Aerosoft Release Their F-14 Extended for FSX and P3D

Aerosoft has released their F-14 Extended for FSX, FSX-SE, and P3D.

The F-14 seemed invincible when it entered service. All it took was 15 seconds to reverse a guns solution with an F-4 on its tail and it had a radar so powerful that it could burn through jamming signals while guiding a missile that was falling from 100,000ft at Mach 5. The United States had adopted a policy of decreasing the quantity of deployed units while increasing its sophistication and effectiveness.  Since the F-14 was one of the first aircraft to fully embody this theory, it reigned supreme over the seas.  Due to no other aircraft coming close to its ability to strike beyond visual range, the carriers remained safe while they were on patrol and were able to venture into regions that were previously inaccessible. Coupled with aircraft carriers, the F-14 created an era where the outcome of political events could be influenced without a combat engagement.

Aerosoft’s F-14 Extended was designed with two principle objectives. The first was to create an authentic and detailed representation of what it was like to fly the early model F-14s as well as the refinements made over the last 20 years of its service life. The second was to create an accessible simulation for all users. Even though many of the advanced systems do require you to read the manual to operate them efficiently, anyone can be in the air within seconds of loading the sim if they so desire. Building upon this, failures like engine compressor stalls, while they are included, won’t become active unless the feature is enabled.

That’s not to say that the flight dynamics are simplified or dumbed down, because they’re not. Not a single developer or tester was unchallenged when trying to trap the F-14 on the carrier due to the physics being consistent and based upon real-world data as well as the F-14’s unpredictable aerodynamic nature.

Aerosoft would also like you to know that this is a highly complex addon that is intended for experienced users; be warned!

The feature list is too immense to even list a tenth of its points but the main features include TacPack integration, three generations of the A Model F-14 as well as the B model, a payload manager with checklists, automated checklists for nearly every phase of flight, an approach rating system that will judge how well you set up the aircraft for a visual carrier approach, and much, much more. A full feature list can be found at the bottom of this article.

The F-14 Extended can be purchased from the Aerosoft store for a price of €29.40 as a boxed item, or as a download for €33.57 and is compatible with FSX, FSX-SE, and versions 3 and 4 of Prepar3D. The F-14 Extended is free to all current customers of the previous F-14X and can be downloaded from the order history page in your account for the download version and in the update database for owners of the boxed version.

Feature list:

TacPack by Vertical Reality Simulations:

• Users who own TacPack will be able launch payloads including the F-14`s potent beyond visual range capabilities
• TV Camera set (TCS) enables visual target identification at a range of 10nm
• LANTIRN targeting pods can track and guide precision ordnance to GPS locations or moving AI targets.
• TARPS Digital Integration (DI) feeds video during reconnaissance missions

Features:

• Three generations of the A Model F-14 as well as the more refined B model
• Joystick input can be routed to drive from the pilot seat or scan the skies from the RIO seat with a steerable radar.
• 3D Landing lights
• 208 preprogrammed LUA commands
• Payload Manager with Checklists
  • Payloads can be loaded and jettisoned dynamically in the simulator, changing visual models, weight, and fuel
• Automated Checklists for Pre-Start, Start, Post-Start, Taxi, Run-up, Take-off, Approach, and Post-Landing
• Approach Rating system which evaluates how well pilots set their aircraft up for a visual approach during carrier landings
• Sim Start Options which allow users to set and remember the F-14`s loading state
• Visual Systems
  • HUD – A models: vintage type that is projected on the windscreen
  • HUD – B model: Sparrow Hawk model with integrated combiner
  • HUD – Both Models: All Flight and Steering modes have been created, including A/A and A/G with CCIP, shows Carrier TACAN and ILS symbology
  • VDI (Vertical Display Indicator) – in-the-cockpit aircraft attitude instrument with ground and sky textures
  • HSD (Horizontal Situation Display) – compass rose and steering symbols (TACAN, CRS, ADF)
  • DDD (Detailed Data Display) – shows raw radar data in azimuth and range-rate
  • TID (Tactical Information Display) – presents radar targets in a computer-generated, synthetic, clutter-free format
  • RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) – shows ground and sea based radar emitters
  • AWG-9 radar – 8 modes of operation (including STT, RWS, TWS, PLM), adjustable azimuth scan and elevation bar patterns, ranges from 5 to 200nm
  • All displays have the authentic F-14A type symbology and functionality is programmed according to the NATOPS Manual
• Engine Management (TF-30)
  • Compressor stalls (aero): Poor management of the aircraft will result in random compressor stalls which can induce a dreaded flat spin. Stall algorithm is random; stalls will onset, clear, and engine restarts based on a continuous supply of random numbers, while aircraft state (Altitude, Mach, Angle of Attack, and Sideslip) as well as aircraft configuration increase or decrease the chances of pitfalls and recoveries
  • Compressor Stalls (throttle): Rapid throttle movements in the IDLE region can saturate the combustion chamber and stall a compressor
  • Mach Lever: During Air Combat Maneuvering; Engine IDLE RPM is automatically increased at high AoA to increase stall resistance (both types)
  • Engine Fires: Hot starts and compressor stalls dump fuel into the combustion chamber even though no thrust is being generated. Exceeding a transient temperature limit for critical time or heating beyond an absolute limit will cause the blades to melt and the engine will be lost
  • Sump Tanks: Turbines are directly supplied by gravity fed sump tanks which only hold a combined 600lbs of fuel. Negative G maneuvers and high thrust settings can starve the engines in a hurry
• Flight Systems
  • Complete wing sweep implementation with all four modes of operation: Auto, Bomb, Manual, and Emergency (with Oversweep). Auto Mode uses two sweep channels with dependencies on Mach and Altitude to determine optimum wing sweep angle
  • Every control surface moves on the visual model and within the flight model according to underlying hydraulic system, with realistic gains, rate limits, and damping.
  • Maneuver Flaps: Both automatic and pilot controlled (separate system from main flaps)
    o Glove Vanes: Extend with Maneuver Flaps at sweep angles greater than 25° and also at very high Mach
    o Approach Auto Throttle: The F-14 is a notoriously difficult plane to land, Approach AutoThrottle maintains the aircraft at optimum AoA
  • Direct Lift Control: Pilots can toggle a partial extension of the inboard spoilers to adjust AoA during approach
  • Ground Roll AeroBrake: When armed, Inboard and Outboard spoilers fully extend with weight on wheel and throttles at Idle
  • Speed Brake: Blows shut at speeds greater than 400KIAS or auto-retracts at MIL thrust
  • MiniHUD: Optional 2D gauge gives access to information which would be readily available in a pilot`s peripheral vision
• Auto Flight Control System (AFCS)
  • Three channel passive Stability Augmentation System (SAS). Pilot inputs and control surface deflection rates are reduced, which allow better control in the normal flight regime
  • Aileron-Rudder Interconnect designed directly from NASA source documentation
  • Built from scratch Autopilot with Control Stick Steering in Pitch and Bank Hold Modes
  • Vector mode follows a loaded flight Plan
  • Auto Carrier Landing System combines with Auto Throttle for a hands free carrier landing. 2D Alignment gauge for AFCS can be used give precise feedback on ACLS lineup
• Flight Mechanics
  • Thoroughly tested by retried Fleet F-14 pilots and a software engineer involved with a professional F-14 simulation. Performance and control response & stability data were sourced and matched as closely as possible to NATOPS and NASA technical archives
  • The F-14`s notorious flat spin has been recreated along with the `Hoser` method of spin recovery
  • Simconnect enabled Axis Manager (AM) precisely sets the aircraft`s lift based on the configuration of six lift devices; Wing Sweep, Primary (outboard) flaps, Auxiliary (inboard) flaps, Slats, Spoilers, and Glove Vanes
  • (AM) Separate control output for Stabilator and spoilerons; wings swept aft will produce less lift, less roll, and notably increased adverse yaw
  • (AM) Authentic catapult launch speeds on any carrier as well as a custom trap physics on recovery
• AI Scenarios
  • In-sim menu allows users to spawn randomly generated scenarios anywhere near a carrier TACAN signal
  • Includes radar Intercept, escort, wandering (civilian) pilot, Random, and a Tanker for when the tanks run empty
  • Included aircraft that have been generously donated by our collaborators:
    ? KA-6D: Razbam Simulations ( http://www.razbamsims.com)
    ? Su-27 :  ALS-Sim ( http://www.als-sim.com)
    ? Tu-95 :  Samdim Designs ( http://samdimdesign.free.fr/ )
• USS Kitty Hawk CV-63
  • Built from scratch Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (FLOLS) which can be applied to any naval aircraft using the Kitty Hawk
  • 11 moving carrier tracks from around the world centered around on historically significant locations. Each track has a corresponding saved flight which allows users to load the simulation directly on a moving carrier.
• Moving tracks includes a carrier task force
• USS Jarrett and USS Vandegrift by Alberto Garcia
• USNS Patuxent by Javier Fernandez
• Owners of the Deltasim DDG ( http://deltasimstudio.com/ddg.htm ) will have the option to substitute the destroyer into the Carrier Task Force