F/A-18E "Super Warrior" mod + TopGun carriers 4.67/5

Experimental project of F/A-18 Super Hornet upgrade. You will get AA radar with combat simulation, additional visual effects, carrier operations compatibility and external fuel tanks. Some of these features are experimental and may not work as expected. No external tools required - everything...

F/A-18E "Super Warrior" mod + TopGun carriers Video

Microsoft Flight Simulator © Microsoft Corporation. F/A-18 "Super Warrior" MSFS add-on was created under Microsoft’s “Game Content Usage Rules” using assets from Microsoft Flight Simulator, and it is not endorsed by or affiliated with Microsoft.

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers/rules

If you want to submit some issue, please check ROADMAP tab with known issues. Feel free to provide additonal information if you found any.
Will be nice if you'll ensure that same problem does not happen with stock F/A-18. Reports of original ASOBO issues can be submit here:
https://flightsimulator.zendesk.com

SU10Beta KNOWN ISSUES: DDI indication partially working, unwanted text displayed on HUD/HMD

Roadmap of the project:

First stage is passed - visual effects added like vortex trails, vapor cone, exhaust and aerobatics smoke.

Second - simplified catapult and arrestors functionality. Done.

Next fully working catapult - in cooperation with Photosbykev and 270inc we are making aircraft carrier with trained crew and detailed procedures. But it's not only about specific carrier - you can summon crew on any other carrier or even runway. You are scenery developer? Just insert required simobjects into your carrier scenery and you are eady to launch!

The reason for the project name - AA radar with gun assistant for close combat training simulation. Can you shoot down someone? We'll see.

And last - tailhook and arrestors again with precise hook-cable collision calculation, which will make many of you happy (or angry).

Bonus features:

External fuel tanks by LordFrites

Unique flight model by DakFly of Top Mach Studios, LLC!

Top Gun carrier package with crew built by SpacerPlay

v1 features

wingtip vortices effect (respect folded wings)
leading edge vortices effect
vapor cone (sonic barrier)
engine exhaust (affected by afterburner)
aerobatics smoke (white only, can be toggled by LOGO LIGHT hotkey or cockpit switch on right panel)
engine heat appear only on working engines
native contrails disabled

v2 features

automatic afterburner
AOA indicator also activated by tailhook
simplified arresting process (tailhook handle, front-right panel)
simplified catapult launch process (launchbar switch, front-left panel)
dedicated smoke switch

v3 development version

animated catapult crew

v4 features

Carrier Ops - USS Enterprise is required for catapult work
mod separated into additional aircraft
two catapult launch modes - simple (anywhere) and procedural (supported aircraft carriers)
fuel, lights, aerodynamics fixes
visual efects tweaked
ILS

v5 features

AA radar
HUD targets designation
combat training mode

v6 features

arresting wires
catapult crew and jet blast deflector animation triggered when other player using catapult
doesn't work relly well - animation may reset even before launch, sometimes animation not trigger at all

v7 features

animated canopy
external fuel tanks with jettison animation
helmet mounted display
dynamic heat blur effects (each nozzle and APU)
accurate arresting wires animation
cockpit pilot model
custom flight model by Top Mach Studios, LLC and DakFly

v10 features

support of native tailhook and launchbar variables
test Top Gun DLC carriers - anchored and moving
on-screen OLS indication

Tutorials and reviews

MSFS F/A-18 TACAN & ILS carrier landing (USS Enterprise)

MSFS F/A-18 AA Radar & Combat Simulation

MSFS aircraft carrier bad/good landings with comments

MSFS F/A-18 External Fuel Tanks tutorial

MSFS F/A-18 Helmet Mounted Display tutorial

Byemoonmen - F/A-18E and Working Carrier with Catapult and Arresting Gear

Pilot Studd - REALISTIC Carrier Mod + F18 MOD | MSFS Addons

P Gatcomb - MSFS - F-18 Autopilot and Navigation Tutorial (not about SW mod, but still very helpful)

How to install

Unpack pbk-carrier-crew from Carrier Ops - USS Enterprise package for catapult functionality (optional but recommended for ultimate experience).

Install Top Gun DLC by MSFS Marketplace (freeware), if you want to have ASOBO's aircraft carriers (optional).

Unpack touchingcloud-aircraft-fa18e-sw into Community folder, main aircraft (required)

Unpack touchingcloud-test-moving-carrier and touchingcloud-test-static-carrier into Community folder, excersire ASOBO's carriers near Wallops (optional, details in the gallery)

How to uninstall

Delete touchingcloud-aircraft-fa18e-sw, touchingcloud-test-moving-carrier, touchingcloud-test-static-carrier from Community folder

FlightSim limitations

Current version of the sim supports carriers with limitations. Arresting wires animation is poor, wires not textures properly, launchbar and tailhook sometimes not respond to the pilot actions, aircraft sink under the deck if you trying to slew on it - you can report such issues but in some cases we can't do anything with it rather than wait for future MSFS updates.
Also ensure you have disabled autopilot and engine assistances or you will not get enough speed by catapult.

Compatibility with other mods and LIVERIES

Since v4.0 Super Warrior became separate aircraft, custom liveries made special for stock F/A-18 Super Hornet will no longer work. You can apply quick fix by changing

base_container = "..\Asobo_FA18E"

base_container = "..\Asobo_FA18E_SW"

in aircraft.cfg file inside of livery folder.

Since v7 you also need to point livery textures fallback file to SW textures folder, where fuel tanks texture stored:

1. open livery texture.CFG file(s) with text editor
2. after last line, like
fallback.6=..\..\..\..\texture\Glass
add
fallback.7=..\..\Asobo_FA18E_SW\texture

If you are a livery artist, you can make an additional folder with another aircraft.cfg where Warrior ID is used, textures should be linked with the folder of main livery. Feel free to contact me if you have any problems adjusting your livery for this mod.

Remember that modded aircraft is not compatible with any of official events - Landing Challenges, Races etc. If you wish to participate, choose stock F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Any mods that altering CFGs (like fuel system tweaks) or XML (custom models) files are NOT COMPATIBLE. But you can try to move changed values manually.

How to adjust or disable visual effects

Parameters for all custom effectes stored in \Community\touchingcloud-aircraft-fa18e-sw\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_FA18E_SW\model\FA18E_FX.xml file

To disable exhaust effect for example, open FA18E_FX.xml in text editor (like Notepad or Notepad++) and find EXHAUST_FAR. Below replace

(A:ENG N1 RPM:1, percent) (A:ENG N1 RPM:2, percent) + 40 >

with

so long trail of exhaust will never appear (most FPS consuming).

To disable aerobatics smoke (both for you and other players) replace

(A:LIGHT LOGO:1, Bool) (A:LIGHT LOGO ON:1, Bool) or (A:SMOKE ENABLE, bool) or

with

If you are familiar with XML/RPM coding you can adjust effect appearance modifiers. They are stored inside of and control the size/transparency of the effects.

Sadly, we still have no HUMIDITY sim variable so vortices/vapor modifiers use only temperature, precipitation level and fact of your presence inside of clouds, water reservoirs below you, which makes their appearance very inaccurate.

Automatic afterburner

After you set throttle lever(s) to 100% afterburner will be enabled automatically. Ensure your joystick calibrated properly, just in case it never reach 100%.

As usual, when thorttle level less than 80% - afterburner goes out.

If you want to disable this feature, open in text editor file Community\touchingcloud-aircraft-fa18e-sw\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_FA18E_SW\model\FA18E_cockpit.xml and find near to bottom of document these lines:

(L:XMLVAR_LastAB1ThrottleSet,number) 1 == (A:TURB ENG AFTERBURNER:1, bool) ! and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER1) }
(L:XMLVAR_LastAB2ThrottleSet,number) 1 == (A:TURB ENG AFTERBURNER:2, bool) ! and if{ (>K:TOGGLE_AFTERBURNER2) }

Remove both, restart the game.

For unknown reasons, sometimes afterburner effect does not appear. In this case press afterburner shortkey once, effect should appear properly during the flight after that.Afterburner suppressed before carrier launch, but will be unlocked right after launch initiated.

Fuel system

Original fuel system reworked to fit F/A-18E documentation. It is still not accurate and is missing a lot of details - balance fuel lines, dual speed motors, emergency gravity transfers and valves, fueldump. Babysteps in other words.

Shot description of current fuel system:

Fuel tank 2 (LFD) and Fuel tank 3 (RFD) are engine feed tanks. If one runs out of fuel - the relative engine will die. Crossfeed valve not configured yet.

Fuel tank 1 (TK1) and Fuel tank 4 (TK4) transfer fuel into LFD and RFD (4 fuel lines in total) when the level of fuel in feed tanks drops lower than 2100lbs. So during flight you will see how fuel level goes up and down in feed tanks. Also TK1 and TK4 have balancing lines to compensate for fuel level differency in them.

Left wing fuel tank (L WG) and Right wing fuel tank (R WG) transfer fuel into TK4 by ejector pumps when it is not full. Fuel pumps are slow so it is normal if TK4 level drop for a while (usually during transfer into TK2 and TK3)

Minor change - afterburner fuel consumption coefficient increased to 1.65 (still lower than documented number - 1.850).

3 external fuel tanks available - centerline, left inboard and right inboard, 480 gallons each. Tanks appear only if fuel amount set.
You can jettison tanks manually, just select rewuired tanks and press JETT button: MSFS F/A-18 External Fuel Tanks tutorial

Flight model

Only MODERN flight model supported by this mod. If you have permanent stalling issues - highly likely flight model option in settings set to Legacy, please change it to Modern.

Full list of changes by DakFly:

Lower / more realistic ground stance (adjusted landing gear values).
More stable low and intermediate speed taxi handling with level attitude during taxi turns.
Better yaw and ground track handling during takeoffs and landings (reduced tippy plane issue).
Corrected on ground yaw counter-control effect during takeoff / landings (eliminated non-functioning auto-yaw-damper)
Engine thrust (dry and afterburning) spec'd much closer to real world published numbers.
Fuel consumption now much closer to real world specs. Range of approx. 1250+ nm at cruise with a "clean" aircraft. No supercruise possible.
Cruise drag and lift values modified to approximate real world performance. Acceleration at 10800m from M0.8 to M1.6 now matches published specs (slightly less than 2 minutes).
Low altitude (sea level) maximum Mach is now slightly above M1 (matches real world specs).
1G flight envelope now more closely approximates real-world test data for a "clean" aircraft.
Approach / Landing target speeds now match real world (8 degrees aoa approach angle, approx. 120 knots final approach at fuel level of around 1200kg).
Roll rate increased to closer to real world spec (225 dps max) - can now reach around 210 dps at intermediate altitudes
Limited angle of attack to 21 degrees aoa to maintain pitch control throughout flight envelope (aircraft no longer stalls or rolls off unexpectedly).
Yaw stability improved to provide more stable roll entry and exit (less nose waggle) esp. at low speeds.
Corrected total internal fuel value.
Slight improvements to high altitude wing rocking/wiggling phenomenon (a consequence of the Asobo FBW system) and less rolling control reversal at low altitude when exiting prolonged rolling maneuvers.
Increased max G limit and pitch authority to allow a typical max G of up to 7.3 to 7.5 positive and -3 negative (in some circumstances G may reach up to 8.0).
Increased pitch stability to reduce jerky pitch responses and smooths out pitch sensitivity when making aggressive pitch movements.
Restored spoileron capability for low speed roll control improvements.
Increased wheel brake strength / power to improve landing distances (real world at low fuel weights, aircraft should stop from touchdown in about 2000 feet (610m))
Corrected auto-flap behavior - flaps deploy and retract at target speeds.**

**Autoflaps can and should be used for all phases of flight - no need to set manual flaps, if desired.

Aircraft carriers

Package contains two types of Asobo's carriers - anchored and moving.

Anchored can be found near Wallops, it has ICAO TGST and working ILS (108.5) with TACAN (x27). Also you can activate onscreen OLS indication by requesting approach to TGST by ATC menu.

Moving carriers are placed all over the world - you can find them by typing "TopGun" into World Map search box. Each carrier group has static POI which indicated spawn point. Once you fly away from the spawn point about ~200km carrier group will return into initial position. Moving carriers does not have ICAO, ILS or TACAN available. The only guidance you will have are OLS lights attached to the carrier and onscreen OLS indication, if you are close enough and tailhook is deployed.

How to use catapult

Procedural launch from aircraft carrier with crew installed

start the flight (or land) on one of the supported aircraft carriers where crew already presented
ensure that launchbar switch DISABLED
find crew officer giving you signals
taxii to his direction following signals (left - forward - right)
when you get close to shuttle he will give you stop signal
make full stop and enable launchbar switch
disable parking brake if you engaged it
wait until shooter (on your left) will give you spin up signal
increase throttle to maximum, about 10 seconds later launch will be initiated
after you fly away 500m from catapult, crew will be reset and can be used again

Quick launch from runway or carrier without crew installed (tutorial by simvol.org)

prepare for take off - on the runway or any aircraft carrier without crew presented
on the runway - stop in the middle, head against the wind
on the aircraft carrier - taxii to the closest catapult track, head straight to it
toggle launchbar switch (left-front panel, near gears handle)
wait for about 5 seconds - shuttle will appear in front of launchbar with crew around you, if crew pack installed
follow same preflight actions as in procedural launch, if crew pack not installed - launch will be initiated immediately (launch bar will lower, brakes engaged automatically)
after you fly away 500m from catapult, crew will be removed completely

If you found something wrong with crew - enable > disable Launchbar switch so crew near to you will be reset to initial state (or removed if they were inserted)

How to use arresting gear

Landing on aircraft carrier with PBK arresting wires installed (example: USS Enterprise)

ATTENTION! To activate arresting gear, ensure that AA radar is disabled as features conflict with each other.

prepare for landing - extract gears, enable tailhook handle (right-front panel), set flaps to FULL
in ATC panel choose runway you are landing, OLS indication will appear on the screen when you are close enough
follow AOA indicator, keep airspeed around 140kn-160kn (depends on total weight)
right after touchdown set engines to full thrust in case you will miss all wires ("bolter")
after tailhook intersect one of the wires, arresting process will be triggered and it will drag you back
set engines to idle
after full stop arresting process will be finished
retract tailhook, wire will be pulled back automatically
taxi to parking area or catapult

MSFS aircraft carrier bad/good landing examples with comments: https://youtu.be/CkDE5VjbZLE

Landing on aircraft carrier with ASOBO arresting wires installet (example: Top Gun DLC carrier)

prepare for landing - extract gears, enable tailhook handle (right-front panel), set flaps to FULL
if it is STATIC carrier - in ATC panel choose runway you are landing, OLS indication will appear on the screen when you are close enough; if not - control installed on the carrier OLS indication visually
follow AOA indicator, keep airspeed around 140kn-160kn (depends on total weight)
right after touchdown set engines to full thrust in case you will miss all wires ("bolter")
after tailhook intersect one of the wires, arresting process will be triggered and it will drag you back
set engines to idle
after full stop arresting process will be finished
retract tailhook, wire will disappear
taxi to parking area or catapult

Landing on runway or aircraft carrier without wires installed NO LONGER POSSIBLE

Most replay tools does not work properly with tailhook variables yet (especially built in MSFS Replay toolbar). If you wish to make a video of landing with animated wires, right after Play button pressed get inside of the cockpit and toggle Tailhook handle severtal times to ensure that it engaged, not shaking, TAILHOOK lamp is active.

ILS (instrument landing system)

While most navy F/A-18 equipped with ICLS, we have used ILS as it only supported by MSFS at the moment. It is not unrealistic - some F/A-18 variants uses it as well, like Blue Angles and Swiss Airforce. This way you can have glodeslope and localizer during landing both on aircraft carrier (if it has ILS configured) and ground runway.

How to use:

Open HSI page on any of DDI screens
On navigation panel (in front of you) press D/L BCN ILS button
Type frequency of the ILS station (can be obtained on the world map)
Press ENT
Press OFF to enable ILS
Press CNI to exit ILS mode page
If any signal received, you will see glide slope indication on HSI page
On HSI page, press ILS button to enable HUD indication (ILS will have border when signal received)
Follow HUD glide slope and localizer indication

Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/Hl3-epZTNF8

You may ask why ILS not ICLS? MSFS does not supports ICLS or ACLS systems (yet?), so ILS equipment was added just to not invent the wheel and make F/A-18 suitable for usual runways landing. Main difference of ILS is low precision, which makes instrumental landing even more challenging than in real life.

Air to air radar

Radar linked with TAXI LIGHT variable. You can turn on radar by three ways:

press AA button on front panel (left side)
press SIL button on RDR DDI page
press TAXI LIGHT hotkey (ALT+J by default)

Buttons of RDR page on DDI:

SIL will toggle radar
ERASE clear current list of targets
↑↓ scan range (5,10,20,40)
MODE toggle scan/combat modes
80° is current scan width (20,40,60,80,140) affect horizontal/vertical scan width and sweep frequency

Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/07in0hDOMUE

You can improve experience by enabling helmet mounted display with HMD knob (right side of front panel).
Set Glass Cockpit Refresh Rate option to HIGH in graphics settings to improve HMD animation quality. VR, TrackIR and face track head tracking methods are limited and does not provide acceptable precision, you may try to enable HTRCK switch and adjust horizontal/vertical tracking modifiers, but do not expect much: MSFS F/A-18 Helmet Mounted Display tutorial

Combat training

No weapons will be used during training - you can only see information about locked target like distance and relative position

enable radar and find the target. When you close enough and HUD mark appear, press the MODE button on RDR page, HUD indication will change to combat simulation mode.
shorten the distance to the target so it will be less than current max gun range (outside mark of gun pipper)
combine gun pipper with target designation rhombus and press BRAKE key (NUM DEL by default) or related joystick button (bottom trigger for Saitek)
hold designation mark close to the center of the gun pipper (distance limit inversely proportional to the range - from maximum range you need to keep pipper right on the target mark, while in close range some deviation is acceptable)
if you lose the target before progress circle get filled - miss counter will be increased
if progress circle filled and became yellow - hits counter will be increased

Ballistics calculations performed for 3.6 oz projectile with 1050 metres per second muzzle velocity

If you are strongly against any kind of weapon activity in MSFS and going to complain about this mod, remember that ASOBO made combat jet for MSFS, and ASOBO added SHOOT lamp over the pilot head. We just fixed minor issues like missing HUD indication :)

FOR SCENERY DEVELOPERS

That is archive with carriers projects you can use to place them in locations you like, or make your own carrier compatible with arrestors and catapult scripts. Still experimental and not fully working, share with your success if you will get any. No credits reuiqred, feel free to use them in any freeware or payware projects.

F/A-18 Fighter Jet Boeing Ultrasonic Smokes Carrier Fuel Catapult Arrestors

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Version

10.5.1

File Size

232.53 MB

Downloads

74,150

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About

TouchingCloud

40,738 | XIII General

Compatibility	Sim Update 9
Subscribers	946
Category	Aircraft Enhancements
Affiliation	F/A-18 Super Hornet
Initial Release	November 21, 2021
Last Updated	10.5.1 — July 08, 2022
Rating	4.67/5.0 — Superb!
Status	Not Downloaded yet
Today's Downloads	41

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© TouchingCloud - All rights reserved. Any reupload or redistribution of this file without the author's prior written consent is forbidden. This Microsoft Flight Simulator add-on was created by TouchingCloud and shared in Aircraft » Aircraft Enhancements for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Report

1578 Comments

Raymond66

2 month(s) ago

Hello everybody,

I am one of the testers for the updated SW for Top Gun that our nice developer, TouchingCloud, has been working hard on.

I have this little teaser video to satisfy your flying needs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLx_o4FKCcM

Enjoy.

TouchingCloud has been working hard on it; I can tell you that!

dziemvuong

3 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

Hi, How do i get rid of those 2 circles at the carrier near San Franscisco when I lined up the ball for a landing? It distracted my aim make it hard to see the touch down point.

Captain_Dan32

4 day(s) ago

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in general the plane is brilliant, but the HMD text bug makes the cockpit view unplayable, which is very disappointing. Will give 5 stars when this is fixed.

cozy2614

4 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

Hello TouchingCloud,

Thanks for providing amazing mod.

I have question. I've been trying to give function provided by pbk-carrier-crew to F-35C, T-45C and F-14. I finally got the function with modification of necessary data according to your FME-CarrierOps. However, carrier crews appeared when I set IFE's F-35C and T-45C to takeoff at ground. DCD's F-14 doesn't bring carrier crews. I tried several versions of FME.wasm but nothing to change. I know IFE gave their own carrier operation system, so there might be different from F-14... But I found that your F/A-18SW also brings carrier crews only if deploy launch bar. Is there any specific parameter to avoid to bring carrier crews in case of no deploy launch bar?

Appreciate for your support.

lrargerich

5 day(s) ago

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Hi there, Basic question is there a way to use the F18 NASA livery with this mod?

BlackFalco 3 day(s) ago

In file description is told how to use standard ASOBO livreries also for super warrior 😊

BlackFalco

5 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

I've tried to disable aerobatic smoke by followin' your suggestions on addon description but could not get it to disable.

I've deleted "(A:LIGHT LOGO:1, Bool) (A:LIGHT LOGO ON:1, Bool) or (A😣MOKE ENABLE, bool) or" and put 0 there but smoke's still on :/

MARCE

7 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

Please, how do you turn off the engines?

Thank you

WilliamCall 7 day(s) ago

One way to do it is to use your mouse and put the cursor on the left-hand throttle (throttle should turn blue), hold left click on mouse, then right click. That should move the throttle to the off position. Look on EFD and you should see the left engine spool down. Repeat for right engine. I'm still looking for a better way. I've programmed my thrustmaster throttles to have an idle detent before moving to the off position, unfortunately, I can't get that to work.

lakku

8 day(s) ago

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Will there be weaponry in the future? It would add even more immersion 😊

WilliamCall

10 day(s) ago

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TC,

The engine/fuel display (EFD) writes the internal fuel tank quantity bar graphs on top of the normal bar graph display, when changing display modes. It appears that the software needs a "clear display" when changing display modes.

ironeagles

10 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

Hi,

I searched on the internet, watched the videos and despite this, I can't get the ILS, the TACAN to work.
I enter the frequency, click on the buttons of the HSI but nothing. It does not detect any frequency. I tried with the C172 and it detects well.
Do I need to activate something in particular?

Thanks.

ironeagles 10 day(s) ago

I found !

But There are not a lot of Tacan in France. So I wish to use the VOR. How I use VOR with this wondeful aircraft ?

When I use ILS, I d'ont have the distance displayed on the HSI and the HUD.

BlackFalco

10 day(s) ago

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Is it normal that steerin' does not work while on a moving carrier? 😞

BlackFalco

13 day(s) ago

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Hi ! 😀

It's been a while since last time I've used the Super Warrior. I've recently got back to MSFS after a LOONG MUCH NEEDED BREAK from the sim.

Excuse me if I ask, I forgot how to toggle the in cockpit avatar...Is there a key combination? Cause if I press on the sit nothing happens 😞

EDIT : Well, some magic happened. Not it works if I click on the sit! 😀

Condor2741

15 day(s) ago

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How can I close the canopy?

cptVLK 14 day(s) ago

On the right side you have button to close/open the canopy, you need go with view down to see him/ or change the cockpit panels views, or just move with cursor on the right strip where the cabin touches the aircraft and the text will pop up for canopy control 😊

ponny2oo2

15 day(s) ago

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After 2 years of MSFS 2020 released I have to say TouchingCloud F18 Super Warrior is by far the BEST Flying jet in the entire game. THE BEST aircraft in the entire lineup thus far. !!!!
https://youtu.be/mBFt4tOGFTc

EllinasFlight

15 day(s) ago

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Is anyone by any chance making weapons(cosmetics) for this bird ?

LeCape44

20 day(s) ago

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Hello there!

I've had issues with the FA18 Warrior in the past months (launching flight causing CTDs or download freezes). I did read here that it could be caused by the Fouga Magister and a file from the FA18W mod (which had to do with "library" something, i don't have the said file on my screen while i'm typing this, sorry).

So i de-installed the fouga and its mod for weapons, i suppressed the "library" file from the FA18W, and made sure to exit the game and launch it back (just for good measure you know, you can't be too careful lol). And as i was launching a flight with the FA18W, it freezed with a black screen again.

I must confess i'm confused and frustrated because i happen to love that mod. Did i do something wrong? Are there other parameters to take into account?

And as always, folks here seems to be fond of this mod, so keep up the good work!

ponny2oo2

21 day(s) ago

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When is the LSO voice going to be added to the carrier? The voice guidance on approach would be great.

Also, is there plan to add more carriers around the globe?

craigo198

22 day(s) ago

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OLS icon in VR is huge and blocks your view. Anyway for us to disable it in VR? https://photos.app.goo.gl/57xMoToU2dXQsZTF8

sometimes it shows up when Im on approach to carrier and sometimes, like in these pics, shows up after im on the deck and trapped

topcox

29 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

Thanks for the constant updates! I would like to open the canopy with a button. Which button or variable should I include?

TouchingCloud 29 day(s) ago

canopy switch linked with default EXIT variable, but there is no such key exists in controls settings.

if you are using some tool that can trigger system commands, that is

8 (>K:TOGGLE_AIRCRAFT_EXIT_FAST)

topcox 28 day(s) ago

Excellent , it works!

Defined with FSUIPC as a button. parameters 8 !

Thanks very much!

YodainNam

30 day(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

great mod but I cant seem to uninstall it, the HUD and Flight displays are broken for me and I've heard that some mods can be causing this including this one. I have deleted all corresponding files in the community folder although the mod is still installed and It is also confirmed as installed in the content manager.

Is there anything else I can do to try and resolve this?

TouchingCloud 30 day(s) ago

mostly likely this mod not responsible for your issues then, but the cache stored in MSFS system folder sometimes cause weird problems, you can try to delete folder "touchingcloud-aircraft-fa18e-sw" from

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages

(I have steam version, MS version may have different path)

bheisler1981

1 month(s) ago

Reply Copy Link

I wonder if the formation lights will work one day, other than that I can't really ask for more, this last update I feel like I'm flying the real thing

ponny2oo2 1 month(s) ago

They always worked. The are the 2 knobs next the the throttle stick

bheisler1981 23 day(s) ago

Yup just had to wait until it was darker outside to see on the aircraft... lovely 😀

Roadmap
These items are currently on the list and will be processed soon!

FEATURE: Accurate vapor effects

✅ Finished

Estimated 31 Dec 2021 ISSUE: Tailhook does not react on handle click / hotkey press

✅ Finished

Estimated 30 Dec 2021 » Reason: MSFS code issue Signs: tailhook does not move after you press related hotkey Workaround: restart the flight Partial solution: water rudder variable used to at least make handle work properly ISSUE: Wrong performance values in plane description

❗ Investigating

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Reason: unknown Signs: 10 000ft ceiling and 650NM range instead of 45 000ft / 1080 ISSUE: non functioning autopilot

⌛ On Hold

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Reason: MSFS code issue Signs: plane often/always does not follow barometric or radar altitude, selected heading, TACAN bearing Workaround: not applied ISSUE: wingfolding can't be triggered

❗ Investigating

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Reason: unknown Signs: wings does not react on switch toggle ISSUE: plane can't be controlled while on the deck of USS Enterprise

❗ Investigating

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Reason: unknown Signs: plane does not react on controls or even engines thrust Workaround: restart flight, do not use carrier as departure location ISSUE: ILS signal disappears

❗ Investigating

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Source: unknown Signs: ILS indication disappears during landing approach FEATURE: external fuel tanks

✅ Finished

Estimated 09 Feb 2022 ISSUE: wrong control surfaces animation

🕛 Planned

Estimated 31 Dec 2021 Misisng canopy animation (interior part)

🕛 Planned

Estimated 24 Jun 2022 Moving carrier has no ILS or OLS onscreen indication

❗ Investigating

Estimated 24 Jun 2022 Moving carrier disappears if you fly away ~100km from its spawn point

❗ Investigating

Estimated 24 Jun 2022

Backlog
Suggestion, bugs and ideas for the future.

ISSUE: visual effects does not render during replay

Backlog

Estimated 26 Dec 2021 » Source: unknown Signs: when you use built-in beta replay tool effects like vapour does not appear Workaround: use freeware FlightRecorder as known to work properly Result: replay tool issue not related with mod

Version 10.5.1 July 08, 2022

- all custom visual effects removed except AEROBATICS SMOKE to prevent CTDs due to MSFS bug (known conflict: AzurPoly Fouga)
- canopy animation and sounds insulation restored from v7
- NWS steering enabled by default
- G limit value made dynamic and rely of total weight
- incorrect external fuel tanks quantity indication fixed
- onscreen OLS appear in front of any moving or static carrier with Asobo's OLS SimObject attached (calculations inaccurate as rely on 3D model), do not select landing runway through ATC menu to see automatic one
- if moving carrier has no catapult crew, you can insert them by toggle of launchbar handle same way as on the runway - they will follow the carrier after insertion
- moving carriers placed all over the world, type "TopGun" in World Map search box to find POIs

SU10 known bugs:
- DDI button labels visible on HMD and HUD
Version 10.4.0 June 25, 2022

You're all Top Gun graduates. You are elite pilots. You are the best of the best.
These are yesterday. Today you have a special task - you will be our test pilots of F/A-18F experimental upgrade - Super Warrior.
It has various technological improvements that you should test, evaluate their effectiveness and report back with results.
Carrier operations, aerial combat, aerobatics - you will need all your skills to succeed. Find SW limits, test them and force - full list of improvements you will find below. Show me what you can do.

And the last one - another group of Top Gun students smashed all our F/As into the ground or plunged them into the bath. It took months to recover our fleet which drained our financial reserves. If you wish the project to evolve - please follow Buy Me a Coffee or Paypal link on the project page and donate so we can continue to perform Super Warrior upgrades.

Update archive contains:
F/A-18F Super Warrior with almost all features migrated
Top Gun DLS's carriers near KWAL - one anchored, one moving (optional, DLC has to be installed)

Features to test:
- launch from anchored carrier using catapult, should work same as before
- arrive at anchored carrier using tailhook, should work same as in Landing Challenge; to release the cable raise the tailhook handle.
- launch from moving carrier, catapult should work same as on static one, known issue - shuttle position does not match launchbar properly
- arrive at moving carrier, arresting gear should work same as in the Landing Challenge; to release the cable raise the tailhook handle.

Improvements:
- Additional option added for HMD - TrackIR, it has limitations like no targets designation and does not fade out when you look on the panels
- LSO on screen indication appear when landing runway selected through ATC menu and tailhook deployed (works with any runway but not moving carrier yet)
- Wallops Landing Practice weather preset match (more or less) all three carriers runway heading

Known issues:
- moving carrier can't have ILS or even selected by ATC menu (for OLS appearance)
- moving carrier disappears (being teleported to initial location) if you fly away from carrier spawn point about 100km, even if carrier itself was near to you at this moment
- aircraft sink under the deck if you try to slew on it
- canopy not animated

Fly safely. Dismiss. Let's go to work.
Version 10.3.0 June 24, 2022

v10 Public test - F/A-18SW (base livery), anchored & moving carriers
Version 7.8 April 01, 2022

DakFly of Top Mach Studios, LLC joined the party, and we have new flight model now! It was build from the stock F/A flight model so all past changes were removed. Feel free to report issues with it or leave feedback in comments.

Full list of changes:
-Lower / more realistic ground stance (adjusted landing gear values).
-More stable low and intermediate speed taxi handling with level attitude during taxi turns.
-Better yaw and ground track handling during takeoffs and landings (reduced tippy plane issue).
-Corrected on ground yaw counter-control effect during takeoff / landings (eliminated non-functioning auto-yaw-damper)
-Engine thrust (dry and afterburning) spec'd much closer to real world published numbers.
-Fuel consumption now much closer to real world specs. Range of approx. 1250+ nm at cruise with a "clean" aircraft. No supercruise possible.
-Cruise drag and lift values modified to approximate real world performance. Acceleration at 10800m from M0.8 to M1.6 now matches published specs (slightly less than 2 minutes).
-Low altitude (sea level) maximum Mach is now slightly above M1 (matches real world specs).
-1G flight envelope now more closely approximates real-world test data for a "clean" aircraft.
-Approach / Landing target speeds now match real world (8 degrees aoa approach angle, approx. 120 knots final approach at fuel level of around 1200kg).
-Roll rate increased to closer to real world spec (225 dps max) - can now reach around 210 dps at intermediate altitudes
-Limited angle of attack to 21 degrees aoa to maintain pitch control throughout flight envelope (aircraft no longer stalls or rolls off unexpectedly).
-Yaw stability improved to provide more stable roll entry and exit (less nose waggle) esp. at low speeds.
-Corrected total internal fuel value.
-Slight improvements to high altitude wing rocking/wiggling phenomenon (a consequence of the Asobo FBW system) and less rolling control reversal at low altitude when exiting prolonged rolling maneuvers.
-Increased max G limit and pitch authority to allow a typical max G of up to 7.3 to 7.5 positive and -3 negative (in some circumstances G may reach up to 8.0).
-Increased pitch stability to reduce jerky pitch responses and smooths out pitch sensitivity when making aggressive pitch movements.
-Restored spoileron capability for low speed roll control improvements.
-Increased wheel brake strength / power to improve landing distances (real world at low fuel weights, aircraft should stop from touchdown in about 2000 feet (610m))
-Corrected auto-flap behavior - flaps deploy and retract at target speeds.**

**Autoflaps can and should be used for all phases of flight - no need to set manual flaps, if desired.

Other fixes:

- possible fix of aircraft bouncing on catapult caused by low frame rate
- folded wings check before catapult launch
- possibility to catapult launch without PBK crew installed
- taxi light blinking inside of the cockpit
- wingtip vortices does not appear
- vortex effects appear on too low angle of attack values
Version 7.6 March 07, 2022

Fixes:
- pilot avatar appear when left/right view button pressed
- possible issue with CTDs because of effects conflict (effects GUIDs updated)
- external fuel tanks animation played in reverse when fuel set for them while plane on the ground
- lead edge vapour effect affected by vertical velocity
- crew inserted on launchbar switch toggle even if carrier crew presented nearby
- impossible to use catapult if PBK-Crew not installed (wait 6-7 seconds until launchbar and brakes pedals animation triggered, set full throttle and takeoff)
*Archive contain modded files for PBK-crew package, they are exactly the same as in previous version*

Improvements:
- SU8 changes merged (models and code, except canopy frost effect - can't find mask texture)
- Wing vapour effect added

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Project progress will slow down due to several reasons. There still list of issues and planned improvements, but it's unclear when they will be applied. However, feel free to report issues - minor fixes may be released before next major update.
Version 7.5 February 19, 2022

Fixes:
- wrong tailhook effect node position (sparks/smoke spawned near to fuselage)
- HMD can't be turned on if flight started on apron
- altitude teleport script (to prevent aircraft sink under carrier deck) triggered under bridge
- open canopy does not affect exterior sounds (partial fix - engines still quite because of sound package issue)
- chart light does not work
- wings unfolded at cold start
- arresting wire animation does not work for reverse landing (fix for Superspud's carriers with wires inverted by heading)

Features:
- wires animation and collision detection improved
- cockpit pilot model (click on the seat)
- arresting wire springs added (static)
- dynamic exhaust and APU heat blur effect

!!! Archive contain updated arresting wire model, extract pbk-carrier-crew folder into Community, confirm files replacement !!!

Arresting gear precision demo: https://youtu.be/J_76IN4wjrM