******************************************************************
* NEW Realistic HUD for the Flight Simulator X Acceleration F/A-18 Hornet
* Version 1.0, November 29, 2009
* Jivko Rusev (jrusev@gmail.com)
*
******************************************************************
PACKAGE INFO
***************
The package contains a realistic head-up display (HUD) for the FSX Acceleration F/A-18 Hornet. It is an enhanced version of the original "FSX F/A-18 HUD and panel for use with Team FS KBTs Super Hornet" by Scott Printz. The original functionality Scott built into it is preserved, and the new features listed below are added.
A short demo of the HUD is available on youtube at the URL below, it contains some carrier landings, so check it out and don't forget to rate :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZplmhTGObQo
COMPATIBILITY
**************
This package is developed exclusively for the FSX Acceleration F/A-18 Hornet. If it is used in other aircraft, it's main feature - to be conformal with the outside world - will be lost. It can be used with Captain Sim's F/A-18D.
NEW FEATURES
**************
- The HUD symbology is conformal to the outside world: The horizon bar stays on the horizon and the velocity vector shows the correct flight path as read against the pitch ladder and the outside world. For example, if you keep your vector pointed at a certain spot on the runway, this is exactly where you will land. Note that because of the Earth curvature, the horizon bar should always be slightly above the visible horizon depending on the altitude.
- Added precise ILS and TACAN (more accurate version of VOR/DME for military aviation) navigation for aircraft carriers (including moving carriers). The carrier can be a mission carrier, a carrier following a schedule or one created with the AICarriers utility. The frequency for the default Acceleration carrier is 111 MHz or TACAN channel 47X. The frequency for Javier's Nimitz carrier is 112 MHz or TACAN channel 57X. The frequency is the same for ILS and TACAN, so you can have both ILS bars and steering arrow and dots displayed at the same time by selecting them from the HUD switch panel (Shift+2). The frequency is entered by pressing either the ILS or the TCN button on the Hornet Up-Front Control (UFC) panel, either button will have the same result of entering the NAV1 radio frequency selection mode. Then dial the appropriate freq on the UFC keypad either as a TACAN channel (only press 4-7-X for example) or as a normal frequency (press 1-1-1-0-0-ENT). The distance to the carrier is displayed in the right data block on the HUD followed by the letters 'TCN'. The heading bug on the HUD heading tape will show the current bearing towards the carrier. The ILS needles appear when you are within +/-35 degr from centerline. The maximum operating range of TACAN is 390 nm and the ILS reception is limited to 25 nm. In a CASE III approach (night landing or visibility below 5 nm) the OBS for the TACAN navigation is automatically set to the runway heading and in all other cases (day operations and visibility above 5 nm) it is set to the carrier course (Basic Recovery Course). The outermost dot of the steering dots represents 8 degr deviation from the selected course and the innermost dot indicates half scale deflection (4 degr). The dots are not displayed when within approximately 1.25 degr off course.
- Caged mode added: When caged, the velocity vector and pitch ladder will stay within the HUD viewable area, even with heavy side winds and sideslip. A ghost vector shows true flight path. Cage switch added on the Switch panel so caged/uncaged modes can now be easily switched. The default mode is 'uncaged' and the velocity vector shows the true flight path.
- Occlusion zone added around the caged velocity vector to hide the ghost vector when it is too close. In caged mode the ghost vector will not clutter the space around the velocity vector where there are other elements such as ILS bars, AOA bracket and energy caret.
- Pitch ladder smoothly transitions to the waterline when the velocity vector becomes off limits, and then slowly centers back on the vector when it gets within the limits of the HUD. There is a now gradual transition between the two modes of the ladder (pitch ladder and climb/dive ladder) rather than a quick snap.
- Elements with fixed positions on the HUD (bank scale, data blocks, etc.) repositioned to make the HUD look as close as possible to the real Hornet HUD.
- AOA indication (alpha) is not shown when there is an AOA bracket (gear down) and the velocity vector is within the bracket (AOA between 6.9 to 9.3 degrees). When the velocity vector is centered in the AOA bracket, the aircraft is flying at the optimum approach angle of attack (is "on speed") of 8.1 degrees. On earlier Hornet models, such as the one modeled in the simulator, flying On Speed (velocity vector centered in AOA bracket) on the HUD produces a Slightly Slow indication on the indexer lights. Use of either instrument to set up the optimum approach angle is considered acceptable.
- When the airspeed is below 50 knots, the pitch ladder is referenced to the waterline, and velocity vector sits on the horizon bar: When taxing on a runway, even with cross winds, the velocity vector stays fixed on the HUD centerline and the horizon bar.
RECOMMENDED ADDONS TO BE USED WITH THIS PACKAGE
********************************************************
I strongly recommend the "FSX Acceleration F/A-18 HUD Glass Mods" by Enrico B. The package will give your F/A-18 a more realistic look by replacing the default HUD glass texture with a more transparent glass with subtle lens reflections. The first version of the glass can be downloaded from any of the links below but look out for an upcoming more realistic version:
http://www.simviation.com/simviation/?ID=3881
http://www.SurClaro/kdl.php?fid=131668
http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=133901
INSTALLATION
**************
Follow the steps below to install the HUD:
1. Open the
folder located in <\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\FA-18> and make a backup copy of your Panel.cfg file!
2. Copy the contents of the folder contained in this package, to the folder located in <\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\FA-18>. You must now have the following three files in your FA-18 folder -> FA18_HUD_Switches.cab, FA18_HUD_VC_R.cab and Panel.cfg. The HUD is now installed for all textures of the FA-18.
3. I have included in the Panel.cfg entries for the standard GPS panel (Shift+3) and the Cessna Radio Stack (Shift+4). If you had any other non-standard gauges in your original Panel.cfg, you may have to manually make the appropriate entries in your new Panel.cfg.
USAGE
*******
The HUD will work in the virtual cockpit at any zoom factor. You can change modes through the Switch Panel by pressing Shift+2.
Full screen HUD for the 2D cockpit
***************************
The HUD is also projected in the 2D cockpit (cycle to the 2D cockpit with the 'A' key). The 2D HUD will be conformal to the outside world only at a zoom factor of 1.50, screen aspect ratio of 16:9 and 'WideViewAspect' enabled. If you have WideViewAspect disabled (which it is by default) and prefer a different zoom factor, or have a different aspect ratio, you can select a different size for the HUD from the Panel.cfg file by uncommenting the appropriate line in the [Window00] section (delete the '//' in front of the line). For example, if you have 'WideViewAspect' disabled, resolution of 1680x1050 (16:10) and prefer a zoom factor of 0.8, uncomment the following line in the Panel.cfg:
//gauge00=FA18_HUD_VC_R!FA18_HUD_VC_R, 339, 271, 345, 608 // <--- zoom_0.8, aspect ratio 16:10 (e.g. 1680x1050, 1920x1200) WideViewAspect=False
The 'WideViewAspect' option is set in your FSX.CFG file located in (you must have 'Show hidden files and folders' enabled):
C:\Documents and Settings\(your)Username\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX (in XP)
or
C:\Users\(your)Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX (in Vista and Win7)
You will not see more with this option enabled because the field of view is still determined by the screen aspect ratio, but it may prevent some distortions associated with wider screens or multiple monitor setups.
Note to TrackIR users
******************
The virtual cockpit HUD is conformal at the default eye position. With TrackIR the eye position changes constantly so you will experience a certain loss of conformality. To minimize this effect, you can reduce the y-axis sensitivity and increase the deadzone. Also, please read KNOWN ISSUES below.
KNOWN ISSUES
***************
The HUD is not collimated, which means that it will lose some conformality if the eye position is moved forward/backward or up/down by pressing the corresponding Ctrl+ and Shift+ combinations in the simulator, or you have TrackIR and move your head in the up/down direction. There is no problem to rotate your point of view or zoom in and out! To make sure that you have the default eye position at its original location (pressing Ctrl+Space resets your view to this particular position), please check in your Aircraft.cfg file (in the main folder) that your eye point setting looks like this:
[Views]
eyepoint = -17.0, 0, 3.5
If not, please correct it to the values above, they are the default ones from the original installation of the FA-18 and give the best view of the virtual cockpit.
CARRIERS IN MULTIPLAYER
**************************
The HUD ILS/TACAN system can also track a carrier in multiplayer, but only in the new Multiplayer Nimitz Mission by Orion Lyau. The mission can be downloaded on the major FSX add-on sites and Striking Software/FS Water Configurator website.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
**********************
Thanks to Scott Printz for the amazing HUD he created and his assistance in the development of the new features. At least 90% of the functionality in this enhanced HUD comes from the original HUD by Scott Printz.
BETA TESTERS
**************
The HUD would not be as complete as it is without the support and help of the people who took part in the beta testing and were very serious about this project. I'd like to thank:
- Christian "Sludge" Snow
- Sonofabeech
- Wilycoyote4
- Capthaltli
SUPPORT
*********
Please feel free to contact me (jrusev@gmail.com) if you have any suggestions on how to improve the HUD.
LEGAL INFORMATION
********************
This software is Freeware. It may be freely distributed, as long as no money is
charged for it, and none of the included files is removed or modified! Personal
usage is free. Using this software for any commercial purpose or inclusion of
any individual file from this archive in other projects is not allowed without
written permission of the author!
****************************
Thanks for trying it! I hope you like it.
Jivko Rusev
email: jrusev@gmail.com
****************************