FS2004 Aircraft Grumman F-14B Tomcat
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Gmax release with virtual cockpit for FS2004.
VF-32 "Swordsmen", VF-102 "Diamondbacks" and VF-103 "Jolly Rogers" high-visibility birds.

CREDITS:
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While I did a lot of job on this project, the Tomcat could not reach this level of detail without the contibution of many talented individuals.
Those fellow simmers and designers kindly provided the results of their efforts for free.
Thanks a lot! 

Jeff Dobbing...........original gmax F-14 geometry
Aaron Swindle..........sound effects
Rob Barengdregt........XML gauges / special effects
Jan Rosenberg..........special effects
FSD group & other......military gauges
Paul Schwerdtfeger.....specific F-14 gauges

Also, most of the gauges you see in my panel are from FSD freeware panels.
Other gauges or files were found on the Internet and are of unknown origin to me.
My apologies to anyone who may have contributed directly or undirectly to the Tomcat and were forgotten in this list.
Last I'd like to thank you all for the support and encouragement I had from your e-mails.

Released on Christmas 2003 to www.flightsim.com and other websites.

INSTALLATION:
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Just unzip on the main FS2004 directory, enabling Winzip to recreate the proper folders.

SPECIAL CONTROLS:
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WING SWEEP AND FLAP CONFIGURATION
F5-F8 contol both flaps and wing sweep.
F5 = maximum sweep and no flaps (supersonic flight configuration) 
F8 = minimum sweep full flap (landing configuration).
F8 then F7 = take off configuration

TAILHOOK
This aircraft features a tailhook.By default, the tailhook HAS NO CONTROL assigned. 
To operate this you should assign a control (keyboard or joystick) in Flight Simulator.
Note that, without external modules, this hook is purely cosmetic.

SPOILERS
To operate from carriers without the help of external modules, this aircraft has "superspoilers".
DO NOT OPERATE the spolier control while flying.
See below for details.

CARRIER OPERATIONS:
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This aircraft is designed to be capable of taking off and landing on flight simulator carriers without any external module.
To properly operate from carriers you should set the weather condition to have 20-30 knots blowing in front of the carrier.
Therefore if the carrier is heading towards North (000) you should set 20-30 knots wind blowing from 000.

TAKE-OFF
Provided you've properly set the wind, you should be able to takeoff from catapult 4 (the one on the extreme left of the deck) with no problem.
Set the takeoff configuration (F8 and then F7), engage brakes, apply full throttle and then release the brakes.
Note: the real F-14B takes off without afterburners, as the accelleration would be so fast that the landing gear cannot retract before the "maxium speed with gear extracted" is reached.

LANDING
To operate without external modules, this aircraft has "superspoiler" that is the spoiler efficiency is fictionally boosted to "stop" the aircraft as soon as the spoiler command is activated.
Approach the deck at 170-180 kts (landing configuration: full flap and minimum sweep -F8- gear and hook extended) - throttle about 30%
As soon as you touch the deck, extend the spoilers for immediate arrest.
Of course this is not what happens in real life...

OPERATING WITH "ARRESTOR CABLES" OR SIMILAR MODULES
If you wish to use this aircraft with external modules for carrier operations, such as Arrestor Cables you may want to exclude the "superspoiler".
To do this, open the "Aircraft.CFG" file with a text editor and change the line "spoiler_limit=1000" to "spoiler_limit=45".
Check the module instructions if you need to do so.


NOTES AND KNOWN ISSUES:
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Nobody is perfect...and you're getting this for free...so please excuse the defects of this package!
Here are the major defects of the package in my opinion:

Outside model
- some light leakage...Shame on me, but the gmax model looks OK. I think it's a rounding problem....
- engine intakes and nozzles are not animated. I'm facing the dreaded "scale error". I should redo the parts in gmax but I do not have time for this.

Virtual cockpit
- 3D levers not animated, see above
- You cannot drag the levers with the mouse...We need to wait for Microsoft to release their new SDK.

Flight model
- While I AM an engineer and a pilot, I've never flown the Tomcat, nor I have enough data to validate a flight model.
  I think that flight behaviour is acceptable, especially between 200 and 400 knots.
  Still you'll have to fly approaches at 180 kts, which is a bit too fast, and you'll have a pretty fast bird over 500 knots...
  Ok, the Turkey is fast...but its acceleration is not this fast!
  Also, performance at hight altitude is not accurate.

Panel
- well, ACMI panel is non functional. Nor the RWR is. Sorry.  

LEGAL STUFF:
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This package is FREEWARE. You cannot make money from this (this includes upload to pay-to-enter sites, commercial CD's and, in general, any from of transmission that involves exchange of money).
NO CHANGES or modifications of any kind to this package are allowed.
This software should not harm your computer - BUT IN ANY CASE I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY for anything that may be caused by (or you think that may be caused by) the usage of this sofware.
If do not accept this or you have any doubt please DO NOT USE THIS software.

LEGAL STUFF FOR REPAINTERS:
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You are encouraged to repaint this aircraft at will, but please follow the conditions below.
- Please distribute the textures only and the relevant instructions to add these to FS9.
- I'd like if you could paint only "real" (non fictional) liveries of F-14B (BRAVO) version only.
  F-14A and F-14D have slight, but significant differences, and are different planes.
  You can find details of "B" versions and paintschemes in many websites, such as "Tomcat Alley".  

FUTURE RELEASES:
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Well, sadly this may be my farewell to the FlightSim community.
My life is getting more and more busy, and both my job and my "private life" are (luckily - I think) leaving very little time to spend on Flight Simulator.
I have several unfinished projects, which may be released in future...Who knows...
Turning the F-14B in an F-14A should not be very difficult. Turning it into F-14D would require slightly more work....who knows.
Last, I have an unfinished Gmax T-2 Buckeye which is coming along very well.
I'm not sure if this is a farewell or a goodbye....In any case, thank you all. 
Flightsimming is really fun. And the flightsim community makes it wonderful.

Dino Cattaneo
[email protected]