Blackbird686
"Beastmaster"

Thanks for the heads up, sir! Understand your reasoning, but at the same time... sad to see the doors close after all these years. (reckon Nigel and I will have to find another hiding place for all that ouzo we raided from young Matt's stash... :icon_lol:). Cheers -- BB686:USA-flag:

I recognize that Mirage IVP anywhere. Currently have a few of them in the "restoration hangars" awaiting the re-built teams. (Have yet to re-install them in FS) Superb work as always, Zsolt. :medals: BB686:USA-flag:

I LOVE IT!!! A really nice touch Garry. :applause::applause: BB686:USA-flag:

I made a low pass in a C-130 Herk over Niagara Falls after reading this.... yup... he's there. :salute: (look hard at the pic... you'll see him too). BB686:USA-flag:

One of the things that helps drive the popularity of any specific payware or freeware model, IMHO... is the amount of enthusiasm shown by repainters, as well as those who like to enhance the effects, and FDE's and whatnot. When I am in the market to buy a specific plane, I'll look on various sites for repaints, as well as comments about the model from other forums, and reviews... if any.... before I lay down the plastic. I'll also spend considerable time reading about real life accounts from the blokes who fly the real deal. I have the Tornado F.3, I like it a lot. I believe UKMIL has done some repaints for this plane too. It's an excellent representation of the F.3 in my opinion, the 2d and VC are very functional, the jet seems to fly accurately, as compared to the real F.3 and the visual model has exceptional detail. I like flying low and fast with the Alpha/Virtavia F.3 Tornado, and she seems quite manageable when executing that task. Suffice to say, I never painted this one... I just flew the jet with the paint it came with. My only regret is that Alpha/Virtavia didn't do a GR.4 to accompany the F.3... but I guess you can't have it all. BB686:USA-flag:

Nice work Zsolt!:medals: BB686:USA-flag:

For all of you out there flying that Idaho ANG F-89 Scorpion, there is a patch out there that puts the Star and Bar on the fuselage sides (possibly some squadron lettering too). After flying my copy of the F-89, it jogged my memory. ALphasim posted it on their (then) website. I'm looking for the patch in my archives now and will share it with me fellow Scorpion drivers upon request. EDIT: The fix I was thinking of is for the Alphasim F-89D 61st Fighter Intercept Squadron. That repaint was done by Bruce Martin. Seems that the Idaho ANG bird is missing that part of the textures too. I'll keep looking for that one. If you lot need the fix for the F-89D 61st FIS, just let me know. BB686:USA-flag:

Check your PM's Jagd.... "Happy Hunting" with the Virtavia model... you'll like it. BB686:USA-flag:

Just grabbed the C-17... Very satisfied with the way it flies. Quite agile for a big jet. :medals: The rest has pretty much been covered in the previous posts here. BB686:USA-flag:

Virtavia offers both FS9 and FSX versions of their models in one download over at Flightsim Pilot Shop. I have quite the lot, and they have come with models for both sims. Now, the C-17... I can't say that about because I don't have that one. Area51's models are very nice... I have the U2-S Dragon Lady for FS9 and the visual model is outstanding. EDIT: The Virtavia C-17 over at Flightsim pilot Shop is FS9 only. Just went over and read the docs on the plane. BB686:USA-flag:

You'll like the Ka-50, takes some getting used to but once you get the hang of the flight characteristics, it's a blast. Takes off and lands pretty much like a helicopter, but get that baby cooking along and you can roll and turn like a plane. (Actually, looping it is more like a flip, be sure there is sufficient distance between you and the ground!). I found some repaints for it at Flightsim, including fictional USMC, British Army, German Air Force... etc. There's a bunch. BB686:USA-flag:

I re-installed the Alpha Hunter lastnight, and was pleasantly reminded of what a sweet model it is. I also re-installed Dave Garwood's T6 Hunters, and the FR.10's, as well as the export variants of the F.6. The two planes complement each other nicely, both having advantages and features that the other may or may not have. Dave Garwood's Hunters are excellent models and are still flown regularly in my sim. Like the man said... the price is right. BB686:USA-flag:

I have the Alpha/Virtavia Hunter.... I always thought it was a good representation of the real plane, from what I have read and the photos I've seen. Not a lot of repaints out there for it tho... The VC suits my purposes, The gauges are clear and very readable. The jet flies easy enough and looks very nice in the spot. Keep in mind that the system I am running it on has a 4.0GhZ Processor and 1GB of dedicated video memory. Since re-installing FS9, I haven't placed the Alpha/Virtavia Hunter back in yet, but I definitely have plans to. The freeware alternative is Dave Garwood's superb Hunters. I complemented my Alpha/Virtavia Hunter with Dave Garwood's versions that Alpha/Virtavia model didn't offer. EDIT: I just went over to the Pilot Shop at Flightsim.com. At $6.25 you cant go wrong! BB686:USA-flag:

Just grabbed the Supermarine Scimitar... quite an unusual but nice looking plane. Handles like a dream and complements my British Cold War jet collection of Hawker Hunters, the Supermarine Swift, and a host of EE Canberra's. BB686:USA-flag:

Thanks for the HU Duckie!!! :guinness: I just grabbed the He-111, one I have had me eye on for a long time. Also considering the B-24 Liberator. BB686 (Insert American Flag here...)