This is an aircraft mod and texture pack for FSX/P3D featuring different FA-18 C/D models and versions. The project started as a feature port of Jimi's 'New FSXBA Hornet' to the default FSX FA-18 and the CaptainSim Xload addon, thus effects, FCS, hud, gauges etc. are based on these modifications. Note: For best visual experience FSX or P3D (v1.4) recommended.
Texture packs are based on many repaints I have found over the years on the net and which I adjusted to suit my personal flavour and make them as realistic as I could to the best of my knowledge - some are fictional, but I found them too nice not to be included. So credits go to all the other modders/repainters out there, too. I have also created a bunch of additional textures completely new which you may discover. Maximum resolution of texture schemes is 1024x1024 px, which looks very good even on large HD monitors and in zoom mode. This is in order to facilitate as high as possible and smooth fps during maneuvers and at high speeds even on mid-range systems, so please do not expect some uber-realistic high resolution stuff down to every nut, bolt and screw.
Main emphasis of this mod has been and will be trying to mimic dynamic flight behaviour and the FCS of a legacy hornet as best as possible within the current limitations of the sim. Parameters in the '.air' and '.cfg' files are tweaked to the best of my limited knowledge, based on technical specifications, written experiences and with lots of feedback and help of people from this forum. I hope this mod will be fun to fly and you may enjoy it as much as I did putting it together. The project is pursued for recreational purposes, thus a varying amount of time and effort may go into it which will most likely result in a rather erratic sequence of changes/improvements.
All mods and variants FS(C), CS(D) and NH(C/D) have similar flight characteristics depending on loadout/configuration. Animations like flaps, etc. may differ due to limitations of underlying model files respectively control surfaces. Aircraft and texture mods are made available separately, in order to facilitate the adjustment of flight characteristics and improvement of textures. Uncompressed all four mods including textures will currently require in total about 5.1 GB of free drive space. Download sizes however will be considerably smaller due to high compression ratios, especially for the texture schemes. Denomination of the mod's airplane models/variants is unique, so you can easily keep them side by side with default FSX FA-18, CaptainSim Xload addon and/or Jimi's 'New FSXBA Hornet'. For installation instructions, please check the included readme files of each mod.
Download: Mod version 2.3 for Flight Simulator X (FS) Hornet and CaptainSim (CS) Xload addon.
Required: Flight Simulator X 'FA-18' from Acceleration Pack and/or CaptainSim Xload addon.
(FS) FA-18C airplane mod:- airplane_v2.3.0_FA-18C_FS.7z:
http://www18.zippyshare.com/v/Wh7CLCSO/file.htmlTexture pack, for (FS) FA-18C airplane mod (extract textures into corresponding airplane folder):
- textures_v2.3.0_FA-18C_FS.7z:
http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/AxQ7IUmp/file.htmlUpdate for FA-18C_FS mod:
- update_v2.3.2_FA-18C_FS.zip:
http://www65.zippyshare.com/v/FTFJuH2k/file.html- update_v2.3.3_FA-18C_FS.7z:
http://www39.zippyshare.com/v/5AWGmMlp/file.html (optional/alternative sound effects)
(CS) FA-18D airplane mod:- airplane_v2.3.0_FA-18D_CS.7z:
http://www58.zippyshare.com/v/v0lcKrVW/file.htmlTexture pack, for (CS) FA-18D airplane mod (extract textures into corresponding airplane folder):
- textures_v2.3.0_FA-18D_CS.7z:
http://www48.zippyshare.com/v/GcbKF91I/file.htmlUpdate for FA-18D_CS mod:
- update_v2.3.2_FA-18D_CS.zip:
http://www98.zippyshare.com/v/BRD3Bgx5/file.html- update_v2.3.3_FA-18D_CS.7z:
http://www104.zippyshare.com/v/bHze8E7A/file.html (optional/alternative sound effects)
List of textures for (FS) and (CS) versions:
-texture.BRA-NA_N-1012
-texture.CHF-AF_J-5009
-texture.CHF-AF_J-5011
-texture.CHF-AF_J-5017
-texture.CHF-AF_J-5018
-texture.CHF-AF_J-5238
-texture.ESP-AF_C15-78
-texture.ESP-AF_CE15-7
-texture.FIN-AF_HN-465
-texture.Hornet_Prototype1
-texture.Hornet_Prototype2
-texture.Hornet_Test
-texture.KWT-AF_425
-texture.MYS-AF_M45-01
-texture.NASA_HARV_ANSER
-texture.NASA_HARV_SATFV
-texture.NASA_TestPlane_846
-texture.NASA_TestPlane_852
-texture.NASA_X53AAW
-texture.NASA_YF-17
-texture.RAAF_A21-08
-texture.RAAF_A21-103
-texture.RAAF_A21-105
-texture.RAAF_A21-117
-texture.RAAF_A21-26
-texture.RCAF_409-761
-texture.RCAF_409-765
-texture.RCAF_409-796
-texture.RCAF_410-719
-texture.RCAF_410-720
-texture.RCAF_410-906
-texture.RCAF_410-918
-texture.RCAF_416-789
-texture.RCAF_425-703
-texture.RCAF_425-711
-texture.RCAF_425-738
-texture.RCAF_425-745
-texture.RCAF_425-751
-texture.RCAF_431-009
-texture.RCAF_433-730
-texture.RCAF_440-747
-texture.RCAF_441-740
-texture.RCAF_AETE-907
-texture.USMC_VMFA-112_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-112_10
-texture.USMC_VMFA-115_200
-texture.USMC_VMFA-115_201
-texture.USMC_VMFA-122_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-122_02
-texture.USMC_VMFA-142_209
-texture.USMC_VMFA-212_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-232_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-232_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-232_300
-texture.USMC_VMFA-251_200
-texture.USMC_VMFA-251_202
-texture.USMC_VMFA-312_200
-texture.USMC_VMFA-312_205
-texture.USMC_VMFA-314_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-314_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-314_10
-texture.USMC_VMFA-314_202
-texture.USMC_VMFA-323_200
-texture.USMC_VMFA-323_202
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-121_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-224_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-225_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-225_10
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-225_200
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-332_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-533_00
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-533_01
-texture.USMC_VMFA-AW-533_100
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_200
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_220
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_222
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_233
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_237
-texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_241
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_1
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_2
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_3
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_4
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_5
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_6
-texture.USN_BlueAngels_7
-texture.USN_NAWCTSD
-texture.USN_NSAWC_11
-texture.USN_NSAWC_35
-texture.USN_NSAWC_46
-texture.USN_NSAWC_N-1000
-texture.USN_TestPilotSchool
-texture.USN_VFA-102_200
-texture.USN_VFA-103_200
-texture.USN_VFA-103_201
-texture.USN_VFA-103_202
-texture.USN_VFA-105_400
-texture.USN_VFA-105_411
-texture.USN_VFA-106_300
-texture.USN_VFA-106_334
-texture.USN_VFA-106_335
-texture.USN_VFA-106_400
-texture.USN_VFA-106_405
-texture.USN_VFA-106_45
-texture.USN_VFA-115_200
-texture.USN_VFA-11_100
-texture.USN_VFA-122_25
-texture.USN_VFA-122_52
-texture.USN_VFA-125_400
-texture.USN_VFA-125_401
-texture.USN_VFA-131_400
-texture.USN_VFA-132_300
-texture.USN_VFA-137_400
-texture.USN_VFA-143_100
-texture.USN_VFA-143_101
-texture.USN_VFA-143_202
-texture.USN_VFA-146_300
-texture.USN_VFA-146_302
-texture.USN_VFA-14_200
-texture.USN_VFA-151_300
-texture.USN_VFA-15_301
-texture.USN_VFA-192_300
-texture.USN_VFA-195_400
-texture.USN_VFA-195_401
-texture.USN_VFA-204_01
-texture.USN_VFA-204_403
-texture.USN_VFA-25_400
-texture.USN_VFA-27_200
-texture.USN_VFA-34_204
-texture.USN_VFA-37_200
-texture.USN_VFA-37_300
-texture.USN_VFA-41_100
-texture.USN_VFA-82_300
-texture.USN_VFA-83_300
-texture.USN_VFA-83_301
-texture.USN_VFA-84_104
-texture.USN_VFA-94_400
-texture.USN_VFA-97_200
-texture.USN_VFC-12_10
-texture.USN_VFC-12_14
-texture.USN_VFC-12_23
-texture.USN_VFC-13_06
-texture.USN_VFC-13_12
-texture.USN_VX-30_200
-texture.USN_VX-31_5210
-texture.USN_VX-31_5212
Download: Mod version 2.3 based on Jimi's 'New FSXBA Hornet' (NH) version.
These mods combine different model files C/D and configurations (fleet & BA): AIM, BA, Clean, GBU, Mav, Train, Zuni.
(NH) FA-18C airplane mod:(NH) FA-18D airplane mod:Combined v2.3.3 download link for both C/D mods, thanks to 'Azframer':
http://www.mediafire.com/file/x54t7ml6k911m6b/FA-18_C_D.zipList of textures for (NH) C/D versions:
-Texture.CHF-AF_J-5002
-Texture.ESP-AF_C15-95
-Texture.FIN-AF_HN-419
-Texture.Hornet_Prototype1
-Texture.Hornet_Prototype2
-Texture.Hornet_Test
-Texture.NASA_HARV_ANSER
-Texture.NASA_TestPlane_852
-Texture.NASA_X53_AAW
-Texture.RAAF_A21-23
-Texture.RCAF_409-747
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-225_01
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-251_200
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-251_411
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-333_07
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-333_12
-Texture.USMC_VMFA-333_15
-Texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_12
-Texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_200
-Texture.USMC_VMFAT-101_222
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_1
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_2
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_3
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_4
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_5
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_6
-Texture.USN_BlueAngels_7
-Texture.USN_VFA-27_200
-Texture.USN_VFA-27_202
-Texture.USN_VFA-27_203
-Texture.USN_VFA-27_220
-Texture.USN_VFA-136_300
-Texture.USN_VFA-136_302
-Texture.USN_VFA-192_300
-Texture.USN_VFA-192_305
-Texture.USN_VFA-195_400
-Texture.USN_VFA-204_01
-Texture.USN_VFC-12_06
-Texture.USN_VFC-12_10
Hanimichal was so kind to release a nice paint kit for the 'New FSXBA Hornet', which you can find here:
http://www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=5igml7o8t6atmkmepmte2oadm4&topic=6944.465General changelog of things worth mentioning:
textures: corrected small details, e.g. (consistent throughout the texture package where appropriate)
- weapons and fuel contact points
- tank structures and color
- added lights where missing
- turbine intakes & exhausts
- corrected insignia placement
- slats and flaps color adjusted where needed
- corrected bump and specular maps
- corrected canopy colors where appropriate
- new tweaked hud glass, looks more realistic
- minor color adjustment to make contours visible
- corrected ladder and spill ducts textures
Flight behavior is tweaked and is an ongoing effort trying to mimic the FCS of the legacy hornet as best to my limited knowledge within the current boundaries of the sim. It is done in conjunction with Jimi's Pitch_Auto_Trim logic and Orion's Autoflaps.dll, including G-Limiters and additional AoA-Limiters enforcing a general flight envelope, preventing the airplane from spinning out of control during certain maneuvers.
aircraft.cfg - a lot of big and small changes, just to mention a few:
- aircraft moments of inertia adjusted
- empty weight CG position changed
- airplane balance adjusted, in conjunction with pitch auto trim
- wing_span: corrected for fsx definition of wing_span
- wing_twist corrected
- wing_incidence adjusted
- vtail_area corrected
- elevator_area corrected
- flaps position values corrected including span-outboard values (realistic visualization only with Jimi's 'New FSXBA Hornet' version, although flight dynamics are working correctly for old FSX/CS addon versions too, movements of flaps are not being visualized in all positions correctly)
- turbine engine data adjusted
- contact points modified
- station_load's: gun added and WSO for D version
- weight and balance values adjusted
.air file (compared to out of the box fsx version)
- rudder/aileron deflection function changed
- thrust vector function changed
- drag values adjusted
- various functions and values tweaked
- sideslip due to bank angle reduced
Suggestions and feedback are always welcome.