Wilco Harrier (Download version released!)

[bazzar]

looking good there! Can i ask how the intake doors operate? Is it on throttle setting or some other trickery?

Because of the way the new system is set up, they operate on demand, together with Boundary layer bleed-air doors operating automatically at low speeds for extra manouevrability, using the "puffers". Can't say much more than that as I am bound to secrecy...

[bazzar]

Hello,

HUD will be collimated ???

Yes the HUD is collimated (well as far as FSX will allow) true collimation you'd probably want a spend abut $1M for...

[Stickshaker]

Yes the HUD is collimated (well as far as FSX will allow) true collimation you'd probably want a spend abut $1M for...

Great news Baz, thanks for sharing

[Motormouse]

A few comments have caught my attention..

twin sidewinder on GR.3's

Was going to be an option introduced on phase 7 upgrade; the wiring was all put there as part of phase 6 upgrade; also would provide option for a wingtip rail (akin to F16);
but Phase 7 got canned by intro of the new GR.5

inner pylons not removable

Certainly were removable; just wasn't an easily/quickly accomplished task; when pylon removed the harness was stowed in a 'blister' cover panel. Incidentally the Phase 6 upgrade introduced longer wiring harness to outer pylon too; (as well as white strobe lights; a Rad Alt and some other goodies) ; as the first Phase 6 wasn't done until 1983, the Falklands ones shouldn't have white strobes or rad alt either!

Aden pods

Fit was either pods or strakes; as combined with the small gear doors on main and nose gear; the space they enclose on lower fuselage forms an air 'dam' that increases lift in the hover by trapping rebounded (from ground) jet blast beneath the fuselage.
Incidentally some 'Falklands War' GR3's flew with an empty gun-pod converted to house the Blue Eric jammer (Google it).

VFF

Problem with VFF ; particularly for GR.3's was the fatigue life penalty that was applied;
IIRC each VFF was counted as 5 'normal' flights. Wings and fuselage were separate 'lifed' components; and would have to be swopped around regularly to even out the fatigue life consumption. The RN did practice VFF; but IIRC none of the air-air combat's in Falklands required use of the technique; the SHAR was naturally more agile.

ttfn

Pete


Ps How about the extended 'Ferry (wing) Tips' to go with the big 'Ferry' external wing tanks...

[Chris Sykes]

Certainly were removable; just wasn't an easily/quickly accomplished task; when pylon removed the harness was stowed in a 'blister' cover panel. Incidentally the Phase 6 upgrade introduced longer wiring harness to outer pylon too; (as well as white strobe lights; a Rad Alt and some other goodies) ; as the first Phase 6 wasn't done until 1983, the Falklands ones shouldn't have white strobes or rad alt either!

This could have been the SHAR only from pictures on the net it looks like the SHAR had the inner pylons on when the outer were removed???

[Motormouse]

This could have been the SHAR only from pictures on the net it looks like the SHAR had the inner pylons on when the outer were removed???

The phase 6 upgrades were to GR3's only; the SHAR was slated for a Phase 1; but those improvements were largely incorporated and superceded by the FRS2 re-build.

Now, to wings and pylons...(I spent my last 6 months in RAF overhauling Harrier and Sea Harrier wings; @ 1992); it was usual squadron practice for all four pylons to be fitted; and within that description, the two inner pylons would normally have external tanks mounted; leaving the outers and centreline to carry things wot go bang.

As Bazzar pointed out earlier there was a weight/performance balancing act to be performed; especially when certain flight profiles meant use of 'hover' modes; removal of outers (each outer pylon is @ 2 hours work to remove and/or fit) would be because the flight profile and planned load-out demanded it for weight-saving.

Inner pylons; although removable; were rarely removed once fitted as they took even longer to remove and/or fit.

Hope this helps.

ttfn

Pete

[AndyE1976]

Pete, you should write a book on this stuff, your insights into working with the Harrier are fascinating!

[bazzar]

When we started this project for Wilco, we thought, where the hell do we start? The amount of info one needs to accumulate and digest is enormous on this type of aeroplane.

Then of course you have to teach the sim not to be so silly and obey all these new commands.

Pete obviously has a vast amount of experience knowlege, we have just scratched the surface but have endeavoured to provide as realistic a simulation as possible. There will always be errors of some sort or another but that is what upgrades and patches do. As new info comes to light or as we learn more we can adapt the project.

It is interesting though. just how much knowlege we have to accumulate on different aircraft,from biplanes to airliners. We'd probably do well in a quiz show!

[peter12213]

One other thing I read in sharkey wards book was that they'd drop the nossels 80 degrees while keeping the throttle at idle with full flaps down on approach to the carrier to slow the aircraft, he actually says that it was like having 4 airbrakes but was different from a VFF, as soon as the speed started getting down around 120kts power would be applied, water injection switched on then finally the gear and airbrake would be deployed, really can't wait to fly the SHAR what a huge miss the aircraft is over here!

[SADT]

I havent the foggiest idea - What is "VFF"?

Craig

[bazzar]

Well, it's either the Vietnamese International Film Festival or...

Vectoring In Forward Flight. A technique used in VTOL aircraft whereby the ability to use vectored thrust is used to reverse direction or rapidly slow the aircraft allowing the "enemy" to overshoot.

As already mentioned earlier, VIFFíng was not really encouraged as it put enormous strain on the Harrier airframe, especially when carrying heavy payloads.

[wiltzei]

VIFF is used during the following clip.

[Motormouse]

we have just scratched the surface but have endeavoured to provide as realistic a simulation as possible. There will always be errors of some sort or another but that is what upgrades and patches do. As new info comes to light or as we learn more we can adapt the project.

It is interesting though. just how much knowlege we have to accumulate on different aircraft,from biplanes to airliners. We'd probably do well in a quiz show!

Likewise; the Harrier was an often frustrating beast to work with; they (over time) gained 'field modifications' that became standard ; such as trimming the last 2" off the ventral airbrake so it wouldn't touch the ground when the aeroplane heavily laden; and 'window' chaff packets being permanently fixed to inside of airbrake. (Phase 6 upgrade introduced the matra Phimat (google it!) pod capability to outer pylons btw Bazzar; although only one would be carried)

ttfn

Pete

[MDIvey]

pleasantly surprised to find download version is already available... very pleased. Great work AH

Matt

[Roger]

Yep! Download version released...

http://www.wilcopub.com/harrier-jump-jet-5928.html