This is my entry for Diloph’s Korean War Challenge. The F9F Panther!

Features:

Flaps
Folding wings
Custom landing gear
A livery that could be real (ignore the writing on the back that says NAVY)

Controls

Standard airplane controls
VTOL down = Flaps (they don’t do much)
VTOL up = Folding wings
Act 1 = Carrier Hook
Act 2 = Dive/Speed Brakes

Takeoff

To take off, just use full throttle and pull up a bit until the plane gets off the ground.

Landing (not on carriers)

For landing, line up on the runway and lower throttle to about 25 percent. Once you are just a few feet above the runway, lower throttle to 0 and keep pulling up to hold the attitude until the plane touches the ground. After the plane is on the ground, keep pulling up a little bit until the plane passes below about 100 mph. Use brakes to stop if you want.

Landing (on a carrier)

To land on a carrier, line up and lower throttle to 25 percent. Once above the carrier, cut the throttle and try to touch down right on the wires.

Notes

For this plane I am really proud of the roundels and stuff, but I do not like the Navy writing on the back. It took me a long time to make and it still came out really odd. If you look at it from the right angle though, it looks ok (kinda). Yeah, I feel really bad about the writing. I’m not sure if I could have done much better, but it still turned out horrible and I do not like that. Maybe I will remake it once I know how to put letters on curved surfaces.
Also, the dive brakes are not just good for dives. You could also use them to slow down for an approach if needed.
Last note. I tried really hard to get the plane to a scale speed of around 500 mph, and I got that but only in a straight line. Also, I had to get the thrust to weight ratio way up to do this, so it can basically climb vertical for a long time. It loses speed when going vertical, but not much.

Screenshots!

And now the most epic one yet!