Anyone try one of these on for size? North American A36 Apache

Just stumbled upon this one a few minutes ago. Flies a lot like the P-51. I'll keep you posted as to how it performs. I haven't had it in the air much longer than the time it takes to take the pic!

 

 

Rick :cool:

Fits me well. A little snug in the cockpit, but then I have a large joystick. :rolleyes: (did he just say that?!)

 

Looks a lot like an early Mustang. What are the differences? Was it a prototype? -- Bob

Sorry Bob, don't know much about this aircraft. This came with the download! - Rick :cool:

 

FSX North American A36 Apache/Invader

On September 9, 1940, only 102 days after the contract had been signed, the NA-73X prototype was rolled out though still waiting for its engine. The new fighter was named Mustang by the British, and the first British version was designated Mustang I. As soon as it was available, the 1,120hp Allison V-171 0-39 power plant was installed, and engine and taxi tests began. On 26 October, Vance Breese lifted the aircraft off the runway for a maiden flight. Testing continued until Paul Balfour was forced to make a deadstick landing. The NA73X flipped over on its back, and it took six weeks to make repairs and get the aircraft ready to fly again. The first production Mustang I soon joined the repaired prototype in the test program, and shortly other Mustangs were heading for England. As expected, the evaluation of the flight test aircraft showed that the NA-73 was indeed superior to the P-40 Warhawk which was considered to be the best single-engine fighter in the U.S. Army Air Corps inventory at the time.

The Army contract for Mustangs consisted of an order on August 24, 1942 for 1200 NA-99 versions with the USAAF designation of P-51A. Unlike the A-36A, these aircraft from the start were meant to be fighters, not bombers. Unofficially named the "Invader," the A-36 Apache dive bomber was the first U.S. Army Air Forces version of the Mustang (the Mustang was officially developed for Britain in 1940). The first A-36 flew in September 1942, and North American completed production of 500 A-36As in March 1943.

Assigned to the 27th and 86th Bombardment Groups (Dive), the A-36A first saw action against the the island of Pantelleria in June 1943. During the Italian campaign, A-36A pilots flew bomber escort and strafing missions as well as ground support bombing attacks. A-36As also served with the 311th Fighter Bomber Group in India. In 1944 bomb rack equipped P-51s and P-47s replaced the A-36A when experience showed that these high-altitude fighters were more suitable for low-level missions than the A-36As.

Very interesting Rick, a pre-Mustang. :eek::eek::eek: Any more pics of it? :)

Well! You think you know a plane and then this! The deeper you dig the more there is to know. Thanks. -- Bob

Here's some pics of the other livery that came with the download. What a "hoot!" When I was getting ready to take the pics of this one, I clicked on "L" to turn on the Nav lights, and the machine guns starting blaring away! I have to figure out how to disable that! Once they start, I can click "O" to stop them, but, I have to figure out how to prevent them from firing!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm having fun with it, other than doing damage with the machine guns! :rolleyes:

 

Oh, and I did figure out how to disable the guns, it's in the lights section of the .cfg, I just had to // silence the gun entries!

 

Rick :cool:

Interesting historical point!

Thanks for the pics, bird sure looks good! :cool::cool: and thanks for telling me how to stop the machine guns when you hit "L" for the lights..... had the same problem with the cool Spit (where you changed the light section for me in the cfg.) :)

Yeah, Jan, that scared the B J'sus out of me. I think the guns even went off for a short burst on startup. Then to have them go off again when turning on the Nav lights. We get blamed for enough without getting blamed for shooting up our neighborhoods!

 

Enjoy! Rick :cool:

I push every button, but the shooting is endless......:eek::eek::mad:

Okay, on the A36, the button "O" stops the shooting. A royal PIAS! However, I went to the aircraft.cfg file and found the guns in the lighting section, I silenced all the gun entries with // and no more shooting! If silencing doesn't help, just delete the gun entries all together? You could always go back and reload a texture without guns and that might solve the problem, just a possible suggestion?

 

Anyway, happy shooting! Rick :cool:

Nice aircraft and thanks for the history of it!

Thanks guys for all the nice comments! Jan, you still shooting?

 

Rick :cool:

:mad: I deleted the whole gun section, no more shooting! But during flight you still see the flashes and sparks through the wind shield....

Well, Jan, at least you don't have to listen to it! I, myself, grew tired of the A36, wanted a better P-51 and think I found it. I should have written down the file name, because somebody might ask. Had about 10 textures, I whittled it down to 4 that would keep me content (I think)! Here is one of them!

 

 

I must say this surprised me on my first landing, a wheel landing at that, so smooth, almost felt like I knew what I was doing! :rolleyes:

 

Rick :cool:

Very nice Rick! :cool: Just because you have written down the file name: please tell us ;)

Very nice Rick! :cool: Just because you have written down the file name: please tell us ;)

 

That's the thing, Jan, I DID NOT write it down, my bad! But, I went back and found it. This site's library, file name: p51_cavalier_military.zip

 

I like it. I just wasn't getting excitement with that A36. I have a P-51, but wanted something more. Just the landings alone are making me like these (4) aircraft a whole lot more! Somethings a little different with the prop, though, haven't quite figured that out yet! I'll wait for someone else to download it, see if they notice!

 

Rick :cool:

Sure looks like a winner !

Yeah, Uncle Jim, because it's got a red spinner!:rolleyes:

 

Rick :cool:

Nice p-51 download on this site's library, if you didn't see it above, file name: p51_cavalier_military.zip.

 

 

Rick :cool:

Nice looking speedster Rick. :cool: :cool: :)

Thanks Larry!

 

Rick

mr. rick,

i have a version to fire the guns with the joystick!

 

if you would fly your plane in AI environment it is HORRIBLE the way you have it installed.

 

by disabling the STROBE light, #2 LIGHT FUNCTION, YOU DO NOT HAVE A GUN.

 

I BELIEVE A FIGHTER PILOT SHOULD HAVE A GUN TRIGGER on the joystick, to fly the plane with the stick and shoot without REACHING for

a "keyboard button"

 

it is a very small change to do.

 

in case you are interested send me a emial to

 

 

gkcherry1@t-online.de.

 

P.S. with my version you can use the plane in AI environment without any problem, not like you got the downloaded verion.

 

sincerely

 

g. kirschstein

hi mr. peer!

 

i just wrote a email to mr. rick regarding Gun Firing , with the WRONG solution using the Strobe lights .

 

my version works on any airplane, WWI, like my grandpas Fokker Tr plane, Convair B-36 with sunken turret guns, any jet plane,

Me-262, Me 323 gun stations ....

 

i can sent you pictures of all the planes, the Horten Ho-229 joystick shows a movable Trigger while the Joystick is used to fire.

 

maybe you remember me as i have worked with rey lopez ....

 

if you would like to have a real working solution, it works even in AI , pls contact me at

 

gkcherry1@t-online.de

 

rgds

guenter

 

P.S. my email is still t-online but i live in Palm Beach County in Florida

Guenter, how are you? Will mail you tomorrow! :)