Sim Skunk Works AERITALIA LOCKHEED F104 S "Zipper"High Fidelity single-seat all-weather interceptor aircraft Add-on for FSX/P3DCompatibility: FSX (ACC PACK), Prepar3Dv3/4
Compatible with both TacPack and vACMI (required to have weapon working)
All models require at least vACMI installed (vACMI is freely downloadable from SSW site)
Home Page vACMI TacPack Combat System F-104S complete flight manual here SIM SKUNK WORKS is..
".. a group of experts simmers for many years acting into the flight simulation field. We are aircraft engineers, programmers, CAD specialists, experts in computer graphics, former real fighter pilots, both military and civilian aircrafts pilots, that have decided to pool their expertise to produce highest fidelity software for flight simulators."Sim Skunk Works AERITALIA LOCKHEED F104 S "Zipper"The Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter was a licensed production Italian version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, which served in the Italian Air Force (AMI, Aeronautica Militare Italiana), and was the AMI's mainstay from the late 1960s until the beginning of the 21st Century. The F-104S also served in the Turkish Air Force until the mid-1990s. The F-104S was the final development of the Starfighter line.
Derived from Lockheed's design studies on a "Super Starfighter", the F-104S was one of the most capable of the F-104 series, and destined to be the last in service worldwide. The F-104S (upgraded to ASA/M standard) was retired from service in October 2004.
The F-104 was the brainchild of the same man who would later design the worlds fastest plane, the SR-71 Blackbird. Clarence Kelly Johnson
This Sim Skunk Works Aeritalia-Lockheed F-104S for P3D v4 provides highly detailed and frame-rate-friendly models with fully animated virtual cockpits in both single player and multiplayer versions. Both are fully compatible with TacPack and vACMI.
Almost all systems work as they do in the real-world aircraft and flight dynamics are 99% accurate. Features include Dynamic Drag Index System, NASARR R-21G radar, Litton LN-3 inertial navigator, dual timer bombing system and scenery of two air bases in Italy.
MODEL Highly detailed model, fully animated
Highly detailed 3D cockpit, fully animated and working
Frame rate friendly in single and multiplayer, it comes in two versions:
- 'SOLO' for single player use
- 'UBUNTU' optimised for multiplayer
Complete 3D-lights systems both internal and external, no flaws on low visibility
TEXTURES Complete Italian liveries set in different tone and aging with new 'Redux' technology
Bump, speculars applied (SOLO model only)
Complete paintkit available for painters
SYSTEMS Almost all real systems have been modelled and are working as the real thing
Flight dynamics modelled 99% close to the real aircraft, fully tested and validated by qualified real F-104 pilots, DDIS (Dynamic Drag Index System)
Fully functional NASARR R-21G radar, A/G and A/A mode
Aerodynamic pitch up, inertia coupling and BLC system reproduced
Payload drop actually changes aircraft weight and balance
Inertial navigator Litton LN-3 fully implemented
Dual timer bombing system
Special weapon delivery system
Conventional weapon system, rocket launch, AA missiles launch system (requires vACMI) , TacPack and vACMI compatible.
weapon system requires at least vACMI installed; vACMI is free of charge.
WEAPONS ON MULTIPLAYERModel is optimised for Multiplayer; it loads, drops/launches MK82/MK83/Rockets/Gun, launches AIM9/AIM7; weapon drop/blast and missile launch are visible both in single and multiplayer mode with no or negligible FSX server clogging (tested and verified with up to 10 players and 25 weapon, bandwidth load remains below 80 KBytes).
vACMI is freely downloadable from SSW site.DOCUMENTATION/OTHER Model comes with complete documentation:
- Normal/emergency/weapons procedures pilot checklists
- Real 300-page aircraft manual patched to be fully used with the model
- Other useful docs
Highly detailed sceneries of two Italian airbases (Rimini and Istrana)
All version 7.x upgrading and patches at no cost
Fully detailed paint kit available for painters (to be published later)
GPL (restricted) licensed
SOLO/MULTIPLAYER CONSIDERATIONS (SOLO vs UBUNTU)UBUNTU models are optimised for multiplayer environment; fuselage has less than 80,000 triangles, no bumps nor specular maps still maintaining an excellent graphical quality, it does not require great rendering resources and is frame rate friendly.
UBUNTU models can be used with more than 10 players with no or little frame drop; above 20 players frame rate is still acceptable on high end machines.
SOLO models can be still used in multiplayer as well, however they do have more complex fuselage, bump and specular maps. We suggest that you do not fly with more than 6 players with SOLO models. The installer let the user also install UBUNTU models or not.