Sure! @Deloreandude

@Jpeggers I have an upgraded model if you're interested, check my posts

Very nice!

@SHCow The F-15s the 131st operates used to belong to the 102d. They were actually scrambled during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and had the capability to intercept Flight 175. Ultimately it was NEADS's decision not to send them into the metropolitan area.

@SHCow Fighter squadrons are always reorganized time after time as the defense climate changes. They can have many different missions throughout their history. Currently, the 131st's primary mission is the support of homeland security. Keeping the country safe here at home. They spend most of their time training.

@SHCow Also, fun fact about the 131st: They once flew P-38s during the second world war back when the squadron was based in the Pacific. Recently, they even operated A-10s, but the squadron retired them in 2007. Today, the only plane they fly is the Eagle.

@SHCow I've never actually seen the E-model up close. I see the C and D most often. Specifically the fleet belonging to the 131st Fighter Squadron out of Barnes ANGB. I actually know how to operate them too. I've flown it in a pilot-training simulator. Very easy fighter to fly. I've actually been thinking of putting my name in to transfer to being a fighter pilot since I'm still young enough to start training, but I'll wait and see where my career goes.

@Deloreandude No true flying wing has ever been produced for civilian use. They are simply too difficult to fly, or require expensive flight computers to be marketable to the private sector.

@Sunnyskies I was actually just reading about those the other day on the internet, I was originally searching for civilian flying wing aircraft.

@Deloreandude No I was just thinking about current Air Force projects. The one I hear about the most is the new stealth bomber, Northrop Grumman's B-21. A little overpriced in opinion. Even as an estimate, half a billion per unit is pretty heinous.

@Sunnyskies uh oh, have I said too much?

@Sunnyskies hey, I'm about to post my P-38j, it now has A LOT more detail, but is a little more overweight than the real deal. It also has European theater camo :D

@Sunnyskies That's true, but I just don't want our airforce falling behind and then end up using outdated tech in future wars. Then again, we do have amazing flying wing projects in the works, I even saw one near my grandparents house one night that looked like it was using anti-gravity tech. It was about the size of an A-10, but the maneuverability....was just insane.It had 2 lights on it: one red and one green It just kept going in circles and i just stood watching for about 20 minutes XD. I looked it up, and it turns out no one had ever seen one before. I researched unmanned flying wings for days on end after that encounter The aircraft had a very quiet hum that seemed to be jet engines or something entirely different. It certainly wasnt as loud as a jetPlease dont report me to the government for telling you that :D. Still, it's truly amazing to think of what we have as black projects. If we developed things like the nighthawk in the 70s, imagine what we could be doing now...

@Deloreandude Sometimes planes are so good at what they do, they end up sticking around. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" and so forth. The C-130 has been in service since the 50s.

@Sunnyskies Well that sounds really awesome, I'm glad they're upgrading the galaxies. After all, they were introduced in the 70s or 80s. However, so was basically the majority of our aircraft today. We need to upgrade all of our aircraft to modern standards; not just that, but I think our ground forces also may need some upgrading. The Abrams could kind of use an upgrade, even though it's the world's top tank. I also think upgrading our F-15s and F-16s would be a worthwhile endeavor. Btw, I will be uploading not 1 but 2 P-38s today. They only have different camo at the moment, but i'll try to make them different models.

@Deloreandude The wing I belong to is currently having their fleet of C-5s modernized. All C-5As are being upgraded to C-5Ms. New avionics, new turbofans, upgraded skeleton, and landing gear, and best of all, improved APUs (the APU on the old C-5 breaks down WAY too often). Units all over the Air Force have been having their planes retrofitted and replaced. It's actually quite a crazy time nowadays.

@Sunnyskies indeed. If we could use stealth technology and upgrade the engines we may have a new CAS aircraft. We could also use more durable wings, and possibly use new weaponry. The whole airforce kind of needs a reform, by either upgrading our aircraft or try out new models...Hmm..This gives me an idea for an aircraft! Also, sry for not posting my new P-38J today, I had to go to a football game and play for my band.

@Deloreandude @Deloreandude Most of the reason strategists want to replace the A-10 is the fact warfare has changed a lot since it was introduced. In particular, developments in anti-air technology threw big wrenches into its primary mission. The plane only has one purpose it excels at, and it's a mission that requires it to fly low and slow. Modern anti-air is simply too sharp for it to handle with its subsonic top speed, lackluster rate of climb, and blindingly obvious radar profile. It's rather very vulnerable to SAMs. Faster, stealthier jets are able to penetrate anti-defenses and attack ground forces much more efficiently. However, I still think the A-10 is valuable. It's durability and loiter time make it the ideal plane for tank hunting, and defensive CAS. It's just not the right choice for attacking enemy installations behind enemy lines anymore.

@Sunnyskies hopefully the AF will just upgrade the A-10, instead of replacing it with the T-50 Golden Eagle. That aircraft really looks more like a fighter and doesn't look like it has the armor to defend itself like other CAS aircraft. I don't really know the stats though, it still kind of looks cool and it may actually be really effective. I really hope the Airfrorce just make a better version of the A-10 or something completely new, but better at the same time.

@Deloreandude Yeah, the Hogs are starting to be phased out. But just because a plane is retired, doesn't mean you'll never get to fly one. The A-10 is such an iconic airframe, I'm sure it will see service in airshows for years to come. Never give up on your dreams.
Also, planes that have fallen into obsolescence are often demilitarized and sold off to the private sector. You can buy old fighter jets if you have a couple million to spare.

@Sunnyskies yeah, I tried to do custom landing gear, it's just way to hard

@Sunnyskies Okay, great! I will definitely get something in that field once I get into college. Ever since I was 6 years old I've wanted to be an A-10 pilot, but for the past 5 years the air force has been debating over whether they should retire it, so I may have to look into piloting something else or another career in the military D:

@Deloreandude I actually had a hard time getting the shape of the cockpit right on My Lightning. My only advice would be to brute force it until you get it to look right.
Also, the fanciest thing I put on mine was custom-built landing gear, but they were an absolute nightmare to try and get right.
I'd focus on the major things before worrying about the details.

@Deloreandude Yup. Word of advice: If you want to be a military pilot, get a college degree in a field related to aeronautics. The Air Force especially prefers that sort of thing.

@Sunnyskies I wanted to ask, are there any other features I could possibly add? Maybe lights or another gadget? Btw, I got the flaps about right, they look pretty spot on.