FreeFalcon3 HotFix v1.0 is ready for you to download. No BT needed for this patch, its 4.5 megs. Below is a list of the things we have addressed. Run this .exe and it will install over the top of your FF3 installation.
A review of the new TrackIR 3-pro has been posted on SimHQ. Here is a sample:
The third version of the TrackIR arrived a week and a half ago and I have had the chance to play with it in games like WW2 Online, Lock On: Modern Air Combat, IL-2 Sturmovik - Forgotten Battles: Aces Expansion Pack and Flight Simulator 2004. These are similar games as the ones I used last year for the TrackIR2™ and it gives me a good ability to actually compare the two devices.
Of course two questions arise. Is the TrackIR3™ (in this case the TrackIR 3-Pro version I received) worth buying for the non TrackIR owner? The answer is probably pretty obvious based upon the previous review of it’s older brother, the TrackIR2. The real question should be; Is this device worth the cost of an upgrade, i.e., should TrackIR1 or 2 owners consider plunking out the price to get a TrackIR3? Well, read on and hopefully I can answer that question.
New versions of software have been released for the Cougar HOTAS.
This will come as a big surprise to most of you but no, you are not dreaming - The new Cougar software suite is now available! We are proud to introduce Hotas Cougar V3.00 and Foxy V4.00.
At the moment now there is a poll running in the Frugalsworld Falcon forum about SP4. It may have influence on the future of the SP releases, so come and vote on it.
The FreeFalcon Website has a new article describing enhancements to the Air Tasking Order in FF3.
After running several tests and having extensive experience with campaigns, the FF Team decided that using a “simple AI” method was more beneficial to the overall sim experience. When observing the chart below, users should notice that many missions are using the same altitudes as other similar missions types. This is by design and in many instances, the cruise altitude of some aircraft has been lowered from 30-35K ft AGL, to 25K ft AGL. This is for several reasons:
While in real life F-16s and other types of aircraft routinely can patrol at altitudes as high as 35K ft AGL, aircraft in Falcon 4.0 do not perform well when flying at those altitudes unless flying at higher than normal speeds. One of the problems seen in previous versions of Falcon 4.0, is the occurrence of aircraft getting caught in a “pitch-up” condition. This is caused by the combination of weight and drag of the aircraft, while flying too slow at too high of an altitude. This is particularly true of aircraft flying above 25K ft AGL.
Having similar cruise altitudes and speeds allows for better integration of strike packages in campaigns.
Users are reminded that there are many limitations with Falcon 4.0, and that while AI flights are being assigned similar waypoints, altitudes and speeds; human pilots always have the freedom to fly any way they wish.
The FreeFalcon website has posted an article on new planes to be release in FF3
The Free Falcon Team is pleased to announce the addition of over 20 new aircraft and helos to Falcon 4.0. One goal of FF3 is to bring the aircraft and weapons selections in Falcon 4.0 up to a 2005 standard. Several new aircraft and weapons are scheduled to become operational in the year 2005. Some of these are true 5th generation fighters like the EF-2000, Rafale-B & C and the F/A-22A. The JAS-39 and the Rafale-M are already in service with the Swedish Air Force and French Navy respectively. The new aircraft in FF3 represent months of research, data base work, modeling and skinning and should be good additions to TEs or campaigns. While there are some limitations to simulating new aircraft that have classified performance parameters, intense research was conducted in an effort to provide the most realistic simulations possible.
The FreeFalcon website has an article on the new weapons in the upcoming FF3.
FF3 will be featuring multiple new weapons that are intended to increase the realism of weapons loads and performance for aircraft not using traditional US or Russian weapons. These new weapons support many of the new aircraft coming in FF3 and the weapons loads have been researched to ensure the most accurate weapons loads possible. The Chinese Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft in FF3 have undergone a complete weapons change and adding in 2 new capable aircraft, now brings a more challenging presence to any campaign or TE designed with PLAAF aircraft. Another substantial addition to FF3 is multiple weapons currently used or planned for use by the Swedish Air Force (Flygvapnet) or for use on export versions of SAAB JAS-39s. SAAB has been making combat aircraft for many years and FF3 features the JAS-39 Gripen and three variants of the Viggen; JA-37 fighter, AJSH-37 attack jet and the SJ-37 Recon fighter. Some of the weapons featured in FF3 are not currently fully operational in real world use, but are expected to be available by the end of 2005. Users should understand that availability of real world data on some of these weapons is limited. New weapons added are based upon existing weapons already in FF2 with modifications made to accommodate known available data.
A new BDG version has been released for Rowan's Battle of Britain.
Our V098 update is now available for download!
It is again an all-in-one patch containing code and artwork changes. There are only two flavours:
The "full", approx 51MB download can be installed over any other BoB version, even the one from CD. The other version is to be applied over either 0.970 or 0.973 (or an older 0.98 for those that tested) and weighs in at approx 36MB. Download EITHER one OR the other.
It is a self installing process. The only thing to be careful about during installation is the path you install to, in other words, the path of the BoB exe.
For newbies that did not use 0.97x, it is recommended to run the new Settings Advisor program, located in the "BDGAdvisor" directory, after installation (and possibly a test flight). It is also highly recommended that a framerate of no higher than 25fps be selected.
Some Features of 0.98 are: - Too many artwork changes to mention. - New historic quick missions. - Select different squadrons in the quick missions. - Ability to add more 3D objects to the terrain. - Bug fixes.
