Zephyr Net

Eric,

I reached part of the dev team, but couldnt reach Tango, but I have authority to allow use of his items in specific circumstances such as these.

The answer is yes you can use these items freely if you credit the source of vnfawing.com

Thanks again and keep up the good work! You are doing a great job!


CAG out...

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FA Futures/FA-2 is Still Being Worked On and Will Be Released...

CAG Hotshot:

Thanks, I really do appreciate your help on this one. The NAM-ELH ReadMe now credits the entire staff at vnfawing.com in addition to you and Tango.

I have uploaded a new copy of NAM-ELH, which now includes two new aircraft, both added in response to the continuing helpful advice that I've received from Pappy:

* EF-10B SkyKnight, the USMC EW version of the F3D-2 using a custom version of the grey BAe Strikemaster shape/texture from Centaurian's collection.

* KA-6D Tanker, the tanker version of the A-6A which entered service with the USN in 1970, using the USNF'97 A-6 shape/texture.

I have also uploaded an updated version of the AWNVN package. All the documentation, save the ReadMe, has been updated, including the Glossary, Historical Notes, & Bibliography. (Yes, I'm still working on the Timeline for this one.)

Both new .ZIPs can be downloaded from my FA page:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/index.html

Eric L. Howes

Hi All:

I finally have a version of the Timeline for AWNVN:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/timeline.htm

This timeline focuses on significant events and milestones in the air war over North Vietnam. It also includes well-known political and military events from the larger war in Southeast Asia to help readers maintain perspective.

If any of the knowledgeable folks here spot significant errors or omissions in this timeline, please do let me know.

Eric L. Howes

Hi All:

Yet another updated version of the NAM-ELH LIB set is available. This update features two new aircraft:

- USN EKA-3B Skywarrior, using a customized version of the grey C-130 shape/texture from the "FA Planes" LIB;

- USN EA-1F Skyraider, using the same USN-themed shape/texture as the A-1H/J.

This update also cleans up loadouts for a few aircraft (based on suggestions from Pappy), corrects the shape/texture for the EA-6A (an error pointed out by Zephyr), and uses a slightly improved skin for the EB-66.

I've also uploaded a new version of the AWNVN mission collection with updated/corrected documentation. There are also a number of minor corrections to mission texts for some of the missions.

Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

Eric L. Howes

Hi All:

Work continues on the AWNVN mission collection and NAM-ELH LIB set. Earlier today I uploaded new versions of both. Here's what's been changed/added:

NAM-ELH:
- added the original Walleye I (previously only the Walleye II was represented);
- overhauled the AAA items -- the net effect of this overhaul is that AAA is less likely to hit aircraft, but the damage from hits will be much more severe;
- tweaked the Paveway LGBs;

AWNVN:
- updated the documentation (mostly minor corrections and additions);
- tweaked skill levels for AAA units in almost all missions;
- minor factual corrections to a number of missions and briefing texts;
- overhauled a number of the more involved missions (esp. in the Linebacker campaign) to make achievement of mission objectives more straightforward;
- replaced the original Lang Chi Hydroelectric Plant mission (dated 6/10/72 - a historic mission) with a new mission designed from scratch. The original USNF'97 mission has been changed into a fictitious USN Alpha Strike on the fictitious Bac Mai thermal power plant on 5/22/72. The new Lang Chi mission (still dated 6/10/72) is a USAF LGB strike conducted by F-4Ds and F-4Es on a power plant 70 miles to the NW of Hanoi near Yen Bai.

Both updated packages can be downloaded from my FA home page:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/index.html

I do have several historic missions in the works -- est. completion within the next week or so:

1. Kep Airfield (6/15/67)

Thuds take the long route over the Gulf of Tonkin for a strike on Kep airfield.

2. Nam Dinh Thermal Power-Plant (5/23/72)

USN Alpha Strike during the first two weeks of Linebacker I.

3. Quang Khe naval base (3/3/65)

Thuds, Huns, and Spads hit the naval base in the southern panhandle of NVN on the opening day of Rolling Thunder.

4. Kep barracks (5/20/67)

Col. Olds' "Wolfpack" 8th TFW covers a Thunder Strike on the Kep barracks.

5. Canal des Rapides bridge (12/17/67)

In the last big strikes "Downtown" during Rolling Thunder, Thuds hit the Canal des Rapides bridge for the third time in 9 months.

6. Dong Phong Thong bridge (4/3/65)

Hours before the first USAF raid on Ham Rung (the "Dragon's Jaw") USN F-8s and A-4s hit another bridge near Thanh Hoa and encounter MiGs for the first time during Rolling Thunder.

7. Bac Giang bridge (5/5/66)

Once again taking the long route over the Gulf, Thuds from Korat take out the Bac Giang bridge with M118 3000 lb iron bombs.

8. Phuc Yen (10/24/67)

USN and USAF aircraft conduct a coordinated series of strikes against the Phuc Yen MiG base just north of Hanoi.

Finally, the AWNVN time line has been significantly expanded:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/timeline.htm

I finally got my hands on a few books with a wealth of useful data (O'Conner's "MiG Killers of Yankee Station," Hobson's "Vietnam Air Losses," and Dorr's "Air War Hanoi"), allowing me to fill in lots of missing details on that time line.

Best,

Eric L. Howes

Eric your dedication is awesome and most welcome!

Please keep up the great work and your attention to detail!

To bad you werent here 10 years ago!


CAG out...

_________________
Hotshot
"FAF Shape Meister"
FAF/FA-2 Design team
TSH Member/Developer
VNFAWING.com Forum Administrator

VNFAWING Forums
VNFAWING Website

FA Futures/FA-2 is Still Being Worked On and Will Be Released...

CAG:

Thanks. I certainly hope folks are enjoying these missions.

FWIW, I have uploaded an updated version of AWNVN that includes four of the eight new missions mentioned in my previous post:

1. Kep Airfield (6/13/67)
4. Kep barracks (re-named Bac Le barracks, 5/20/67)
5. Canal des Rapides bridge (12/17/67)
7. Bac Giang bridge (5/5/66)

All are USAF missions, which have been sorely needed given the heavy bias towards USN missions.

Best,

Eric L. Howes

Folks:

Just a quick update on this weekend's work. I've uploaded a new version of the AWNVN collection with 6 new missions (four of which are USAF missions):

1. Dong Phong Thong bridge (4/3/65)

Hours before the first USAF raid on Ham Rung (the "Dragon's Jaw") USN F-8s and A-4s hit another bridge near Thanh Hoa and rack up the first MiG engagement of Rolling Thunder.

2. 1st Iron Hand mission (7/27/65)

Three days after the first U.S. aircraft (an F-4C) is shot down by a SA-2, Thuds (lead by a USMC EF-10B SkyKnight ECM pathfinder) go hunting for two SAMs SW of Hanoi near the Black River and get more than they bargained for.

3. Lang Met bridge (10/5/65)

Thuds strike a key road bridge 10 miles NE of Kep.

4. Ben Ken bridge (1/13/65)

In the first major strike in the SEA theater by F-105s, Thuds & Huns hit a bridge in NE Laos.

5. Ha Dong barracks (5/5/67)

In the first of several raids against this particular target, Thuds hit the Ha Dong barracks just SW of Hanoi (near Son Tay).

6. Thai Nguyen bridge (10/17/65)

In the first Phantom Raid of the war, USN F-4Bs strike a key bridge 40 miles north of Hanoi.

I've also uploaded a new version of NAM-ELH. THe only significant change is to the grey metal F-105 Thudnerchief. I was never satsified with the texture I was using (from Centaurian's collection) so I spent several hours Friday night re-working it. The result is much more pleasing to the eye. (Several of the new missions above use the grey metal F-105.)

Enjoy,

Eric L. Howes

Hi All:

Back with some additional updates. This latest round of updates to ordnance items in NAM-ELH required changes to default aircraft loadouts in NAM-ELH as well as custom loadouts in many of the missions in AWNVN. Thus, you should think of these new versions of NAM-ELH and AWNVN as a pair -- each one requires the other. If you download and install one, make sure that you grab the other new version as well.

So what changed in NAM-ELH?

1. Overhauled the air-to-air missiles, esp. SARH missiles. The net effect of these changes is that effectiveness of older (i.e., Nam-era) missiles is degraded. They're still not as unreliable as the early Sidewinders, Sparrows, and Falcons actually were in combat over North Vietnam, but you'll need to take greater care in setting up for missile shots as these missiles are more finicky than the FA originals.

2. Added a new Sidewinder: the Navy's AIM-9D. I finally broke down and separated out the D model from what was the AIM-9B/D/E. The D model's effectiveness lies somewhere between the USAF's B/E (on the low end) and the Navy's G/H (on the upper end for that era).

3. Added the CBU-52/B cluster bomb (in both both single and 2 pack variants).

Finally, I did add another new mission to the AWNVN collection:

- Nam Dinh Thermal Power Plant (5/23/72)

The Midway's Corsairs and Intruders hit the thermal power plant southwest of Haiphong during the second week of Linebacker, with F-4Bs flying MiGCAP and escort.

Enjoy,

Eric L. Howes

Folks:

Another important update to the AWNVN project: I have uploaded an updated version of the NAM-MAPs LIB set, which you can download here:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/NAM-MAPS.zip

This new version includes an optional terrain tiles LIB that is compatible with both of the maps included in the package. To use it, simply drop the new NVN_TEXT.LIB in your FA directory in addition to one of the map LIBs (NVN0_MAP.LIB or NVN1_MAP.LIB).

The terrain tiles LIB gives the Vietnamese landscape a kind of quilted appearance, making it much more visually interesting than the default terrain which is dominated by endless expanses of green.

My testing with the map/tiles combination suggests that it is completely stable, though I would be interested in reports of any problems users might encounter.

Best,

Eric L. Howes

Very nice work. It's now a much better transition from high altitude to low altitude (when the rice paddy objects and palm trees appear).

Zephyr

Zephyr:

Thanks for the feedback on the terrain changes. Glad to hear that it's not just me who thinks those new tiles are an improvement.

Best,

Eric L. Howes

Hi All:

Yet another update report on the progress with AWNVN. I have uploaded new copies of the AWNVN mission collection, the NAM-ELH LIB set, and the NAM-MAPs set. Here's what's changed with each:

1. NAM-ELH

- Revamped the G-Pull Drag data for most fighter and attack aircraft. Values are now lower than they were, making aircraft more responsive, but still higher in most cases than the FA defaults.

- Completely rebuilt the A-6 Intruder and A-4 Skyhawk variants. Both were very poor performers when handled by AI pilots, and the Intruders in particular were driving me nuts. So I rebuilt both using a fighter as a base (migrating most key data from the old A-6s and A-4s). The result is that the Intruders and Skyhawks are now very agressive, hard-hitting strike aircraft when piloted by AI, even in formations.

- Tweaked the textures for a number of aircraft including the F-4C/D/E, the MiG-19s, and the R/F-101. The grey MiG-17A now has a full set damaged shapes/textures, so it doesn't magically morph into the green MiG-17 when shot down.

2. NAM-MAPS

Changed all ten GCI Radar items in the maps from vehicles to static structure/scenery items. The GCI Radar vehicle item had a GCI Radar seeker and was apparently supposed to transmit AWACS data. In my testing, however, these GCI Radar vehicles failed to provide AWACS information to friendly aircraft, making their de facto function in the map little different than a structure/scenery item.

To lighten the resource load on FA when using either of the custom Vietnam maps, I have changed all GCI Radar items into static scenery items. They look exactly the same, and can still be targeted and destroyed (just like the Tall King Radar scenery item).

3. AWNVN Missions

Added several new missions, all historical...

* BARCAP (23 May, 1972)

Midway F-4Bs covering a strike NE of Haiphong are vectored by Red Crown to intercept two bogies near Kep. Once they get there, however, they find the sky is (in the words of one Navy pilot) "raining MiGs."

* Happy Holidays (13 December, 1966)

Takhli F-105s go "Downtown" to strike the Yen Vien rail yards just NE of the Canal des Rapides bridge.

* Closing Shop (27 June, 1972)

Udorn F-4Es fly MiGCAP for a USAF LGB strike on the Kinh No motor vehicle repair facility just north of Hanoi.

* Northwest Rail Line (31 May, 1966)

Takhli Thuds hit the rail yards and arsenal at Yen Bai in Route Pack V.

* Oyster Flight: The Paul Doumer Bridge (10 May, 1972)

Udorn Phantoms cover an LGB/EOGB strike on the Doumer bridge in downtown Hanoi on the first full day of Linebacker. Note that this mission existed in previous versions of AWNVN. I decided to change that mission into the Kinh No mission (listed just above), as its design was not faithful enough to the actual mission. I then built a new mission from scratch based on accounts of the mission as it was actually flown. It's still not 100 percent accurate, but it's a lot closer than before.

All these updates can be downloaded from my FA home page:

https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/fa/index.html

Best,

Eric L. Howes

You are quite busy!

Keep up the good work!

_________________
Hotshot
"FAF Shape Meister"
FAF/FA-2 Design team
TSH Member/Developer
VNFAWING.com Forum Administrator

VNFAWING Forums
VNFAWING Website

FA Futures/FA-2 is Still Being Worked On and Will Be Released...

CAG:

Yes, I've been a bit busy. When I conceived this project back in November I had no idea so much work remained to be done. But it's enjoyable work.

In any case, another update to the AWNVN mission collection with five new missions:

* Quang Lang Storage (12 September 1966)

USAF F-4Cs fly MiGCAP for a Thunder Strike on a major storage area 35 miles NW of Vinh.

* Night CAP (21 February 1972)

USAF F-4Ds fly a MiGCAP mission at night over eastern Laos.

* Under Pressure (5 November 1966)

USAF F-4Cs escort an EB-66 NW of Hanoi.

* Socked In (21 October 1966)

Bad weather in Route Pack VI causes USAF F-105s to be diverted from the day's primary target in Route Pack VI to an area in the southern panhandle of North Vietnam where they fly an armed recon on the look-out for a suspected truck park.

* Bac Can Bridge (27 July 1966)

USAF F-104Cs fly TARCAP for a large Thunder Strike on the Bac Can bridge 30 miles north of Thai Nguyen.

All of these new missions, save the last, is a historic mission, though the F-104 mission is based on a collection of real events and very well could have been flown.

The NAM-ELH LIB set has also been updated with slightly tweaked textures for the F-104s.

Finally, I anticipate releasing a new version of the NVN-MAPS tile set this week. While testing night missions I discovered that one of the colors I used in the tiles is showing up as bright orange at night. That needs to be fixed.

Best,

Eric L. Howes