The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and leased by Australia.

The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry over 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The later F-4 models incorporated a M61 Vulcan rotary cannon.

The aircraft can carry a wide range of missiles and is able to load suitable missiles to the hardpoints. Some of these are animated. You may select which missiles are loaded in Surveyor.  It is set up for carrier operation similar to the FA-18 models.

The pictures show the Australian aircraft under afterburner, and with landing gear extended.

Animated Actions

• horn sound H key is the Vulcan cannon firing, or trigger setting 1;
• fire the missiles in sequence, use the B key, or trigger setting 2;
• flare the aircraft for landing or on takeoff, use the V key, or trigger setting 3;
• tyre smoke on landing, use trigger setting 4;
• drag chute deployment on landing, use trigger setting 5;
• reduce aircraft speed for landing so the wheels lower, use trigger setting number 6;
• deploy tail hook for carrier landing, use trigger setting number 7;
• catapult launch, use trigger setting number 8;
• trapping on landing (instant stop), use trigger setting number 9;
• bolter – overshoot arrester wires, relaunch – use trigger setting number 12.

A typical sequence of track triggers using DCC control for landing at a normal runways is:

• place a trigger on the approach track to an airport, trigger 6 to reduce speed and lower wheels;
• trigger 3 to flare the nose up for landing;
• trigger 4 at touchdown point for tyre smoke;
• trigger 5 just after, to deploy drag chute;
• trigger 3 again to lower flared nose;
• trigger 9 to stop aircraft further down the runway.

For operation on the Aircraft Carrier Nimitz (a static scenery item) download the Carrier Operaton demo map and session to explore track and trigger layout to launch and retrieve aircraft. It is set up for the FA-18 aircraft. The pictures below show the US Navy Phantom, as used on the Carrier USS Midway.

The Mikoyan MiG-29, NATO reporting name Fulcrum is a fourth-generation jet fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations.

The aircraft can carry a wide range of missiles and is able to load suitable missiles to the hardpoints. Some of these are animated. You may select which missiles are loaded in Surveyor. The new Russian missiles are products available separately.

The pictures show the Mig-29 in action and under afterburner, firing missiles.

Animated Actions

• horn sound H key is a machine gun firing, or trigger setting 1;
• fire the Alamo AA-10, Aphid AA-8 and Adder AA-12 missiles (default setup to the missile animated hardpoints) in sequence with multiple presses of the B key, or trigger setting 2;
• flare for landing or takeoff – use the V key, or trigger setting 3;
• tyre smoke on landing, use trigger setting 4;
• drag chute deployment for normal landing, use trigger setting 5;
• slow the aircraft for landing to 40% of maximum speed, so the wheels come down, use trigger setting 6;
• stop the aircraft after landing, use trigger setting 9.

A typical sequence of track triggers using DCC control is:

• place a trigger on the approach track to an airport, trigger 6 to lower wheels;
• trigger 3 to flare the nose up for landing;
• trigger 4 at touchdown point for tyre smoke;
• trigger 5 just after to deploy drag chute;
• trigger 3 again to lower flared nose;
• trigger 9 to stop aircraft further down the runway.

Pictures show the aircraft loaded with animated missiles, and landing with the nose flared at 7 degrees and the drag chute deployed. A second paint scheme is available.

The first model is of the older Boeing 707 passenger aircraft in Lufthansa colours.

Its derivative, the E-8C military aircraft is a Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, known as the Joint Stars aircraft.

The E3B 707-300 is the ”Sentry”, AWACS Early Airborne Warning System with automatically rotating radar dome.

They will load passengers and goods, and will flare on landing, use the V key. They emit smoke from the wheels on landing, trigger setting 4.

The Hawker Harrier vertical takeof (jump jet) is a close support fighter. Used by the RAF, the Sea Harrier version was used by the Royal Navy. A larger variant was used by the United States Marines as the AV8 series. While it can take off vertically this limits the payload so a short takeoff run is usually employed.

The models are of the British GR Mk1 version and the AV8B USMC version. The American version carries more weapons than the British one.

The model lifts off using the H key, the engine nozzles rotate as the aircraft accelerates. the wing tip wheels retract to trail backwards in flight. Initially the aircraft is fully configured with appropriate missiles, the user can change the missile mix in Surveyor.

Missiles are fired using the B and V keys, other aircraft carrier functions such as catapult launch and trapping on landing are operated by track triggers. Refer to the Aircraft Products page for details on loading the aircraft.

The A10 is a ground attack aircraft with a relatively low speed. The model has an automatically retractable undercarriage based on aircraft speed.

It has a nose mounted Gatling gun operated by the horn button. This is known for its distinctive sound. It will fire missiles and flares.

The new Aircraft Action Trigger by Boat can be used to trigger these actions on the aircraft, kuid 76656:24050.

Updates to aircraft include landing gear retraction based on aircraft speed, and configured to work with the Aircraft Action Trigger. Two versions of the A10 are available.

A10 Animation

The A10 has an animated Gatling gun operated by the Horn “H” key, fires two Paveway smart bombs using the Bell “B” key, and it also fires flares to the rear using the sanding “V” key.

An Australian F111C number A8-144 in camouflage. It has:

automatically retracting landing gear; automatic sweep back of the wings;
missiles using the B key;
flares using the V key;
tyre squeal on landing, using the track trigger number 4 setting;
Gatling gun using the H key – note the Gatling gun option was removed from the Australian versions;
night afterburner using the light key L.

F-111C Afterburner

This effect kicks in automatically at 400 kph. I think it is quite realistic.

Note the missiles on the swept wing are also rotated to face the correct direction as the wing sweep angle changes.

There are two liveries available, the camouflage and an RAAF grey.

F-111C Afterburner at Night

While the afterburner can be seen at night, there is an additional brighter effect operated by the light key L. This superimposes on the day effect and there is some realistic flicker in the effect.

Note that the use of the night effect is independent of speed and remains visible at any speed. It does not show if turned on during the day.

Since the AI turns on the lights when an aircraft moves, the night afterburner effect will be on at all times under AI unless you turn them off – in Driver Ctrl Right click and set Lights to “Off”.

F-111C Drag Chute

The F-111 has a drag chute, deployed by the trigger number 5 setting. It lasts for 8 seconds then vanishes.