AI F-8 Crusaders by Michael Pearson

[delta_lima]

Hello all,

I don't know how in the world I missed this; most folks, being smarter than I, likely know this - but anyway discovering this gem was too cool to keep to myself.

Michael Pearson has done an excellent series of 5 packs of multi-LOD AI F-8s covering EVERY (so far as I can tell) single USN/USMC/Aeronavale/Phil AF squadron to fly the F-8 - including the every model B/C/D/E/H/K/L,E(FN), DF Drone, and RFA/G!! Obviously not every single BuNo, but at least one per sqn, and many (who's schemes changed over time, more than one). Woohoo!! Only units I can't find are NASA's FBW and Supercritical wing. Though intended for FS9, they work superbly in FSX - they're AI, for heavens' sake!

Here is a small sampling from pack 3:


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Sorry - MS Paint is giving me a weird funky cropping that I can't fix - to enable upload, it could only "crop to" 1024 x 768, not "resize" evenly for some reason. Now you know why the wherewithall to make repaints eludes me ... :mixedsmi:


And now a few screens. These were taken at/around the MAIW MCAS Beaufort. 15 min to convert the MAIW flight plans from F-18s to F-8s. More Crusaders crawling around then Jerusalem in 1192. Ok, more like around 60 or so at any given time - still impressive, given my tired old system .... note FPS ...

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.... on the ground ... notice the folded wings, chocks and engine exhaust covers ....


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... come the AB effect on takeoff


And as close as my less-than-stellar formation flying will allow ....


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I only had about 30 min tonight to mod the AI, fly a few patterns and formation, and take a few screens - just a quick-n-dirty sub of all the Beaufort F-18s into VMF-(AW)-333 Crusaders. With more time, I'll split them into the right units - but this at least gives folks a sense of how densely you can populate a NAS/MCAS base with Crusaders. Just add the F-8s, mod the MAIW flight plans - and presto, your AI has has just gone back in time 40 years .... Yes, for all the smart-a$$es out there, I'm aware the base is not period-authentic - the MAIW scenery is far better than either stock or nothing.


No word yet on whether the AI pilots can see their own wings - I'm sure a thread on that is forthcoming ....

Anyway - kudos to Mr Pearson!

Best,

DL

Note, he's got a similar pack covering many (don't know yet if all) of the A-4 Squadrons - again, dedicated AI model.

PS - sets me up nicely for my Cuba62 pack I'm contemplating ....

 

[dhazelgrove]

Yep. A-4s, F-4s, F-104s, Mirages - all work well in FSX, although they're not FSX-native nor ever will be. Mike has views on FSX, so won't be redoing his work for FSX.

We're lucky that they do work in FSX, but have a thought to frame rate hits if used in quantity.

Dave

 

[expat]

he MAIW scenery is far better than either stock or nothing.

Yes, the airport scenery works fine in FSX and generally a nice environment to fly and base this kind of period AI in. I have a bunch of Michael's AI planes there and flying off carriers (fixed AS Big E from FS9) in a number of places.

 

[delta_lima]

Yep. A-4s, F-4s, F-104s, Mirages - all work well in FSX, although they're not FSX-native nor ever will be. Mike has views on FSX, so won't be redoing his work for FSX.

We're lucky that they do work in FSX, but have a thought to frame rate hits if used in quantity.

Dave

Thanks Dave and Ex (Ex, I figured you'd be all over this already - should have know this wasn't new to you!! :LOL)

Yes, I was worried about the volume - MAIW traffic is very generous with how densely populated the bases are, and had no idea if having 5 dozen of these out would affect my FPS. But on my 5 year old PC, the hit was 3-4 FPS - I'm totally ok with that. Will try and properly assign sqns tonight - right now, the base looks like 333 Marine Air Wing!

cheers,

DL

 

[dhazelgrove]

I'm hoping for an MCAS El Toro in FSX, as my FS9 one is overloaded - and I need a new home for VMFP-3.

Dave