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Aerosoft F-14 Tomcat - RELEASED

There's a new set of pilot textures for the F-14 in the Aerosoft library.

hgu55_3.jpg

The helmet style is changed to the modern HGU-55 with visor cover and the visor now has a reflection image baked-in.

Dave
 
did anyone of you guys already mastered to refuel from air to air ??

if so could you explain what's the best way. I read the manuels about air to air refueling but didn't suceed until now
 
Renz - assuming you mean keeping the Tomcat close enough to trigger refuelling? If so follow the setup in the shift-2 panel for air to air re-fuelling (under emergencies for some reason!) then it's a case of flying close formation with the tanker. I'm using the Tac-pack tanker so my experience is limited to that, but firstly ensure the aircraft is trimmed! Fighting an out of trim aircraft makes life difficult even flying little Cessnas straight & level.. Then it's all about small corrections, honestly the closer you are the easier formation is, because you can see small changes in relative velocity earlier and make a correction. Biggest issue is power changes especially with the TF-30s since there is a bit of spool lag, potentially could fly it with the speed brakes extended, the extra drag will require higher power settings, where the engines respond a bit quicker. Like the carrier approach, think in terms of making an adjustment then removing half the change e.g. throttles 1/2" forwards then 1/4" back, this can prevent over-correcting, the finesse will come with practice.

Lastly if you find yourself getting into larger and larger oscillating deviations back away from the tanker, relax, stabilise the aircraft and move back in again. Hope this helps a bit!
 
I find that using the auto pilot without going into any sub modes like heading or altitude is very helpful. It is in Control Stick Steering so it holds what ever bank angle and pitch attitude you move it to. This seems to help with pilot induced oscillations as you get in close. The F-14 tanker is a bit harder since the area that refueling begins seems smaller.
 
I find that using the auto pilot without going into any sub modes like heading or altitude is very helpful. It is in Control Stick Steering so it holds what ever bank angle and pitch attitude you move it to. This seems to help with pilot induced oscillations as you get in close. The F-14 tanker is a bit harder since the area that refueling begins seems smaller.

That's a great tip; I'll have to try it out. My first attempt at refueling in the Tomcat did eventually result in me getting a decent amount of fuel, but oh man I was having trouble staying in one spot.
 
Kd, Stovall is making one, if you hunt through a couple pages, you can find the F-14 repaint thread.
 
Renz - assuming you mean keeping the Tomcat close enough to trigger refuelling? If so follow the setup in the shift-2 panel for air to air re-fuelling (under emergencies for some reason!) then it's a case of flying close formation with the tanker. I'm using the Tac-pack tanker so my experience is limited to that, but firstly ensure the aircraft is trimmed! Fighting an out of trim aircraft makes life difficult even flying little Cessnas straight & level.. Then it's all about small corrections, honestly the closer you are the easier formation is, because you can see small changes in relative velocity earlier and make a correction. Biggest issue is power changes especially with the TF-30s since there is a bit of spool lag, potentially could fly it with the speed brakes extended, the extra drag will require higher power settings, where the engines respond a bit quicker. Like the carrier approach, think in terms of making an adjustment then removing half the change e.g. throttles 1/2" forwards then 1/4" back, this can prevent over-correcting, the finesse will come with practice.

Lastly if you find yourself getting into larger and larger oscillating deviations back away from the tanker, relax, stabilise the aircraft and move back in again. Hope this helps a bit!


I find that using the auto pilot without going into any sub modes like heading or altitude is very helpful. It is in Control Stick Steering so it holds what ever bank angle and pitch attitude you move it to. This seems to help with pilot induced oscillations as you get in close. The F-14 tanker is a bit harder since the area that refueling begins seems smaller.


Using the auto pilot / Control Stick Steering actually helped a lot !! The biggest Problem (and the reason i still didn't managed it) are the last - let's say 2-3 meters.
Even the smallest correction at that point destroyes 10min of hard work nearing the tanker in the perfect angle and speed.

Today i will try it with speed brakes extended hoping to handle my speed better this way... But i think the final part to actually connect with the tanker only comes with a lot of training

Thanks for your support guys very much appreciated !!
 
Using the auto pilot / Control Stick Steering actually helped a lot !! The biggest Problem (and the reason i still didn't managed it) are the last - let's say 2-3 meters.
Even the smallest correction at that point destroyes 10min of hard work nearing the tanker in the perfect angle and speed.

Today i will try it with speed brakes extended hoping to handle my speed better this way... But i think the final part to actually connect with the tanker only comes with a lot of training

Thanks for your support guys very much appreciated !!

Its actually a bit easier in real life for 3 reasons:

1: Aircraft are far easier to control in reality thanks to force feedback and the position of the stick. Although mounting the stick between your knees does help a bit in this respect so that you can fly with your fingertips and wrist instead of arm and shoulder.

2: Formation flight in general is much easier thanks to peripheral vision.

3: The drogue basket aids in the process by guiding the connection with the probe if the aircraft is a bit off the mark, and the hose is flexible meaning that once connected, if you stay within a certain "box" you wont be disconnected.
 
Both hovering and formation are easier in the RW. Great advice above I would only suggest using the "mini HUD" while flying off the tanker, not the basket. The mini HUD will flash "BASKET" when taking on fuel and you can see the weights change. Since you still can't actually "plug" in, don't sweat trying to keep the probe in, just get it close enough and fly form until complete, the goal is to get the gas so you can get back to your CAP station! (also fun)
 
Some asked about this.... More surprises will be in SP1 for AS Tomcat. : )

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YOYO!!! Looking beautifully!!

Any change of also doing the nsawc's splinter scheme?

Marcel
 
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