KA-3B Skywarrior

tgycgijoes

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I was able to find the Alphasim/Virtavia A-3 Skywarrior free and even more exciting is I was able to convert the model which because it is a native FSX had the interior model as well to Prepar3D V4.5 and not lose any animation or the virtual cockpit. It has a beautiful, authentic 2D panel as well. It came with four textures and is very frame-rate friendly. In looking for photos I came across all kinds of information including the NATOPS manual. I decided NOT to fly the A-3B bomber version but want instead to fly the KA-3B which is the tanker version. The most exciting discovery for me, was that there were two sister squadrons: VAQ-208 and VAQ-308 stationed to train reservists at NAS Alameda the most elaborate airport scenery that I was ever involved in creating which I have been able to use totally successfully in Prepar3D V4.5 because back in 2016, it was just two fps intensive for the old computers and FSX's 32bit/RAM use technology. I will do the repaint for VAQ-208 next.

This is the repaint I created for VAQ-308 from a bunch of photos using Alphasim's paintkit which is in psd layered files, really nice. All of the photos I have do not show the wings clearly but I was able to find a really nice detailed sheet that came with a set of Japanese decals for the plastic model that showed the wings of VAQ-308. If you ever need help with a repaint and there are decals for it you can find by Google, the IPMS guys are sticklers for accuracy. Answered the question of whether the Airwing and the modex was painted on the wings opposite the national roundels like many Navy squadrons have. The Roman Numeral on the tail denotes the detachment. There were five detachments. I love doing the research which sometimes takes more time than creating the repaint as many of you know. It gives you a sense of history especially when you can read comments and memories of the real pilots.

This era still has quite a few of them around unlike from WWII or Korea. The attrition of us Vietnam vets is starting to became aware to me too. I'll be going to our "reunion" at our local Chili's Bar and grill on Monday for my free lunch which I do every year. You can also get a free 6" sub at participating Subway's according to the VA post if you are active, retired or a veteran. It's nice that they recognize our service.

I also was able to find Lorbey's software which will allow me to actually do air-to-air refueling with it which I am looking forward to learning how to do in multiplayer.

This photo is of the VC. I was able to replace the dummy radar with the Raytheon ARN-75 in both the VC and the2D panels. Most of the switches in the VC are inoperable, disappointing, but with <SHIFT 1> you can superimpose the 2D where all the switches work and there are icons for 2D panel popups You can lower it with the "Noseup/down" arrows to match while you use it. It's not perfect, but it's the only Skywarrior ever created usable in Prepar3D V4.5 after converting the models. For older technology, Alphasim did a very nice job of it in my opinion.
Screenshot (50).jpgScreenshot (49).jpgI am really looking forward to.
 
I agree - I fly these A-3 tankers as well as the RA-3 often aboard carriers in P3D4.5.

With a little tweaking it does a good job. I flew them at Pax River along with anything else I could find when I wasn't testing something else.
I always enjoyed hangin' with my enlisted aircrews who also maintained them.
 
It seems you are missing the tanker package on your KA-3b Skywarrrior! Unless you are still a work in progress?? '69 VAH-10 '71-72 VAQ-129 and VAQ 132 Whidbey Is. and NAS Alameda
0374251 (1).jpg
 
It seems you are missing the tanker package on your KA-3b Skywarrrior! Unless you are still a work in progress??
View attachment 157857
I missed it in the aerial refueling photo I have with the drogue out refueling an A-4. Alphasim doesn't have a separate KA model, just the A-3 model.The refueling will be done with Lorby's Payload Manager Program which I haven't yet tried out in the sim. Now you pointed it out, I have a lot of good photos that I used for the repainting and will study it from as many angles as I can and create a bgl to attach in Model Converter X. Hopefully, Phil at Virtavia will give me permission to share the KA model when I post the repaints.
 
Just installed and checked out Lorby's Payload Manager in Prepar3D V4.5 and it doesn't make my flyable KA3B a tanker but creates an ai tanker of the aircraft at 40 mi and 25K feet altitude in a pattern to dock with. So, I am going to create the drogue tube and attach it to the model in MDCx. Investigating further. I will have to fly something else and find the ai tanker and see what happens. More to come.....VAK-208 at KNGZ.jpg
 
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At first I thought that there would be no drogue on the tanker model. I tried playing with Sketchup for 4 hours with no success but then the Lord gave me an inspiration and I am back at the drawing board to see if a different way works. Stay tuned.
 
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Four hours later, I have completed the drogue. It is not animated just the tube but will have the lights on it from effects. Once I have installed it I will test out Lorby's Payload Manager ai tanker and see what it does. Right now, I'm burned out. Gonna eat dinner and take a break for today.
 
After a trip to town with a few errands, I came back home and read up again how to merge mdl's in Model Converter X. The hardest part at least for me is the positioning which is all trial and error making notes of the last XYZ that was not quite right. When you do this maybe once a year if that it's trying to remember all over again but I think that the results were worth it:

Model KA3B.jpg
 
I emailed Philo at Virtavia for permission to share a full package which will include my two repaints and a new model file for the KA-3B Tanker and will put it together and add to our "Resources" in Prepar3D V4.5.
 
The "package" was mounted at the aft end of the bomb bay doors; the housing actually required the aft inside edge of each door to have a slight cutout to fit around it as best I recall. I will see if I can find some more info.

It looks very good from what I see --
 
Here are some shots of the cutouts and positioning of the drogue housing I mentioned. The housing is between the two MLGs and starts to protrude from the aft edges of the bomb bay doors.

I have fuel cell loading for the tanker if you don't.
 

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  • KA-3B (2).pdf
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I've gotten permission from Phil to put together an "Alphasim/Virtavia" free KA-3B Tanker package to share with ya'all here at SOH. It will include my VAK208 and VAQ308 textures from their time at NAS Alameda.
 
I was looking for more photos and came across a really complete webpage with these interesting photos:
66dc980f44d8c77bda50590c_66dc921961012a5d87cf3812_US_Navy_and_Royal_Navy_aircraft_refueling_c...jpeg
U.S. Navy and Royal Navy aircraft during aerial refueling in 1962-1963. The U.S. Navy aircraft are from Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8) which was deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) to the Mediterranean Sea from 3 August 1962 to 2 March 1963 (l-r): A McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II from Fighter Squadron VF-74 Be-Devilers; a Vought F8U-2 Crusader (BuNo 146909) from VF-103 Sluggers; a F8U-1P (BuNo 146895) from Light Photographic Squadron VFP-62 Det.59 Fighting Photos; a Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawk (BuNo 147801) from Attack Squadron VA-83 Rampagers; and a Douglas A3D-2 Skywarrior (BuNo 142661) from Heavy Attack Squadron VAH-11 Det.59 Checkertails. Two Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft from HMS Hermes (R12) are lining up for refueling (l-r): a Supermarine Scimitar F.1 (serial XD244) from 803 Naval Air Squadron, and a De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.1 from 892 NAS.

66dc75149b82ddaf887a07cd_66dc743e6162cceadda7d481_USS_Constellation_(CVA-64)_flight_deck_1967.jpeg
USS Constellation off Vietnam in 1967. Is this an interesting mix of aircraft or what?
Various U.S. Navy aircraft of Attack Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14) on deck of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) during a deployment to Vietnam from 29 April to 4 December 1967. In the foreground are a North American A-5B Vigilante (BuNo 149300) from Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron RVAH-12 Speartips; Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo 149579, "City of Selma") from Attack Squadron VA-146 Blue Diamonds; a black painted Douglas RA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo 144847) from Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron VAP-61 World Recorders; an A-4C (BuNo 149508) from VA-55 Warhorses; and a Grumman A-6A Intruder (BuNo 152637) from VA-196 Main Battery. The author identifies five aircraft above. I spotted two more can you find them? For fun answers below. The first one to post the correct answer will get an extra repaint for the KA-3B package.
 
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Thank you for the shot above. Let me have the fuel cell loading if it's not in the NATOPS I have.
Here is a summary. The straight bomber and RA-3B / TA-3B were all modified early in their lives, especially the addition of the "duck butt" tail to replace the tail gun and the addition of an additional upper fuel cell in the bomb bay.

Hower, several of these modernized bombers (A-3B) were converted strictly for tanking as true KA-3Bs. In addition, due to Vietnam, some were converted to EKA-3Bs ,which had tanking capability but no lower bomb bay tank; so, they had the same total fuel capacity as the upgraded A-3B series.
 

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  • A-3B  - KA-3B Fuel capacities.jpg
    A-3B - KA-3B Fuel capacities.jpg
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Here is a summary. The straight bomber and RA-3B / TA-3B were all modified iearly in their lives, especially the addition of the "duck butt" tail to replace the tail gun and the addition of an additional upper fuel cell in the bomb bay.

Hower, several of these modernized bombers (A-3B) were converted stricktly for tanking as true KA-3Bs. In addition, due to Vietnam, some were converted to AKA-3Bs ,which had tanking capability but no lower bomb bat tank so they had the same total fuel capacity as the upgraded A-3B series.
thank you that information. I just opened up the aircraft cfg and in the fuel area, they have only one tank AND 1160 gallons of usable fuel so I increased it to the total from the KA-3B info you just sent. Hopefully that will not mess up the weight and balance.

I was NOT able to modify the aircraft.cfg to add the tanks. It is Center1 for the only tank and when I tried to change it to the four proper tanks the fuel in the sim is 0. I WAS able to increase the one tank to the proper quantity of fuel for a full load so that is what we'll have to deal with.
 
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We had a KA-3B det aboard JFK (CVA-67) during her first deployment. They had a custom patch and decals made:

Fleet Air Refueling Team (F.A.R.T) - "we pass gas". Quite a hit everywhere
 
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