FA-18 Model Avaialble in Future?

[Olgerd]

Hello Olgerd:)

 

Yes unfortuately it will probably be a number of years before the unclass NATIP manuals find their way into the public domain.

 

Regarding the technical manuals, I don't know much about these. I assume they don't contain operational procedure from the pilots/WSOs perspective? Or is the NATOPS/NATIP developed from the tech manuals in which case it could be information overload:book: :thumbup: ?

I any case I'm happy yourself and the team are finding the tech manuals useful. It looks like you've been shopping at CHQ:smilewink:

 

Blaze1

 

Right, the manuals were bought at CHQ. Technical manuals contain information about how various systems work and how to maintain them. There is nothing about pilot procedures.

Of course both pilot's procedures and tech manuals are equally usefull for the development, as they are explaining the same vehicle from two different aspects.

[Olgerd]

Olgerd, is this interesting?

 

Look from page 106.

 

Bye

Phant

 

Thanks, that is what I am talking about. Unfortunately there is only one page example with symbology.

[VMFA-Blaze]

Olgerd, is this interesting?

 

Look from page 106.

 

Bye

Phant

 

Right... but these documents are like the cover page.. what about the data that these pages are referring to.. Is it available, and if so from what source??

 

~S~

 

Blaze

[Blaze1]

Were the development team able to get all the manuals they wanted for the Hornet, such as the A1-F18AC-FRM-000 Fault Reporting Manual and the NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D?

 

Blaze1

[thaFunkster]

There was an F18 (Ex-Blue angels) for sale on E-Bay not that long ago. Did anyone here buy it? If so can you check in the glove box you might find that manual.

 

Are you for real?

 

Wow, imagine having that kind of money...

[Blaze1]

USN Tactical Manuals

 

Initially I had thought that all USN Tactical Manuals were classified, but that is not the case. The Harrier AV-8B has three Tactical Manuals, Volume I & II which are unclassified. Volume III is classified secret and contains information on Radar ECM, ECCM modes and Radar Performance, Defensive Systems, Weapons System specifics and Performance.

As I mentioned earlier the USN has switch for the most part to the NATIP/NTRP documentation format for their aircraft. The positive aspect from ED's point of view is that there is definately an unclassified manual (NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D). The downside is that these manuals are relatively new making them more difficult to acquire.

 

My underestanding is that the following F/A-18 manuals are possibly unclassified:

A1-F18AA-TAC-000, A1-F18AC-TAC-000 or A1-F18AE-TAC-000 Volume I &

A1-F18AA-TAC-020, A1-F18AC-TAC-020 or A1-F18AE-TAC-020 Volume IV. Volume II and III are classified.

 

These manuals are of the older format so Volumes I & IV may be easier to acquire (by easier I mean not quite impossible ;)).

 

Blaze1

Edited February 27, 2010 by Blaze1
I made a couple of mistakes labelling the Tactical Manuals listed.

[Vekkinho]

 

After discussing the issue with a flying buddy of mine he is willing to help by providing all the information you would need (with some restrictions). He knows the F-18 inside and out and would help you any way he could.

 

Silverfox

 

Now that you brought this up again...

huh...U sure this buddy approach should be used in creating modues for FC and DCS?!

[GGTharos]

ED has a bunch of projects they're working on ... even if you provide manuals and things that CAN be used (which is good, of course), you're still at the far tail end of the queue.

[VIKBELL]

This manual by it name is a maintenance manual to diagnose problem with the aircraft systems how to fix them.

"such as the A1-F18AC-FRM-000 Fault Reporting Manual "

 

I dont beleive this will help with the sim aspect of the F18.

[Blaze1]

This manual by it name is a maintenance manual to diagnose problem with the aircraft systems how to fix them.

"such as the A1-F18AC-FRM-000 Fault Reporting Manual "

 

I dont beleive this will help with the sim aspect of the F18.

 

It was mentioned that this manual can help with modelling the display symbology accurately.

 

Blaze1

[Olgerd]

Were the development team able to get all the manuals they wanted for the Hornet, such as the A1-F18AC-FRM-000 Fault Reporting Manual and the NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D?

 

Blaze1

 

A1-F18AC-FRM-000 - yes we have this one (however it is for A/B version).

NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D - still no joy.

[Olgerd]

This manual by it name is a maintenance manual to diagnose problem with the aircraft systems how to fix them.

"such as the A1-F18AC-FRM-000 Fault Reporting Manual "

 

I dont beleive this will help with the sim aspect of the F18.

 

As Blaze1 said it contains very complete description of HUD/DDI symbology. Btw, don't you think that systems' faults is an important part of a good simulation?

[Olgerd]

Initially I had thought that all USN Tactical Manuals were classified, but that is not the case. The Harrier AV-8B has three Tactical Manuals, Volume I & II which are unclassified. Volume III is classified secret and contains information on Radar ECM, ECCM modes and Radar Performance, Defensive Systems, Weapons System specifics and Performance.

As I mentioned earlier the USN has switch for the most part to the NATIP/NTRP documentation format for their aircraft. The positive aspect from ED's point of view is that there is definately an unclassified manual (NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D). The downside is that these manuals are relatively new making them more difficult to acquire.

 

My underestanding is that the following F/A-18 manuals are possibly unclassified:

A1-F18AA-TAC-000, A1-F18AC-TAC-000 or A1-F18AE-TAC-000 Volume I &

A1-F18AA-TAC-020, A1-F18AC-TAC-020 or A1-F18AE-TAC-000 Volume II

Volume II and IV are classified.

 

These manuals are of the older format so Volumes I & IV may be easier to acquire (by easier I mean not quite impossible ;)).

 

Blaze1

 

I was able to buy Harrier TAC manuals (unclassified volumes I & II) on Ebay recently.

[Blaze1]

I was able to buy Harrier TAC manuals (unclassified volumes I & II) on Ebay recently.

 

Nice to hear from you again Olgerd.:)

 

I also bought those manuals from eBay including the Tactical Manual Pocket Guide. Volume I is brilliant, it's just a shame there is nothing on LGB Employment.

 

BTW there's a mistake in my previous post, it should read: Volumes II & III (In relation to the Hornet) are classified. Volumes I & IV are unclassified.

 

Blaze1

Edited February 27, 2010 by Blaze1
Typo

[Blaze1]

A1-F18AC-FRM-000 - yes we have this one (however it is for A/B version).

NTRP 3-22.4-FA18A-D - still no joy.

 

It will be difficult to get hold of the NTRP 3-22.4 simply because they are so new, circa 2006 or 2008. This is why I think there may be more of a possibility to get the older unclassified NWP 3-22.5 manuals.

 

Blaze1

Edited February 27, 2010 by Blaze1
Typo

[Blaze1]

Reading some of Matt's comments regarding Electronic Arts' Baltimore team and their association with Janes, I must say they were incredibly fortunate/astute to forge a relationship with Janes. Judging by Matt's remarks as well those of C.J Martin from many moons ago, I take it that they had access to the classified manuals, but with the classified elements redacted. That is a massive coup and perhaps an unprecedented level of data for a commercial sim development team. Such a level of co-operation is like gold dust.

 

Blaze1

Edited February 27, 2010 by Blaze1

[Wags]

No classified manuals were ever used, just one that was arms export act controlled if I remember correctly.

[Blaze1]

No classified manuals were ever used, just one that was arms export act controlled if I remember correctly.

 

Cheers Matt :thumbup: I appreciate you putting me straight on that. I recall CJ saying that with Janes F-18 the data on NCTR was blanked out. With your comments about needing the A1-F18AC-TAC-010, I put two & two together and came up short.

 

Regarding a declass version of the manual, would one even exist? I doubt an FOIA request for a current airframe would be successful.

 

Blaze1

Edited February 27, 2010 by Blaze1

[Olgerd]

Cheers Matt :thumbup: I appreciate you putting me straight on that. I recall CJ saying that with Janes F-18 the data on NCTR was blanked out. With your comments about needing the A1-F18AC-TAC-010, I put two & two together and came up short.

 

Regarding a declass version of the manual, would one even exist? I doubt an FOIA request for a current airframe would be successful.

 

Blaze1

 

Yes it does. As I remember it is called 'Grey Book'.

Another example I know is foreign F-18 users. For example, Spanish Air Forces have the flight manual supplement with weapons systems descriptions - SAF TO (SP)A1-F18AC-NFM-100.

[Olgerd]

Nice to hear from you again Olgerd.:)

 

I also bought those manuals from eBay including the Tactical Manual Pocket Guide. Volume I is brilliant, it's just a shame there is nothing on LGB Employment.

 

...

 

Just courious. Are your manuals electronic, or paper copies? We have them partially on paper, and will need to scan them. :)

[Wags]

Yes it does. As I remember it is called 'Grey Book'.

Another example I know is foreign F-18 users. For example, Spanish Air Forces have the flight manual supplement with weapons systems descriptions - SAF TO (SP)A1-F18AC-NFM-100.

 

Yup. There are the Gray and Gold books (Legacy Hornet and Rhino) and I think they were FOUO. These days (post 9/11), I'm pretty sure they are Arms Export Act controlled documents.

[Blaze1]

Just courious. Are your manuals electronic, or paper copies? We have them partially on paper, and will need to scan them. :)

 

My copies are all completely electronic.

[Blaze1]

Yes it does. As I remember it is called 'Grey Book'.

Another example I know is foreign F-18 users. For example, Spanish Air Forces have the flight manual supplement with weapons systems descriptions - SAF TO (SP)A1-F18AC-NFM-100.

 

So is this Weapon Systems manual an unclassified compilation of the other manuals, or is specifically an unclassified/export version of the TAC-100? Even foreign users must have classified supplements for radar and weapons.

 

Perhaps the NFM-100 was the manual CJ was refering to.

[Olgerd]

So is this Weapon Systems manual an unclassified compilation of the other manuals, or is specifically an unclassified/export version of the TAC-100? Even foreign users must have classified supplements for radar and weapons.

 

Perhaps the NFM-100 was the manual CJ was refering to.

 

I am not sure, but may be it is some kind of substitute specially for foreign users. It should have classified supplement as well.

[Ramstein]

Just take an F-16 and add the speed of an F-111, with those swept back wings.. (wings that sweep for speed..)

 

and you have an F-18 with a Tail hook..

using the same avionics as the F-16..

 

:joystick: