SuperKermit

I really would like to know how that performance comparison would look like with the F-104S with its additional power!

Will there be an AIRIO version for Heatblur's upcoming F-4E?

I'll put together a more elaborate answer for you tomorrow. @IronMike Would you mind elaborating on the different versions and what the differences between the DCSG/DMAS flavours are? I could not really find a comprehensive explanation on the net. Many thx in advance!

Did you buy the RX 7800 XT and are you using it with DCS now? Is it possible to max out all settings?

I really would like to know as well how the RX 7800XT performs in DCS! But judging the recent MS Flight Simulator Benchmarks it should be quite good!

Thx for the clarification! I'll go with the same configuration as soon as the units are available in Europe!

Did you connect it to the STEM or does it need a separate USB connection?

From https://flightsimcontrols.com/product/stecs-stem-standard-throttle-extension-module/ „Only one STEM can be installed per STECS“

P.S.: I also saw that video and wondered, how he managed to get that fluent behavior. I tried to use his settings (“virt” in the button setup) but did not get it to work.

Well, same with mine. It is not as fluent as an analogue axis, but it is good enough.

I do not own the throttle, but I have a NXT Joystick with the encoders at the base. I use one of them as a virtual zoom axis. Wouldn’t that work as well with those on the throttle?

Great documents, Ivan! Thanks for bringing them up! I wonder whether these numbers include the usage of flaps. Probably not?

Well, if one would have all the E-M data something like that diagram on page 13 should be possible. I also like the depiction of the relative performance on page 10 where the color coding shows the relative gain in energy. But for the 104 data we will probably have to wait for the DCS flight model.

Absolutely amazing indeed! Many thanks for the data compilation and clarification, @Smyth! I really would love to see a version with the -19 engine as that version brings the concept to the boil: an aerial hot rod

Quite remarkable btw, that the flight manual of such a complex aircraft only has 226 pages. The manual of a C-182T has almost twice the count!

How would you judge the 104s vertical capabilities vs the other fighters?

That would be roughly over 25k ft when M0.85 starts to become <360 kts.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely believe that you are approaching that matter neutrally. I just find it quite interesting by how much even “official” documents differ sometimes in their data. Looking forward to that! The F104 and F4 are both equally exciting IMHO!

The F-4s maneuverability is impressive indeed! But the F-4 numbers in your charts seem to be a but higher than the ones in the E-M diagram I posted above. How would you explain that? Just the different loadout? BTW, that’s impressive work @Smyth!

Great input from everyone here! It is a pleasure to follow that constructive discussion! I really appreciate that! Many thanks

That is also my interpretation of the data I have at hand!

These are amazing documents! I especially love the included drawings in the first one, relating to the „Zeitgeist“ of that time! Big thanks for that! The different depictions of flight performance data however make comparisons quite difficult..

Here is the E-M diagram for the F-4E (slatted or not idk) - 7g sustained at M0.8 (515kt). That would give the edge to the 104.

Does anybody have access to E-M diagrams for the Zipper? Everywhere it is stated that its turn performance was so bad, but if you compare its corner speed and corresponding load factor with that of an F-4 it does not seem so bad at all. I guess the S-version should be even better. That topic is discussed here for instance, but I would like to compare some data.

So what do you think has changed? For the better or worse?