The Soviets are invading!

[ardypilot]

Love the parachute shot from your Dart series Hayden- was that Ian flying as your wingman in those screenies?

[h290master]

Not this time, Ian not sure what would win mirage or f106?

[h290master]

McDonnell Douglas rolled out the first F/A-18A on 13 September 1978, in blue-on-white colors marked with "Navy" on the left and "Marines" on the right. Its first flight was on 18 November. In a break with tradition, the Navy pioneered the "principal site concept" with the F/A-18, where almost all testing was done at NAS Pax River.

In March 1979, Lt Cdr John Padgett became the first Navy pilot to fly the F/A-18. In all, nine F/A-18As and two F/A-18Bs were assigned to flight systems development.

The initial fleet reports were complimentary, indicating that the Hornet was extraordinarily reliable, a major change from its predecessor, the F-4J. Other squadrons that switched to F/A-18 are VFA-146 "Blue diamonds", and VFA-147 "Argonauts". In January 1985, the VFA-131 Wildcats moved from Naval Air Station Lemoore to Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, and became the Atlantic Fleet's first F/A-18 squadron.

After a production run of 380 F/A-18As (including the nine assigned to flight systems development), manufacture shifted to the F/A-18C in September 1987. As the A-6 Intruder was retired in the 1990s, its role was filled by the F/A-18. The F/A-18 demonstrated its versatility and reliability during Operation Desert Storm, shooting down enemy fighters and subsequently bombing enemy targets with the same aircraft on the same mission. It broke all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability.

Canada was the first export customer for the Hornet, replacing the CF-104 Starfighter (air recce & strike, Germany), the CF-101 Voodoo (air interception, Canada) and the CF-116 Freedom Fighter (ground attack, Canada). The Canadian Forces Air Command ordered 98 A-models (Canadian designation CF-188A/CF-18A) and 40 B models (designation CF-188B/CF-18B).

The F/A-18C and F/A-18D were considered by the French Marine Nationale during the 1980s for deployment on their aircraft carriers Clemenceau and Foch and again in the 1990s for the later nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, in the event that the Dassault Rafale M was not brought into service when originally planned.







F-18s touch down

Parked and sitting pretty.

[Ian Warren]

Don't ya just love the Tiger-meet paint on that Hornet! typically brilliant model from Cap-Sim , Great bitta formation flying Hayden

[Naki]

Finally somebody posts some shots of the F-18 - looks like a nice model and great colour scheme too. Is it the Aerial Foundry model? Love to see some RAAF, USMC & Navy F-18 shots..or maybe Kuwaiti, Swiss, Spanish or Finnish F-18s.

Theres a great model of the Super Hornet coming out soon for FS2004 ...payware looks to be the best jet fighter for FS 2004 - see here

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE

brilliant model from Cap-Sim[/quote] will try do some USN shots once if i dont get GTA4 today.

[h290master]

Following trials and operational testing by VX-4 and VX-5, Hornets began to fill the Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS) VFA-125, VFA-106, and VMFAT-101, where pilots are introduced to the F/A-18. The Hornet entered operational service with Marine Corps squadron VMFA-314 at MCAS El Toro on 7 January 1983, and with Navy squadron VFA-113 in March 1983, replacing F-4s and A-7Es, respectively.

The F/A-18 first saw combat action in April 1986, when VFA-131 Hornets from USS Coral Sea flew SEAD missions against Libyan air defenses during Operation Prairie Fire and an attack on Benghazi as part of Operation El Dorado Canyon.

The US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic team switched to the F/A-18 Hornet in 1986, when it replaced the A-4 Skyhawk. The Blue Angels perform in F/A-18A and B models at air shows and other special events across the US and worldwide. Blue Angels pilots must have 1,350 hours and an aircraft carrier certification. The two-seat B model is typically used to give rides to VIPs, but can also fill in for other aircraft in the squadron in a normal show if the need arises.


The Royal Australian Air Force purchased 57 F/A-18A fighters and 18 F/A-18B two-seat trainers, with 71 in service, and 4 lost to crashes. The first F/A-18 was delivered to the RAAF on October 29, 1984. The fleet is expected to be retired by 2015, replaced by the F-35 Lightning II.

The Kuwait Air Force (Al Quwwat Aj Jawwaiya Al Kuwaitiya)] has 32 F/A-18C and F/A-18D Hornets. These aircraft were pre-ordered before the Iraqi invasion of August 1990. Delivery of the fighters started on 8 October 1991. The F/A-18C/Ds replaced A-4KU Skyhawk.

The Spanish Air Force ordered 60 EF-18A model and 12 EF-18B model Hornets(the "E" standing for "España",Spain), named respectively as C.15 and CE.15 by Spanish AF. Delivery of the Spanish version started on November 22, 1985.

Switzerland's Luftwaffe purchased 26 C models and 8 D models. One D model was lost in a crash. Delivery of the aircraft started on 25 January 1996




Trap caught.

[Ian Warren]

HAYDEN GO HORNET ! .... 1973/74 - it was a YF-17 a Northrop Cobra , in compeition with the YF16 , .... the 16 won , 17 move rank to the 18 we all no that ..... its the fact a 35 year old airframe is still pushing the limits ... 35 years being generous .... SUPER 18 ..... boy ya got to see one of those in a display OOOhoooo

[Fauville]

BAe Hawk T.1, first flown 1971, entered RAF service in 1976 replacing the Gnat as RAF jet Trainer, and from 1986 the T.1A conversion used with limited ordinance for weapons training and limited role for point defence of UK airspace.
Most RAF Hawks these days fly from RAF Valley, Wales (and used by a well done display team)

[ShadowMystDK]

Cyril Pioffet's lovely Rafale in a number of schemes.










A view from inside the Virtual Cockpit:

[Ian Warren]

THE COLD WAR .........back to the beginning , first flight September 1948 , production delivery 1950 .. SWEDEN,S Barrel , and delivered by Tim Conrad

Using the more powerful Ghost (liceinced built) engine that was used in the first swept winged Western Europe fighter

....................Another model another Gem from his PECULIAR WORKS workshop

Jezzzzzzz Ian ! close the Canopy but once inside .... typical SUPERB work the detail


All cockpit operation from engine start to lights clickable in the VC .. limited 2D BUT WHO NEEDS IT!

the skins , these aircraft famed for there use in the Congo in the 60's

Austria received 30 in 1961/62

the very unique airbrake ........ a solid wall into the airflow

[Charl]

Iris Hawks FV? Those models seem to have come and gone as freeware then payware for years.
These look pretty good, although I still have Mark Beaumont's excellent FS2002 formation series in the backup hanger!

Rafaele is one of the most elegant aircraft in the air, I thought SMDK had pushed the Cold War boundary, but it was indeed born in the 80's.
That model was pretty darn good when it came out (also FS2002?) and remains so.

Ian, Piglet is an industrious toiler isn't he?
Definitely an oddity - wonder how fast you nosed over when that airbrake went out?
Crikey what were they thinking when they slopped that paintjob on the UN plane?? Hi-viz? Camo? It's neither - just plain ghastly
I agree with you on the 2D panel - 4 gauges only if you must, everything else in VC.

[NZ255]

Cool! Where could one get that? The VC alone looks like a reason to get it.

Nick

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (NZ255 @ May 10 2008, 05:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cool! Where could one get that? The VC alone looks like a reason to get it.

Nick

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/ .. just Scroll down for the J29

[Naki]

Wow that J-29 is nice Ian - another must get

Now that I have broadband I can get these darn pics uploaded quicker - so I am finally back here posting some piccies (and more to come) since this thread refuses to die.

Alphasim AH-64

This is the AH-64A version

Orginally developed in the 70s for the US Army by Hughes (and then by McDonnell Douglas and finally Boeing) and was the winner for a comp to replace the Bell AH-1 Cobra in US Army service. The competing design was the YAH-63 developed by Bell. There was an earlier attmept to replace the Cobra with a design from Lockheed (the AH-56 Cheyenne) but this was cancelled. Sikorsky also propsed the S-67 Blackhawk (yes an earlier Blackhawk) but this was also cancelled.

Very succesful in the first & second Gulf wars and . Currently in action in Afghanistan and Iraq. Has also seen action in Panama.

The main weapon carried by the Apache is its Hellfire missle system which had a devasting affect on Iraqi tanks in the first Gulf War. Can also carry air to air missles.

Widely exported to a number of countries in its "A" and "D" versions. Current users include the Dutch Army, Israel, Greek Army, S Korea, Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, Japanese Army , Singapore, UAE and the British Army (in a licence built Westland WAH-64D version)

[Ian Warren]

They look mean ! colored mean , even the lumps and bumps make it mean Mean ! .... duuuuurr YIP ... a formation of six Harvards leaving the runway even drowned the MEAN look of the Apache , ... ? sound ... compare , the Harvards real tough .. the p****y AH64 ... WHOOPS that 1 chopper could take those 6 ATsix's in one quik swipe , as the MEAN quiet whisper heads off to the background as it did ... Avalon 2001

[ardypilot]

Awesome Apache shots Naki, I know creator2003 love's that Alphasim model!

The quality of your screenshots has really come up recently- the ones above look so crisp and clear... what grass textures are you using there at TG?

[Naki]

Thanks for the comments (it helps that I now have a better PC & Active Sky, new graphics card etc!) - the grass textures are picnic_1.0.zip at AVSIM. Cant remember what setting I am using on piicnic. The textures move around a bit so it can be a bit annoying at times.

[Charl]

Helicopter time!
A French Hornet: Frelon
SUD AVIATION SUPER FRELON SA321
Produced in riposte to the Sikorsky Sea King, a 60's helicopter which could carry 30, or shoot Exocets, drop torpedo's, find subs, or do Search 'n Rescue.



Luckily a bit of shipping around Picton, to try my new Walk 'n Follow routine
Quirky model recently on AVSIM, from the lads at Gmax Academy.
And yes, it floats...

[Ian Warren]

WOW.. one outta the mist .. so easy to forget ... the European Stallion , and her age (1959), follows the Seaking in durability.... SUPERB CHOPPER CHOICE CHARL! ... A butt kicking heavy lifter sold to many African countries .. and to have as a combat machine ! until maybe 2000 had more combat hours for its type !