Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Sept 23, 2020 3:52:26 GMT
After what can possibly best be described as "3 months of absolute frustration" .... I've finally, and successfully, completed FDE modifications for our entire military C-135 flight line.
I need to impress upon everyone that whilst we've previously acknowledged the FDE's for these simulations have, prior to now, been "bad/NOT GOOD AT ALL" the reason for this's because .... (1) there's things we've learned to do now that we didn't know how to do previously (all those years ago) .... and (2) not one of these C-135 simulations have been subjected to any FDE attention/upgrading "since 2004/5 and beyond what was deemed necessary to ensure our B707 panel line worked properly with each one of them. As I earlier today stated ..... within another posting .... "FDE work is the most frustrating, and time consuming, aspect of FS development. One has to be in mood to do it (since it requires a great deal of motivation and commitment) .... simply because one can't anticipate some of the problems one might encounter .... until one actually encounters them .... or decides what methods need to be applied in order to correct issues .... or how long these resolutions are going to take to resolve once upgrading is commenced" .... THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS
ANYWAY ....
It's all "DONE" now, but, due to another "associated and still developing" project .... with a "SURPRISE" attached to it .... we won't be releasing this complete upgraded project immediately, but rather, we intend releasing it as part of "this other associated project" and its "SURPRISE". Therefore .... and save for the additional/new military C-135 aircraft base pack already recently released .... along with one (only) of these latest and recently upgraded C-135 aircraft base packs which is required to support some of the new military C-135 textures included within our next website update .... we'll release the remainder of these files "a little later on". As I keep saying .... "PATIENCE WILL BE REWARDING" .... and .... the forthcoming supporting "SURPRISE" will/should make the delays well worthwhile to ultimately become "the icing on the cake".
As I've previously hinted .... the greatest improvements applied to these military C-135 simulations have been focused on the following details ....
1. Correcting/improving the static ground pitch of each individual subject. Most of these models were inclined to pitch down excessively at the nose, and whilst there's still some "very minor" evidence of this among a few of these simulations any remaining evidence of this issue is now by no means as acute as it was previously. It must be remembered these are quite old models now, but, most of these models are also still, to date, "the only versions of these aircraft available for FS", so at the end of the day, they are what they are .... given it'd require an entirely new model line to be able to address every single issue with the absolute perfection that even we, ourselves, would otherwise like to be able to offer .... but which .... and for a multitude of reasons .... is entirely beyond our control given a newer model line simply "IS NOT" possible or practical. During our overhauling of these FDE's we also discovered this static ground pitch issue/s were largely influenced by how one opts to load these simulations to start with .... and which still needs to be born in mind .... but .... we've greatly improved, if not totally resolved, this particular issue for by fat the greater majority of these models.
2. The flight performance of some of these military C-135 simulations has previously been suspect/a major issue too .... with some being "grossly over powered" and to the point where their performance/s were "ridiculous" .... whilst others cruised with way too high a pitch attitude. This's now been "TOTALLY RESOLVED" .... for each individual subject .... and which required hours of testing, with different solutions being assessed in order to achieve the best result/s given, in FDE work, there's seldom, if ever, a one fix type of solution for applicable to everything .... each simulation needs to be assessed individually and the best solution customised for it and which is precisely what's been done.
3. I've commented a couple of times already in regard to this next detail .... and do so again only in order to reconfirm the fact. The landing pitch attitude for almost every one of these military C-135 simulations has, prior to now, previously been "TERRIBLE" .... to say the very least. They mostly each approached to land with way too high a pitch attitude. An approach to landing AI pitch ranging from between -1* to +0* degrees for C-135/B707/B720 type aircraft should be considered "normal" .... until the flare for landing (about +2* degrees from around 10 FT prior to landing) with full flaps, full payload, and no more than 20% total fuel remaining .... and never a +1* through +2* (and more) degree AI pitch attitude all the way down and which has resulted in RWY visibility being seriously "impaired/obscured" throughout the entirety of any approach to landing. All fixed now though .... but .... it must also be stressed that the fidelity of any approach will still depend upon how well one/the end user actually manages and flies any such approach to landing. Too much power/speed will encourage the nose to drift "down", .... insufficient power/speed will encourage the nose to drift "up" .... therefore aided by the correct/a sensible landing weight and approach to landing airspeed (just good management to put it all bluntly) one needs to find "the happy medium" .... and which is still something akin to "a balancing act" (just remember the technology used to fly these aircraft isn't/wasn't the latest AIRBUS or BOEING type in origin so don't expect such performance .... one must there fly these simulations for the most part and think, recognize what's happening, and stay ahead of any developing situation in order to fly them well .... and which although complex isn't difficult). Adding a bit of wind gust effect into any landing equation is an an absolute guarantee of "FUN"
4. Quite a number of other improvements have additionally been applied to each of these military C-135 simulations too (and which are also benefiting the B707's/B720's as well), but, given the "highly technical" nature of these adjustments I'm not going to bother explaining them .... since most simply wouldn't understand (if FDE work was easy then everyone would be able to do it and indeed be dong it, but, which simply isn't the case) .... so .... "just take my word for it" when I say those whom have enjoy/ed flying these C-135 simulations to date (despite their issues) .... and in particular those whom wanted to get a bit more enjoyment out of them but possibly felt disadvantaged due to the state of their supporting FDE's .... should both be "VERY WELL SATISFIED" once we do re-release this flight line.
Presenting imagery of each one of of these "GREATLY IMPROVED" simulations would require and imposing amount of time effort, so instead, I'm posting just a few images only (I may add more later .... we'll just have to wait'n'see) .... of a nature that reveal some of the above stated improvements and in relation to my above commentary ....
STATIC GROUND PITCH
LANDING PITCH
LANDING PITCH PANEL VIEW
B367-80 (day & night lighting)
B7071959 (day & night lighting)
B707 1965 (day & night lighting)
B707 1970 (day & night lighting)
This modification project has been made possible by the efforts of George CARTY, Mike MONCE, and Benoit PLAMONDON (HJG's in-house and behind the scenes development team). This modification project might never have come to fruition though if it weren't for the positive influence/s of Erik INGRAM.
I'd therefore just like to say .... "THANKS" to all 4 of you
Mark C
AKL/NZ
I need to impress upon everyone that whilst we've previously acknowledged the FDE's for these simulations have, prior to now, been "bad/NOT GOOD AT ALL" the reason for this's because .... (1) there's things we've learned to do now that we didn't know how to do previously (all those years ago) .... and (2) not one of these C-135 simulations have been subjected to any FDE attention/upgrading "since 2004/5 and beyond what was deemed necessary to ensure our B707 panel line worked properly with each one of them. As I earlier today stated ..... within another posting .... "FDE work is the most frustrating, and time consuming, aspect of FS development. One has to be in mood to do it (since it requires a great deal of motivation and commitment) .... simply because one can't anticipate some of the problems one might encounter .... until one actually encounters them .... or decides what methods need to be applied in order to correct issues .... or how long these resolutions are going to take to resolve once upgrading is commenced" .... THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS
ANYWAY ....
It's all "DONE" now, but, due to another "associated and still developing" project .... with a "SURPRISE" attached to it .... we won't be releasing this complete upgraded project immediately, but rather, we intend releasing it as part of "this other associated project" and its "SURPRISE". Therefore .... and save for the additional/new military C-135 aircraft base pack already recently released .... along with one (only) of these latest and recently upgraded C-135 aircraft base packs which is required to support some of the new military C-135 textures included within our next website update .... we'll release the remainder of these files "a little later on". As I keep saying .... "PATIENCE WILL BE REWARDING" .... and .... the forthcoming supporting "SURPRISE" will/should make the delays well worthwhile to ultimately become "the icing on the cake".
As I've previously hinted .... the greatest improvements applied to these military C-135 simulations have been focused on the following details ....
1. Correcting/improving the static ground pitch of each individual subject. Most of these models were inclined to pitch down excessively at the nose, and whilst there's still some "very minor" evidence of this among a few of these simulations any remaining evidence of this issue is now by no means as acute as it was previously. It must be remembered these are quite old models now, but, most of these models are also still, to date, "the only versions of these aircraft available for FS", so at the end of the day, they are what they are .... given it'd require an entirely new model line to be able to address every single issue with the absolute perfection that even we, ourselves, would otherwise like to be able to offer .... but which .... and for a multitude of reasons .... is entirely beyond our control given a newer model line simply "IS NOT" possible or practical. During our overhauling of these FDE's we also discovered this static ground pitch issue/s were largely influenced by how one opts to load these simulations to start with .... and which still needs to be born in mind .... but .... we've greatly improved, if not totally resolved, this particular issue for by fat the greater majority of these models.
2. The flight performance of some of these military C-135 simulations has previously been suspect/a major issue too .... with some being "grossly over powered" and to the point where their performance/s were "ridiculous" .... whilst others cruised with way too high a pitch attitude. This's now been "TOTALLY RESOLVED" .... for each individual subject .... and which required hours of testing, with different solutions being assessed in order to achieve the best result/s given, in FDE work, there's seldom, if ever, a one fix type of solution for applicable to everything .... each simulation needs to be assessed individually and the best solution customised for it and which is precisely what's been done.
3. I've commented a couple of times already in regard to this next detail .... and do so again only in order to reconfirm the fact. The landing pitch attitude for almost every one of these military C-135 simulations has, prior to now, previously been "TERRIBLE" .... to say the very least. They mostly each approached to land with way too high a pitch attitude. An approach to landing AI pitch ranging from between -1* to +0* degrees for C-135/B707/B720 type aircraft should be considered "normal" .... until the flare for landing (about +2* degrees from around 10 FT prior to landing) with full flaps, full payload, and no more than 20% total fuel remaining .... and never a +1* through +2* (and more) degree AI pitch attitude all the way down and which has resulted in RWY visibility being seriously "impaired/obscured" throughout the entirety of any approach to landing. All fixed now though .... but .... it must also be stressed that the fidelity of any approach will still depend upon how well one/the end user actually manages and flies any such approach to landing. Too much power/speed will encourage the nose to drift "down", .... insufficient power/speed will encourage the nose to drift "up" .... therefore aided by the correct/a sensible landing weight and approach to landing airspeed (just good management to put it all bluntly) one needs to find "the happy medium" .... and which is still something akin to "a balancing act" (just remember the technology used to fly these aircraft isn't/wasn't the latest AIRBUS or BOEING type in origin so don't expect such performance .... one must there fly these simulations for the most part and think, recognize what's happening, and stay ahead of any developing situation in order to fly them well .... and which although complex isn't difficult). Adding a bit of wind gust effect into any landing equation is an an absolute guarantee of "FUN"
4. Quite a number of other improvements have additionally been applied to each of these military C-135 simulations too (and which are also benefiting the B707's/B720's as well), but, given the "highly technical" nature of these adjustments I'm not going to bother explaining them .... since most simply wouldn't understand (if FDE work was easy then everyone would be able to do it and indeed be dong it, but, which simply isn't the case) .... so .... "just take my word for it" when I say those whom have enjoy/ed flying these C-135 simulations to date (despite their issues) .... and in particular those whom wanted to get a bit more enjoyment out of them but possibly felt disadvantaged due to the state of their supporting FDE's .... should both be "VERY WELL SATISFIED" once we do re-release this flight line.
Presenting imagery of each one of of these "GREATLY IMPROVED" simulations would require and imposing amount of time effort, so instead, I'm posting just a few images only (I may add more later .... we'll just have to wait'n'see) .... of a nature that reveal some of the above stated improvements and in relation to my above commentary ....
STATIC GROUND PITCH
LANDING PITCH
LANDING PITCH PANEL VIEW
B367-80 (day & night lighting)
B7071959 (day & night lighting)
B707 1965 (day & night lighting)
B707 1970 (day & night lighting)
This modification project has been made possible by the efforts of George CARTY, Mike MONCE, and Benoit PLAMONDON (HJG's in-house and behind the scenes development team). This modification project might never have come to fruition though if it weren't for the positive influence/s of Erik INGRAM.
I'd therefore just like to say .... "THANKS" to all 4 of you
Mark C
AKL/NZ
