Background:

The F-12D ‘IO LANI (Heavenly Hawk) is a 4.5 generation multi-role fighter developed by the ILS. The F-12D represents the culmination of many technologies including a text-based HUD, autopilot, advanced fly-by-wire, custom weapons, and refueling. The F-12D is the production version of the YF-12, specifically the YF-12 SBNS (Stalling-But-Not-Stalling). It features 3-petal 2-axis thrust vectoring and canards for superior maneuverability.

The F-12D was heavily inspired by the F-18 Super Hornet and the experimental F-15 STOL/MTD. Coincidentally it is roughly the same size and shape as the Russian Su-30M (as it's basically a smooth F-15 with canards).

Controls:

Activate 1: Autopilot (see below for further details) (Refuel Assist / Position Hold)
Activate 2: Supermaneuverability (Disable FBW Limiter)
Activate 3: Engage afterburner (throttle greater than 90%)
Activate 4: Enable weapons
Activate 5: Deploy arresting hook
Activate 6: Open cockpit
Activate 7: Deploy refueling boom

Notes:

HUD: The ‘IO LANI uses a next-generation text-based HUD. Right now it only provides targeting information, but future iterations could display flight information as well (attitude, altitude, air speed, etc). There are still spots where it doesn’t track correctly, like when diving at a steep angle onto an enemy.

Autopilot: The refuel assist is something I’m actually rather proud of. When activated, the plane tries to stay at the current attitude, altitude, and airspeed. This target value can be modified by the player (pitch for altitude, yaw for airspeed, roll for roll). All are PID functions fed into the FBW, engines, and ailerons. A similar system can be used to create a custom AI refueler (bit of a teaser in the second screenshot), kamikaze drone, cruise missile (coming soon), formation flying AI, terrain following aircraft, and much more.

Glide bomb (SR-Ba1): The two glide bombs are identical except for their index. The index is based on the order that the game decides to release ordinance. Bomb one will deploy its wings when the number of bombs (given by ammo(“NAME”)) is less than 1 (meaning one bomb was dropped).

Screenshots: Thanks to Noname918181 for tips on how to adjust the FOV for better screenshots. The code for the dev console is: //MainCamera>Camera.set_fieldOfView 15

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Miror, Creare, Explorandum