Search the Community

/images/notams/notams19/iron0410/iron0410.jpgBack in April,Flyingiron-Simulations announced their Lockheed F-117Nighthawk and showed some basic non-textured work in progressscreen shots.Additional picturesof the "very early WIP" stage were later offered. Today they have released some additional pictures showing the ACES 2materials within X-Plane: /images/notams/notams19/iron0613/iron-1.jpg /images/notams/notams19/iron0613/iron-2.jpg /images/notams/notams19/iron0613/iron-3.jpgSource

/images/notams/notams19/iron0410/iron0410.jpgJust a few weeks ago,Flyingiron-Simulations announced their Lockheed F-117Nighthawk and showed some basic non-textured work in progressscreen shots. Today they've released what they still term as "veryearly" WIP images, but the cockpit shown is now in color and quitedetailed. /images/notams/notams19/iron0430/f117-1.jpg /images/notams/notams19/iron0430/f117-2.jpg /images/notams/notams19/iron0430/f117-3.jpgSource

/images/notams/notams19/iron0410/iron0410.jpgToday we are very pleased to be announcing our latest and greatestdevelopment project, the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk. The F-117 Nighthawk has become an icon of US military aviation;legendary for the secrecy and mystery surrounding its surreal andunique design. Immediately recognizable from its triangularflying-wing design, the F-117 is truly an aircraft of sciencefiction. We are extremely excited to be bringing one of the firsthi-fidelity Nighthawk simulations to the flightsim community andgiving pilots a chance to experience the thrill of flying this trulyunique aircraft, and to start unraveling the mystery that surroundsone of the most secretive aircraft of all time: the Lockheed F-117Nighthawk. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-3.jpgGeneral Information [From Wikipedia]The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is an American single-seat,twin-engine stealth attack aircraft that was developed by Lockheed'ssecretive Skunk Works division and operated by the United States AirForce (USAF). The F-117 was based on the Have Blue technologydemonstrator. The Nighthawk was the first operational aircraft to be designedaround stealth technology. Its maiden flight took place in 1981 atGroom Lake, Nevada, and the aircraft achieved initial operatingcapability status in 1983. The Nighthawk was shrouded in secrecy untilit was revealed to the public in 1988. Of the 64 F-117s built, 59 wereproduction versions, with the other five being prototypes. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-4.jpgThe F-117 was widely publicized for its role in the Persian GulfWar of 1991. Although it was commonly referred to as the "StealthFighter", it was strictly a ground-attack aircraft. F-117s took partin the conflict in Yugoslavia, where one was shot down by asurface-to-air missile (SAM) in 1999; it was the only Nighthawk to belost in combat. The U.S. Air Force retired the F-117 in 2008,primarily due to the fielding of the F-22 Raptor. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-7.jpgDevelopment [From LockheedMartin.com]Kelly Johnson had seen enough. The brilliant but irascible pioneerof Lockheed's famed Skunk Works division grabbed the blueprint he'dbeen studying_specs for an alien-looking, diamond-shapedaircraft, walked over to his successor, Ben Rich, and promptly bootedhim in his rear end. "Have you lost your mind?" Johnson barked, throwing the crumpledblueprint at Rich's feet and fuming that the design would "never getoff the ground." Johnson valued sleek designs, highly aerodynamicaircraft. The blueprint offered neither. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-5.jpgAlthough a bit sore, Rich was unfazed. Aerodynamics was not thepriority. Two years earlier, in 1973, defense officials had called fora competition to build a stealth bomber undetectable by enemyradar. Rich had embraced the challenge with gusto. He turned to a pair ofyoung Lockheed engineers, Denys Overholser and Sherrer, who developeda computer program based on obscure German and Russian theories, whichpostulated that radar beams could be reflected by a series ofcarefully angled triangular panels. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-2.jpgThe pair's computer program had revealed that a diamond-shapedaircraft--what looked on paper like a flying engagement ring--would be1,000 times less visible than any other aircraft ever created atLockheed. The plans Johnson had crumpled up? They were specs for the world'sfirst aircraft invisible to radar. F-117 Simulation by FlyingIron SimulationsFor our simulation of the Nighthawk, we have invested heavily inpurchasing all of the available documentation that has beendeclassified for the Nighthawk. This includes Operating Manuals,Utility Manuals, Performance Data & Testing Reports, Engine Data,Pilot Checklists and more. The declassification of the F-117 and itsdocumentation have allowed us to truly dive into the systems andprocedures and create a realistic simulation of the aircraft from theground up. /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-6.jpgAlthough we won't be announcing a complete feature list just yet(as it is subject to change), here is some more info regardingdevelopment and what to expect: Hi-Fidelity Avionics simulations; this includes custom MFDs & CDU/NAV system (powered by SASL + Xlua)Highly realistic code based flight systems/procedures (e.g. fuel systems, FCS Systems, Autopilot systems, etc.)Hi-Fidelity Art across the board; we are aiming to take the artwork quality seen in our Spitfire to the next level (images to come as texturing/modelling moves along)Performance & Data Matched Flight Model that replicates the unique quirks of both the FCS System and the instability of the aircraft when flying without the FCS (required for takeoff and landing)Realistic Simulation of the twin F404 EnginesHi-Fi FMOD Sound SystemUFC HUD ControllerDynamic Heads up Display (HUD)Custom Particle FX + Rain FXGuided WeaponsIn-depth Navigation systems /images/notams/notams19/iron0410/nighthawk-1.jpgA more complete and updated feature list will be provided asdevelopment continues. Source