Christmas Update
Dear Pilots,
There’s been a lot of activity on our side these past few weeks. But since the festive season has arrived, we thought it would be a great idea, before we all take a break, to give you a small sneak peak into Santa’s workshop where all new modules are being created. Thus, this update is dedicated to our upcoming projects. Existing ones will be discussed at a different time.
But before we get to that, we would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We think that this festive season is much more than Christmas parties and the gifts that keep on giving: let us take the time to slow down and enjoy the simple things. May this wonderful time of the year touch your heart in a special way.
Wishing you much happiness not just today, but throughout the New Year!
Chance-Vought F4U-1D Corsair
We’re pleased that everyone enjoyed the Flight Model and Weapons demonstration during VFAT this year. In case you missed it, here’s the video:
Many of you have wondered why we didn’t show the cockpit, and it’s because it is getting extensive updates. With the available manufactures documentation and drawings, our artist have been able to replicate assemblies with ease and accuracy.
Below you’ll see many of the major assemblies in a mostly completed state; barring some bolts and wire cables. The instruments had their Federal Standard and Army/Navy part numbers cross checked with Volume 6 of the Army/Navy Index of Aeronautical Equipment dated 1 March 1944. An assortment of Kollsman, Pioneer, and Sperry instruments have been modeled in detail as one would expect to see in 1944.
In September of 44, a modification order was issued to the manufactures to have the stall warning and water/methanol injection lights removed. Corsairs already in the line of duty had field orders to remove them. We realize users may feel the need to use them since there is no sense of momentum sitting at a desk, so in our version we will add a special menu item so that users have a choice to enable them.
Next, our artists modeled the missing manual release bomb and drop tank assembly. This device was added in an event that the electrical connection to the pylons had failed. But if the cable is hit by a bullet, expect it not to work and/or the items to fall off the pylons!
The canopy was a high priority item to get corrected. Many flight simulators have had very inaccurate assemblies over the years and we want to do our best to portray the real deal. Sitting in the cockpit, users will find that it’s pretty cramped with such a thick canopy frame. Especially since it’s crowded with levers, pulleys and mirrors! The 1D variant also had it’s slide stoppers shortened to two notches allowing a few inches of ventilation while flying. Of course, one can still fly fully open as well! The emergency release procedure is manual labor in itself:
- Step 1: Pull safety cord
- Step 2: Pull handles inward to release from rail bracket
- Step 3: Jam handles forward
- Step 4: Push up on canopy
Throughout World War II, radio systems were constantly being modified. None more than the famous AN/ARC-5 system. We exchanged many e-mails with subject matter experts, and have decided on the following ancillary equipment that one might find on any given late war 1D Corsair (Left to Right):
- C-38 Remote Receiver Selector
- C-30A Remote Transmitter Selector
- C-26 Remote Tuner
- Manufacture Fabricated AN/APX-1 IFF remote switches.
These babies come with hand cranks so get those scrolling fingers on a workout!
Essex Class Aircraft Carrier
Viewers of our VFAT demonstration finally had a good look at our Essex Class carrier. That was just a basic model allowing us to begin coding. Within the next few months, there will be considerable updates to the island and weapon systems. We want users to have an immersive experience while sitting on the deck up close and personal. In the renders below, details have been added to the 127mm, 40mm, and 20mm guns. As well as the island detailing for those wing checks. The hanger bay will be modeled with working lifts too!
Vought Aeronautics F-8J Crusader
Finally, an early gift! We have decided to show the very early stages of the Crusader’s cockpit. It is still a work in progress and the version shown in the renders above is strictly for our programmers to start implementing basic systems. Some assemblies may not be modeled 100%.
During the course of our research, our team has come upon three modifications within the ‘J’ variant. Our goal is to model the ‘J’ to its fullest, so we have decided on airframes AFC571 and subsequent, that includes a pulse doppler function added to the search, acquisition and track modes of the APQ-124 radar.
This will give users the options of using the AIM-9G Sidewinder with the new Sidewinder Extended Acquisition Mode or SEAM, a facility which slews the optics through a search pattern to acquire the target, or allows slaving of the optics to radar!
Christmas Sale!!!
As a reminder, be sure not to miss the DCS 2019 Christmas Sale which includes a whopping 50% discount on our MiG-21bis and 25% discount on our Christen Eagle II modules:
DCS: MiG-21bis
DCS: Christen Eagle II
This is a fine opportunity to add either or both of these aircraft to your own DCS World collection!
See you in the skies!