DSB Design Northrop F-20 Tigershark in FS2002 - HUD Wanted

[A_Nonamus]

I recently found the DSB Design F-20 Tigershark (dsb_f20.zip) by David Brice et al. which at most sites is identified as being for FS2004 only. However, in the .zip is a .pdf manual (DSB Design F-20 Tigershark Manual.pdf) which in its System Specifications section lists "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 (Professional or Standard Version) OR Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004", with the caveat included later that "The F-20 Tigershark HUD is designed by DSB Design and is a freeware HUD which is only compatible in FS2004. For other HUD solutions for the F-20 relating to FS2002, please visit the DSB Design Forums."

Unfortunately, the referenced website <http://www.dsbdesign.com/forum> is dead, and not archived by the Wayback Machine <http://web.archive.org/> due to its webmaster blocking it with the robots.txt file - a problem I seem to be encountering rather frequently lately.

Does anyone know what HUD replacement was recommended for FS2002 users, and where I could get it? Or another FS2002 HUD, possibly generic, that would be good for this single-engine Mach 2 U.S. fighter jet circa 1982-85?

[jgf]

The F-20 was originally FS2k2 payware, it was updated for FS9 and released as freeware; many earlier gauges, especially radios, radars, and HUDs, didn't work well in FS9 (even causing CTDs) and have been lost. Any HUD from a similar aircraft, such as an F-5, should work well.

The DSB FS2002 Hawk (dsb_lift.zip in the library here) states, "A Gmax model of the Hawk LIFT from DSB Design features working HUD in virtual cockpit mode...", that might be a good place to start.

[A_Nonamus]

Thanks for the help, I'll start there. I was actually looking for a 2D panel view HUD, since flying VC in FS2002 means learning a bunch of distracting keystrokes or using windows to get functionality.

[jgf]

A gauge doesn't care whether it's on a 2d panel or in the VC, it should work equally well. Many newer aircraft are VC only, but I prefer a 2D panel for landing, so I either take a screenshot of the VC or find an online photo and make a panel then transfer all the gauges. Haven't had any problems yet.

[A_Nonamus]

Thanks again. I'm starting to learn to modify and make panels, so I can get away from the "stretched gauges" and too-small out-the-windshield view on a widescreen monitor. Some aircraft work rather well by simply modifying the panel.cfg to adjust the main panel's aspect ratio and size and put it in the lower left corner, while at the same time making the radio stack and GPS popups visible by default, sized and positioned to fill in the space remaining to the right of the main panel -- I don't mind so much if the radio stack and/or GPS needs to be stretched a bit, especially since the GPS code always displays the map undistorted. So far I've done 6 "pseudo-widescreen" panels this way, and one true widescreen panel (for the Rutan VariEze by Rans14). But now I'm getting off-topic...