The latest "official" release of Jimi's (and his amazing team!) Hornet is the v16.1, and it works wonderfully!
Look in Jimi's sig for the link to it. If you can't find it, I'll post the link for you all.
Comes with an autoinstaller that permits you to choose the "loadout(s)" you desire to fly. Clean, with no pylons or external tanks, Training, with pylons and a centerline tank, A-A, with AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, A-G, with several different types of bomb loads, etc etc. The autoinstaller will install several folders for you, like a Base folder, required for all loadouts, and a folder for each individual load. Saves a lot of HD space doing it that way. The autoinstaller will also install the correct ,NET Framework version required by the Hornet_FCS.dll file to function.
Please note: during the .NET Framework installation, the computer may seem to freeze up, or lock up. It's not. The install is functioning correctly, it just takes while. Just let it run until it's finished. This file is vital to correct functioning of the FCS systems, so make sure you install it.
As to use of the flaps: Please note that the switch in the cockpit is eye-candy ONLY. It doesn't affect the flaps in the least. Use the default keys, F5-F8, to control the flaps, or assign joystick button(s) to the function. Use Flaps 1/2 (first step down, or F6) for take-off, and Flaps Full (2nd step down, or F8) for landing. After you get the plane into the air and climbing, retract the gear and flaps (F5) and fly away! And a real joy to fly away it is, too!
Make sure the aircraft gross weight is below 33k lbs for landing aboard the boat. If using an overhead recovery, approach the boat/runway close aboard to starboard, on the BRC, 800'AGL, 350 KIAS. As you pass the bow, make a level break turn, reduce the throttle to idle, and extend the speed-brake. As the plane slows below 250 KIAS (about 1/2 way through the turn to downwind), extend the gear and select Flaps Full. The plane will trim to 8.1° nose up, which is the correct pitch trim for landing. Control your sink rate with the throttle. Speed in the groove should be about 135 or so, with a sink rate of 700-800 fpm. The different boats have different ILS frequencies, with 47X for the default, 57X for the Nimitz v2, and so on. You can turn the ILS needles on with the HUD Control panel.
I just love this plane! I use the Training loadout, as with the centerline tank, I can fly a while, do aerobatics, ACM, etc, and then come down, place a boat with AICarriers (the .NET version!), set it in motion, and set the wind at about 10 Kts down the angle, for a WOD of 35 Kts, which is the correct amount of wind for the plane to trap. Then I can do carrier practice as long as I want. Which I do
If I'm feeling masochistic that day, I load up the vLSO program, too. I personally believe they have it in for me.
Great plane, and the AICarriers and such just make it a better experience.
Enjoy it all!
Pat☺
