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Aero L-39 Albatros

Thanks very much guys. I really appreciate your enthusiasm, especially in this 11th hour when I'm *totally* out of energy. Must soldier on though. :)

Here are a couple more pics that aren't on my blog.




L39prev1.jpg


L39prev2.jpg


L39prev3.jpg

Don't quit now Mike, you're almost there! I think the blue and white camo paint is my favorite. Is that paint scheme going to be available in the civilian model?

Darrell
 
Although it looks awesome, how much functionality is packed in those gorgeous VC's. I hope it's not only eye candy? I think of Rick Pipers great Hawk's which did not even have an APU modelled.
 
Mike, I groundcrew for an L39 that races at Reno.... Pipsqueak flown by Joe Gano here at KILG. I've sent him a link to your video. From what I see you've done a great job. I'll find out if it's ok for you to do a paint of Pip. He'd love that I'm sure, but you have to get in touch with him once I hear back from him. More on that later. ;) Link to Warbirds of Delaware is in my Sig showing Pip

Need a beta tester? Let me know.
 
Mike, I groundcrew for an L39 that races at Reno.... Pipsqueak flown by Joe Gano here at KILG. I've sent him a link to your video. From what I see you've done a great job. I'll find out if it's ok for you to do a paint of Pip. He'd love that I'm sure, but you have to get in touch with him once I hear back from him. More on that later. ;) Link to Warbirds of Delaware is in my Sig showing Pip

Need a beta tester? Let me know.

I think Pip is already included in the package.

Darrell
 
Although it looks awesome, how much functionality is packed in those gorgeous VC's. I hope it's not only eye candy? I think of Rick Pipers great Hawk's which did not even have an APU modelled.

Anneke, from what I've read it's going to be very functional with all the "quirks" of the real L-39 instrumentation.

Darrell
 
Darrell, ok I see that now. When I first read his blog it didn't sound as if it was included. I guess I was too excited to finally see an L-39 for FSX.

Pip is hopefully my next jet ride one of these days..... real life not pc. ;)

Mike, is the recovery autopilot switch included on the joystick for the 39s?

Here's the real Pipsqueak cockpit.
 
Like Spotlope and Scarecrow, I too enjoyed the Cpt Sim's L-39 back in the day and can't wait to get my virtual hands on this...it looks fan-dam-tastic!
 
Great texture work bro, dang that's brilliant work all around!! :medals::medals:
 
Hey guys, sorry for the slow response, was up all night working, needed a nap. :)

To answer all your questions...

Pipsqueak is included. I spoke with Joe Gano about it several months ago and he endorsed the idea and was kind enough to provide with me some performance data. Her performance is as close as I can make it to the real thing and quite a rocket compared to the stock L-39s. My version of Pip is in her race trim, with winglets instead of tip tanks, and with the back seat removed, so she's paired with a single seater VC. Goes like a scalded cat, and has about as much endurance. Full bore at sea level in that thing will run your tanks dry in about 35 minutes, hehe.

The version I have modeled is the original L-39C, the lightest, simplest, and most agile member of the Albatros family, and they didn't come with autopilots until the MS version that Aero made in the early 90's. The L-39C uses direct control rods, no hydraulics for flight control, and though autopilots can be fitted to them with great effort, I decided to leave it original. It's a stick and rudder plane anyway.

Almost everything is original equipment and steam gauged, all metric (except for the altimeter) and all 3D. The only non-original items are the radios, gps, and a secondary garmin OBS head, which are pretty common upgrades in reality, and essential given that Russian nav aid systems and radios don't really have any application in FSX. The plane is fully IFR capable.

As for functionality vs eye candy, well here's a shortlist of the modeled systems: Oxygen, pressurization, EGT limiter, engine de-ice, fuel controller, all electrical bus functions and depedencies, saphir starter turbine apu, emergency ram air turbine, main and emergency hydraulic systems with interconnect and emergency gear and flap release handles, all of the instrument failure mode switches, both red and white instrument light selections, the dreaded "network switch" (kills power to front cockpit), and an extending IFR hood in three variants.

The functionality and interdependencies of these are all based on the real L-39 operating manual and on my own experience in the jet, along with a ton of help from L-39 pilots and maintainers. Some of these systems have nasty 'consequences' if you ignore them. ;)

The only systems I haven't modeled really are the air conditioner (which is mostly automatic anyway) and the weapons arming and release stuff, which was pretty limited in the C model. If that weapons project comes to fruition in FSX I will likely revisit the arming and release stuff at a later date.

There are some other fun minor functions included and also a few nice surprises that I can't talk about until release day. :)

Oh and I agree on the 7G club. When I flew a real L-39C last August I didn't quite get to that, but did get to about 6.2 G and experienced the sparklies and a bit of tunnel vision for the first time, and that was with a g-suit. What a ride, something I will never forget.

Cheers guys,

-Mike
 
Thanks for all the praise guys, much appreciated. :)

I forgot to answer a couple of questions...

@GT: Thanks for the offer of beta testing, but that part is thankfully all wrapped up, just have to finish the other two million things that have to go with a release, doubly hard when it's my first FS project. Heck of a lot more fun and satisfying than developing console games though. :)

@Darrell: Do you mean this blue and white camo below? If so, it is a civilian L-39, C-GOZA, Canadian registered, owned by Ed McDonald and based in Edmonton, and was the first paint I did actually. He retained the gun pod (disabled) for balance concerns and looks I think. ;) It's one of the three long range tank models included.

cgoza2.jpg



Thanks guys!

-Mike
 
Hi Bob. Yessir I have, Vectors, Lament, Vantage and all those. I go by Ramasurinen on youtube. I used one of your paints in Vectors actually, that lovely dirty rogers scheme you made for the Iris F-14. :)
 
Hi Bob. Yessir I have, Vectors, Lament, Vantage and all those. I go by Ramasurinen on youtube. I used one of your paints in Vectors actually, that lovely dirty rogers scheme you made for the Iris F-14. :)

That's how I remember you, man those are cool vids!! You got talent sir! :ernae:
 
Hehe, thanks Bob. I wish I had your painting talent, you make it look easy. Every single texture in this Albatros has been a battle for me, but also a good learning experience. :)
 
Keep up the good work, this airplane has been missing from FS for a long time, and we need more Vodka Burners!
 
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