it has ben a few time since the last update as the project as a whole came to a near standstill as I started making other things. now that i have had fun making other stuff, i now have the mental energy to work on the f14s again

F-14 Lite, & Progress

some time last year, I began building a third model, which would become the low part 🅱? that I have now. it is the only out of the two (not counting the cardboard build) that is flying, and is currently serving as a research vehicle for how best to fit the complicated and unique flight controls into the confines of sp, as well as flight & systems modeling.

my current focus on the lite aircraft is modeling all functions of the cadc and other necessary systems for flight controlling to be as accurate as possible. just recently, I wrote scripting for the maneuver flap extend and retract scheduling, as well as creating correct input curves for spoileron roll response, and direct lift control. I have yet to implement the wing sweep system, as recreating the 4-way hat switch (manual fwd/aft, auto & bomb) is difficult with the limited number of default inputs that can be assigned to controllers.

my next step after systems modeling will be flight modeling. the current handling characteristics is roughly similar to the current representation in DCS (my only reference), though with missing behaviors, incorrect drag tuning and not to mention no afterburner has yet been added. ground handling also needs correcting in a few areas and is missing features at this moment.

an unknown for me is how I will create the weapon system with all the other controls. the tomcats pilot controls for the radar, as well as the weapon controls cannot 100% be replicated with the constraints the sp controls place on the build. radar controls is something I know far less of how to do, as the way "radar" works in sp is very far from how any targeting system works fundamentally. the user experience of the pilot radar controls will very likely not be perfectly accurate for this very reason.

F-14A Modeling Progress

as ive chipped away at the low part research vehicle, the high part one has sat for a number of months with nothing being done up until now. recently i continued some of the physical modeling with the slats, and cleaned up the upper wing glove.

i am not sure how much i will chip away at the modeling as the systems & flight modeling of the lite version is my first priority, but over time it will progress if i ever get bored lol anyway thats about it