_BringTheReign_

Same here brother, same here...

Heatblur HQ on December 23rd 11:59pm UTC

Couldn't have said it better myself, amen!

+1 curious as it has been a while since we heard anything @NineLine - love the F-5E it is my daily driver, hoping to hear about some bugfixes/improvements!

I remember hearing that the release of the module will come "a few weeks/months" after teasers start dropping, so if we saw some sort of spooky halloween Phantom teaser my internal clock would start ticking for Christmas/the holidays haha

I have been working on something special for my fellow Phantom Phans for about a year Still ironing out the last of the kinks before releasing the files for free Will include a BOM and video build guide I 3D modelled this myself off of an actual B-8/MC-2 grip laser scan I hope to release before HB releases their phantom so that fellow Phantom Phans and all century series lovers can fly their jet/heli with a 1:1 scale grip! Here is a funny video with a (very very very) early prototype/rough print showing the hilarious upper limit of button expansion with this system:

I can only get so hopeful for the spooky on spooktober I tell myself December 31st so I can sleep at night though hahaha

lmao! Gotta focus those powers!

You're right - I was confusing it for the D - mea culpa on that one

I'm going to post my youtube comment on that video here, I encourage Phantom lovers to have a stiff drink on hand So much is wrong here. This video started off ok but then took a very strange nose dive after the 6:00 mark (no pun intended). 6:20: Initial F-4's delivered to the Navy and marines did not include laser bomb guidance systems. 7:03 The F-4N upgraded variant of the B pre-dated the J 7:20 What is "operational lock on capability?" Acquiring, locking, and FIRING on a target without a human in the loop? Is this a confused misinterpretation of the VTAS system? That's my best guess at what happened here in the research phase. Or are you referring to semi-active radar guidance for missiles? In which case, that was not pioneered on the F-4J, or even the F-4 in general, it pre-dates the F-4. 5 seconds of google will clarify what SARH is, (and the pilot still needs to pull the trigger or pickle it off, folks) 7:44 No, the F-4N is a further development of the F-4B, and pre-dates the J. The S is a post-Vietnam upgrade of the J 7:50 How specifically did smokeless engine improve the reliability and aerodynamic capability? The performance of the engine was better, but not necessarily because it was smokeless. This is confusing 8:20 The F-4S did not serve in Vietnam 9:03 No. Incorrect. Iran does not operate F-4J's. They received F-4D's, followed by F-4E's and R-F4E's. They have never operated an F-4J. 10:33 Easily outmaneuvering and outshooting the MiGs after improvements to the equipment and pilot training. The initial reputation wasn't that good, and that is an important part of the history of the Phantom that directly led to the creation of TOP GUN by Dan Pederson and the rest of the bros. Would have been a nice tie-in here 10:47 What specifically about the Phantom was modular? It wasn't any more modular than other fighters, upgrades like slats and radars required substantial re-fit, it wasn't like you could just snap things on and off like lego. 11:11 From birth the F-4 Phantom was fitted with a PULSE radar, not a DOPPLER radar. It did see a doppler radar in later variants, but it absolutely did not start life with a doppler radar, this is just plain disinformation 11:28 You said meters per second but the screen shows mph 11:47 EIGHT air to air missiles total, not twelve. 4 sparrows in recessed fuselage nacelles, and 2 pairs of sidewinders on the inboard pylons. The Navy variants had launchers on the inboard pylons as well that could fit one sparrow each as well, so a total of 6 sparrows, or 4 sparrows and 4 sidewinders. Unless you're referring to some modern frankenjet, there is no ordnance chart of a phantom with more than 8 A2A missiles 11:58 Initial production versions of the Phantom did not have a cannon. Initial prototypes did have colt cannons, but these were removed from the design. This is what was controversial - it was a fighter that went into production and hit the fleet without a gun. There are plenty of other sources that discuss this so I won't get into it here, but the way you present it in the video is incorrect. 12:10 Which historians? 12:29 Interesting that you mention this here, but you never once mention the F-4E anywhere else in the video up until this point, especially given that was the definitive export version and the backbone of the USAF until the Eagle came along 12:41 I am going to start a drinking game where every time someone says that their jet drivers coined the term "speed is life" I take a shot, as well as "one pass, haul ass". These did not originate in the Phantom community 12:45 in truth, it was true - Phantom drivers kept their speed up to both achieve their best rate speed, and out-energy their MiG counterparts with their thrust to weight gained from the J79's. Also, at 10:33 you literally said the exact opposite statement and you don't back it up either time lmfao 13:03 I think at this point my sanity is slipping away - THE F-4 PHANTOM IS NOT AND HAS NEVER BEEN THE PRIMARY TRAINER OF THE USAF OR NAVY 14:45 They weren't RE-designated the F-4G, the F-4G WAS the wild weasel. YGBSM! 15:23 ………. No. Just no. They retired it in 2004. Phantoms are going strong in Turkey and Greece however. I need a drink

Amen brother hahaha

Loved the episode, thank you Cobra for all the candid answers to our questions!

I feel the same way - at least for the first little while, I doubt I will fly anything else because I have been waiting so long for this. I used to fly War Thunder simulator battles (shudder) and the moment they added the Phantom, I didn't fly anything else until I discovered DCS and transitioned entirely. I miss scratching that itch but War Thunder isn't even worth having installed given their business model...

After the F-4E models as advertised, I am most excited for a similar vietnam vet/post 'nam combo module - primarily a J and S. The F-4 was a navy bird first, so a navy variant would be lovely! A slightly later variant also fits the existing maps we have in DCS as well. That being said, if we had a historical S.E.A. map I would be the first and the loudest for F-4C/D and B/N modules!

Thank you for the clarification - it's not mean at all hahaha Super excited for the E module, potential J/S module, and any other future modules of any kind you have in store, F-4 or otherwise!

"Use the force, Luke"

That's awesome! Can't wait to do that from the back seat of the F-4 haha

Out of curiosity if someone wanted to make a mod with these assets, what would be the best place to learn more about these units?

First and foremost on everyone's mind, and a bare minimum for any F-5E update: Bug fixes Crushing of the longstanding bugs Throttle scheduling RWR HSI Instrument Drift Flight model inaccuracies Etc (add below) New Art Cockpit improvements to be up to par with existing ED modules Possibly cockpit dimensions for simpit builders (pretty please?) Wishlist items Refueling Probe Would allow for longer range missions Would enable more variety in mission planning Maverick capability Allow for greater potency in ground attack role Would incentivize more sales of the F-5E module 4x AIM-9 stations Some F-5E's were wired for AIM-9's on the outboard wing pylons Would enable more for a dedicated A2A loadout Gunpods F-5E's were tested and could carry a 30MM gunpod Napalm When this gets added to DCS, would be great to see for the F-5E as well If the F-5E only includes bugfixes/new art, this should be a free/regular update. If the F-5E update includes new capability as per the list above, a conceivable $10 chargeable upgrade is acceptable.

This is terrifyingly relatable

I would love cockpit dimensions/scans as I would love to build an F-4E pit! I would not be disappointed if someone (not necessarily HB) made a SEA map!

I wonder how much systems, re-playability, and campaigns factor into this. The majority of DCS users prefer singleplayer according to ED, but the F-5E and MiG 21 have fewer campaigns and fewer capabilities than something like a Hornet... or a Phantom(s) for that matter!

As part of the F-5E improvements coming this year, I would humbly like to request the following: Optional Air Refueling Probe, as this was a purchasable option for the F-5E, and would allow for more variety with mission planning Raw scan or measurements of interior cockpit dimensions, for those of us (like me!) who wish to build an F-5E sim pit Thank you for your consideration!

I have to disagree here and I understand that this thread has now become a seesaw lol. It is a whole new plane - different cockpit, different avionics, weapons. That's research, time, and lots and lots and lots and lots of money. For something that does not have the same appeal to a mass audience as a USAF or Navy variant. I understand the appeal of a modernized variant, but it's a rabbit hole that can best be serviced by excellent mod teams. For example, why does the F-16 SUFA mod exist? For the same reason folks here want modernized Greek/Turkish/Japanese/etc Phantoms - because your country flies it, or you just think it's cool, etc. But ED would never make an F-16 Sufa module, because it wouldn't sell as much as a USAF F-16. And ED won't likely ever make an F-16 Sufa, because why would they spend development dollars on something like that when they could make another bespoke airframe and generate revenue that way. Same goes here. No, the current break down makes the most sense - F-4E, F-4E DMAS, and later possibly a J/S.