Virtavia A-4 Review?

[Ian Warren]

The 'G' was late F model run the P8A they both have the same thrust output as the P8B/C - ill dig up the difference between the versions .

[J7G]

I've got all the versions in this NATOPs I think. It's basically the E/F NATOPs with a G supplement.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 8 2013,10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's basically the E/F NATOPs with a G supplement.

I dont have a Navy procedure manual , might see if i can dig one up , found the difference between a J52P8A rated 4218Kg to the next to nothing higher rated P8B/C only 2/3kg or stated just above 4220kg , no engineering notes on what the changes were , be good to get the story from an ex RNZAF engine tech or Deane may be of help ... but the diff would be so minimal why given a higher rate i dont no ? .. one thing found was of the 139 A4Fs built 100 were refitted with J52 P401s rated at 4990kg and the other end of the scale the A4E had the P6A rated 3856kg .

End of the day the engine sizes are all very much the same most differences between the uses and operation come down to what they want them , NZ never really to same extent in training as the US used in Vietnam or there own style of FAC training .

[J7G]

I got mine from that SOH thread, I'll try and dig up the link for you if you like.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 8 2013,1:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I got mine from that SOH thread, I'll try and dig up the link for you if you like.

Yeah , i saw those pages , I think i need the full manual and should have nudged SeanG directly our own ex RNZAF personal and A4 Skyhawk simpit driver and builder .. get the details and follows shortly , be able to put and test it or least see how much we can change the flight dynamics .

[J7G]

Full manual here

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd63d6 ... =822839791 at the bottom in the orange.

Would be excellent to get the real hands on opinion too naturally. There's only so much a manual can teach.

I'll get some NZ scenery at some point too, we can do an MP simulated strike somewhere...

[Ian Warren]

Thanks 'J' , I get a hard copy from Sean , course hes in the need to looksie and see what this FSX A4 has to offer ...

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 8 2013,3:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll get some NZ scenery at some point too, we can do an MP simulated strike somewhere...

I may get on the blower to Mike ... with his Waioru Base .. course Ohakea in the wings by'Kahu' Gav .. be ideal .. ill see what i can sort out from this end

[J7G]

Oooooh Waiouru Base you say...?!

My system should be here early next week, should be set up by the end of it hopefully.

[J7G]

Had a quick two minute flight before I shoot off for work (downloaded last night), awesome. I always thought you'd be able to see the refuelling probe while in cockpit though? Visually she's awesome. Managed to overstress her on a hard turn though

[Ian Warren]

Its good to here they are working on the Flight Dynamics .. that would interesting to check .. one other book to sit beside SKYHAWK is this

it has quiet a few detail and charts that i use with the A2A Accu-feel .

[J7G]

Quicker flight after work...no apparent way to stall her, with Shrikes and centreline tank is sluggish after FL150. Shame the radar doesn't pick up shipping Cool though, will be even cooler when the FM is fixed.

[Ian Warren]

I keep given a good elbow in the ribs along with a few others over at SOH , never no old Alphasim did listen to the crowds back in the days they had a forum so if we keep it up we may get even better results .

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 17 2013,2:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...no apparent way to stall her, with Shrikes and centreline tank is sluggish after FL150.

I have found testing with only two wing tanks it will stall at the 106-109knots as by the Scooter book, they have mention they are changing the FD for different model and loads .

[J7G]

Yeah I'll have to do more testing me thinks.

[J7G]

Interestingly, I lose control when the knots are very very low but not getting stall shake or the stall warning. I get the warning right when it's on zero but I'm in recovery by then. Might have to try it without the slats.

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 17 2013,3:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Interestingly, I lose control when the knots are very very low but not getting stall shake or the stall warning. I get the warning right when it's on zero but I'm in recovery by then. Might have to try it without the slats.

"I always thought you'd be able to see the refuelling probe while in cockpit though"
Good point ,..... and you can see it from the cockpit ( sat in the A-4 to check it out) unlike the big birds, where the boomer flys the boom too the aircraft , the A-4's and others fly the aircraft to the "basket" so they (pilots) HAVE to be able to see it .

[J7G]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jan 17 2013,6:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"I always thought you'd be able to see the refuelling probe while in cockpit though"
Good point ,..... and you can see it from the cockpit ( sat in the A-4 to check it out) unlike the big birds, where the boomer flys the boom too the aircraft , the A-4's and others fly the aircraft to the "basket" so they (pilots) HAVE to be able to see it .

Thanks for checking that out, Split. One of the things I wanted to do in it was some Air-Air Refuelling...

[Splitpin]

QUOTE (J7G @ Jan 17 2013,6:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for checking that out, Split. One of the things I wanted to do in it was some Air-Air Refuelling...

No problem at all.

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jan 17 2013,6:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"I always thought you'd be able to see the refuelling probe while in cockpit though"

One good point and due to inflight photos and vid pointed out with dev's , when first sit in cockpit adjust position , best way to check is pan down with the hat key and will stop with the back of the ejector seat and looking directly down .. using Ctrl+Backspace and Enter to adjust seat .

[J7G]

Thanks Ian, I had forgotten all about the "move head up/down/spin/vomit/curse the priest" keys. I'm sitting much higher in the seat now and can see over the top of the panel

[Ian Warren]

Now this give a feeling off depth and shows the Essex class having nearly all our entire RNZAF fleet on deck fact was they could hanger 58 plus easy out of a complement of 80 if only A4s alone .