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| eFalcon 1.0799 | -preview of future versions... |
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 No More Funky Chicken... |
One thing that was quite lacking in the release version of Falcon 4 was a more detailed damage model. When a player was hit, damage was
modeled to include varied systems damage, but almost always a peculiar jittering was the result. Most assumed it was either the Fly by
Wire control damage or aerodynamic airflow disruption.
Welcome to the updated world of F4. Now modeled is engine damage (complete engine shutdown) and control surface damage causing control
bias to varying degrees. Contrary to some ‘flight’ sim experts, the flight model in Falcon is a superb recreation of the real F-16. Yes
it feels somewhat easy to fly, and ‘on rails’, but time and time again real viper pilots endorse it as accurate as one can get in a PC
simulation.
This results in some incredibly varied damage responses when paired with the new improved damage modeling. Depending on energy state,
altitude, and type of surface damage, I have experienced such extremes as a slight yaw or pitch from a near miss, to an unrecoverable
inverted spin after a direct aft hit from an AA11. More common to the near hits, or light damage is the bias from a control surface that
is now dead, or simple missing (data wise). By trimming the bias out with the new trim controls, a pilot can sometimes balance his
aircraft enough o make it to a divert, or even home plate.
Coming off a target 30 miles North of Kimpo, I was tagged by a Sam in my rear-left quarter. Immediately the jet wanted to roll left,
and as I struggled to keep it even, I hurriedly trimmed the right side to compensate for the damage… after 30 seconds or so I had
successfully regained enough control to hit Kimpo as a divert. The jet was still biased to the left side, which made landing in the
campaign crosswind abit more challenging.
On the other extreme, I have rode an F-16 down a 10000-foot slow death spiral, with both no A and B hydraulic systems. Engine damage
can result in engine shutdown. Now that the EPU is modeled it gives the pilot 10 minutes of reserve power to use the hydraulic systems
to either attempt a flameout landing or engine restart.
A qualified source has relayed to us that the new GE engine usually doesn’t quit with battle damage, and if it did it couldn’t be
restarted. The old Pratt and Whitney engines still used on some Blocks and European F-16s may be able to restart. In fairness to all
Falcon fans a compromise was made to model both.
Of course you can still explode into flames from a direct hit from an AA12 Adder, which are better to avoid in the first place. : )
/Vexx
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| Pictures |
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Copyright © 2001
eFalcon Team |
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