Several days ago we got the first military jet for Microsoft Flight Simulator by its original developer. It's fun but feels unfinished. Let's give it some love and raise the level of quality!

First stage is passed - visual effects added like vortex trails, vapor cone, exhaust and aerobatics smoke. 

Second - simplified catapult and arrestors functionality. Done.

Next will be fully working catapult - in cooperation with Photosbykev and 270inc we are making simple aircraft carrier with animated crew and complicated operations. 

Then turn of the tailhook and arrestors again - precise hook-cable collision calculation will make many of you happy (or angry).

And finally, the reason for the project name - AA radar with gun assistant - combat training simulation with accurate ballistics calculator. Can you shoot down someone? We'll see.

v1.0 features

• wingtip vortices effect (respect folded wings)
• leading edge vortices effect
• vapor cone (sonic barrier)
• engine exhaust (affected by afterburner)
• aerobatics smoke (white only, can be toggled by WING LIGHT hotkey or cockpit switch on right panel)
• engine heat appear only on working engines
• native contrails disabled

v2.0 features

• automatic afterburner
• AOA indicator also activated by tailhook
• simplified arresting process (tailhook handle, front-left panel)
• simplified catapult launch process (launchbar switch, front-right panel)
• dedicated smoke switch

How to install

Unpack asobo-aircraft-fa18e-warrior and pbk-carrier-crew into Community folder

How to uninstall

Delete asobo-aircraft-fa18e-warrior and pbk-carrier-crew from Community folder

Compatibility with other mods

Super Warrior replaces Super Hornet completely, so custom liveries should work fine without extra actions (Blue Angels tested successfully). However, liveries should not override model XML files or panels, as it will break mod functionality.

But remember that modded aircraft not compatible with any of official events - Landing Challenges, Races etc. If you wish to participate, remove mod from Community folder temporarely.

Sort of changes

Model XML files mostly changes, some minor CFG updates applied, additional WASM script for carrier operations. No model or textures improvements planned, but may be possible in the future.

How to adjust or disable some effects

Parameters for all custom effectes stored in \Community\asobo-aircraft-fa18e-warrior\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_FA18E\model\FA18E_FX.xml file

To disable exhaust effect for example, open FA18E_FX.xml in text editor (like Notepad or Notepad++) and find EXHAUST_FAR. Below replace

(A:ENG N1 RPM:1, percent) (A:ENG N1 RPM:2, percent) + 40 >

with

0

so long trail of exhaust will never appear (most FPS consuming).

To disable aerobatics smoke (both for you and other players) replace

(A:LIGHT WING, Bool) (A:LIGHT WING ON, Bool) or (A:SMOKE ENABLE, bool) or

with

0

If you are familiar with XML/RPM conding you can adjust effect appearance modifiers. They are stored inside of and control the size/transparecy of the effects.

Sadly, we still have no HUMIDITY sim variable so vortices/vapor modifiers uses only temperature, precipitations level and fact of your presence inside of clouds, wich makes they appearance very inaccurate.

Automatic afterburner

After you set throttle lever(s) to 100% afterburner will be enabled automatically. Ensure your joystick calibrated properly, just in case it never reach 100%.

As usual, when thorttle level less than 80% - afterburner goes out.

If you want to disable this feature, open in text editor file Community\asobo-aircraft-fa18e-warrior\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_FA18E\model\FA18E_cockpit.xml and find near to bottom of document these lines:

(L:XMLVAR_LastAB1ThrottleSet,number) 1 == (A:TURB ENG AFTERBURNER:1, bool) ! and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER1) }
(L:XMLVAR_LastAB2ThrottleSet,number) 1 == (A:TURB ENG AFTERBURNER:2, bool) ! and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER2) }

Remove both, restart the game.

For unknown reason, sometimes afterburner effect does not appear. In this case press afterburner shortkey once, effect should appear properly during the flight.

How to use catapult

Catapult functionality simplified, advanced launching process in development

• prepare for take off
• on the runway - stop in the middle, head against the wind
• on the aircraft carrier - taxi to the closes catapult track, head straight to it
• toggle launchbar switch (left-front panel, near gears handle)
• wait for about 5 seconds - shuttle will appear in front of launchbar, you can notice visible steam effect
• set full throttle and prepare for takeoff
• if you returned to same location and wish to take off again - new shuttle will not appear, you need to reuse the old one - turn on launchbar switch (toggle twice if already enabled), get close to shuttle on the ground, launch process will be initiated
• automatically right after bar reach the shuttle

How to use arresting gear

Same as catapult - advanced script in development, current limitations are temporary

• prepare for landing - extract gears, enable tailhook handle (right-front panel)
• follow AOA indicator, keep airspeed around 160kn
• right before touchdown, raise pitch angle so tailhook will touch the surface
• after collision detected, you will experience deceleration (similar to reverse thrust)
• after full stop arresting process will be stopped

You want more? Check out our Patreon!

Early access, demo of payware products, development reviews and tutorials! Quite empty there at the moment but we'll work on it really soon.