Required skill level: Medium
AI Efficiency: Untested

READ DESCRIPTION FOR FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS

New year means new fighter and this year is all about the 442 VTOL, similar to the Piper and Kestrel models but with more of an emphasis on air to air combat and less of a flying Swiss Army knife. This one is still in the test phase but with gradually evolve over the year.

Lore:
The F-442X was designed as a replacement to the F-428E. The Piper and Kestrel were excellent fighters, but there was a need for a much faster more aggressive jet to take on threats, and this fighters role is meant to be an ambush interceptor. Not yet given a designation, it is simply known as "X". It utilizes a multi-port vector thrust system, and an aggressive weight displacement putting the center of mass just right in front of the pivot point of the engines. Despite this the craft isn't difficult to fly and doesn't need to rely on stability flaps like the previous models. It can have some issues in a turning fight an a good pilot will utilize the crafts speed and power to out fly an opponent.

Takeoff: Activate Group 1, point it in the direction you want to go, and don't forget to pull up.

Takeoff VTOL:
Activate Group 2 and ascend, and activate Group 4 for stability, at altitude you activate group 1 which is the main flight engine. With this plane full power is all three engines, so you will need to push VTOL setting up which will take the plane out of VTOL mode.

Landing: Deploy land gear, and land it like a normal plane, activate Group 4 for landing assist stabilization.

Landing VTOL:
With VTOL landing mode, you want to set the VTOL settings back to neutral and pull back, Disable Group 1 and reengage Group 2 and 4 which is the VTOL nozzles and Gyros, at this point you can land it like a helicopter.

Please note you may need to bring each group engine group back to 0% first before switching to another engine group. The game will not set automatically set VTOL and the Flights to 0% when you switch.

Controls:
AG1-Main Engine (bring to 0% to switch)
AG2-VTOL Engine (bring to 0% to switch)
AG3/VTOL- Missle Bay Doors
AG4- Gyro/Landing and Autopilot Assist
AG5- Lights