I have had some idents work when modelled, however, most don’t because it doesn’t talk to the POSCON/VATSIM software. Certainly does hurt to have it available and at some point when the SDK use it, it could be updated to work with those 3rd party softwares.
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Which Tomcat version do I purchase?
I purchased the Corsair from the Marketplace and only after that did I learn that if I purchased the same plane through Orbx website instead of Marketplace, I would have got more features.
I don’t want to make that mistake with the Tomcat. I appreciate the first reply as I’m anxious to get this plane!
Buying the F-14 and F-15 gives you all variants. You don’t need to choose.
No versions that offer any extra features like gun sounds/gun fire?
If you buy from JustFlight, you can add simulated non-functional weapons through the in-sim payload settings. If you buy through the in-sim Marketplace, such things are prohibited so no missiles for you.
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Nah. No firing off missiles in the sim. As LL said, if you buy from Just Flight, you can add weapons to the aircraft. They add weight and change the flight dynamics a bit. If you want to fire 'em, DCS is your game.
@CodenameJack447 and @DEAN01973 I tried modifying the apron.flt file as you suggested and I wanted to let you know what I found. After adding the TransponderState=4 line to the file for both the F-14A and F-14B I tried each in a short IFR flight to see if it worked or not. On the first flight with the F-14A I entered the code before performing the read back to ATC and it seemed like it was working correctly allowing me to perform the IFR flight all of the way to landing and shut down with ATC not canceling my flight plan. On the second flight with the F-14B I forgot to enter the code in the transponder before performing the read back with ATC. When I went to enter the code I saw that it had already been programmed into the transponder. It appears that the TransponderState=4 command line tells the AI to set your transponder for you the same as if you are using the AI copilot to control the radios, you just don’t have the copilot’s voice talking on the radio. For the rest of the IFR flight, the radios and the transponder appeared to function correctly. When I landed the aircraft and went to shut it down I ran into a problem however. As soon as I hit the switch to power off the avionics the MSFS program froze and I could not do anything. I couldn’t even move the camera or exit out to go to the menu screen. I had to hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and then stop the MSFS program from running. I will try later to see if I can replicate the program crashing but unfortunately it looks like adding the TransponderState=4 line to the code may not be a fix for the issue.
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Thank you very much for your feedback. As I understand it, with the tranponder set to state 4, it allows you to do an IFR flight on the F-14A from cold and dark but apparently the game freezes on the F-14B (appcrash). And on the other hand, it seems that the Transponder set in state 4 automatically changes the frequency during the flight. Ok, we inform you that we are going to implement a knob to manage the transponder states in the F-14 in the same way that we have already added it to the stearman. If you confirm that setting state 4 in apron causes an appcrash, we will not add it to avoid problems for other users.
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I’m having a lot of trouble today trying to make this sim work. I can’t play it in normal mode because this Tomcat download must have done something because I was not having these issues prior to paying $34.99 for this plane.
Any advice?
I created a ticket at their website. For some reason I was able to fly with it last night without a problem but today I cannot load the sim and go past the world map or aircraft selection screen without it freezing.
I have removed the F14 from my community folder and the sim works fine.
REVISED - 09-30-2021 @1910 Hrs EST-USA - GPU cart is on (if inside) left side of plane, number two engine is on right side of plane, always start engine 2 first away from Cart and person manning it. Checklist has been edited to show correct procedure now. Sorry
Cold and Dark Startup Checklist - All as promised here is my C&D- For this to work, must be on ramp in parking area, game defaults are everything is off. Enjoy - Please give much of the credit to Rob Forrest, A real world Pilot who helped me make this function properly and flow. This may NOT replace the one provided by the Naval AIr Technical Bullitins Published - NAVAIR 01-F14AAP-1B - Pocket Checklist easily found on the web. You may change this to your liking, but please give credit to Rob Forrest because he and worked this together.
Checklist F-14-A-B - On Parking Ramp Only – Cold and Dark
Cockpit Prep
☐ Park brake…………………………………………………………………. Set/ON
☐ External Covers/Walkaround…………………………. OFF/Complete
☐ Battery Master……………………………………………….…………………ON
☐ Lights………………………………………………….………………. As Required
☐ Flaps………………………………………………………………………. Retracted
☐ Wings……………………………………….………………Manual Oversweep
☐ Fuel Valves……………………………….…………………. Pull CLOSED/OFF
☐ Fuel Quantity………………………………….……………………………. Check
☐ Oxygen Levels…………………………………….…………………………. Check
☐ GPU (Ground Power Unit).………….……………. Connected and ON
☐ Inlet Ramps……………………………………………………………………. Stow
☐ Auto Throttle………………………………………………………………….…OFF
☐ A.F.C.S.………………………………………….…………………………………. OFF
☐ HUD………………………………………………….………………………………. OFF
Before Start
☐ Beacon (Anticollision)………………………….………………………….……ON
☐ Generators…………………………………………………………………………. OFF
☐ Avionics Master………………………………….………………………………OFF
☐ RIGHT Starter……………………………………….…………………………. Engage
☐ RIGHT Fuel Valve - Open at 13% RPM or above…. Push OPEN/ON
☐ RIGHT Generator – Default on-CHECK.…………………………………. ON
☐ GPU…………………………………………………………………………Disconnect
☐ Chocks………………………………………………….………………………Remove
Repeat above steps for LEFT Engine
After Start
☐ Avionics Master………………………………….………………………… ON
☐ HUD………………………………………………….……………………………ON
☐ Inlet Ramps……………………………….………………………….………Auto
☐ A.F.C.S…………………………………………………………………….………ON
☐ Navaids ……………………………………………………………….…………SET
☐ Takeoff Briefing – Internal between Pilot and RIO - Complete
Taxi
☐ Brakes……………………………………………………………………. Checked
☐ Taxi Light………………………………….……………………………………. ON
☐ Warning Lights………………………………………………………. CHECKED
☐ Caution and Advisory Lights……………………….………Considered
Line Up Checks
☐ Cockpit………………………………………….…………….…………. Secured
☐ Display Mode………………………….…………………….………. Take Off
☐ ICE Protection……………………………….……………….………………Auto
☐ Wing Sweep (Cover Closed) …….………………….Auto (20 degrees)
☐ Flaps…………………………………….……………………. ANY/As Required
☐ Nose Wheel Extend/Kneel…………….……………….……Set for Operation*
Page 2 F-14-A-B On Parking Ramp Only – Cold & Dark Checklist
☐ Antiskid…………………………………………….……………………………. Both
☐ Lights………………………………………………………….…………………. ON
☐ Transponder……………………………………………………………………Alt
☐ Heading……………………………….……….…………………………CHECK
At this point, you should re-mask and visor, as G-Forces might cause issues with loose stuff in and around face.
Check List Complete. Gain ATC Permission to Take Off, check cross traffic.
At end or RW, you can push on the HDG knob in the Bottom PFD and set HDG to runway heading, making any AP setups after stable flight achieved easier.
Some caveats, Generators are ON by default when battery switch is turned on, you can turn them off maybe, You can also use AIR START inlu of the manual method here in. Avionics are off until after both engines are at idle, because of stray voltage which could fry all the stuff. You should not turn on fuel valves until 13% engine RPM’s are realized otherwise could have hot start, fire. Not sure bottle works on this plane.
*At some point the "Maverick Add On will be released, which has carrier operations, this item is necessary for catapult launch.
A follow up on this list, you as pilot should have read Training Manual at least once, and become familiar with where the controls for this plane are located and you should practice finding them in day and night, anticipate light and cockpit lighting failure, so you can find controls in the dark. If Flying A model, be doubly aware of tendency of plane to Compressor Stall and enter a flat Spin, recovery procedures are in the manual. At low airspeeds, this plane has tendency to become uncontrollable, especially at approach and landing. The NATOPS (Naval Air Training & Operations Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) Manual) is available online for download. The A and D models’ version are out, plus the pocket checklist guide (all systems checklists).
This checklist is not warranted, or guaranteed to be free from defects, omissions, and errors. You use it at your own risk, nor is it to be considered “complete for real world plane. It works for this one simulator version.
Copywrite by Rob Forrest, and Montgomery D. Bonner, September 26, 2021, SIMULATOR USE ONLY
Have fun all - This IS NOT posted in Pilots Guides Section because I cannot post into either of those areas of this forum, you must have to be approved by Asobo or Microsoft.
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JustFlight’s Tomcat is making me think this should be my last time my money goes to them. I did a repair install and tried again. It worked for one flight, then when I was back to the main screen it froze again. If I have to go through this every time, it’s not worth it.
I want to love this.
Do you have any OTHER mods in your Community folder besides the F-14?
Assume JoylessT, you have the latest version 1.0.1. Take everything out of CF except this plane and see then what happens. I have been using this since release day, and it works fine. It does not I think depend on any internet stuff to work aside from whatever MSFS needs to run, if that is issue, then the plane is not at fault. If running Windows 11, there is a huge update coming down now as I speak, version 22468.1000, that severly slows down my internet, but I got only 15mbps, so any big files kills my MSFS session.
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All - I have read almost all the posts in this thread. Since I was IN USN, I saw lots of Tomcats up close and in the air. Not to pick, but many of the complaints are from people, who have never seen one period except in DCS and here. Take a road trip out to AMAG in Tucson, AZ, see the Air Museum and bus tour. You will see thousands of mothballed A/C in various stages of their lives. The bus does not stop and let you out, but will slow down so you can stare lovengly at all those planes. When you can say, you have been up close and personal to one, you then may take a bite out of the designers on this plane. I think it’s very, very, very close to the real thing. FWIW-DCS has “Jester”, which takes away from the real world aspect, when the Pilots had all that work to do, and not some funky computer simulated AI. So, are you good enough to sit down in this bird, launch from Aircraft Carrier, take flight out 200 miles, loiter for 3 or so hours, and then find the AC and land. Since I helped (enlisted Student Control Officer-VT-24) the student pilots, and processed those who failed, my guess is like then only 10% (that would be of course 1-3 people total per class) of you would even qualify for F-14 Type Training, and of those 1-4% would wash out of that. So keep critisims to yourself, unless you really have flown one of these. I can bet 99% of you aint got a clue period. It really get my goat, when people think they know everything, when in fact, don’t know nothing.
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Thanks for your feedback.
I removed the Tomcat from my CF and the sim worked fine. What’s been happening since I re-installed the F14 is it will work for the flight. I can take off, fly, land. But when I exit to go back to the world map screen, it’s freezing the sim. I have to end the task of MSFS 2020 and restart it in order to fly again.
I have a support ticket out.
That’s not what we asked you to try - take everything out of your Community folder EXCEPT the F-14 and then try again with nothing else installed.
To clarify, you’re wanting me to remove my Corsair, A-10, F15, Euro Fighter, and my two Dallas mods, and start the game to see if I still have the same freezing problems? Is that correct?
Yes, exactly. Mod compatibility issues are not unheard of. If things work as expected with only the F-14 installed, you can try adding them back one by one until you find the source of your problems.
I will point out that many of us have both the F-14 and F-15 and no trouble with them co-existing, so if this is a compatibility problem, it’s probably one of the others. But you won’t know until you do some real systematic tests.
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All - Please note checklist has been revised as of now. Sorry.
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