CFS2,FS2000/2002,and FS9 A-26 Invader attack bomber
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Douglas B-26 Invader
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The A-26 was developed from a 1940 Army Air Forces request for an attack aircraft to replace the A-20, B-25 and B-26 Marauder bombers then entering service. Drawing heavily from their A-20 Havoc design, Douglas built three Invader prototypes for the light bomber, night fighter and attack roles envisioned by the Army. The first of these, the XA-26 light bomber variant, flew on July 10, 1942.
The A-26A never made it to the production line. Although the flight trials were successful, the XA-26A was never put into production, since the Northrop P-61 Black Widow night fighter which had already been put into production had a similar performance and was deemed to be adequate to meet the USAAFs needs.
Two Invader models were built; the A-26B had a six- or eight-gun nose, while the A-26C used a glass nose for a bombardier or camera equipment. The first 500 A-26B models were built at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, California, while another plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma built most of the 1,091 A-26Cs delivered. Frustrating production delays due to a lack of tooling, project engineers, poor communications and numerous change orders prevented the plane from entering service in mid 1943, as had originally been planned.
Invaders entered World War II in mid-1944, when four were evaluated by the 5th Air Force in the South Pacific. With a top speed approaching 400 mph, the A-26 was the fastest U.S. bomber of the war. The A-26B flew into combat on November 19, 1944, with the 9th Air Force in Europe, and deliveries to Pacific-based units soon followed. Besides the bombs (in the bomb bay and under the wings) and gun turrets with two 50-caliber machine guns, the B26Bs were equipped with 14 forward-firing 50-caliber machine guns (8 in the nose and 6 on the wings). The B26C replaced the nose guns with a bombadier and a Norden Bombsight. Many C-models also replaced the turrets and gunners compartment with a shoran/radar compartment. The 3rd Bomb Group used both B-26Bs and B-26Cs. Both models carried a full bomb load, both internally and under the wings. Some specially modified aircraft were equipped with a wing-mounted searchlight early in the War. Others were specially equipped to drop propaganda leaflets or illumination flares.
In June 1948 the A-26 was redesignated as the B-26, after the similarly-designated Marauder had been retired from service. Although obsolete, the Invader distinguished itself in the night interdiction role in Korea, and flew the first and last USAF bombing missions of the war. The highly versatile plane was used for bombing, reconnaissance, transport, and night interdiction, primarily with the USAFs 3rd Bombardment Wing.
The B-57 Canberras arrival in 1954 resulted in the Invaders first phase-out, and the last ones were retired from Air National Guard (ANG) service in 1958.
Serving in Vietnam
B-26s were taken from storage and modified for counterinsurgency and reconnaissance service in Vietnam. In 1964, extensively modified B-26K Counter Invader variants again entered the war. Flying their last combat mission in November 1969, the last Invaders were again phased out of ANG service in 1972. Several planes were lost, especially in Nam, due to wing failure and one of the mods in the K was to beef up the wing.
Technical Information:
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Type: Attack bomber
Powerplant: Two 2,000 hp (1491-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 Double Wasp radial piston engines
Performance
Maximum Speed: 355 mph (600 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4750m)
Climb (Initial): 2,000 (610) ft /min
Service Ceiling: 21,100 ft (6736m)
Range: 1,400 miles (2253 km) with max bomb load
Weights:
Empty: 22,370 lb (10145 kg)
Max Overload: 38,500lb (17460 kg)
Dimensions
Span: 70 ft (21.34m)
Length: 51 ft 3 in (15.62m)
Height: 18 ft 3 in (5.56m)
Wing Area: 540 sq ft (50.17m2)
Armament
Up to 22 X 0.5-in (12.7mm) machine guns
Bomb Load: 4,000lb (1818 kg
Credits to
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-Ed Wilson - GZR "Groundhog" did the primary models, the VC, the interiors, and the primary modeling.
-JP Demmerle - GZR "Graywolf"did all the bitmaps for the cockpit and all the textures for the exteriors.
-Charles "Chuck" Dome did many original gauges specifically for this A26 model. All were built from scratch and they are much appreciated.
-A number of other gauges are used including the gryphon switches and gauges and several others whose origins are lost.
-Ivan Hsu for the MDLC MDL Converter, used to adapt the animations and the mdl to CFS2.
-Alphasim for their freeware ALPHA A-26A CFS2 addon weapons.
NOTE: The designers of some gauges,Ed Wilson and JP Demerle could not be located . Should there be any concern about the use of some items, please notify me and proper credit shall be given.
CFS 2
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The exhaust effects are automatic.
Bomb doors are opened/closed by the spoiler key or the Bombdoors.gau from the panel.
Every engine can be started/stopped from the cockpit or by the keys.However it is easier to start using the E key.
Prop pitch and mixture can be used for any engine or separately.
Read the kneeboard from your cockpit to get more info.
FS8/9
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The following effects are automatic;
-Exhaust from the engines.Flames at 40% throttle and smoke at about 70%. Wing vortices at 3G.
-Guns flashes, smoke and cartridges.You can experiment changing the triggers.I use the strobe (O) key, adapted to the trigger of my joystick.
Bomb doors are opened/closed by the spoiler key or the Bombdoors.gau from the panel.
Every engine can be started/stopped from the cockpit or by the keys.
Prop pitch and mixture can be used for any engine or separately.
Read the kneeboard from your cockpit to get more info.
Flying the models
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They are powerful flyers with good manoeuvrability and high speed.
1. There are a number of pop-up panels that are operated by either standard icons or toggle switches or both. The following is a list of those panels:
a.Gunsight- functionnal in CFS2 but not used in FS8/9 but you can have it up or invisible for atmosphere.
b.Control Yoke and Hydraulic Hand Pump
c.Radio Stack- Standard set of Comm 1 &2, Nav 1 & 2, ADF, DME, Transponder and Audio Panel
d.Navigation Panel and Autopilot,Speed and Altitude indicator, Directional Gyro,and Lear Autopilot.
e.GPS gauge for CFS2 Europe, Pacific and FS8/9.
f.An external 'formation' view with 3 other A-26s.
2. In CFS2 you have the bomb load counter, showing you the number of bombs onboard.
3. In FS8/9 you have the WEP button to allow for War emergency power.
THE VIRTUAL COCKPIT: Ed Wilson created all The Virtual Cockpit and Interior views.Full Panning is supported and all the instruments function in the VC view.The control yoke and throttle quadrant also feature-moving parts. Be sure to check the interiors of the wheel wells and bomb bays in exterior view. You can Zoom in or out in VC view to change perspective from the cockpit.
SOME NOTES ON USING THIS MODEL:
1.There are some general notes on how the A-26 should be operated in the 'check' files within the model folder
2. The use of instruments is the same as any other aircraft. You might find it convenient to open both the radio stack and the Navigation panel to set up your flight.
3. The autopilot is fully functional.Selecting NAV on the autopilot will cause the Autopilot to follow the VOR heading if one is selected and in Range.Selecting NAV on the autopilot with a GPS track as your flight plan will track the GPS leg.Selecting HDG on the autopilot will cause the airplane to turn to the heading.
4.The Spoiler key '/ ' will open and close the bomb-bay. There is a light on the right side of the panel (on the small sub panel) that will light up when the bomb-bay is open.
LEGAL
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DISCLAIMER
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There is no warranty, guarantee or liability of any kind, and the authors of the contents of this archive are not liable for any problems on software or hardware you may encounter while using this software. You use this software at your own risk.
COPYRIGHT
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The copyright related to the contents of this zip-archive is property of the authors .
This software product is freeware. You may repaint or perfect this model for the enjoyment of all virtual pilots. You may upload this file to another website as long as it is not for profit and that the website provides free access.
You need the written permission of the original authors to use any of these files for commercial purposes.
Any commercial use of this product is prohibited including any form of display.
This file should not cause problems with your computer, but I accept no responsibility if you think it does.
DISTRIBUTION
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The very moment you download this zip archive you accept the following contract.
- In any case of redestribution NO CHARGE may be made.
- In any case of redistribution it must be made clear that this software product is FREEWARE and who is holding the copyright, a simple credit would be nice.
- Among private users the archive must be distributed , including this Copyright.txt file.
- Any changes or additions introduced must be made distinguishable from the original contents.
