Heatblur Simulations F-14 A/B

As much as I'm enjoying the Hornet and flying around the boat, this has to be the most anticipated module for me. Add in tanking and escorting A-6s, very cool! Great job with the 1980s theme vid!
 
A Note from Heatblur concerning TomCat Flight model

"
Originally Posted by SMH
Looks great! Will it be PFM?

Short answer is: yes, but not called a PFM.

Long answer is: the model is an EFM meaning the flight model was developed outside of ED and in fact is a program that runs outside of DCS. It receives atmospheric and physical parameters (speed, AOA, etc) from DCS which is then fed into the Heatblur FM program. The program then crunches all the info and feeds forces to the rigid physics model inside of DCS.

I think a lot of people figure that FM development is a lot like a "mad libs" word game where you take some aircraft specifics and plug it into a framework that exists in DCS - that is true for SFMs. But PFMs/EFMs are clean sheet mathematical descriptions of the aerodynamic and physical forces that effect the airplane. So instead of a mad libs we are talking about a blank sheet of paper.....pretty intimidating.

In the case of the F-14, the FM was developed from NASA wind tunnel testing, NASA aerodynamic evaluation data, USN real world performance data (covering all aspects), USN documentation for handling/testing, USN docs for the AFCS system, flight control systems, USN weight and balance documentation (which proved to be quite important for replicating behavior), detailed engine documentation/dynamics modeling, etc, etc, etc.....a lot of stuff!

All of this information is then digested and converted to equations, coefficients, look-up tables, and all that stuff by the FM developer. The F-14 FM actually has 2 FM engineers/coders/developers. The lead is a joint PhD in engineering and computer science (Mechatronics) while the other's day job is as an FM developer for Level D simulators (private and light commercial jets).

Add to that, the FM has over a hundred hours of real F-14 pilot evaluation time resulting in many adjustments. We thought the FM was in pretty good shape a year ago when the pilots first stated giving feedback. Well a year later we have adjusted a lot of stuff! Things are actually quite different than they were back then (even without changing the core aero data from wind tunnels and other sources). FM development means a lot of very fine tuning that can have big effects. Without all the pilot input, things would actually feel pretty different - even though everything would still match the data. Aircraft feel is surprisingly dependent on small details.
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I am happy to say that our pilot SMEs are quite happy with it, even as we adjust a few more details (like how much roll rate changes with wing sweep, as Cobra mentioned). One of our best SMEs (very detail oriented and he uses DCS habitually - he has made a huge contribution to the module!) recently described the FM as a "game changer" - so we are very happy with the depth and accuracy.

So like I said....long answer.
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In summary: it's really good!
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-Nick (Heatblur Tomcat tester)"
 
From Heatblur FB Page.........


"This winter is in the claws of the cat. Tune in on the 7th to see what our Tomcat is all about"
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Love the idea, of course he took out the LSOs being that far off centerline, but that's not the point! Still 2 weeks away from being back at my DCS machine, hope a few patches are out by then.
 
Absolutely one of the best videos I've seen for anything Eagle Dynamics. Love the Fleet Defender vibe! Was an immediate purchase based on the various screen shots and videos. I just cannot see it taking too long to release into pre-release beta. So gonna dive into this experience.
 

W O W ! ! !
"​The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a two-crew, variable geometry, maritime air superiority fighter that served with the US Navy for 32 years and continues to serve with the IRIAF in Iran. The F-14 was the US Navy's frontline fighter from the 1970s until the mid 2000s. Over the course of its long service life it also became the US Navy’s premier precision ground-attack platform and lone airborne reconnaissance asset.Outstanding features of the aircraft are the swing-wing configuration, crew of two, and the powerful AN/AWG-9 Weapons Control System (WCS) and radar. The AWG-9 allows employment of the powerful AIM-54 Phoenix air to air missile while the LANTIRN pod allows the ability to carry out precision ground strikes using laser guided bombs. The F-14 Tomcat was present during many pivotal historic moments such as the two Gulf of Sidra incidents, Operation Desert storm in Iraq, the conflict in Yugoslavia, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was also immortalized in the iconic motion picture, Top Gun, and starred in several other feature films including The Final Countdown, Executive Decision, and others.
In addition, the Tomcat was also a vital player in the Iran-Iraq war during the 80s, flying for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force which had acquired the F-14A from the US prior the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Heatblur Simulations F-14A/B Tomcat aims to simulate this iconic aircraft as a high-fidelity module for DCS, being the culmination of several years of research, coding and modelling.
Special points of consideration amongst the many features are the external and internal graphic model created using laser scanning and photogrammetry from real Tomcats at various museums, the detailed External Flight Model (EFM) developed over the past several years and verified by real F-14 pilots, the detailed modelling of the AN/AWG-9 and the ability to fly as a two-crew aircraft in multiplayer.
Key features of the Heatblur Simulations DCS F-14A/B Tomcat include:

  • The simulation of both the A* and B model Tomcat, the A model following the B later during the Early Access period.
  • Highly detailed external model, built using laser scanning and photogrammetry taken of real, museum F-14 Tomcats.
  • New models for some of the F-14 Tomcat payloads, such as the AIM-54 Phoenix and the LANTIRN pod.
  • Highly detailed and accurate 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) cockpit also built using photogrammetry from the F-14 Tomcats preserved at museums.
  • Highly accurate, F-14 pilot verified, External Flight Model (EFM) based on real performance data.
  • Accurate aircraft systems simulation featuring:
    • The Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS).
    • The variable wing geometry, wing-sweep, system.
    • Detailed electrical, hydraulic and fuel system.
  • Fully functional multiplayer two seat functionality allowing a pilot to carry another player functioning as the Radar Intercept Officer, RIO.
  • JESTER AI: A new, lifelike AI that fills the role of RIO when flying single-player or multiplayer without a human RIO.
  • A limited functionality Iceman AI piloting the aircraft in single-player when switching to the rear cockpit.
  • Both AIs feature an interactive interface with a comprehensive library of voice acted phrases.
  • Simulation of the AN/AWG-9 Weapons Control System (WCS) featuring:
    • A custom model of the AN/AWG-9 radar featuring Pulse Search, Pulse Doppler Search, Range-While-Scan and Track-While-Scan modes as well as both pulse and pulse doppler Single Target Track (STT) modes.
    • The ability to prepare and launch the AIM-54 Phoenix, both at single targets and at up to six targets simultaneously using the TWS mode.
    • The Television Camera Set (TCS) allowing visual identification of targets in Beyond Visual Range (BVR) situations.
    • The Link-4 datalink allowing reception of tracks from an E-2 AWACS or a surface unit.
  • The complete F-14A and B Tomcat payload, including AIM-7, AIM-9 and AIM-54 air to air missiles, various dumb and guided air to ground munitions as well as the M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon.
  • A functional simulation of the LANTIRN designator pod, allowing the RIO to guide laser guided munitions dropped by the pilot or other aircraft (buddy-lasing).
  • The Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS), allowing the player to fulfil the aerial photographic reconnaissance mission. *
  • Fully functional carrier interoperability featuring systems such as the Instrument Carrier Landing System (ICLS) and the Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS).
  • Comprehensive digital manual, both as a PDF and as a continually updated online manual.
  • A complete set of interactive and voiced tutorials.
  • Comprehensive campaigns for both the F-14A and F-14B Tomcat, one set in the Caucasus theatre and the other for the Persian Gulf theatre.
* The F-14A and the TARPS pod will follow later during the Early Access period and the tutorials and campaigns will be implemented and expanded during this early access as well.

 
Looks really good, Oceana scenery and Miramar scenery ?, the two U.S. bases where F-14's were based, FCLP, training carrier quals.
 
Odie said:
Did the pre-purchase as well. Looks to be a keeper!
Click to expand...

+1000 at Mach 2.34 here, waiting and waiting, pre-purchase complete, NATOPS manual pulled from storage. Now I need to decide on a VR set up. I hope "Jester" is ok with my initial 1 or 4 wire landings.
 
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