that was impossible to refute, “We have to do that because the F-16 has a heart and soul of its own and we have to sell the F-15.” I’ll have to admit that I sat mute upon hearing that statement because there was no possible retort. We had no allusions as to what the outcome of the Dual-role fighter “competition” would be and debated whether to even respond to the request for information. We did submit, knowing full well that it was a lost cause and that to not submit would be an affront to the Air Force who badly needed the appearance of a competition to justify continued procurement of the F-15—they had patently been unable to sell the F-15 Strike Eagle for five years. As is the case with too much in our culture today, the Air Force was more interested in style, in appearances, than in substance. Even today, I feel that giving the F-15 a precision air-surface capability was proper and badly needed. What continues to disturb me is that the F-16XL had to be a pawn in that decision and had to be so badly denigrated to justify the decision—a selection that could have been made on its own merits. And finally The concept of retaining performance with a usable Air to Ground loadout lives on today in the form of the F-35 Lightning II.......which comes with a 43,000 lbs thrust class engine to start with. General Dynamics F-16XL (F2275) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sources Page 267 Red Eagles (Davies.S), Osprey publishing 2008 - Matheny flew the MiG-21F-13 against the F-16XL and F-15E concept demonstrators. Elegance in Flight (Piccirillo.AC), 2014 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Chapter 7: The Dual Role Fighter competition. Code One Magazine, July 1989 (General Dynamics) Vol 4 No 2 -The F-16XL flies again Code One Magazine, July 1991 (General Dynamics) Vol 6 No 2 – Interview with Harry Hillaker 1999 Aviationweek online: http://aviationweek.com/awin/pws-229a-edging-close-500-hours Pratt&Whitney's self-funded F100-PW-229A - a re-fanned F100 fighter engine that can produce as much as 37,150 lbst. - is edging close to 500 total hours of run time 1998 General Electric online: http://www.geaviation.com/press/military/military_19980907.html Designated the F110-GE-129 EFE (Enhanced Fighter Engine), the engine will be qualified at 34,000 pounds of thrust and offered initially at a thrust rating of 32,000 pounds, with demonstrated growth capability to 36,000 pounds.
  4. F-16: The Shattered Dream

    F-16: The Shattered Dream The F-16 was designed from the outset as a pure Air to Air fighter, but what eventually went into production wasn’t quite the envisioned dream. The dream was partly from renowned aircraft designer Harry Hillaker at General Dynamics,who in the mid 1960s spent many of his spare hours designing the aircraft of his dreams – “a lightweight, high-performance jet that could fly circles around all other fighters”. He got to work with a group of people that got dubbed the Fighter Mafia on what was eventually to be to be a “best effort” technology demonstrator for the USAF. The Fighter Mafia? Hillaker stated there were three core members of the Fighter Mafia, namely John Boyd, Pierre Sprey and himself. They had ideas that went against the grain of the USAF upper echelons at the time and they wanted a lower cost, lightweight Air to Air fighter. [1] There were other protagonists but regardless of who they were the Light Weight Fighter (LWF) would not have happened without their influence in the Pentagon. John Boyd Ex fighter pilot John Boyd who also now worked at the Pentagon had recently been applying his work on E-M theory to the design of the F-15. However he had in his mind a concept for a Light Weight Fighter (LWF) and he sat down with Hillaker and they started to put ideas together. Much has been written about Boyd but what we can say is that he was very well respected by most for his achievements, however he upset a lot of the establishment at the time which may have ultimately gone against him. In 1975 the Air Force awarded Boyd the Dr Harold Brown award (the highest scientific achievement granted by the Air Force), with a citation stating how E-M was used in designing the F-15 and F-16.[9] Pierre Sprey On the opposite end of the achievement spectrum was this guy, yes the same one that you may have seen recently on RT (Russia Today) going under the title of “F-16 designer” or even “creator of the F-16” (taking credit for dead peoples work……classy Pierre). [13] Pierre Sprey was at the time a civilian Defence Analyst (with no military background) at the Pentagon and his involvement in the F-16 seems to have been minimal. It consisted of collecting data on aircraft reliability, effectiveness and cost and analysing the data with Hillaker and Boyd. [1] Corams Book, “Boyd” makes out the inlet in the F-16 was positioned where it was due to a suggestion by Sprey [14]. Unsurprisingly this appears to be patently false.[21] Described by others who worked at the Pentagon at the time as a Luddite[28] and a gadfly[2] his name is regretfully part of this history. Was the LWF to be a day time only Visual / WVR fighter? yes and no! The USAF design goals for the LWF demonstrators stated only clear Weather and, day conditions with capability to be upgraded later to all weather & all light conditions. The Fighter Mafia didn’t want radars in the LWF did they? Corams Boyd [9] makes out the addition of a large ground mapping radar was a change not wanted, whereas Michel III [26] makes out the USAF added a Pulse Doppler radar that the Fighter Mafia completely opposed. Other available information suggests that Boyd did not want a Radar in the F-16 due to his experience of small radars in single man jets in the 1960s. A valid point at the time because they were very limited without a dedicated RIO/WSO as found in the F-4. He likely was surprised at how good the APG-66 was due to rapid advances in computing technology. [6] According to Herb Hutchinson, Boyd eventually agreed that the added capability to the F-16 was cost effective and mission effective. So the LWF was never going to get a radar or AIM-7 right? Err false……at the point the LWF prototypes were being built (now designated YF-16), they had provisions for AIM-7 and a bigger avionics package than was specified for the LWF requirements [7], and this was long before the USAF got their paws on it. If the LWF concept went into production it almost certainly (politics permitting) would have had AIM-7 and an APG-66 type FCR regardless, even if the radar had only A-A modes. In 1974 the USAF specified instructions to General Dynamics and Northrop near the end of the LWF project for the missionized USAF Air Combat Fighter they wanted. This included: “Air-to-air armament includes the carriage of four AIM-9J/L missiles, an M61 A1 20 mm cannon with 500 rounds capacity, and Group A provisions for carriage of two radar-guided missiles (replacing two AIM-9J/L IR missiles).” But the YF-16 had a tiny nose and no radar? It is important to ignore what the YF-16 looked like because it was a quick build technology demonstrator. It must be clarified that one of the YF-16s actually did have a radar[20] required for testing the Vulcan cannon. Some may be aware that the F-4A (F4H-1F) also received a complete nose job from block 3 to accommodate a larger radar.[25] Okay so why then did the production F-16A not carry the AIM-7 from the off? This one is less of a mystery but has been intertwined and confused with Fighter Mafia ideas and the LWF concept. Officially the USAF simply had no requirement for AIM-7s on the F-16A so they were never put on. General Dynamics did conduct proof of concept AIM-7 firing tests in November 1977, including conformal fuselage carriage, but no effort was made to develop this because it wasn’t required. [5] Unofficially and sadly it was 100% politics. There were zero technical reasons why the production F-16A didn’t carry AIM-7 from IOC in 1980, however there was a big political reason likely involving the F-15 and sources outside of Coram do verify this: Air Force four-star generals had ordered him not to put a Sparrow missile on the F-16 because they didn’t want it competing directly with the F-15.[3]. This consensus also being backed up by one of the initial Viper cadre in the late 1970s: “The lack of a radar missile capability for the Viper was pure politics. The radar was modified quite cheaply in late 70's to use the thing. Small CW antenna in the radome and a tuning doofer in the RIU, and presto!” [4] Myth of the simple Fighter Compared to the F-15 the F-16 was actually a far more technologically advanced design with far higher risk. This was down to several factors: · The F-15 was the first fighter to be procured in years by the USAF and was very costly, so McDonnell Douglas favoured a lower risk approach. [1] · To get the range and performance required for the size, the F-16 had to use a full on cutting edge Fly By Wire computer system and be longitudinally unstable. Such was the risk the design team had provisions for mounting the wing further back if the FBW system didn’t work with a penalty in range and performance degradation. [1] YF-16 wins the fly off but then what? After the fly off in 1974, the YF-16 was considered the better aircraft simply because it met the combat relevant tasks set by the USAF, whereas the YF-17 did not. Lower cost and the decision to use the F100-PW engine (also used in the F-15) no doubt also went in its favour. Once accepted the F-16 design was then handed to the US Air Force Configuration Control Committee (CCC) led by ex fighter pilot Alton Slay. Here the LWF concept was killed and a slight redesign turned the F-16 into the “multirole” fighter the USAF wanted with an emphasis on the A-G role. [2] What is clear is that they enlarged the fuselage to add more fuel (to retain the range) and increased the wing area from 280sqft to 300sqft (to retain some manoeuvrability), the horizontal tail and ventral stabilisers were also enlarged [8]. What is less clear is the various amounts of weight that was added. [15] Boyd it seems did not agree that 300sqft was a big enough increase to retain the original manoeuvrability and spent considerable effort to get it increased to 320sqft but alas failed to get this changed – he blamed the F-15 and politics as part of the USAF decision. [9] A multirole F-16? When the F-16A first rolled off the production line, despite being bigger it was actually lighter than the Prototype YF-16 used in the flyoff (which was just a quicky build tech demonstrator). [8] It was however not the LWF the mafia had hoped for and was never designed for carrying loads of bombs and external ECM pods. Hillaker stated that if he had designed the F-16 as a multirole jet as the USAF wanted to use it he would have designed it differently. The Harry Hillaker F-16 design with emphasis on A-G was the excellent if underpowered F-16XL. [1] F-16XL - Fly super jet fly! (f-16.net) Okay so was having no AIM-7 capability a problem? F-16s would not see operational AIM-7 capability till around 1989 on the USAFs F-16A ADF [16]. The AIM-7 was only certified on the F-16C post 1992 by General Dynamics who had to fund it themselves. The AIM-7 was never part of the USAF F-16 plan at all and the F-16 ADF really was a one off. It seems the AIM-120 was hoped to be in service by 1985. The first "guided" F-16 AMRAAM launch took place in 1985 however operational service was delayed six or so years. This sounds like criminal negligence on behalf of the USAF because with no AIM-7 but still a major A-A role for USAF flyers in the Cold War it didn’t sound like a great deal for the flyers. There was some saving grace however, being the 1980s there were a lot of ways around the relatively primitive radar and missile technology of the era [22] and the F-16 despite the enforced lower performance was still in some respects superior to the F-15 close in. [23]. In the 1994 William Tell Air Superiority competition both participating Air National Guard units flying F-16A ADFs finished top and wiped the floor with five regular USAF F-15C units. This was not a surprise to anyone in the F-16 community. So what would a LWF F-16A look like if the USAF had accepted it in an alternate reality? · Smaller with 280sqft wing area and less fuel (but similar range). · Around 13000 lb empty weight. [15] · Engine: Same F100-PW-200. · Avionics: APG-66 with nose enlargement, RWR. · AIM-9, AIM-7 and Cannon armament. · Drop tanks. Hillaker stated he thought if the F-16 had gone to production as intended then only about 300 would have been procured by the USAF………..just like the F-104.[1] Were the USAF right to do a half arsed redesign on it? History would say they were. It was more useful because A-G is where most of the action has been and despite the lower A-A performance it turned out to be more than good enough in the A-A role. New F-16s still roll off the production line in 2016 (nearly 40 years of continuous production) and the F-16 is still seen as a benchmark design to compare others to, so can’t be too bad. It wasn’t all roses though - with the “Multirole” F-16 the USAF had plans to add everything but the kitchen sink to it over time, to the inevitable point where they had structural failure at Block 30 when trying to wedge such things as LANTIRN onto it [24]. That meant the structure had to be totally redesigned at Block 40/42 and accounts for much of the weight increase at those and later blocks due to the effort to turn it into a bomber (Switching to the F-16XL might have been less hassle after all!). Later projects to improve performance on the production F-16 were also cancelled, notably Agile Falcon [17] in the late 1980s (to make the wing bigger - kinda similar to what Boyd suggested originally) and Multi Axis Thrust Vectoring (MATV) [18] in the early 1990s. Getting old and fat The production F-16 got fatter and fatter so here is a very simple chart that shows Wing loading increase over time. And the F-16 today The F-16E may have the highest Wing Loading on the chart but it is no doubt the best production F-16 for real combat today (before the F-16V upgrades take place). AESA radar, sensor fusion, internal ECM suite, towed decoys, FLIR, and CFTs for extra range……..all the important parameters of a fighter today require space in the airframe……..so not completely suited to a LWF concept……….. But it was a nice dream while it lasted…………… References: [1] Interview: Harry Hillaker - Father Of The F-16 http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=135 (Accessed 2016) [2] (Michel III, M.L, 2006) THE REVOLT OF THE MAJORS: HOW THE AIR FORCE CHANGED AFTER VIETNAM [3] Retired General Mike Loh who worked on Alton Slays USAF CCC team: In June 1972, the Air Force had sent Loh to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and assigned him to the prototype office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio to manage the budget, contracts, and overall engineering for the Lightweight Fighter. When the F-16 was selected, the Air Force formed a system program office at Wright-Patterson, where Loh signed on as director of projects, with the responsibility to integrate the avionics and weapons systems on the airplane. But he was in a quandary. Air Force four-star generals had ordered him not to put a Sparrow missile on the F-16 because they didn’t want it competing directly with the F-15. But they didn’t say anything about inventing a new missile. “I pursued a lightweight radar missile very quietly, as an advanced development project, with no strings to the F-16 or any other fighter,” Loh says. “I worked quietly with missile contractors and the Air Force Development Test Center at Eglin to put together radar missile designs that could fit on Sidewinder stations. This initiative later turned into AMRAAM, the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.” (Bjorkman. E, 2014 ) The Outrageous adolescence of the F-16, Air and Space Magazine http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The-Outrageous-Adolescence-of-the-F-16-241533731.html (Accessed 2015) [4] “The lack of a radar missile capability for the Viper was pure politics. The radar was modified quite cheaply in late 70's to use the thing. Small CW antenna in the radome and a tuning doofer in the RIU, and presto!” http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8478&hilit=Boyd+love&start=15 Pat “Gums” McAdoo http://www.f-16.net/interviews_article28.html [5] Information provided by GD engineer **John G Williams [6] “ I will add that JB was totally against putting a radar in the Viper, as the radars he was familiar with (and that would have fit in the nose) were pretty useless and for the most part was weight he felt the F-16 could do without. I suspect he was surprised with how good the radar turned out to be (although still very weak compared to the Eagle)”. [Roscoe retired USAF Fighter Pilot] http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8478&hilit=Boyd+love&start=15 [7] Although the LWF requirement specified only minimal electronics , the design team recognized that an operational aircraft would probably require a heavier and more bulky avionics package. The decision was made to size the aircraft to carry heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles plus an M61 cannon, but to make provisions to allow Sparrow radar-homing missiles to be carried at a later date should this be required. F-16 Design Origins, Code One Magazine http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=131 (Accessed 2015) [8] “ I was a structural engineer on the YF-16 and F-16 flight test teams, so was familiar with weights at the time. Forty years is too long to remember all the numbers, but when the F-16 was in early flight test, I did a weight comparison between the two and was very surprised to find the F-16 empty weight was less than the YF-16. So, the YF-16, designed for 6.5g at 14900 lb was heavier than the F-16, designed for 9g at 22,500 lb. Don't confuse the design weight as the actual weight, two totally different things. Here's why the YF-16 was heavier. First, it had a much larger structural margin. meaning it was designed for 25% overload capability, because no 150% static test was performed. Second, it was not a refined structural design, either design loads or stress analysis. If there was any doubt about load or stress, it was made a little heavier. Third, manufacturing processes were not refined. It was built as cheaply as possible. Remarkable, when you consider the added g and design weight, larger wing, horizontal tail, and ventral fins, and longer fuselage of the F-16, in addition to an 8,000 hour service life.” [John G Williams**] http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=25121&p=266379#p266379 [9] (Coram. R, 2004 ) Boyd: the Fighter Pilot that changed the art of war [13] Some of these gems are captured around 36:03 on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HVY6Fdc2CM [14] (Coram. R, 2004 ) Boyd: the Fighter Pilot that changed the art of war p246. [15] Source [2] (Michel III) claims 2 tons (4000 lbs) and source [9] (Coram) claims 3000 lbs. Simply using the same wingloading value as Boyd wanted at 320sqft but for a 280sqft design gives around 13000 lbs so may as well go with that. [16] F-16A ADF http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article14.html [17] Agile Falcon http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article21.html (Camm F) The F-16 Multinational Staged Improvement, RAND N3619. [18] F-16 MATV http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article19.html (Accessed 2016) Thrust Vectoring in the real world, Code 1 Magazine http://www.codeonemagazine.com/article.html?item_id=163 (Accessed 2016) [19] Egyptian Block 32 with AIM-7 http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article4.html (Accessed 2016) Note: this is not for certain because according to General Dynamics (Lockheed Martin) the AIM-7 was only certified on the F-16CD in 1989. [20] “ I am not sure where the false story of no radar on the YF-16 started, but I guarantee you it was there. It was not a radar like you might expect, with a scanning antenna inside the radome and a glowing, flickering screen in the cockpit, but it was a radar nonetheless. The function of the radar was to provide range-only information for the gun sight. Although I'm not certain, I seem to recall only one of the airplanes had a gun, as a cost saving measure. If so, only one airplane would have had the radar system.” [John G Williams**] “Confirming that only the second prototype had a ranging radar installed, the Solid State Range-Only Radar (SSR-1) developed at General Electric, AESD, Utica, New York. “ [http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA041197 ] http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=28763&p=312806#p312806 (Accessed 2016) [21] The General Dynamics team also studied several different air intake configurations before settling on the final air intake located underneath the nose. The ventral location for the intake was chosen to minimize the sensitivity of airflow into the engine to high angles of attack. At a 20-degree AoA, the local flow direction to a ventral intake was only ten degrees below datum, as compared to 35 degrees in the case of side-mounted inlets. The design team had actually started with a chin-mounted Crusader-type intake, but it was gradually pushed further and further back to save weight until the process finally had to be halted to keep the intake ahead of the nosewheel. There are some disadvantages to such an air intake location --- the mounting of the inlet underneath the fuselage is potentially dangerous to ground personnel and appears at first sight to invite foreign object damage (FOD) to the engine by the ingestion of stones and other runway debris into the intake. However, it avoids the gun gas ingestion problem, and since the nosewheel is further back, it avoids nosewheel-induced FOD. In order to save weight and complexity, the geometry of the intake was fixed. F-16 LWF http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article4.html (Accessed 2016) [22] (Anderegg C.R, ) SIERRA HOTEL FLYING AIR FORCE FIGHTERS IN THE DECADE AFTER VIETNAM, Chapter 17 [23] “Throughout the book I have attributed credit where it is due. However, many statements in the book are my own. For example, in the last chapter I write that the F–16 is a better day, visual dogfighter than the F–15. F–15 pilots who read that statement will howl with anger. Sorry, Eagle pilots, but I flew the F–15 for over ten years, and that’s the way I see it.” (Anderegg C.R, ) SIERRA HOTEL FLYING AIR FORCE FIGHTERS IN THE DECADE AFTER VIETNAM “If my memory serves me right, our pair won the 2v2 training session, but in a 1 v1 scenario, the Baz was no match for the Netz. The latter jet has to be the worlds best WVR fighter platform.“ [baz [F-15] pilot Yorem Peled ] (Aloni, S, 2006) IDF/AF Israeli F-15 Eagle units in Combat, Osprey [24] “There was a total re-engineering of block 40 structure following a static test failure of a block 30 airframe. Test failure was at 137% of limit load, well short of the 150% requirement. Patches applied to block 30 airplanes allowed those airplanes to continue flying. Airplane weight had increased with each block from block 1 on and it finally caught up with the true capability. So Block 40 was essentially a new structure, much stronger than previous blocks. The block 40 LANTIRN installation was also a big driver in redesign because it drove the CG forward. That shift required more down tail trim load, increasing fuselage, tail, and wing loads. So block 25 structure is not close to the block 40 or 50 structure in static or durability capability.” [John G Williams**] http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27459&p=299748#p299748 (Accessed 2016) [25] F-4A http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f4_2.html (Accessed 2016) [26] the Configuration Control Committee ordered it equipped with a small but highly capable pulse Doppler radar, something the Critics had adamantly opposed. (Michel III, M.L, 2006) THE REVOLT OF THE MAJORS: HOW THE AIR FORCE CHANGED AFTER VIETNAM [28] Retired General Mike Loh: Loh says that each Fighter Mafia member had a different agenda. “Boyd was unquestionably the leader and dominated the crusade. His motivation was to vindicate his EM theory, and he wasn’t concerned about any mission beyond close-in air-to-air combat. He spent hours debating anyone who challenged his views.” On the other hand, General Dynamics [Author: Pentagon not GD! ] system analyst Pierre Sprey “was a true Luddite, opposed to any advanced technology,” says Loh. “His agenda was to produce the cheapest fighter for daytime air combat in Europe against Warsaw Pact forces.” (Bjorkman. E, 2014 ) The Outrageous adolescence of the F-16, Air and Space Magazine http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/The-Outrageous-Adolescence-of-the-F-16-241533731.html (Accessed 2015) **John G Williams was a structural flight test engineer at General Dynamics, and worked on programs including the YF-16, F-16, F-16XL and F-2A.
  5. View File F-16XL for SF2 – F-16E Blk 62 Fighting Falcon F-16XL for SF2 – F-16E Blk 62 Fighting Falcon 2.1 In March 1981, the USAF announced the Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) program to procure a replacement for the F-111. The program was later renamed the Dual-Role Fighter (DRF) competition. The concept envisioned an aircraft capable of launching deep air interdiction missions without requiring additional support by fighter escort or jamming. General Dynamics submitted the F-16XL, while McDonnell Douglas submitted the F-15E. As we all know the F-15E was chosen... BUT what if the F-16XL had been chosen instead? And so I give you the F-16E/F Block 62 Fighting Falcon. The designation F-16E/F Block 60/62 would have been used had the XL been selected (The F-16E/F Desert Falcon as we know it today wasn't even on the drawing board in the late 80's). Included in this mod are: - F-16E (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon - F-16EM (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon (CUPID mods) - F-16EV (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon (AN/APG-83 AESA radar upgrade) - 8 different USAF squadrons. To Install simply un pack and drop into your mods folder. Notes: - The weapon stations are quite complicated due to the set up on the real aircraft itself and the limitations in SF2 with the maximum amount of hard-points etc. As such it is best to use the default load out from the loadout.ini. That being said if you do want to change it at the loadout screen you need to follow these rules: If the default loadout uses rail launched weapons (Aim-9/120, AGM-65/88) under the inner wings, only change it for another rail launched weapon and vice-versa. This is because the weapon rails are loaded as an EP class weapon that doesn't show up at the loadout screen. - The default 'Attack' loadout is designed for the mass anti-armour mission as that is the kind of CAS mission SF2 generates. However in the loadout.ini file under each 'attack' loadout entry is a CAS loadout option with LGB etc. - There are a ton of different loadout options in the loadout.ini file so check them out with the single mission editor. - Loadouts are based on the F-16C Blk 40/42 but with an F-15E Strike Eagle flavor e.g. AGM-130 - Shadows are deactivated as 'tractor beams' are an issue as it is an older .lod 2.1 Changes: - Added missing 20mm M61A1 Vulcan (PGU-28) to 'Guns' folder. PGU-28 loads generally don't have tracers. 2.0 Changes: - F-16EV (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon added. - Loadout.ini and weapon station fixes. - Cockpits changed to Block 42 type with WAR hud as LANTIRN would have been fully integrated on the jet. - Ferris test skin added for F-16E (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon. - Canopy RCS reducing tinting added as per F-16C/CM Block 40/42. - Semi- conformal AIM-120 station position and angles corrected. - Internal ECM changed to AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) as was planned for production aircraft. Released under the CA fair use agreement. Credits: The Viper Team The Mudhen Maintenance Team 2016 Viper63a USAFMTL Dave ravenclaw_007 Original Model by wpnssgt via Swede Dels moonjumper Fubar512 creepin death Mirage Factory Enjoy, Dan. Submitter dtmdragon Submitted 04/27/2016 Category What If Hangar  
  6. Version 2.1

    1,243 downloads

    F-16XL for SF2 – F-16E Blk 62 Fighting Falcon 2.1 In March 1981, the USAF announced the Enhanced Tactical Fighter (ETF) program to procure a replacement for the F-111. The program was later renamed the Dual-Role Fighter (DRF) competition. The concept envisioned an aircraft capable of launching deep air interdiction missions without requiring additional support by fighter escort or jamming. General Dynamics submitted the F-16XL, while McDonnell Douglas submitted the F-15E. As we all know the F-15E was chosen... BUT what if the F-16XL had been chosen instead? And so I give you the F-16E/F Block 62 Fighting Falcon. The designation F-16E/F Block 60/62 would have been used had the XL been selected (The F-16E/F Desert Falcon as we know it today wasn't even on the drawing board in the late 80's). Included in this mod are: - F-16E (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon - F-16EM (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon (CUPID mods) - F-16EV (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon (AN/APG-83 AESA radar upgrade) - 8 different USAF squadrons. To Install simply un pack and drop into your mods folder. Notes: - The weapon stations are quite complicated due to the set up on the real aircraft itself and the limitations in SF2 with the maximum amount of hard-points etc. As such it is best to use the default load out from the loadout.ini. That being said if you do want to change it at the loadout screen you need to follow these rules: If the default loadout uses rail launched weapons (Aim-9/120, AGM-65/88) under the inner wings, only change it for another rail launched weapon and vice-versa. This is because the weapon rails are loaded as an EP class weapon that doesn't show up at the loadout screen. - The default 'Attack' loadout is designed for the mass anti-armour mission as that is the kind of CAS mission SF2 generates. However in the loadout.ini file under each 'attack' loadout entry is a CAS loadout option with LGB etc. - There are a ton of different loadout options in the loadout.ini file so check them out with the single mission editor. - Loadouts are based on the F-16C Blk 40/42 but with an F-15E Strike Eagle flavor e.g. AGM-130 - Shadows are deactivated as 'tractor beams' are an issue as it is an older .lod 2.1 Changes: - Added missing 20mm M61A1 Vulcan (PGU-28) to 'Guns' folder. PGU-28 loads generally don't have tracers. 2.0 Changes: - F-16EV (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon added. - Loadout.ini and weapon station fixes. - Cockpits changed to Block 42 type with WAR hud as LANTIRN would have been fully integrated on the jet. - Ferris test skin added for F-16E (XL) Blk 62 Fighting Falcon. - Canopy RCS reducing tinting added as per F-16C/CM Block 40/42. - Semi- conformal AIM-120 station position and angles corrected. - Internal ECM changed to AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) as was planned for production aircraft. Released under the CA fair use agreement. Credits: The Viper Team The Mudhen Maintenance Team 2016 Viper63a USAFMTL Dave ravenclaw_007 Original Model by wpnssgt via Swede Dels moonjumper Fubar512 creepin death Mirage Factory Enjoy, Dan.
  7. File Name: F-16E/F Block 60 REDUX File Submitter: Spudknocker File Submitted: 29 March 2016 File Category: F-16 F-16E and E Block 60 Desert Falcon's redone! I uploaded a older E/F pack that was pretty awful to be honest here is a much better redo! Made using the Block 50/52 models now to make it look better in general as well as some updates to the skin! Built using the Greek and Turkish F-16's as a base so if you have those the E/F should work just fine! You should already have all the weapons and sounds from earlier F-16 packs! Happy Hunting in the Gulf! Thank you to the Viper Team and everyone else who has worked on the SF2 vipers or this would never have been possible! Click here to download this file
  8. F-16E/F Block 60 REDUX

    Version 1.0

    1,604 downloads

    F-16E and E Block 60 Desert Falcon's redone! I uploaded a older E/F pack that was pretty awful to be honest here is a much better redo! Made using the Block 50/52 models now to make it look better in general as well as some updates to the skin! Built using the Greek and Turkish F-16's as a base so if you have those the E/F should work just fine! You should already have all the weapons and sounds from earlier F-16 packs! Happy Hunting in the Gulf! Thank you to the Viper Team and everyone else who has worked on the SF2 vipers or this would never have been possible!
  9. File Name: F-16 DATA & LOADOUT update File Submitter: FANATIC MODDER File Submitted: 07 March 2016 File Category: ini File Edits I reworked the Data and loadout inis in the following versions of the F-16: F-16A_B15_ADF F-16A_B15_ADF_AMI F-16A_Blk1 F-16A_Blk10_Baf F-16A_Blk10-EAF < NEW for v2.0 F-16A_Blk10-IDF < NEW for v2.0 F-16A_Blk10-NDC F-16A_Blk15_Baf F-16A_Blk15-NDC F-16A_Blk15OCU_Baf F-16A_Netz_87 < NEW for v2.0 F-16AM_bel F-16AM_den F-16AM_net F-16AM_nor F-16AM_ROCAF F-16B_Blk15-NDC < NEW for v2.0 F-16B_Netz_87 < NEW for v2.0 F-16BM_bel F-16C_B25 F-16C_B25_TB F-16C_B30 F-16C_B30_agr F-16C_B30_CUPID F-16C_B30_gk F-16C_B30_tur F-16C_B32 F-16C_B32_agr F-16C_B32_CUPID F-16C_B40 F-16C_B40_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16C_B40_tur F-16C_B42 F-16C_B50 F-16C_B50_gk F-16C_B50_tur F-16C_B50+_tur F-16C_B52 F-16C_B52+_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16C_B52+_gk F-16C_B52+_pol F-16C_Barak F-16C_BarakII F-16CM_B40 F-16CM_B42 F-16CM_B50 F-16CM_B52 F-16D_B30 < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B30_agr < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B30_gk < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B50+_tur F-16D_B52+_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B52+_gk F-16D_B52+_pol F-16D_Barak F-16D_Brakeet F-16I_Sufa F-16N KF-16C_B32 KF-16C_B52 So the FM is finally corrected, the empty weights are now correct, as well as many minor other changes in order to make ir more realistic. Don't be fooled, I did A LOT of research and a lot of BETA testing. When I had no definite data, I calculated, so some data are estimations. For proving my point, I include a 4vs4 mission, Turkish F-16D Block 50+ (the heaviest Viper in service) against USAF aggressors. Why v0.9? There are some planes missing. These are TW planes, as well as israeli -A models, egyptian, jordanian, UAE, thai, indonesian & singaporian planes. EDIT: As it turned out, these should be released in a vol.2 Requests: I hope someone would make hi-res skins for all these nations mentioned above as well for the early -A models of the four european nations. Also a proper lod for the taiwanese block 20. Logfile changes ------- v1.0 - Added the fabulous F-16A ADF AMI of dtmdragon, deleted the old F-16A AMI - The mission now is on more even terms, both F-16s have now the same loadout. ------- v2.0 - Added the following planes F-16A_Blk10-EAF F-16A_Blk10-IDF F-16A_Netz_87 F-16B_Blk15-NDC F-16B_Netz_87 - Now these planes are complete F-16C_B40_egy F-16C_B52+_egy F-16D_B30 F-16D_B30_agr F-16D_B30_gk F-16D_B52+_egy The Egyptian block 40 is based on the Turkish one, the block 52+ on the Polish. - Reworked DATA.INI for ALL planes. Mostly, but not only, reworked engine and weight data. - Four new missions are added. F-16 vs F-16, these missions are indeed very exciting. Known issues: The F-16D block 30 skins should be tweaked a bit to represent a 100% proper -D block 30 skin. CREDITS: Effects/Sounds/LODS/Skins - Dave/The Viper Team F110 effects only - Fast Cargo < The new, proper F110 effects possibly again by Fast Cargo. If not, please verify. The egyptian skin - mohand777 The F110 engine sound, I was not able to trace. Pls PM for any feedback to give proper credit. A v3.0 will come up, but not anytime soon that will include the above mentioned "jordanian, UAE, thai, indonesian & singaporian planes", hopefully even more than that. ------ Request: MORE Hi-rez skins!!!! Click here to download this file
  10. File Name: AMI F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) File Submitter: dtmdragon File Submitted: 07 March 2016 File Category: F-16 AMI/ Italian Air Force F-16A Blk 15 Air Defence Fighter (ADF) In 2003 The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) leased 34 F-16A/B (mostly block 15 ADF variants) as a stop-gap solution until delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon in 2010-12. The F-16 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) was a special variant of the Block 15 optimized for the United States Air National Guard's fighter interception mission. - Updated F-16A ADF 3D model by JAT81500 - New skins using the Team Viper F-16C High Res templates modified to fit the ADF. - Detailed Team Viper F-16 pilot model and ejection seat. - Flight model updated to the standard of the latest Team Viper F-16 flight model. - Third Wire F-16A cockpit and avionics modified to include the real world ADF upgrade (AIM-7/120). - Team Viper effects, sounds, fuel tanks and weapons. - FANATIC MODDER To install: Drop into your Mods folder Credits: - JAT81500 for doing the updated F-16A ADF 3D model - TMF/ Mirage Factory for the original F-16A ADF. - The Viper Team for thier F-16C/AM series. - Ravenclaw for the weapons and SF1 AMI F-16 Skins I used as a base and for the decals. - Migbuster for the F-16C skin templates. Enjoy, Dan (dtmdragon) History Since the early nineties, the Italian Air Force has eagerly been seeking a replacement for its vintage Aeritalia F-104S Starfighters. Its intended replacement is the Eurofighter Typhoon. Since this program has been running behind schedule for a few years, the Italian air force needed a stop-gap solution. Because the AMI possesses a vast number of Tornado IDS planes, they decided to lease 24 Tornado ADV fighters from the RAF for a 10-year period. This lease ended in 2003 so a replacement was sought. At first the AMI opted to extend the lease period with another 10 years. This proved to be too expensive, so the Italian government turned to the US. The requirement was for a fighter that could perform the air defense mission for 5 to 10 years, until the arrival of the Typhoon. Inventory Peace Caesar On March 15th, 2001 the Italian government signed an LoA for a 5-year lease (with an option on another 5 years) of 34 F-16s and four spare airframes, in a deal worth up to $777 million over a 10-year period. The aircraft were delivered between July 2003 and November 2004. In total, 30 F-16A ADFs as well as 1 F-16B ADF and 3 F-16B block 5 & 10's will be delivered. Four more planes will be provided for use as spare parts. Before delivery to Italy, the aircraft are brought out of storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and transfered to the Ogden ALC at Hill AFB, Utah, where they undergo 220 days of refurbishment and upgrades. The Falcons are given a complete refurbishment, which complied with all technical compliance-technical orders that have changed since the aircraft was placed in stasis in Arizona. The depot teams at Hill AFB did structural modifications including Falcon-Up, which replaces particular bulkheads and the structural life improvement program, which strengthens holes around the fuel cell panels and wheel wells by compressing the molecules with 30,000 pounds of pressure. The wings were removed and the bulkhead furthest aft that holds the vertical wing was replaced. The landing gear was refurbished and its bulkhead was also replaced. The flight controls actuators are replaced with new actuators. In addition the computers and instruments that provide the Falcon its technological edge are removed, sent to the appropriate facilities to be tested then repaired if necessary. All equipment that is a time change item and that has less than a full year's worth of service left is changed. Approximately 100 Italian Air Force maintenance officers, instructors and technicians are receiving F-16 maintenance training at Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth, Texas. End of service On May 23rd, 2012 a disbanding ceremony was held at Trapani-Birgi AFB to mark the disbandment of the resident 18 Gruppo, which was the sole surviving F-16 squadron within the AMI. This marked to end of the service life of the F-16 within the Italian Air Force. This means the AMI is the first air force to fly with the F-16 that phases out the type. Modifications & Armament The planes provided to Italy have a standard ADF configuration. All aircraft receive the uprated Pratt & Whitney F100-220E engine and undergo the Falcon-Up structural enhancement program. It is confirmed that a number of weapon systems will be released to the AMI to be used in conjunction with the F-16s, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, Click here to download this file
  11. F-16 DATA & LOADOUT update

    Version v2.0

    470 downloads

    I reworked the Data and loadout inis in the following versions of the F-16: F-16A_B15_ADF F-16A_B15_ADF_AMI F-16A_Blk1 F-16A_Blk10_Baf F-16A_Blk10-EAF < NEW for v2.0 F-16A_Blk10-IDF < NEW for v2.0 F-16A_Blk10-NDC F-16A_Blk15_Baf F-16A_Blk15-NDC F-16A_Blk15OCU_Baf F-16A_Netz_87 < NEW for v2.0 F-16AM_bel F-16AM_den F-16AM_net F-16AM_nor F-16AM_ROCAF F-16B_Blk15-NDC < NEW for v2.0 F-16B_Netz_87 < NEW for v2.0 F-16BM_bel F-16C_B25 F-16C_B25_TB F-16C_B30 F-16C_B30_agr F-16C_B30_CUPID F-16C_B30_gk F-16C_B30_tur F-16C_B32 F-16C_B32_agr F-16C_B32_CUPID F-16C_B40 F-16C_B40_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16C_B40_tur F-16C_B42 F-16C_B50 F-16C_B50_gk F-16C_B50_tur F-16C_B50+_tur F-16C_B52 F-16C_B52+_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16C_B52+_gk F-16C_B52+_pol F-16C_Barak F-16C_BarakII F-16CM_B40 F-16CM_B42 F-16CM_B50 F-16CM_B52 F-16D_B30 < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B30_agr < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B30_gk < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B50+_tur F-16D_B52+_egy < Now COMPLETE plane F-16D_B52+_gk F-16D_B52+_pol F-16D_Barak F-16D_Brakeet F-16I_Sufa F-16N KF-16C_B32 KF-16C_B52 So the FM is finally corrected, the empty weights are now correct, as well as many minor other changes in order to make ir more realistic. Don't be fooled, I did A LOT of research and a lot of BETA testing. When I had no definite data, I calculated, so some data are estimations. For proving my point, I include a 4vs4 mission, Turkish F-16D Block 50+ (the heaviest Viper in service) against USAF aggressors. Why v0.9? There are some planes missing. These are TW planes, as well as israeli -A models, egyptian, jordanian, UAE, thai, indonesian & singaporian planes. EDIT: As it turned out, these should be released in a vol.2 Requests: I hope someone would make hi-res skins for all these nations mentioned above as well for the early -A models of the four european nations. Also a proper lod for the taiwanese block 20. Logfile changes ------- v1.0 - Added the fabulous F-16A ADF AMI of dtmdragon, deleted the old F-16A AMI - The mission now is on more even terms, both F-16s have now the same loadout. ------- v2.0 - Added the following planes F-16A_Blk10-EAF F-16A_Blk10-IDF F-16A_Netz_87 F-16B_Blk15-NDC F-16B_Netz_87 - Now these planes are complete F-16C_B40_egy F-16C_B52+_egy F-16D_B30 F-16D_B30_agr F-16D_B30_gk F-16D_B52+_egy The Egyptian block 40 is based on the Turkish one, the block 52+ on the Polish. - Reworked DATA.INI for ALL planes. Mostly, but not only, reworked engine and weight data. - Four new missions are added. F-16 vs F-16, these missions are indeed very exciting. Known issues: The F-16D block 30 skins should be tweaked a bit to represent a 100% proper -D block 30 skin. CREDITS: Effects/Sounds/LODS/Skins - Dave/The Viper Team F110 effects only - Fast Cargo < The new, proper F110 effects possibly again by Fast Cargo. If not, please verify. The egyptian skin - mohand777 The F110 engine sound, I was not able to trace. Pls PM for any feedback to give proper credit. A v3.0 will come up, but not anytime soon that will include the above mentioned "jordanian, UAE, thai, indonesian & singaporian planes", hopefully even more than that. ------ Request: MORE Hi-rez skins!!!!
  12. Version 1.1

    470 downloads

    AMI/ Italian Air Force F-16A Blk 15 Air Defence Fighter (ADF) In 2003 The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) leased 34 F-16A/B (mostly block 15 ADF variants) as a stop-gap solution until delivery of the Eurofighter Typhoon in 2010-12. The F-16 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) was a special variant of the Block 15 optimized for the United States Air National Guard's fighter interception mission. - Updated F-16A ADF 3D model by JAT81500 - New skins using the Team Viper F-16C High Res templates modified to fit the ADF. - Detailed Team Viper F-16 pilot model and ejection seat. - Flight model updated to the standard of the latest Team Viper F-16 flight model. - Third Wire F-16A cockpit and avionics modified to include the real world ADF upgrade (AIM-7/120). - Team Viper effects, sounds, fuel tanks and weapons. - FANATIC MODDER To install: Drop into your Mods folder Credits: - JAT81500 for doing the updated F-16A ADF 3D model - TMF/ Mirage Factory for the original F-16A ADF. - The Viper Team for thier F-16C/AM series. - Ravenclaw for the weapons and SF1 AMI F-16 Skins I used as a base and for the decals. - Migbuster for the F-16C skin templates. Enjoy, Dan (dtmdragon) History Since the early nineties, the Italian Air Force has eagerly been seeking a replacement for its vintage Aeritalia F-104S Starfighters. Its intended replacement is the Eurofighter Typhoon. Since this program has been running behind schedule for a few years, the Italian air force needed a stop-gap solution. Because the AMI possesses a vast number of Tornado IDS planes, they decided to lease 24 Tornado ADV fighters from the RAF for a 10-year period. This lease ended in 2003 so a replacement was sought. At first the AMI opted to extend the lease period with another 10 years. This proved to be too expensive, so the Italian government turned to the US. The requirement was for a fighter that could perform the air defense mission for 5 to 10 years, until the arrival of the Typhoon. Inventory Peace Caesar On March 15th, 2001 the Italian government signed an LoA for a 5-year lease (with an option on another 5 years) of 34 F-16s and four spare airframes, in a deal worth up to $777 million over a 10-year period. The aircraft were delivered between July 2003 and November 2004. In total, 30 F-16A ADFs as well as 1 F-16B ADF and 3 F-16B block 5 & 10's will be delivered. Four more planes will be provided for use as spare parts. Before delivery to Italy, the aircraft are brought out of storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and transfered to the Ogden ALC at Hill AFB, Utah, where they undergo 220 days of refurbishment and upgrades. The Falcons are given a complete refurbishment, which complied with all technical compliance-technical orders that have changed since the aircraft was placed in stasis in Arizona. The depot teams at Hill AFB did structural modifications including Falcon-Up, which replaces particular bulkheads and the structural life improvement program, which strengthens holes around the fuel cell panels and wheel wells by compressing the molecules with 30,000 pounds of pressure. The wings were removed and the bulkhead furthest aft that holds the vertical wing was replaced. The landing gear was refurbished and its bulkhead was also replaced. The flight controls actuators are replaced with new actuators. In addition the computers and instruments that provide the Falcon its technological edge are removed, sent to the appropriate facilities to be tested then repaired if necessary. All equipment that is a time change item and that has less than a full year's worth of service left is changed. Approximately 100 Italian Air Force maintenance officers, instructors and technicians are receiving F-16 maintenance training at Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth, Texas. End of service On May 23rd, 2012 a disbanding ceremony was held at Trapani-Birgi AFB to mark the disbandment of the resident 18 Gruppo, which was the sole surviving F-16 squadron within the AMI. This marked to end of the service life of the F-16 within the Italian Air Force. This means the AMI is the first air force to fly with the F-16 that phases out the type. Modifications & Armament The planes provided to Italy have a standard ADF configuration. All aircraft receive the uprated Pratt & Whitney F100-220E engine and undergo the Falcon-Up structural enhancement program. It is confirmed that a number of weapon systems will be released to the AMI to be used in conjunction with the F-16s, including the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile,
  13. File Name: SF2 USAF Red Flag Nellis AFB Proving Grounds File Submitter: viper63a File Submitted: 22 September 2015 File Category: User Made Missions SF2 USAF Red Flag Nellis AFB Proving Grounds Viper63a This is my mod install for testing new aircrafts, objects and weapons. Once installed, I backup/zip the whole mod folder so I can reset it after testing whatever mod I am testing. It's also a Red Flag simulator. So if you want to take your favorite plane to Red Flag, here you go! Red Flag Nellis AFB is a stripped down Strikefighter2 installation based in Nellis AFB with only a handful of flyable planes against the pre-loaded USAF F-15s/16s and Navy A-4s/F-5s/F-14s Aggressors (All AIs). There are no Campaigns, only Instant Action and Single Missions. I recommend setting the Enemy AI to "Hard" to get the most out of this install. I added, tweaked, adjusted and created new items for this mod, but the lions share of this mod was created by other faithful modders on CombatAce - ALL CREDITS TO THEM! Thank you! This mod is an expansion for "Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0" mod, so you will need that mod as well... http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ Enjoy! ******************************************************************************* Installation for fully merge installs only...Using SF2 Europe as an example. * Creating a new "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" Mod Folder: In the "C:\...\Thirdwire\" folder.. 1) Copy "StrikeFighters2 Europe.exe" to "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" 2) Copy "StrikeFighters2 Europe.ini" to "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.ini" 3) Create a short cut of "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" on your desktop. 4) Run the "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" short cut. Once the game starts, Exit. 5) You have now created a new "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" mod folder in \user\...\Saved Games\... Mine looks like this...Yours may/will look different. C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\ * Download and install "Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0": 1) If you haven't already - download, uncompress and install "Nellis Range 2.0" into your new SF2 Nellis Mod Folder. http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ 2) Run the "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" short cut to start the game. 3) In the Single Missision Menu, Ensure\Select the F-15A and the Nellis Terrain. Exit Menu to Main. 4) Optional, set up the Pilot and Options menus to your liking or do this later. Exit Menu to Main. 5) Exit from Main. * Configure and install the "Red Flag Nellis" Mod: In the "C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\" folder... 1) Under the "Objects" folder, delete both "Aircraft" and "Decals" folders. 2) Uncompress "USAF RED FLAG..." zip file... 3) Copy the contents of "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 Nellis Mod Folder. Overwrite. * Last steps... 1) Copy the "INITNELLIS.BMP" file from the new "Red Flag Nellis" Mod folder to "C:\...\Thirdwire\Menu" folder... 2) Edit "C:\...\Thirdwire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis.ini"... a) Under [startup], change "LoadingScreen=" from "Menu\INITSCREEN.BMP" to "Menu\INITNELLIS.BMP". Save. 3) Edit "C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\Options.ini" file. a) Under [instantAction], change "MissionMap=" from "GermanyCE" to "NELLIS_RANGE". Save. * Now you have completed the install of the "USAF Red Flag Nellis AFB" and "Nellis Range" mod packs. * I recommend setting the Enemy AI to "Hard" to get the most of this pack. * Install any new or your favorite plane mods to test at the Nellis AFB. ******************************************************************************* ********* Credits ******** ******************************************************************************* Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0 - Steve "Hurc" Crane http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ Original Bombing Range/Mescalero Proving Grounds: - Deuces - Bunyap - Wrench - ChampionsVA56 Objects & Mods used for the Nellis Range Update: - Nellis Airbase, buildings/hangars and terrain mod: Me - Static and Target versions of several vehicles or A/C: Me - BANIDOS TEAM: Aircraft Weapon Loading Set (A-10 and F-16 static models) - Amokfloo: ControlTower, ForkLift, FireExtinguisher - Ravenclaw: Fire Trucks - Pureblue and Sundowner: FloodLight, SmallGenerator, ConcreteBlock, SunShelter, and most of the ground equipment - Factory and building Models: Wingwiner - Generic Hangars: CA_Stary - Hi-Res Desert tiles: JSF_Aggie - ChampionsVA56: Mockup AAA and radars, basic range target layout Drones and A/C included: (All downloaded from CombatAce.com) - QF-100D drone - A-4F Aggressor - F-5E Aggressor - F-16C Aggressor - F-16C Thunderbirds - QF-106A drone - BQM-34 Firebee drone ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* SF2 Scooters! Vol.2 - Aggressors for TW A-4 and Fractures TA-4 Skyhawks 1.0 - Nyghtfall http://combatace.com/files/file/15560-sf2-scooters-vol2-aggressors-for-tw-a-4-and-fractures-ta-4-skyhawks/ Credits ======= - Thirdwire and TK for a great game, models and the cockpit-parts I used. - Fracture, Wrench for the original TA-4J Pack and Model. - dtmdragon for his A-4 Aggressor pack, on which this is based. - RAVEN - LAU-129 missile-rail - ravenclaw_007 - ACMI-Pod - 331Killerbee - CAP-9 from his Ordnance Shop II Pack - Alejandro - Escapac seat - FastCargo - FakePilot - ???? - TopGun pilot - ???? - J52-Sound - ???? - 150gal OV-10A-tank - Nyghtfall skins, decals, loadingscreens, ini-work, modified A-4E cockpit. ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-16C Block 30/32 Aggressors by The Viper Team 1.2 http://combatace.com/files/file/12949-f-16c-block-3032-aggressors-by-the-viper-team/ Pit by ravenclaw. (Ok now he has gone too far.....) Models by bpao, modified highly by Jat and ravenclaw. Skins templates by Migbuster and EricJ MFD panel glass by Stary Units skins by Sony Tuckson, Jat, Migbuster and EricJ ACMIs, CATM-9's and ALQ-167 by ravenclaw Technical adviser, Sony Tuckson (If we got it wrong he cracked the whip!) Avionics by Jat and Crusader (You cant get anything past Crusader, the best MK1 eyeball in SF) Brain32, for FM, Avionics work. Crash test Dummy and screens, Dave CrazyhorseB34, the other dummy ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* TMF F-14 Tomcat Superpack v1.21 Full - Spectre8750 http://combatace.com/files/file/12327-tmf-f-14-tomcat-superpack/ Credits: Model: Flying Toaster, Oli Cockpit: Chris (original), reworked and updated by Brain32 FM: ThirdWire, Column5, Spectre8750, Caesar Avionics: Crusader, ThirdWire, Sup Gen, Caesar, Dave, CrazyhorseB34 Pilots: Old_Diego, CrazyhorseB34 Skins: Dave, Spectre8750, Column5 NATOPS Textures: HomeFries Extra Hangar, Loading and Main Screens: Dave, Spectre8750 Ejection Mod: Stary Testing: Sup Gen, Caesar, Dave, EricJ, Spectre8750 TARPS: Bunyap and Spectre8750 Weapons: Ravenclaw, wpnssgt, Bunyap and others ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* TMF F-14D_96 Aggressor flanker scheme V1.01 - Blackburn32 http://combatace.com/files/file/15733-tmf-f-14d-96-aggressor-flanker-scheme/ I think someone requested an F-14 aggressor/flanker style skin for the Tomcat, so here is my effort! Keep in mind this is the first time I've attempted to skin a bird so it's a not the best possible version of this yet! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-15 Super Pack (Version 2.4) - FastCargo http://combatace.com/files/file/10443-f-15-super-pack-version-24/ TK - For the ThirdWire series of sims. The Mirage Factory - For the nice F-15D MSIP aircraft...in particular Flying Toaster, wpnssgt, and Dave for making the F-15 MAX files available for me to play with. Kei Nagase - For the awesome skins for the F-15 ACTIVE. AleDucat - For the nice ACES II ejection seat models. Deuces - For the F-15 Afterburner and weapon effects. Diego - For the Modern USAF Pilot skins. Fubar512 - For the FM work. JimmyBib - For the F-15C cockpit flight control textures. MoonJumper - Avionics work. Sundowner - Textures. USAFMTL/Dave - Decals. Wpnssgt - Models, Textures. Kesselburt - Original F-15C cockpit. Kout - Loading and Hanger Screens. Kct - Textures and decals for the F-15SG. Brain32 - Improved/new textures for F-15C cockpit. Mago - F-15E Cockpit. 331KillerBee - SF2 Weapons Pack (basis for some of the weapons included). Lexx Luthor - Siberian Sky Experimental 3-D Rocket Exhaust JAT81500 - F-15E Cockpit avionics and HUD work. To my fellows at Combatace for helping me beta test and work out bugs. ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-15C "Grim Reapers", 493rd TFS 48th TFW, RAF Lakenheath Version 1 - Viper63a http://combatace.com/files/file/15308-f-15c-grim-reapers-493rd-tfs-48th-tfw-raf-lakenheath/ Credits: Fastcargo, Sundowner, Dave. James Fox, Wrench et all for the EXCELLENT mods in CombatAce! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* Hollywood Explosions - Stary http://combatace.com/files/file/10391-hollywood-explosions/ What can I say...just love his effects!! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* SF2 TopGun F-14 Pilots: Maverick/Goose, Viper/Jester & Iceman/Slider! Version 2 - Viper63a http://combatace.com/files/file/15578-sf2-topgun-f-14-pilots-maverickgoose-viperjester-icemanslider/ Western Style Pilot Models (SF1/SF2) - Florian - "AmokFloo" http://combatace.com...e-pilot-models/ ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* QF-16 Zombie Viper (SF1) - LeL http://combatace.com/files/file/15834-qf-16-zombie-viper/ DAVE for the F-16C Block 30 Version 1.0 RavenClaw and TEAM VIPER Original Model by Swede Additional Model Work by Wpnssgt Flight Model by Column5 Skins by Wpnssgt & USAFMTL F-16A Cockpit by ??? Briliant work Loading & Hangar Screens by LeL ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* I think that about covers it. If I missed anyone, I am sincerely sorry...please let me know and I will update the Credits list... =Viper= Click here to download this file
  14. Version Version 3.5

    550 downloads

    SF2 USAF Red Flag Nellis AFB Proving Grounds Viper63a This is my mod install for testing new aircrafts, objects and weapons. Once installed, I backup/zip the whole mod folder so I can reset it after testing whatever mod I am testing. It's also a Red Flag simulator. So if you want to take your favorite plane to Red Flag, here you go! Red Flag Nellis AFB is a stripped down Strikefighter2 installation based in Nellis AFB with only a handful of flyable planes against the pre-loaded USAF F-15s/16s and Navy A-4s/F-5s/F-14s Aggressors (All AIs). There are no Campaigns, only Instant Action and Single Missions. I recommend setting the Enemy AI to "Hard" to get the most out of this install. I added, tweaked, adjusted and created new items for this mod, but the lions share of this mod was created by other faithful modders on CombatAce - ALL CREDITS TO THEM! Thank you! This mod is an expansion for "Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0" mod, so you will need that mod as well... http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ Enjoy! ******************************************************************************* Installation for fully merge installs only...Using SF2 Europe as an example. * Creating a new "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" Mod Folder: In the "C:\...\Thirdwire\" folder.. 1) Copy "StrikeFighters2 Europe.exe" to "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" 2) Copy "StrikeFighters2 Europe.ini" to "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.ini" 3) Create a short cut of "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" on your desktop. 4) Run the "StrikeFighters2 Nellis.exe" short cut. Once the game starts, Exit. 5) You have now created a new "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" mod folder in \user\...\Saved Games\... Mine looks like this...Yours may/will look different. C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\ * Download and install "Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0": 1) If you haven't already - download, uncompress and install "Nellis Range 2.0" into your new SF2 Nellis Mod Folder. http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ 2) Run the "StrikeFighters2 Nellis" short cut to start the game. 3) In the Single Missision Menu, Ensure\Select the F-15A and the Nellis Terrain. Exit Menu to Main. 4) Optional, set up the Pilot and Options menus to your liking or do this later. Exit Menu to Main. 5) Exit from Main. * Configure and install the "Red Flag Nellis" Mod: In the "C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\" folder... 1) Under the "Objects" folder, delete both "Aircraft" and "Decals" folders. 2) Uncompress "USAF RED FLAG..." zip file... 3) Copy the contents of "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 Nellis Mod Folder. Overwrite. * Last steps... 1) Copy the "INITNELLIS.BMP" file from the new "Red Flag Nellis" Mod folder to "C:\...\Thirdwire\Menu" folder... 2) Edit "C:\...\Thirdwire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis.ini"... a) Under [startup], change "LoadingScreen=" from "Menu\INITSCREEN.BMP" to "Menu\INITNELLIS.BMP". Save. 3) Edit "C:\Users\<Your_Name>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters2 Nellis\Options.ini" file. a) Under [instantAction], change "MissionMap=" from "GermanyCE" to "NELLIS_RANGE". Save. * Now you have completed the install of the "USAF Red Flag Nellis AFB" and "Nellis Range" mod packs. * I recommend setting the Enemy AI to "Hard" to get the most of this pack. * Install any new or your favorite plane mods to test at the Nellis AFB. ******************************************************************************* ********* Credits ******** ******************************************************************************* Hurc's Nellis Range Mod 2.0 - Steve "Hurc" Crane http://combatace.com/files/file/12573-hurcs-nellis-range-mod/ Original Bombing Range/Mescalero Proving Grounds: - Deuces - Bunyap - Wrench - ChampionsVA56 Objects & Mods used for the Nellis Range Update: - Nellis Airbase, buildings/hangars and terrain mod: Me - Static and Target versions of several vehicles or A/C: Me - BANIDOS TEAM: Aircraft Weapon Loading Set (A-10 and F-16 static models) - Amokfloo: ControlTower, ForkLift, FireExtinguisher - Ravenclaw: Fire Trucks - Pureblue and Sundowner: FloodLight, SmallGenerator, ConcreteBlock, SunShelter, and most of the ground equipment - Factory and building Models: Wingwiner - Generic Hangars: CA_Stary - Hi-Res Desert tiles: JSF_Aggie - ChampionsVA56: Mockup AAA and radars, basic range target layout Drones and A/C included: (All downloaded from CombatAce.com) - QF-100D drone - A-4F Aggressor - F-5E Aggressor - F-16C Aggressor - F-16C Thunderbirds - QF-106A drone - BQM-34 Firebee drone ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* SF2 Scooters! Vol.2 - Aggressors for TW A-4 and Fractures TA-4 Skyhawks 1.0 - Nyghtfall http://combatace.com/files/file/15560-sf2-scooters-vol2-aggressors-for-tw-a-4-and-fractures-ta-4-skyhawks/ Credits ======= - Thirdwire and TK for a great game, models and the cockpit-parts I used. - Fracture, Wrench for the original TA-4J Pack and Model. - dtmdragon for his A-4 Aggressor pack, on which this is based. - RAVEN - LAU-129 missile-rail - ravenclaw_007 - ACMI-Pod - 331Killerbee - CAP-9 from his Ordnance Shop II Pack - Alejandro - Escapac seat - FastCargo - FakePilot - ???? - TopGun pilot - ???? - J52-Sound - ???? - 150gal OV-10A-tank - Nyghtfall skins, decals, loadingscreens, ini-work, modified A-4E cockpit. ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-16C Block 30/32 Aggressors by The Viper Team 1.2 http://combatace.com/files/file/12949-f-16c-block-3032-aggressors-by-the-viper-team/ Pit by ravenclaw. (Ok now he has gone too far.....) Models by bpao, modified highly by Jat and ravenclaw. Skins templates by Migbuster and EricJ MFD panel glass by Stary Units skins by Sony Tuckson, Jat, Migbuster and EricJ ACMIs, CATM-9's and ALQ-167 by ravenclaw Technical adviser, Sony Tuckson (If we got it wrong he cracked the whip!) Avionics by Jat and Crusader (You cant get anything past Crusader, the best MK1 eyeball in SF) Brain32, for FM, Avionics work. Crash test Dummy and screens, Dave CrazyhorseB34, the other dummy ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* TMF F-14 Tomcat Superpack v1.21 Full - Spectre8750 http://combatace.com/files/file/12327-tmf-f-14-tomcat-superpack/ Credits: Model: Flying Toaster, Oli Cockpit: Chris (original), reworked and updated by Brain32 FM: ThirdWire, Column5, Spectre8750, Caesar Avionics: Crusader, ThirdWire, Sup Gen, Caesar, Dave, CrazyhorseB34 Pilots: Old_Diego, CrazyhorseB34 Skins: Dave, Spectre8750, Column5 NATOPS Textures: HomeFries Extra Hangar, Loading and Main Screens: Dave, Spectre8750 Ejection Mod: Stary Testing: Sup Gen, Caesar, Dave, EricJ, Spectre8750 TARPS: Bunyap and Spectre8750 Weapons: Ravenclaw, wpnssgt, Bunyap and others ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* TMF F-14D_96 Aggressor flanker scheme V1.01 - Blackburn32 http://combatace.com/files/file/15733-tmf-f-14d-96-aggressor-flanker-scheme/ I think someone requested an F-14 aggressor/flanker style skin for the Tomcat, so here is my effort! Keep in mind this is the first time I've attempted to skin a bird so it's a not the best possible version of this yet! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-15 Super Pack (Version 2.4) - FastCargo http://combatace.com/files/file/10443-f-15-super-pack-version-24/ TK - For the ThirdWire series of sims. The Mirage Factory - For the nice F-15D MSIP aircraft...in particular Flying Toaster, wpnssgt, and Dave for making the F-15 MAX files available for me to play with. Kei Nagase - For the awesome skins for the F-15 ACTIVE. AleDucat - For the nice ACES II ejection seat models. Deuces - For the F-15 Afterburner and weapon effects. Diego - For the Modern USAF Pilot skins. Fubar512 - For the FM work. JimmyBib - For the F-15C cockpit flight control textures. MoonJumper - Avionics work. Sundowner - Textures. USAFMTL/Dave - Decals. Wpnssgt - Models, Textures. Kesselburt - Original F-15C cockpit. Kout - Loading and Hanger Screens. Kct - Textures and decals for the F-15SG. Brain32 - Improved/new textures for F-15C cockpit. Mago - F-15E Cockpit. 331KillerBee - SF2 Weapons Pack (basis for some of the weapons included). Lexx Luthor - Siberian Sky Experimental 3-D Rocket Exhaust JAT81500 - F-15E Cockpit avionics and HUD work. To my fellows at Combatace for helping me beta test and work out bugs. ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* F-15C "Grim Reapers", 493rd TFS 48th TFW, RAF Lakenheath Version 1 - Viper63a http://combatace.com/files/file/15308-f-15c-grim-reapers-493rd-tfs-48th-tfw-raf-lakenheath/ Credits: Fastcargo, Sundowner, Dave. James Fox, Wrench et all for the EXCELLENT mods in CombatAce! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* Hollywood Explosions - Stary http://combatace.com/files/file/10391-hollywood-explosions/ What can I say...just love his effects!! ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* SF2 TopGun F-14 Pilots: Maverick/Goose, Viper/Jester & Iceman/Slider! Version 2 - Viper63a http://combatace.com/files/file/15578-sf2-topgun-f-14-pilots-maverickgoose-viperjester-icemanslider/ Western Style Pilot Models (SF1/SF2) - Florian - "AmokFloo" http://combatace.com...e-pilot-models/ ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* QF-16 Zombie Viper (SF1) - LeL http://combatace.com/files/file/15834-qf-16-zombie-viper/ DAVE for the F-16C Block 30 Version 1.0 RavenClaw and TEAM VIPER Original Model by Swede Additional Model Work by Wpnssgt Flight Model by Column5 Skins by Wpnssgt & USAFMTL F-16A Cockpit by ??? Briliant work Loading & Hangar Screens by LeL ******************************************************************************* ******************************************************************************* I think that about covers it. If I missed anyone, I am sincerely sorry...please let me know and I will update the Credits list... =Viper=
  15. Pentagon plans 2018 F-16 upgrades

    The U.S. Air Force plans to go forward with plans to upgrade and extend the life of 300 F-16s to protect the service in case the F-35 experiences more delays in the course of its development. Col Mark Mol, programme manager at the USAF’s F-16 System Programme Office, spoke to Dave Majumdar at Flight Global providing more details on the service life extension program (SLEP) and a combat avionics programmed extension suite (CAPES) upgrades the Air Force plans to make. Air Force officials have chosen Block 40, 42, 50 and 52 F-16C/Ds to receive the upgrades in the fleet. Engineers will upgrade the 300 Fighting Falcons’ avionics with new radars and advanced software. Each F-16 will receive a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a new Terma ALQ-213 electronic warfare system, an integrated broadcast system (IBS) and a center display unit (CDU), according to Majumdar’s report. F-16’s life expectancy tops out at 8,000 flight hours. A SLEP upgrade could extend those life spans an additional 2,000 to 4,000 flight hours. The Air Force plans to upgrade the first of the 300 F-16s in 2018. Lockheed Martin will receive a sole source contract to provide the upgrades. Other defense companies have taken notice of the need to upgrade the F-16 as international air force leaders expect the F-16 to fly for decades to come. Floyd McConnell, vice president for BAE Systems’ Integrated Avionics Solutions, said at the Farnborough Air Show that he forsees a multi-billion dollar market to upgrade F-16s — whether it’s in the U.S. or the international market. Twenty five countries fly the F-16 and McConnell says it’s about time Lockheed Martin had some competition when offering upgrades to these buyers. Some inside the Pentagon have argued the Air Force would be smart to invest more money extending the life spans of the F-16 fleet, rather than spending more on the F-35’s development. U.S. Air Force Maj. Joe “Buzz” Walter presented a brief that has made its rounds through the Pentagon and Congress that shows how many more planes the Air Force could keep if it shifted some of its F-35 investment dollars toward upgrades to F-16s. August 30th, 2012 | Air, Air Force, JSF Watch | Comments (155) Read more: http://defensetech.org/2012/08/30/pentagon-plans-2018-f-16-upgrades/#ixzz3lgTHVfEc Defense.org

    © August 30th, 2012 | Air, Air Force, JSF Watch | Comments (155)

  16. File Name: SF2 F-16C/D Block 60 Fictional USAF Squadrons. File Submitter: viper63a File Submitted: 12 September 2015 File Category: What If Hangar SF2 F-16C/D Block 60 Fictional USAF Squadrons. Viper63a There are rumors swirling around that the USAF will be upgrading their aging, but much needed F-16 Falcons. I knew about Spudknocker's UAE F16E/Fs and Dtmdragon's New Zealand F-16C/Ds with CFTs, but why should they have all the fun? Here are some USAF F-16C(E)/D(F) Falcon Avengers! Enjoy! ------------------------------------------ Please read this entire readme (at least the Installations section) before you attempt to install this mod! This mod is complete in it's own, but their are some options you need to be aware of. This mod was created using all, many or some elements from the following mods listed below. I just repainted and mixed some stuff around - ALL CREDIT GOES to these people and the faithful modders on CombatAce... * First and foremost - The Viper Team's F-16 Package. * Spudknocker's F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon mod. * Dtmdragon's New Zealand F-16C/D Block 52+ mod. This mod includes... - USAF F-16C (E) Block 60 Squadrons: 13th FS "Panthers", 35th FW Misawa AFB 14th FS "Samurais", 35th FW Misawa AFB 16th WS "Tomahawks", 57th WG Nellis AFB 35th FS "Pantons", 8th FW Kusan AFB 36th FS "Fiends", 51st FW Osan AFB 80th FS "Headhunters", 8th FW Kusan AFB 480th FS "Warhawks", 52nd FW Spangdahlem AFB 510th FS "Buzzards", 31st FW Aviano AFB 555th FS "Triple Nickel", 31st FW Aviano AFB - USAF F-16D (F) Block 60 Squadrons: 17th WS "Hooters", 57th WG Nellis AFB 422nd TS "Green Bats", 53rd WG Nellis AFB ------------------------------------------ Note: This mod was tested only in a fully merged SF2 install... Main Mod in "To_Mod_Folder" folder. * All new skins created using the Viper Team's F-16 skin templates. * All new tail number decals 010 > 099 for years 2014 > 2018. * All new color squadron, wing and command patch shield decals. * All New Hangar, Loading and Load Out files. * Updated/Modified (minor tweaks) to the INI and some TGA files. * Includes a subset of (Viper Team) Weapons for use with this pack. * All jets sounds were reset to default to reduce conflicts. Optional (but not really) in "Optional_Effects" Folder. * Updated AB flame, exhaust smoke, missile emitters. ------------------------------------------ Note! BACKUP your EFFECTS, FLIGHT and OBJECTS folders! Saves a lot of heart-ache and time! Note! My Mod folder looks something like this...your may/will be different... C:\Users\<MyName>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters <XXXXX> Installations: So here we go...there are 3 ways to install this mod... 1) Cowboy (also called the "Damn the torpedoes!") method... * You backed up, right? This method changes some common effects shared by all planes. * Unzip the new mod and copy the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" and "Optional_Effects" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new planes and effects. 2) Veteran Viper Pilot method...(You already have Viper Team F-16's installed)... * Even veterans know they need to backup...Right? * Unzip the new mod and >> COPY ONLY << the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * If you want to try out my new optional effects, copy the contents in the "Optional_Effects" folder to your SF2 mod folder. These are common effects that affects most planes in the game...this is why these are optional. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new mods. 3) Who is the "Viper Team" method...(WELCOME ABOARD!)... * BACKUP your EFFECTS, FLIGHT and OBJECTS folders in your SF2 mod folder! * Download and install the F-16C Block 50/52 by The Viper Team... http://combatace.com/topic/72842-f-16c-block-5052-by-the-viper-team/ * Unzip the new mod and >> COPY ONLY << the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * If you want to try out my new optional effects, copy the contents in the "Optional_Effects" folder to your SF2 mod folder. These are common effects that affects most planes in the game...this is why these are optional. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new mods. Restore your back ups if you want to go back to your original configuration... If you find any bugs or issues, please let me know via PM, Mod Review or Topic Discussion... Thanks! ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Credits!!! The Viper Team for their EXCELLENT F-16s! Ravenclaw_007 for his new weapon packs. Spudknocker's work that inspired me to make this pack. Dtmdragon's original work that made this pack possible. If I missed anyone...Please excuse and let me know, so I can give credit where it is due... ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ DIsclaimer!!! I am NOT on the Viper Team. We just share the name...LOL =Viper63a= Click here to download this file
  17. Version Version 2

    481 downloads

    SF2 F-16C/D Block 60 Fictional USAF Squadrons. Viper63a There are rumors swirling around that the USAF will be upgrading their aging, but much needed F-16 Falcons. I knew about Spudknocker's UAE F16E/Fs and Dtmdragon's New Zealand F-16C/Ds with CFTs, but why should they have all the fun? Here are some USAF F-16C(E)/D(F) Falcon Avengers! Enjoy! ------------------------------------------ Please read this entire readme (at least the Installations section) before you attempt to install this mod! This mod is complete in it's own, but their are some options you need to be aware of. This mod was created using all, many or some elements from the following mods listed below. I just repainted and mixed some stuff around - ALL CREDIT GOES to these people and the faithful modders on CombatAce... * First and foremost - The Viper Team's F-16 Package. * Spudknocker's F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon mod. * Dtmdragon's New Zealand F-16C/D Block 52+ mod. This mod includes... - USAF F-16C (E) Block 60 Squadrons: 13th FS "Panthers", 35th FW Misawa AFB 14th FS "Samurais", 35th FW Misawa AFB 16th WS "Tomahawks", 57th WG Nellis AFB 35th FS "Pantons", 8th FW Kusan AFB 36th FS "Fiends", 51st FW Osan AFB 80th FS "Headhunters", 8th FW Kusan AFB 480th FS "Warhawks", 52nd FW Spangdahlem AFB 510th FS "Buzzards", 31st FW Aviano AFB 555th FS "Triple Nickel", 31st FW Aviano AFB - USAF F-16D (F) Block 60 Squadrons: 17th WS "Hooters", 57th WG Nellis AFB 422nd TS "Green Bats", 53rd WG Nellis AFB ------------------------------------------ Note: This mod was tested only in a fully merged SF2 install... Main Mod in "To_Mod_Folder" folder. * All new skins created using the Viper Team's F-16 skin templates. * All new tail number decals 010 > 099 for years 2014 > 2018. * All new color squadron, wing and command patch shield decals. * All New Hangar, Loading and Load Out files. * Updated/Modified (minor tweaks) to the INI and some TGA files. * Includes a subset of (Viper Team) Weapons for use with this pack. * All jets sounds were reset to default to reduce conflicts. Optional (but not really) in "Optional_Effects" Folder. * Updated AB flame, exhaust smoke, missile emitters. ------------------------------------------ Note! BACKUP your EFFECTS, FLIGHT and OBJECTS folders! Saves a lot of heart-ache and time! Note! My Mod folder looks something like this...your may/will be different... C:\Users\<MyName>\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters <XXXXX> Installations: So here we go...there are 3 ways to install this mod... 1) Cowboy (also called the "Damn the torpedoes!") method... * You backed up, right? This method changes some common effects shared by all planes. * Unzip the new mod and copy the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" and "Optional_Effects" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new planes and effects. 2) Veteran Viper Pilot method...(You already have Viper Team F-16's installed)... * Even veterans know they need to backup...Right? * Unzip the new mod and >> COPY ONLY << the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * If you want to try out my new optional effects, copy the contents in the "Optional_Effects" folder to your SF2 mod folder. These are common effects that affects most planes in the game...this is why these are optional. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new mods. 3) Who is the "Viper Team" method...(WELCOME ABOARD!)... * BACKUP your EFFECTS, FLIGHT and OBJECTS folders in your SF2 mod folder! * Download and install the F-16C Block 50/52 by The Viper Team... http://combatace.com/topic/72842-f-16c-block-5052-by-the-viper-team/ * Unzip the new mod and >> COPY ONLY << the contents in the "To_Mod_Folder" to your SF2 mod folder. * Overwrite when prompted. * If you want to try out my new optional effects, copy the contents in the "Optional_Effects" folder to your SF2 mod folder. These are common effects that affects most planes in the game...this is why these are optional. * Overwrite when prompted. * You're done, see if you like the new mods. Restore your back ups if you want to go back to your original configuration... If you find any bugs or issues, please let me know via PM, Mod Review or Topic Discussion... Thanks! ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Credits!!! The Viper Team for their EXCELLENT F-16s! Ravenclaw_007 for his new weapon packs. Spudknocker's work that inspired me to make this pack. Dtmdragon's original work that made this pack possible. If I missed anyone...Please excuse and let me know, so I can give credit where it is due... ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ DIsclaimer!!! I am NOT on the Viper Team. We just share the name...LOL =Viper63a=
  18. File Name: SF2 Area 51 Test Pilot Hi-Res 1024x768 Menu Screens! File Submitter: viper63a File Submitted: 26 August 2015 File Category: Menus SF2 Area 51 Test Pilot Hi-Res 1024x768 Menu Screens! By Viper So, I do a lot of mod testing, I hate testing a new mod on an existing install I play on, so I have a dedicated install using the Nellis Terrain pack for testing new mods. This is the menu screens I use for that install. However, you can use these screens for any SF2 series if you like. 1) Creating a new mod install...First, you need to create a new Tester Mod game and folder. You can use any SF2 Series Game as a base. In your install folder (the merged Thirdwire folder), copy and renamed "StrikeFighter2 Europe" (exe and ini file) to "StrikeFighter2 Area51" (I used "StrikeFighter2 Europe" for my tester base - you don't have to). Run it to create the "Saved Game" mod folder. 2) Unzip and copy the uncompressed FLIGHT, MENU and PILOTDATA folders from this package to your new StrikeFighter2 mod folder. My StrikeFighter2 mod folder on Win7 64-bit was..(yours may be different)... C:\Users\<your_id>\Saved Games\Thirdwire\StrikeFighter2 Area51\ 3) To remove the new mod folder, just delete it and you're done. If you want to reset your tester install, rerun "StrikeFighter2 Area51" and copy the menus back into the reset mod folder. 4) Test more mods in a new clean tester install... Enjoy! Click here to download this file
  19. Version Version 1

    35 downloads

    SF2 Area 51 Test Pilot Hi-Res 1024x768 Menu Screens! By Viper So, I do a lot of mod testing, I hate testing a new mod on an existing install I play on, so I have a dedicated install using the Nellis Terrain pack for testing new mods. This is the menu screens I use for that install. However, you can use these screens for any SF2 series if you like. 1) Creating a new mod install...First, you need to create a new Tester Mod game and folder. You can use any SF2 Series Game as a base. In your install folder (the merged Thirdwire folder), copy and renamed "StrikeFighter2 Europe" (exe and ini file) to "StrikeFighter2 Area51" (I used "StrikeFighter2 Europe" for my tester base - you don't have to). Run it to create the "Saved Game" mod folder. 2) Unzip and copy the uncompressed FLIGHT, MENU and PILOTDATA folders from this package to your new StrikeFighter2 mod folder. My StrikeFighter2 mod folder on Win7 64-bit was..(yours may be different)... C:\Users\<your_id>\Saved Games\Thirdwire\StrikeFighter2 Area51\ 3) To remove the new mod folder, just delete it and you're done. If you want to reset your tester install, rerun "StrikeFighter2 Area51" and copy the menus back into the reset mod folder. 4) Test more mods in a new clean tester install... Enjoy!
  20. File Name: F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon Pack File Submitter: Spudknocker File Submitted: 23 August 2015 File Category: F-16 The United Arab Emirates choose the F-16 as its next strike fighter after lessons learned from the 1991 Gulf War In which its Mirage F.1s were unable to fly in due to IFF considerations due to the Iraqi F.1's. The Emirati government wanted an F-16 variant that was more advanced than the Block 50/52 standard and funded the development of the F-16E/F Block 60, and are internally the most advanced F-16's in the world and incorporate 5th generation features such as an internal FLIR/Laser targeting system negating the need for an external pod. More can be seen here F-16_Fighting_Falcon_variants. The Block 60's included use the standard sound files found in all other F-16 packs the only instillation should be putting the aircraft and pilots in the correct folders. Thank you to combat ace and its community for showing me how to skin and build Ini's Thank you to specter870 for creating the original Data INI's for the F-16I. This is my first aircraft mod if any issues feel free to put a message on my profile or change something yourself! Happy Hunting! Click here to download this file
  21. F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcon Pack

    Version 1.00

    696 downloads

    The United Arab Emirates choose the F-16 as its next strike fighter after lessons learned from the 1991 Gulf War In which its Mirage F.1s were unable to fly in due to IFF considerations due to the Iraqi F.1's. The Emirati government wanted an F-16 variant that was more advanced than the Block 50/52 standard and funded the development of the F-16E/F Block 60, and are internally the most advanced F-16's in the world and incorporate 5th generation features such as an internal FLIR/Laser targeting system negating the need for an external pod. More can be seen here F-16_Fighting_Falcon_variants. The Block 60's included use the standard sound files found in all other F-16 packs the only instillation should be putting the aircraft and pilots in the correct folders. Thank you to combat ace and its community for showing me how to skin and build Ini's Thank you to specter870 for creating the original Data INI's for the F-16I. This is my first aircraft mod if any issues feel free to put a message on my profile or change something yourself! Happy Hunting!
  22. Watch that F-15 come out strutting like he owns the walk....
  23. File Name: SF2 Upgraded F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens for F-16 Mod Packs By the Viper Team! File Submitter: viper63a File Submitted: 07 July 2015 File Category: Menus SF2 Upgraded F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens for F-16 Mod Packs By the Viper Team! By Me (No relations to the Viper Team!) This is my upgraded F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens for most excellent F-16 Mods from "The Viper Team"'s (and one from dtmdragon - ADF) F-16 Mod packs. What I did was downloaded the F-16 packs from here... http://combatace.com/files/category/666-f-16/ Then I combined them up. Upgraded all the Hangar, Loading, Loadout screen files. Then deleted everything but the Hangar, Loading, Loadout screen files to keep the folder structure. In theory, you should be able to copy my pack into your SF2 Mod folder, BUT I CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT since I don't know what F-16 you installed or how. * Why did I do this? I must be OCD, but I like all my Hangar and Loading screens to have the same format. I tried to match most of the plane to actual pix of planes for the Hangar and Loading screen. In many of the cases, I has to use generic planes because I could not find a decent picture of the plane. Ok, this install is abit more complicated than my other mod/update/upgrades, but it's worth it. Well it was worth it for me. * What is included in this pack: *HANGAR.JPG *LOADING.JPG *LOADOUT.TGA *NOTHING ELSE, NO LODS, SKINS, INIs....etc. * What is changed: Upgrades F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens in "...\Objects\Aircraft" only! Installation: * BEFORE YOU OVERWRITE ANYTHING - BACKUP!!!! 1) Sniper approach... Take a look in my "*\To_Mod_Folder\Objects\Aircraft" folder. If you see a plane you have and want to upgrade with my screens, copy the screen files, one at a time, to your plane in your SF2 "...\Objects\Aircraft" Mod folder. 2) Shotgun approach... Backup your SF2 ""...\Objects\Aircraft" mod folder, and then copy the contents of my "To_Mod_Folder" folder to your SF2 mod folder. If you don't have the plane I have, you will just get some extra folders in your SF2 mod folder and waste some space. If something goes nuts, then you have your backup? Right? That's pretty much it...If I can sell (free, not money or anything - LOL) "The Viper Team" on these screens, it would just come "The Viper Team'S" F-16 packs...LOL, not pushing anything...just wishing. Love your work!! ------------------------------------------ Credits to "the Viper Team" for their Excellent F-16 Mods. Also and again, I have no associations with the Viper Team. We jut share the name and the admiration for F-16s - that is all. Enjoy! =Me= Click here to download this file
  24. Version Version 1

    58 downloads

    SF2 Upgraded F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens for F-16 Mod Packs By the Viper Team! By Me (No relations to the Viper Team!) This is my upgraded F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens for most excellent F-16 Mods from "The Viper Team"'s (and one from dtmdragon - ADF) F-16 Mod packs. What I did was downloaded the F-16 packs from here... http://combatace.com/files/category/666-f-16/ Then I combined them up. Upgraded all the Hangar, Loading, Loadout screen files. Then deleted everything but the Hangar, Loading, Loadout screen files to keep the folder structure. In theory, you should be able to copy my pack into your SF2 Mod folder, BUT I CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT since I don't know what F-16 you installed or how. * Why did I do this? I must be OCD, but I like all my Hangar and Loading screens to have the same format. I tried to match most of the plane to actual pix of planes for the Hangar and Loading screen. In many of the cases, I has to use generic planes because I could not find a decent picture of the plane. Ok, this install is abit more complicated than my other mod/update/upgrades, but it's worth it. Well it was worth it for me. * What is included in this pack: *HANGAR.JPG *LOADING.JPG *LOADOUT.TGA *NOTHING ELSE, NO LODS, SKINS, INIs....etc. * What is changed: Upgrades F-16 Hangar, Loading and Loadout screens in "...\Objects\Aircraft" only! Installation: * BEFORE YOU OVERWRITE ANYTHING - BACKUP!!!! 1) Sniper approach... Take a look in my "*\To_Mod_Folder\Objects\Aircraft" folder. If you see a plane you have and want to upgrade with my screens, copy the screen files, one at a time, to your plane in your SF2 "...\Objects\Aircraft" Mod folder. 2) Shotgun approach... Backup your SF2 ""...\Objects\Aircraft" mod folder, and then copy the contents of my "To_Mod_Folder" folder to your SF2 mod folder. If you don't have the plane I have, you will just get some extra folders in your SF2 mod folder and waste some space. If something goes nuts, then you have your backup? Right? That's pretty much it...If I can sell (free, not money or anything - LOL) "The Viper Team" on these screens, it would just come "The Viper Team'S" F-16 packs...LOL, not pushing anything...just wishing. Love your work!! ------------------------------------------ Credits to "the Viper Team" for their Excellent F-16 Mods. Also and again, I have no associations with the Viper Team. We jut share the name and the admiration for F-16s - that is all. Enjoy! =Me=
  25. View File F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) Air National Guard F-16A Block 15 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) The F-16 Air Defense Fighter (ADF) was a special variant of the Block 15 optimized for the United States Air National Guard's fighter interception mission. I started this by breathing some new life into the old TMF F-16A ADF but then after posting some screen shots JAT kindly offered to do an updated model so here it is: - Updated F-16A ADF 3D model by JAT81500 - New skins using the Team Viper F-16C High Res templates modified to fit the ADF. - Detailed Team Viper F-16 pilot model and ejection seat. - Flight model updated to the standard of the latest Team Viper F-16 flight model. - Third Wire F-16A cockpit and avionics modified to include the real world ADF upgrade (AIM-7/120). - Team Viper effects, sounds, fuel tanks and weapons. To install: Drop into your C:\Users\xxxxxx\Saved Games\ThirdWire\StrikeFighters XXXXX Credits: - JAT81500 for doing the updated F-16A ADF 3D model - TMF/ Mirage Factory for the original F-16A ADF. - The Viper Team for thier F-16C/AM series. - Ravenclaw for the weapons. - Migbuster fot the F-16C skin templates. - =58=Sprig, Creepn_Death & suhsjake for the old F-16A ADF skins I used some of the decals from. - FANATIC MODDER Enjoy, Dan (dtmdragon) History In October 1986, the USAF announced that operational block 15 F-16A/B aircraft would be converted to air defense fighters for the Air National Guard, and would take over the fighter interception mission, providing the primary defense of North America against bombers and cruise missiles. The first F-16A ADF conversion was completed in February 1989, while a contract was placed for kits to update and modify a total of 270 F-16A/B's at the Ogden Air Logistics Center in Utah. The Block 15 airframes used for the ADF program were all meant to be upgraded to block 15OCU standard, and both programs ran in conjunction. Aircraft entering the Ogden ALC for ADF upgrade also received the Block 15OCU avionics installation. The net result is that all ADF aircraft are Block 15OCU airframes. The last ADF left Ogden in 1992. Structure & Avionics Modifications included Bendix King (now Allied Signal) AN/ARC-200HF/SSB radios with Have Quick II Secure Speech Module and the Teledyne/E Systems Mk.XII Advanced IFF system (APX-109). The APG-66 radar was modified (designated APG-66A) to provide look down/shoot-down capability, enhanced small target detection, and CW (Continuous Wave) illumination for AIM-7 guidance. A 150,000 candlepower night identification spotlight was installed on the port side of the nose (below and in front of the cockpit) to aid in the identification of nighttime intruders. The aircraft were equipped to carry 600 (US) gallon (2,271 liter) external drop tanks, and to carry 6 BVR missiles such as the AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-120 AMRAAM. Modifications & Upgrades The ADF aircraft can be distinguished from "standard" F-16A/B's by several external identifying features, such as long and thin horizontal bulges on the base of the vertical tail (only A-models), plus a set of four blade antenna, nicknamed "bird-slicer", carried just forward of the canopy (as part of the IFF system). The bulges are caused by the relocation of the Bendix-King AN/ARC-200 high frequency single-sideband radio to the leading edge of the fin. This in turn caused the flight control accumulators, which were installed one over the other, to be relocated to either side of the tail fin. The bulges were installed to provide sufficient room for these accumulators. Note that, since the Bravo-model ADF's do not have the Bendix HF radio, they also don't have the bulges. Production All ADF F-16s are modified airframes. Existing Block 15 models where converted to the Block 15OCU upgrade and to ADF standard at once. In total, 271 airframes, consisting in 246 A-models and 25 B-models have been converted between 1989 and 1992. Minor differences exist between the A-model and B-model as described earlier. Because of the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the opening of relationships between West and East, the program had lost its major reason of existence, being the protection of the North American continent against Russian bombers flying over the North Pole. Although the program was finished and all aircraft stayed into service with the Air National Guard detachments, they were the first to be mothballed at AMARC with the first major restructuring of the USAF. Beginning in 1994, these aircraft began to be replaced by newer F-16C variants. By 2005, only the North Dakota ANG was flying this variant, with these last examples retired by 2007. A lot of these ADF F-16s are a very cheap and quite modern asset for allied countries. These aircraft have relatively low flying hours on their airframes. A lot of them are sold on the second-hand market. Jordan was the first to receive 12 A-models and 4-models under the Peace Falcon program in 1997. Most have since been received the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU). Thailand has acquired another batch of 15 A-models and 1 B-model under the Peace Naresuan IV program. Also the Italian Air Force received 26 A-models and 4 B-models under a 10-year lease agreement called Peace Caesar. Submitter dtmdragon Submitted 07/04/2015 Category F-16  
×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..