This is an update of the F-14D by Dino Cattaneo.  I have changed the datum point back to 0 instead of a foot in front of the nose, and therefor repositioned everything this had an effect on; I gave it a 2D panel; gave it afterburners because the afterburners were not working for me; added an autopilot and fuelstat gauge so I did not have to figure out how to work the autopilot with the panel; changed the size and position of the GPS; and updated the flight dynamics.  There is only one paint and one model in this update.

The formula for finding the datum point of the aircraft that Microsoft uses must be wrong; or the datum point would never be outside the aircraft model.  My understanding of the datum point is that it is the balance point of the aircraft.  If you lifted it at that point it would not go nose up or down, and would not dip left or right.  If that is correct, then Microsoft's formula must be wrong.  This is why I always have used the model 0 point as the datum point in my updates.  At least I don't remember using anything else as the datum point.

Unzip to a folder of your choice.  Copy the aircraft to the main FS airplanes folder.  This may be a problem if you already have one of his F-14D aircraft already in the sim.  I don't know which particular mark this aircraft is but it has wings that extend or retract automatically.  If you already have one of Dino's F-14D aircraft, an easy way to add this one is to rename the folder by adding a 1 or 2 to the end of it.  This may not work if you have one with the same title as this aircraft.  Copy the effects to the main FS effects folder, no need to overwrite if already there.

[Reference Speeds]
flaps_up_stall_speed    = 134.0                 //Knots True (KTAS)
full_flaps_stall_speed  = 110.0                 //Knots True (KTAS)
cruise_speed            = 550.0                 //Knots True (KTAS) 320 knots indicated at 38,000 ft.
max_mach                = 2.88
max_indicated_speed     = 860                   //Red line (KIAS)
max_level_speed		=mach 2.34		//at 38,000 ft. (790 knots indicated)

Note:  For carrier landings, make sure that you touch down in the area with the arrestor cables, touching down before the cables causes a crash.  You may have to make sure that you don't have over half fuel, to land on a carrier.  I did not try to land with full fuel on a carrier.  You can try with full fuel, it might work OK if you are good at carrier landings.  I am not, so I did the minimum number of landings necessary to make sure the aircraft would land OK, and would be able to use the catapult.

For the catapult, put the nose wheel just inside the red line with the aircraft lined up reasonably well, before using the shift + U keys and the shift + I keys.  Make sure you open the throttles at least 75% before using the shift + spacebar keys to launch.

Anyone:  You have my permission to use any of my updates with the following conditions:  One, you don't try to make money with them.  Two, you don't try to hurt, or take something from anyone by using them.

Bob Chicilo.

bchicilo@kelcom.net