Alpha Tornado released!!!

[forthbridge]

:think:

Cheers. I can't seem to get the (FS9) version to pull from the vertical (downwards) in less than about 6000ft, regardless of fuel load, even when the speed is at the bottom end. Interestingly, it seems to have better response with wings fully swept back, but in any case it needs about 9000ftAGL to avoid doing some ploughing at the bottom. Maybe my technique is wrong.....

In the dive of course, speed is building so theoretically the 'curve' gets longer as speed increases.... but it somehow feels very sluggish in this respect compared to other A/C??

Mind you, I can't honestly recall seeing a Tornado doing a loop - perhaps it's not the best airframe for that type of manouvre....

[ukmil]

it is indeed sluggish, but is very capable of doing loops, which i can vouch for, having done a few for real

[forthbridge]

Cheers. Perhaps too much playing with the Typhoon recently.... :drinkers:

On another note, what is the effect of wind on a loop? Better to 'head down' back into the wind or with a tailwind??

[DaveB]

Not that it makes a great deal of difference but I'm sure Duxford ask for FL100 when the Tonka displays. I much prefer the high=G.. low level, reheat stuff anyway ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[forthbridge]

Cheers Dave

Curiously, after some playing I find that a 50% fuel load allows me to flip her into a half-loop at five and a half G - immediately taking flaps and spoilers - but it's scary.... But 10k is the only one that won't turn your backside into a diamond manufacturing plant..... :flying:

[DaveB]

That's a great description and one I've not heard before.. not that I can remember anyway (age you know)

Chris_H posted a useful tip on fuel loading which is as per the Alpha readme (although I've read what Chris posted and NOT the full readme).. this backed up by (poo.. the page won't roll back that far) Scorpion I think which indicates much better performance at lower fuel loading. I'm peeved I've not had a chance to fully explore the model.. something I hope to do over the next few days ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Quixoticish]

Yo Viper ;-)

I've not tried it in FSX yet as FSX has become rather troublesome since the advent of SP2 (faster, smoother but buggier). I'd have thought if it was possible in FS9, it would surely be a 'standard' for FSX. Will install the FSX version and have a looksee ;-)

EDIT..
Viper.. page 3 of the readme.pdf (FSX Notes) states that contrails will always appear at the wings fully out position. No explanation why this is.. just that this is what'll happen

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Dave, the contrails appearing all the time in FSX is because the sim kindly decides to add it's own contrails where it thinks the wingtips are, and this obviously doesn't support swing wings. (It may, I've not delved into the SDK very much and I don't know anyone that has cracked it so far, although hopefully it's only a matter of time!) It is possible to include vortices that move and appear at each stage of the wing sweep as with the FS9 model, but they would be accompanied by the annoyingly "helpful" FSX default contrail that you seemingly can't remove, so it's a case of have one set of contrails in the wrong position on occasion or have two sets of contrails, one that stays in place and one that moves with the wings.

From my own point of view until someone figues out how to switch off the default FSX contrails then I'd sooner have one slightly dodgy looking contrail than two, I don't know if you've ever plonked an FS9 model into FSX but if it has wingtip contrails assigned and FSX adds its own on top the effect is simply awful, and that's with them coming from the same position, so you can imagine how horrendous it would look with them all over the wing.

[forthbridge]

I'm **really** beginning to like this now....

I've been mucking around with a light (around 25%) fuel load, and there's no problem with stalling in tight turns, wings open.

I've been looking at some footage of previous displays at leuchars, and (funnily enough) have JUST noticed (after seeing about every Tornado display there since they arrived) that when they are put into a tight turn wings back, the pilot moves them forward almost immediately...

So, me being me, I had a go at the 'standard' Leuchars fast arrival before turning downwind sharpish before landing.

(I've no idea what speed they come in at in real life) - but I came in at 300 feet and 390kts, wings back. As I passed over the cross runway, a quick 'bunt' of the nose to about 3 degrees and a hard left turn, immediately moving to mid sweep, and killing the throttles. Speed was down to 200 kts as I was 75% through the turn, and I put the wings forward fully, flaps out and kick the throttles in to maintain a steady 180kts as I stabilised downwind at 1000 feet.

I'm as convinced as I can be that this at least (in the absence of knowing what real life speeds and display fuel qty is) that this aspect at least is reasonably accurate and not difficult to replicate.

I'm finding that moves need to be planned, more so that a lot of A/C, but it seems to be handling quite well.

What I still can't grasp is where the handling goes when heading straight down, it does loop, but it has all the handling characteristics of a brick when you pull back!!!

Time for some fast and slow stuff now methinks.....how high can I get her over the North sea?? :flying:

[SkippyBing]

how high can I get her over the North sea??

In a Tornado? Not very!

[forthbridge]

FL580 where it turned like a hovercraft and had all the thrust of a leaking balloon.

Incidentally, top speed in the clean is not very impressive either. Can the F3 get to Mach2? What am I doing wrong?