Strike Fighters II is a great option for jet combat simulation (sim-lite really). A different experience to IL-2, BMS, and DCS (or at least Lock-On, my pc can't handle DCS), but definitely has it's place IMHO. Ground textures are awful, and mission building doesn't hold a candle to IL-2, but the aircraft models are gorgeous and the 'fun-factor' is enormous if you can handle the sim-lite aspect. The stock campaigns are great fun and dead-set easy to plug and play. Best for 60's and 70's jets, doesn't model more modern avionics very well.
A real thrill for me has being 'flying' both these aircraft on my pc. This pic is from a joint RNZAF/USAF exercise (TRIAD '76) when I was ten years old. My father had a (refrigeration engineering) contract on-site at RNZAF Base Ohakea and wangled a visit where my brother and I were able to sit in the cockpit of one of these F-4s on the apron. A-4Ks are "Models" in RNZAF vernacular (the TA-4K two-seaters are "T-birds") and are available as DLC from ThirdWire:
https://store.thirdwire.com/store_dlc.htm The F-4 "Rhinos" are great fun to fly and fight in Strike Fighters, with the radar in boresight mode, loosing off Sparrows and Sidewinders at the MiG menace (just keep the energy up, they dogfight like a bus!). One of the USAF pilots gave my family a copy of this publicity photo back in '76, since lost to time, but I recently found this version online.
Here's some tips for a lightly modified install:
Extract the HUDDATA.ini from the FlightData.cat (cat file extractor can be downloaded from the Third Wire tools and utilities page here:
http://www.thirdwire.com/downloads_tools.htm ) and make a couple of edits to improve the appearance of the game (making it less "arcadey"). This is from a previous post at KiwiSim.net:
Edit HUDDATA.ini:
[Font]
TextFontName=Arial
TextSize=14 <--------------------- smaller fonts make for a more tactical and less cartoonish info display. Would be interesting to experiment with the font too.
[SmallLabelFont]
TextFontName=Arial
TextSize=10 <-------------------- same here
Same thing in MESSAGESYSTEM.ini:
[Font]
TextFontName=Arial
TextSize=14 <---------------- here
The edited .ini's drop in to the 'Flight' folder in your mods folder.
The indicator cones are probably the worst 'sim-lite' offender (to me anyway) and the game looks much better without them. Just edit them out in HUDDATA.ini:
[Display001]
DisplayType=DIRECTOR
ObjectType=TARGET_ENEMY
ConeSize=25
BoxSize=10
BoxType=SQUARE
BoxColor=1.0,0.0,0.0,0.75
ConeModelName= <---------------------- leave the line blank after the "=" and NO ConeModel is loaded by the game engine. Hasta la Vista cones!
[Display002]
DisplayType=DIRECTOR
ObjectType=TARGET_FRIENDLY
ConeSize=25
BoxSize=10
BoxType=SQUARE
BoxColor=0.0,0.0,1.0,0.75
ConeModelName= <---------------------- and here
[Display003]
DisplayType=DIRECTOR
ObjectType=NEXT_WAYPOINT
ConeSize=25
BoxSize=10
BoxType=TRIANGLE
BoxColor=1.0,1.0,1.0,0.75
ConeModelName= <---------------------- and here
[Display004]
DisplayType=RADAR
PosX=0.865
PosY=0.015
Width=0.125
Height=0.16666667
Alpha=0.60
InitTime=2.0
[Display005]
DisplayType=DIRECTOR
ObjectType=RADAR_TARGET
ConeSize=25
BoxSize=10
BoxType=DIAMOND
BoxColor=1.0,1.0,0.0,0.75
ConeModelName= <---------------------- and here
I left the indicator boxes and waypoint triangles stock. I think they look quite tactical, and are worthwhile for the improved SA (squinting would only ruin my youthful complexion).
I've got the HUD Display and Visual Targeting options set to NORMAL, and subtitles OFF in the sound options. The game looks 100% better from stock, and plays really nice IMHO.
Dealing with SAMs 'n MiGs can be tough, and the best tip is to get down in the dirt in threat areas. I like to make my wingmen into elite lo-level ingress and egress specialists by modifying our aircraft for low-level AI flight, like this example (previously posted at CombatACE for the awesome F-104 mega pack):
Lastly, JaBo staffeln are elite units in my view, and low level ingress and egress are an important element in their tactics, so I have edited F-104G_GAF_DATA and F-104G_82_DATA for low-level AI flying. Extract the data from your own AIRCRAFTAIDATA or use mine (Jul 2013 standard). I inserted mine beneath [FlightControl] section :
[DogfightNovice]
SafeAltitude=35//500 <--------------- minimum safe altitude 35 meters/100 feet, this setting is quite aggressive, if your aircraft are crashing try 60 meters
LookoutAngle=90
DefensiveAngle=60
ChanceDefensiveTurn=0
ChanceBreakTurn=10
ChanceHardTurn=50
ChanceTurnDirection=25
ChanceContinue=100
ChanceCheckNewTarget=5
ChanceUseVertical=0
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=2.5
RQIRMFireAngle=5.0
ASIRMFireAngle=10.0
RHMFireAngle=5.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0//0.6 <--------------- this setting is also quite aggressive, you may be able to reduce it to 0.8 if you have increased the minimum altitude to 60 meters
MissileDetectChance=10
MaxCannonRange=3500
OptimalCannonRange=1000
MinCannonRange=500
MaxRollForGunAttack=45
CannonBurstLengthShort=1.0
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.5
MaxRudderForGunAttack=0.5
MaxRudderForManeuver=0.7
[DogfightGreen]
SafeAltitude=35//500 <--------------- minimum safe altitude 35 meters/100 feet, this setting is quite aggressive, if your aircraft are crashing try 60 meters
LookoutAngle=120
DefensiveAngle=90
ChanceDefensiveTurn=0
ChanceBreakTurn=40
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=50
ChanceContinue=100
ChanceCheckNewTarget=10
ChanceUseVertical=0
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=2.0
RQIRMFireAngle=7.0
ASIRMFireAngle=7.0
RHMFireAngle=10.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0//0.8 <--------------- this setting is also quite aggressive, you may be able to reduce it to 0.8 if you have increased the minimum altitude to 60 meters
MissileDetectChance=40
MaxCannonRange=3000
OptimalCannonRange=800
MinCannonRange=250
MaxRollForGunAttack=60
CannonBurstLengthShort=1.0
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.5
MaxRudderForGunAttack=0.8
MaxRudderForManeuver=0.9
[DogfightRegular]
SafeAltitude=35//500 <--------------- minimum safe altitude 35 meters/100 feet, this setting is quite aggressive, if your aircraft are crashing try 60 meters
LookoutAngle=150
DefensiveAngle=90
ChanceDefensiveTurn=0
ChanceBreakTurn=80
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=50
ChanceCheckNewTarget=25
ChanceUseVertical=10
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=1.3
RQIRMFireAngle=8.0
ASIRMFireAngle=10.0
RHMFireAngle=15.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0//0.9 <--------------- this setting is also quite aggressive, you may be able to reduce it to 0.9 if you have increased the minimum altitude to 60 meters
MissileDetectChance=80
MaxCannonRange=2500
OptimalCannonRange=700
MinCannonRange=200
MaxRollForGunAttack=75
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.5
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.0
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0
[DogfightVeteran]
SafeAltitude=35//500 <--------------- minimum safe altitude 35 meters/100 feet, this setting is quite aggressive, if your aircraft are crashing try 60 meters
LookoutAngle=150
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=50
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=50
ChanceCheckNewTarget=45
ChanceUseVertical=50
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=1.0
RQIRMFireAngle=9.0
ASIRMFireAngle=15.0
RHMFireAngle=20.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2250
OptimalCannonRange=600
MinCannonRange=150
MaxRollForGunAttack=90
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.5
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.0
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0
[DogfightAce]
SafeAltitude=35//500 <--------------- minimum safe altitude 35 meters/100 feet, this setting is quite aggressive, if your aircraft are crashing try 60 meters
LookoutAngle=180
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=75
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=25
ChanceCheckNewTarget=50
ChanceUseVertical=100
FightWithoutAmmo=1
CannonFireAngle=0.8
RQIRMFireAngle=10.0
ASIRMFireAngle=20.0
RHMFireAngle=25.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2000
OptimalCannonRange=500
MinCannonRange=100
MaxRollForGunAttack=180
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.25
CannonBurstLengthLong=0.5
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0
The Bundesluftwaffe F-104 is one of my favourite aircraft in Strike Fighters II, you can find out more, including how to get the dual rocket pods working properly, here:
http://combatace.com/topic/87748-sf2-f-104-starfighter-super-mega-pack-2016/
I use the low-level tip for all my wingmen: similar to IL-2, the AI wingmen can be pretty flakey, but to win a campaign you have to help them survive. Flying Hi-Lo-Hi missions you can get in, get the job done and get out again with your wingmen alive. When your wingmen aren't engaging targets they will try to match
your altitude, even if you've become separated; ingressing and egressing at low altitude keeps everyone out of the SAM envelope, and the MiGs will struggle to engage you at low-level giving you a viable method to disengage from combat once the mission is achieved. At low-level even my non-ECM, non-RWR, non-countermeasures DLC A-4Ks can survive SAMs and MiGs in the "Rolling Thunder" and "Linebacker" Vietnam campaigns. Terrain following with your wingman looks dope too!
Another fun and easy mod is to customise loadouts (even assymetric loadouts) to simulate the operating procedures of your favourite squadron. This is from a previous post at KiwiSim.net about a series of T-6A Texan "Training Range" missions:
It's easy to create a custom load-out, and then edit the mission to include your custom load-out by 'default' for that particular mission.
To create a 'BDU-33' low-drag practice bombing load-out, just go to the Objects/Aircraft/T-6A folder and open the T-6A_LOADOUT.ini file in Windows Notepad.
Copy the [Attack] load-out and edit it to include the BDU-33 practice bombs. I kept the machine-guns and drop-tanks in my loadout so I can loiter over the range and have some strafing practice too:
[BDU-33]
Loadout[01].WeaponType=SUU11
Loadout[01].Quantity=1
Loadout[02].WeaponType=SUU11
Loadout[02].Quantity=1
Loadout[03].WeaponType=Tank_PC-9
Loadout[03].Quantity=1
Loadout[04].WeaponType=Tank_PC-9
Loadout[04].Quantity=1
Loadout[05].WeaponType=BDU-33
Loadout[05].Quantity=1
Loadout[06].WeaponType=BDU-33
Loadout[06].Quantity=1
Note: the 'name' of the weapon comes from the line 'TypeName=BDU-33' in the BDU-33_data.ini file (in the Objects/Weapons folder).
Now you can go to the Missions folder and edit the .MSN file (in Notepad again). Find the line:
Loadout=RECON
... and change it to:
Loadout=BDU-33
Restart the game and mission and - viola - practice bombs by default for the mission. You can customise your other missions likewise. For mine, this feels a bit more realistic to me when firing up a mission - it's not like the pilot normally gets free reign to pick any weapon he likes from his nation's arsenals - so I like it a lot this way!
All the best!
KB
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Topic: Strike Fighters II - an option?-for classic jets? (Read 11338 times)
