MiG21bisFishbedL

Pretty much. It was derived from the G, but it had some notable changes. The CF-104 was Canada's big punch as they were organized into reconnaissance and nuclear strike squadrons as opposed to interceptor squadrons. At the time, that job would have fallen to the CF-100 Canuck and CF-101 Voodoo. Of note, are the initial omission of the gun in favor of more fuel storage and a NASARR R-24A in lieu of the F-15A-41B. The R-24 only had A2G capability at the start of the CF-104's life while the 104G's F-15A-41B had both air-to-ground and air-to-air capability. This was because the RCAF used its CF-104s as both recce and nuclear strike platforms. With changes to Canadian military and foreign policy in the late '60s, the CF-104s we reorganized into conventional attack squadrons. With that, they got their guns at the very least. Some sources I find state that the R-24A was upgraded to include an air-to-air mode, but I can't verify that. I'm pretty sure they never carried the AIM-9, but I'm almost certain they had the capacity.

This. This is what I want. What were the F-104S's derived from? A/C's or G's?

The most likely option: The F-105G as the Spanish flew it and it saw quite a wide spread proliferation across the world. The Patrician option: The F-104A. The option I'd take because I know it'd make a lot of people salty with me: CF-104.

Thanks for that clarification. The loss of the gun isn't too unusual. The Canadian CF-104s didn't have guns, initially. Their radars were A2G, as well. They removed the gun for additional tank space for longer range, but the Canadians used their Starfighters as recce and nuclear strike until (I could be wrong, if a Canuck or Starfighter obsessive wants to correct me, please do) starting in 1970 when they were converted into recce and ground attack, then just purely ground attack.

The F-104S's had an uprated engine and access to Sparrows. They weren't that much different from the G. That said, I totally agree with you. Often times, those latest and greatest versions of Cold War fighters were stop-gaps, meant to keep squadrons flying so that its replacement can be procured.

Easily. Purchased, that is. I def would.

They have stated a third party is able, in the recent past. Of course, that might have changed, full admission on my part. I've been told that the MiG-29 is totally, super duper possible by certain posters here and none have ever come back with any proof when asked. So, I'm just providing my own disclaimer!

¡El fantasma!

Golden age doesn't equate to perfect.

I'm not sure one should define a golden age by sales values from our perspective as consumers and the enjoyers of video games. After all, in the early 1980s, North America saw (what was at the time) record sales of video games only before the entire market collapsed. A lot of money was exchanged, but there was a lot of crap out there. To pick out a golden age, you need to really sort of balance not just the popularity of a particular genre, but also the variety and quality of what is on offer. In that regard, we've got the potential to be in one, currently. But, it's also key to remember that you will rarely ever recognize a golden age while living in that time. Our natural negativity bias does a really good job of ensuring that. But, the facts are that DCS has not only provided multiple Falcon 4.0 study sim experiences for a number of airframes spanning almost a century of flight, but also unified them into a piece of software in which all of these aircraft experiences can coexist in a single ecosystem. That, itself, is pretty damn remarkable. We also have a number of other sims, like the IL-2 series, to select from. We have good offerings all around and an even greater ability to form and mold communities around them. But, is it perfect? Of course not. Is it truly golden? That, I can't say. I'm but one person, one perspective. But, it's still pretty good. ED would do an immense amount to preserve this momentum by maintaining their current price point for content and simply continuing to support DCS World. If and when MAC drops, we'll have to see what impact that my have. I can imagine it'll probably be positive.

Which one would that be?

What would they gain? Given all of the content already in DCS, a DCS 2 would be a hard sell to utilize unless you just port that content immediately into DCS 2. That would be a monumental undertaking.

What makes you think schlock film producers asked for permission for anything?

Yeah, unless the round velocities fixed, too, it's a bandaid on an avulsion. There's literally no excuse for it not to be. Curly did all the work for them.

We've been trying to get this fixed for years now. It just ain't happening, ED doesn't want to for reasons that are yet to be clarified in any manner.

I think I might have overthinned the silver for some of the topside details, but I'm still pleased with my Trumpeter Jiaolong. This thing flies. Underwater!

This is a great post.

I can hear the game engine already screaming in agony.

This is pretty neat and also hilarious with all the malding and hand-wringing about "fake" jets. It's not as if the J-8II, itself, ceased to exist once China decided to back out of the Peace Pearl program.

It's always a matter of time before someone points out the COMBAT in the title. No matter what the topic is. Personally, I'm eagerly awaiting the day when ED decides to publish DCS for my E6B so I can post about it being DIGITAL combat simulator, not ANALOG.

I think that's a function of DCS more than RAZBAM's development. The MiG-19 and MiG-21 both enjoy stupendous braking that render their drag chutes useless. It'd be nice if we got some actual runway icing effects.

Personally, I'm looking forward to getting a MiG-21bis.

Helluva gift.

IFF is one of the most sensitive topics of military aviation. It might just be that simplification is all that can be done. As of countermeasures, I'm curious to that one, too.

YOUZ BETTA NOT BE MUCKIN' ABOUT, YA GIT! IF YOUZ AIN'T LOOTIN' OR FIGHTIN', YOU'Z MUCKIN' ABOUT AND YOU'Z GONNA GIT A GUD KRUMPIN'! Surely you jest, for the exploits of Ciaphas Cain, hero of the Imperium, are anything but comical!