HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Dear Pilots,

     This Independence Day, we remember that freedom isn’t just in fireworks or flags.  It soars through the skies and echoes in the roar of engines and the bravery of those who flew before us.  From the decks of U.S. Navy carriers to the vast Pacific skies, the F4U-1D Corsair carried the fight for freedom with unmatched power and pride. With its unique shape and fierce spirit, it became a symbol of American innovation, resilience, and bravery.

Today, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us honor not just the heroes of 1776 but also those who flew into the storm for liberty.  So look up, let your spirit soar, and remember: freedom has wings, and it still flies.  Happy 4th of July, and may your skies be clear and your celebrations bold.

     We want to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been patient and supportive throughout the F4U-1D’s development. While it may have taken longer to create than the real warbird, we feel it was worth the time to ensure it met the standards of authenticity, detail, and performance that both the aircraft and the DCS community deserve.

Your passion for aviation history, your eagerness to master this iconic warbird, and your incredible support during launch mean everything to us.  Bringing the “Whistling Death” to life in DCS was a true labor of love, and seeing you guys fly it makes it all worthwhile.  We certainly enjoyed the first Twitch streams of pilots attempting carrier landings! 💥

We’re just getting started.  We have been reading the forums and watching YouTube videos.  With your feedback and enthusiasm, we’ll keep refining, updating, and flying higher together.

Below is a definitive list of bugs and improvements we have made so far:

Flight Model & Systems:

  • Tuned the oil cooling system
  • Introduced the auto-rich fuel setting.
  • Fixed the drag coefficients for the following:
    • Tiny Tim 11.75″ Rockets
    • HVAR 5″ Rockets & Pylons
    • Mk.5 & 6 Drop Tanks
    • Center Pylons, Center Drop Tank & ASM-2-N Bat Bomb.
  • Implemented pressure effects on the landing gear while deploying them when flying too fast.
  • Improved the FM on damage modeling.
  • Improved the AI’s engine description.
  • Adjusted the AN/ARR-2A sectors by 15 degrees.
  • Reversed the AN/ARC-5’s C-38 control unit’s CW/Voice switch operation.
  • Fixed the RPM lever’s mouse control from exceeding 2800 RPM.
  • Fixed the radar signal and gunsight retical from detaching out of place.
  • Fixed & Updated numerous clickable controls.
  • Fixed the canopy position commands.
  • Added a ‘trim reset’ command.
  • Added axis inputs for the cockpit & gunsight lights.
  • Added the ground crew’s wheel chocks command.
 Miscellaneous:
  • Added the 127mm and 25mm missing gun sounds.
  • Adjusted the engine and propeller sounds. (WIP)
  • Adjusted the in-cockpit flap and wing folding sounds.
  • Enabled the AI to deploy the ASM-2-N Batbomb
  • Fixed net arg animation code for the landing gear during multiplayer sessions.
  • Added the ability to change the gun convergence during rearm.
Art:
  • Essex Class Carrier:
    • Fixed the damage model and elevators from falling.
    • Adjusted some geometry around the elevators and general ambient occlusion errors.
    • Corrected the weapons’ animations and rotation limits from shooting throough the island.
    • Fixed the liveries’ folder structure to allow custom liveries.
  • Corsair Airframe Model:
    • Added missing right wing fold aileron animations & damage elements.
    • Fixed some rear tail damage elements’ visibility issues.
    • Fixed the flap control rods from poking through the wing.
    • Fixed the gun flames’ visibility with missing wings.
    • Implemented antenna and wing vibrations.
    • Adjusted the fire effects when damage is taken.
  • Corsair Cockpit Model:
    • Increased FoV limit to 140 degrees.
    • Adjusted the textures to be more PBR friendly.
    • Fixed the floating UV glowing ‘M’ixture control animation.
    • Fixed the missing shadows when the mirrors are enabled.
    • Adjusted the hydraulic hand pump animation.
    • Implemented cockpit vibrations.

Missions:

  • Tora! Tora! Tora! – Deleted due to WWII asset pack dependency.
  • Engine Start – Procedural changes.
  • Rocket Attack – Procedural changes & added the missing Tiny Tim 11.75″ rockets.
  • Fixed all Mk.IV livery assignments.

Mission Editor:

  • Added the ability to change the Mk.IV build numbers.
  • Added the draft values for the Essex class carrier affecting minimum water depth.
  • Added a gun convergence unit of measure label.
“Thank you for making this launch unforgettable and for keeping the legend of the Corsair alive.
Clear skies and happy flying!”
~Magnitude 3 Dev Team