Sim Skunk Works F-104s...freeware

***OBIO*** · April 25th, 2011, 16:41

Sim Skunk Works has released their earlier FS9 and FSX F-104 packages as freeware. You will have to register to get to the freeware downloads....took maybe 15 seconds to register.

http://www.vaafse.org/simskunkhome/

Now I can plug a hole in my Century Series collection.

OBIO

***Jagdflieger*** · April 25th, 2011, 18:00

Thanks for the heads Obio.

Quite a week for fast movers. First the Voodoo and now the Starfighter.

**Flyboy208** · April 25th, 2011, 20:30

Flew one tonight - got to read the manual before you fly this jet ... A realistic , and immersive simulation of the F-104 , great job on the developer's behalf ...Mike

**ZsoltB** · April 25th, 2011, 20:52

Usual good shots!

Zsolt

***OBIO*** · April 25th, 2011, 23:43

I keep breaking my landing gear on take off. I need to read the manual and get the flight parameters for this bird dialed in.

One thing I have noticed about this plane....when you engage the after burner....you notice it BIG TIME. A lot of jets, when you kick in the AB, simply pick up a bit more speed over time...this bird simply tries to shoot out from under you when you hit the Shift F4 key command....especially on a take off run.

OBIO

**PeteHam** · April 26th, 2011, 02:19

Thanks for letting us know about this freeware Tim

Man it sure is a handfull ..... fast but fun

Don't know whether I'd be game to fly the real one though ...... I've scared myself a few times tonight with this one

Pete.

**Blackbird686** · April 26th, 2011, 03:19

Nice find! I am soooo partial to my Capn' Sim 104, this will be a nice addition. Thanks for the HU!

BB686:USA-flag:

***WarHorse47*** · April 26th, 2011, 04:30

I need to read the manual and get the flight parameters for this bird dialed in.

Manual for FS9 version? I'm still looking.

--WH

**paul day** · April 26th, 2011, 04:54

I think the F104_check.htm HTML Document has most things covered.

Regards Paul Day.

***Sunny9850*** · April 26th, 2011, 15:46

Have not had a chance to fly this one yet...but it sure sounds like they got the FDE right. After all the 104 was not an easy airplane to get used to. A honking big engine strapped onto a diminutive airframe with itty-bitty wings.

A friend of mine who flew the Starfighter in the Luftwaffe still gets this big grin on his face when ever the topic comes up. To say he loved that bird would be an understatement.
:ernae:

Stefan

***WarHorse47*** · April 26th, 2011, 17:09

Originally Posted by paul day

I think the F104_check.htm HTML Document has most things covered.

Regards Paul Day.

You think? No, it doesn't cover it for me. At my age I need pictures showing me where all the dang switches are located.

On my last and only flight, a couple gauges weren't functioning so I likely missed something. And when I came in for a landing, I almost went inverted when I pulled down the flaps. I'm not going to do that again. :salute:

I read in the FSX forum that there is a manual, but its with the 3rd package which is for FSX. So, my response to OBIO was to see if I missed something, somewhere.

Thanks

--WH

***OBIO*** · April 26th, 2011, 18:20

I downloaded the Pilot Checklist from the site...haven't read it yet. I'm a kick the tire and light the fires kind of guy....while I do appreciate and respect all the work that goes into making a sim aircraft perform like the real deal with all the systems and switches and dials and doodads, I don't fly most planes often enough to remember which switch I flick first, second, third,which way my tongue is supposed to be sticking out while I push in the clutch peddle, if my eyes are supposed to be crossed or not when I slam the glove box door shut, etc etc etc. There is a really nice Mig-21 by someone that is superbly done, but I have NEVER managed to get the darn bird fired up to fly it. So, I just sit in it on the runway and make Woosh, Zoom sounds with my mouth.

OBIO

***WarHorse47*** · April 26th, 2011, 19:17

Tim, I can just picture you sitting in that rocking chair going ZOOM, ZOOM. LOL..

--WH

***Tom Clayton*** · April 26th, 2011, 20:15

Great addition to any hangar!

Tim - that jar of paste is for sticking new release threads, not for eating!:isadizzy:

***Tom Clayton*** · April 26th, 2011, 20:21

If you just ran the installer to your FS install, you'd better check your FSUIPC version. It put an older version into my temp install folder.

**nigel richards** · April 27th, 2011, 13:16

Originally Posted by Tom Clayton

Great addition to any hangar!

Tim - that jar of paste is for sticking new release threads, not for eating!:isadizzy:

Finally added an F-104 worth having following Tom's recommendation, thanks!
Hope you liked the Easter present too!(icon:treetops:icon)

Thanks OBIO(icon:big juicey bone:icon)

**Wild Bill Kelso** · April 27th, 2011, 13:48

Hmmm - to be honest, the Zipper never really was my kind of aircraft.
Too skinny in my eyes...

But considering the sparkling in Chuck Yeager's eyes in "The right stuff" when he first saw the 104 at Edwards, I must admit that there's something about this manned propulsion tube.

Is there a G version with tip tanks included?

Cheers,
Markus.

**nigel richards** · April 27th, 2011, 14:07

Originally Posted by Wild Bill Kelso

Hmmm - to be honest, the Zipper never really was my kind of aircraft.
Too skinny in my eyes...

But considering the sparkling in Chuck Yeager's eyes in "The right stuff" when he first saw the 104 at Edwards, I must admit that there's something about this manned propulsion tube.

Is there a G version with tip tanks included?

Cheers,
Markus.

Just the clean S version. But I'd love to see this in one of your paints Markus, and take this opportunity to say thanks for the growing number of skins released by yourself lately! Particularly appreciate the Buffalo schemes.

***OBIO*** · April 27th, 2011, 14:21

Originally Posted by Tom Clayton

Great addition to any hangar!

Tim - that jar of paste is for sticking new release threads, not for eating!:isadizzy:

I started eating the paste back in 75. Haven't kicked the habit yet.

Tim

**pfflyers** · April 27th, 2011, 14:33

This by far the nicest freeware F-104 I've seen.

Has anyone got the attitude indicator to work?

**Pluto12** · April 27th, 2011, 14:39

Hi to all.....
I am happy to see that our work is appreciated.....Thanks!
I can suggest to download the freeware Checklist...they are for the FSX model, but they can be used also for the Fs9 model......there are minor differences!
The main Attitude indicator and the PHI are connected to the LN-3 Inertial Platform as in te real plane, and they must be aligned before the Takeoff...You can find the platform panel on the right console...

Unfortunately the next version of our Zipper will be only for FSX...and so the G version which is planned in the two variants MAP and Consortium....

regards

Emanuele

**nigel richards** · April 27th, 2011, 15:05

Originally Posted by Pluto12

Hi to all.....
I am happy to see that our work is appreciated.....Thanks!
I can suggest to download the freeware Checklist...they are for the FSX model, but they can be used also for the Fs9 model......there are minor differences!
The main Attitude indicator and the PHI are connected to the LN-3 Inertial Platform as in te real plane, and they must be aligned before the Takeoff...You can find the platform panel on the right console...

Unfortunately the next version of our Zipper will be only for FSX...and so the G version which is planned in the two variants MAP and Consortium....

regards

Emanuele

The gratitude must be ours! Great plane, great flyer!

Smoothie! - you HAF to have this one!

**Matt Wynn** · April 27th, 2011, 16:21

Nigel.. i HAF it... and yes it's on the books to go into my paint hangar... the bad news is theres a backlog of Raptors (IRIS work), F-15's, C-47 and a Tornado right in front of it... no starting it up and shuffling my queue around... Tim you really need to lay off the paste man, the superiors are wondering why we've used a years worth or paste in 1 month!

i'm enjoying flying this when i get some free time... not buggered up yet and flown it into the Dirt i'm proud to say...

i'll leave this here as inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1gUnXFb9yM

**pfflyers** · April 28th, 2011, 10:49

If anyone would like a USAF repaint for this nice airplane check out post #28 in the FSX thread "Sim Skunk Works zippers as freeware".

Zsoltquack whipped one up for the FSX version, but he did it in bmp format. All you need to do to use them on the FS9 model is rename them:

F104_T_01.bmp becomes F_104_001.bmp

F104_T_02.bmp becomes F_104_002.bmp

F104_T_03.bmp becomes F_104_003.bmp

The other tex (F104_T_11.bmp) for the pilot is not supported in the FS9 version.

I installed it and it looks good. Maybe there will be more repaints soon (hint, hint).

I'd love to see a GAF camo version.

**Wild Bill Kelso** · April 29th, 2011, 06:17

Thanks for the video, Smoothie!
Was a little surprised to see those german 104s without tiptanks (I've always thought they were quite mandatory on iron-crossed Starfighters...) - no more reason for me to resist parking her in the paint shed...

@ Nigel:
Thank you for your kind words! Much appreciated! :salute:

Package is already downloaded, now I'm eager to tame this beast...

Btw - an old german joke from the 60ies goes like this:
"What do you have to do to acquire a Starfighter?
Buy a vacant lot and wait!"

Cheers,
Markus.