The Soviets are invading!

[Charl]

Nice ones Paul, hard to pick one for the SS competition, see you still haven't found the afterburner OFF button eh?
Here's another of my world-famous-in-NZ scale comparisons of B1 and Tu 160



Tupolev was assigned to build the design supplied by "Myasishchev" who got it from who knows where?
My suspicious mind would implicate a Rockwell employee, these things are so similar.

I found some old B-1 pics in a folder so here you are:

[ardypilot]

Love the Blackjack set Naki- your new rig looks amazing! (So much for golf ay?)

The Marlborough seems to be getting an exceptionally large amount of foreign traffic visiting the area recently doesn't it? Almost every shot here shows off there REAL NZ scenery in the background haha

[Kahu]

XH537 Equipped with two dummy Skybolt nuclear missles

In 1961 the Vulcan B2 was going to be equipped with the new United States Douglas Skybolt air launched strategic nuclear missile under each wing.

Unfortunately this 1000-mile range missile suffered guidance and powerplant problems and the US Defense Department canned the project in 1962.

[Charl]

NOTAM: Nil by mouth for all crewmen 24 hours prior due to weight considerations, no sneezing permitted on takeoff roll due to potential clearance problems.
Interesting shots Kahu.

[Naki]

Interesting comparison of the Blackjack with the B-1 Charl - what scenery are you using there?

The Skybolt is HUGE! Surely the Vulcan struggled.

Righto then - finally got around to contributing again. There is one major fighter that hasn't been covered - the F-16.

Developed in the mid to late 70s and entered service in the late 70s so saw about 10 years Cold War service.

Powered by a single engine from the F-15, the F-16 was orginally developed as a cheap light weight air to air fighter from requirements that were formed during the Vitenam War as the USAF lacked a decent light weight fighter at the time as their heavy metal (F-4, F-105) found it tough against the small and agile Migs they encounterd.

The F-16 gradually devevopled into a superb muliti role fighter with increasingly more sophisticated avionics and more powerful engines. Now one of the most popular fighters in the world and exported to many countries. Still in production and still selling to strongly. The United Arab Emirate Air Force is one of the most recent operators and they operate the most sophisticated variants currently available (the F-16E/F).

[Naki]

One thing I didn't mention above was that the F-16 was in competition with the YF-17 for the USAF initial contract. The F-16 won this but the Y-17 was developed into the F-18 for the US Navy.

Air Forces that currently operate the F-16 include:

Italy who have leased a small number as a fill in beween the F-104 and Typhoon


Belguim - built under licence by SABCA - was part of the so called Sale of Century F-16 deal in the mid 1970s to the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belguim. "Tiger Meet" scheme from 1981 pictured.


Venezuela - not currently in service due to US arms embargo


Netherlands - built under licence by Fokker


Dutch Air Force solo display F-16


Denmark


Norway


Greece


Israel - big user and have developed many of their own mods to make it more lethal


USAF - also used by the US Navy as a agressor aircraft


Other users include:
Chile
Turkey (built under licence)
Egypt
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Portugal
Jordan
Pakistan
Poland (never thought this would of been possible when the F-16 was first developed)
Indonesia (probably not in service)
Thailand
S Korea (built under licence)

Japan uses a F-16 derivative built in Japan - the F-2 which ended up been 4 times more costly than the standard F-16.

... and sadly NZ should of been part of the list

[ardypilot]

Awesome screenshots Naki, especially of the "Tiger Meet" livery. Where can I download that, and the Israeli scheme? I presume this is Kirk Olson's model?

[Naki]

Its the Lago F-16 (payware) - heaps of schemes - but its rather old now and originally designed for FS 2002 but still quite good. I'll post some more Tiger Meet schemes from this model later.

[Charl]

Wow Paul great to have you back!
I can see your computer rebuild turned out to be a good thing after all...
How's the VC in the LAGO model?

QUOTE

Interesting comparison of the Blackjack with the B-1 Charl - what scenery are you using there?[/quote]
I see the SS dates to 2004(!) - I suppose we had FS9 then, probably Nellis AFB at a guess.

Of course, no FS discussion of the F-16 can go without mentioning two of the greatest modellers in the industry:
Olsson and Tomkiewicz.

I'm not sure if it is actually the most-downloaded model ever, but Kirk's F-16 has been downloaded at least a quarter of a million times, more, when you start adding in the lunatic fringe sites.
Henry has made an AI low-poly complement to this which is absolutely stunning, proving quality need not suffer if you are economical with the polygons.

Here they are, and I know Naki will forgive me for tagging on, because they would have to show up some time:

Last edited by Charl on Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Naki]

Thanks guys

Love that last shot Charl - any postings of FS F-16s cannot ignore Kirks model! Aerosoft are releasing a very nice F-16 shortly which as I understand it will fire a limited range of weapons - FSX only though.

The Lago F-16 VC isn't bad but not up to todays best standards - back in 2002 it must of been one of the best around. The gauge refresh rate isn't that good.

Heres a shot of the VC


and another of the 2d from the side - the 2d panel is very nice but fairly limited functionality.


Heres some more BAF Tiger Meet schemes - for those that don't know all NATO air forces that have Tigers in their squadron badges meet on a regular basis - mostly fighter aircraft but also includes helicopters, tainers and transports.
1991


2001


2003

[Charl]

The Olsson model's weakest point was the VC so I guess a new model would focus and improve on that
++++++++++++++++++++

...Of course no discussion of the F-16 on a New Zealand Forum would be complete either, without mention of the RNZAF "What-if" AI Package !



Both Kirk and Henry's models ably represented by Jenks' steadfast hand.

[Naki]

OOh nice shots Charl! - especially the last two.

Some other facts - the F-16 was one of the first fighters to have fly by wire controls and side stick controls. Also has a canted back ejection seat to help keep the enormous Gs under check for the pilot. The F-16 was really a trend setter for todays fighters and still keep up with latest designs.

[Fauville]

......and back to the USSR, the ultimate version of the family of aircraft that started with the Su-7

the Sukhoi Su-22 'Fitter' (in Czech colours)




Unusual in this case with the outer wings being of variable configuration


And a workhorse that has supported for many years (and still does) the frontline coldwar defenders

[K5054NZ]

During 1991 the Cold War ceased to be, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Many famous and infamous designs originated during this era, not the least of which being.....

the mighty Subaru Legacy!



Mine is a payware model made available by Leighton Hynes of HorseHeadSimulations right here in Blenheim, and this screenie was taken in (of course) Robin's superlative, spookily realistic RealNZ Marlborough scenery. I intend to do a repaint of this model soon as it comes "out of the box" fairly weathered.

[Ian Warren]

WOW .. cool ZAC , Hells that screen shot really looks PhotoReal

[Ian Warren]

Never we had an F16 tangle with a Czech Su22 , or the Sukhoi so close enough to a Amee de l' Air tanker .... Now back to 1952 , the prototype DH110 , Breaks up over Farnborough during the airshow killing 28 spectators and injuring 60 , John Derry the pilot and observer Tony Richards held in there seats with the Hi 'G's are also killed .
What evolving from that design was the DH111 , of course in compition with then the New Gloster Javelin , now ya got to love this , a SUPER VAMPIRE/VENOM
The SEA VIXEN

The cockpit is very simular to aircraft from this period

The great thing is you can fly it fully in the VC



No bad guys around so time to paint her up a little and head to Woodbourne



Flying Real World weather , since no bad guys around , thought i,d strut my stuff - are they Fire-Streak or Red Tops

and about to use them on those dam BIRDS


Operational gunsite ,



A latest release from http://www.skysim.co.uk/ The Sea Vixen

[Naki]

Nice model/shots of the Sea Vixen Ian!

Fauville- SU-22 - missed that one- should of being included a few pages back - major Warsaw Pact warbird.

Subaru Legacy !? Well a major weapon in the rallies in the early 90s. You need a turbo though Zac.

[Charl]

First repaints now up on DeviantAviation.com...


Ian that Sea Vixen makes such sense - twin tail booms allow space for fuel and overnight bag (though you'd think they'd put the wheels in there too), frees up short centreline for double motor thrust.
She is a beauty all right, wouldn't mind one for weekend jaunts.
Perhaps not in the yellow/red colour mix, though I guess it would ensure you are noticed, alright.
Great last shot, all sweeps and curves.
EDIT: How does that cockpit canopy work???
Looks like a good first effort from Skysim; also good on the freeware authors to allow their wares to help draw the customers!

[K5054NZ]

QUOTE (Charl @ Dec 16 2007, 10:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First repaints now up on DeviantAviation.com...

LOVE IT!!!! Gotta download that one!

[ardypilot]

QUOTE

Perhaps not in the yellow/red colour mix, though I guess it would ensure you are noticed, alright.[/quote]
Thats what I was thinking- what airforce would want to paint their aircraft so brightly?

In the 5th shot from the bottom, the mix of colours, angle and twin tails make it look like the spoiler of some ridiculous racing car! The model looks good though, I've never heard of skysim but I'm going to check them out now...