You da man komemiute.
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LOL, nah, did nothing really. 
From the FWIW Dept…another thing I can’t wait for: better default AI F-4 models/liveries! The DEPLOYED campaign (late 1960’s, early 1970’s), shows how barren DCS is in this timeframe (without mods - don’t need that extra headache right now, with the noted exception of the Community A-4 == artwork!).
Sitting on the ramp at Nellis; tower chit-chat on the UHF; canopy up to stay cool; Huey’s lifting off - with butt-ugly F-4 models taxiing by 
Something I didn’t really expect when I put all this work in while doing the above (just hanging out on the ramp, canopy up): it’s kind of, urmm, relaxing? …oh, a BUFF is landing… Ah, the magic of the random number generator[1]
Yeah, can you tell it’s been raining here for 2 straight days? (can’t get out to play in the real world).
[1] still a lot of tuning on this algorithm but I see potential.
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I couldn’t find any mention about Sparrows/Centerline tank restrictions in the -1, and there’s a couple pics floating around of Sparrows loaded in the forward stations with a centerline tank. For what it’s worth, a lot of pics with centerline tanks for A2G missions in Vietnam as well.
Japan loves their centerlines, but those are different tanks than the traditional 600gal ones. One tidbit about the Japanese Phantoms is that they had no aerial refueling capability. If I recall correctly, Article 9 was interpreted such that they were only allowed enough fuel to cover their own airspace, and at the time of the F-4EJ contracts, Okinawa was under US control, thus not Japanese airspace.
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As I understood the comments you can load the Sparrows but you can’t use them until you drop the centerline tank. Of course that should be in the -1 I guess 
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I could be wrong since my info is thirdhand, I think I became aware of this from one of the old scale modelling forums where actual aircrew used to come in to tell us about loadouts and liveries.
My understanding is:
- the forward sparrow stations had an interlock to prevent firing when the centreline tank was fitted
- the crew were aware they could pull a breaker to allow firing anyway (suggesting it was not a “missile physically hitting the tank” issue, or maybe was only a problem at certain airspeeds?)
The details might be in the -34? If there is one for the E? But I’d need to do a lot more research to give you any more details sorry. I was under the impression this was common knowledge!
Edit: another thing that comes to mind is that Sparrows were still carried in the forward launchers for CG reasons, which might be why there are some pictures of early UK Phantoms (IIRC) with a centreline tank, blue training rounds on the forward fuselage launchers, and white rounds on the rear fuselage launchers. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that photo somewhere…:
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I understand why were not getting a G but I’m still a little sad about it lol
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These shots are from Arma 3 Prarie Fire DLC. It’s not really cheating, if she’s (DCS F-4) not here yet, right?
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This video series was my childhood. Had the whole VHS set.
Back to the centerline tank, to be fair there are a lot of images with the centerline loaded and no Sparrows at all, or a couple aft, or a couple on the wing pylons.
I need to grab my JASDF book out of my office and take a look at what they have written in there about the EJ/Kai payloads. I think they were primarily CAS and ASW, then shifted to QRA later in service, but we rarely ever see them loaded with anything other than AAM-3 and towed targets.
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Got back from vacation in time for the Phantom release, now catching up on the hype train videos. What just sticks out to me is that while people like to fight period oponents, everybody is using AIM-9L/M and AIM-7F/M.
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There’s a video from Growling Sidewinder where he flies a “German”-ish load out. No Sparrows and Bravo winders
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Do we have period opponents other than the MiG-19? Our MiG-21 is post-Vietnam from what I recall.
The one operator that put on AIM-9L from 1983 on
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We also have a Phantom variant that was in frontline service from the early 70s on, so the MIG-21bis actually pairs really well.
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As long as it’s not Vietnam, as they never flew them during the conflict from what I can find. Post-1977 missions with F-4Es using AIM-9L and AIM-7F vs. Russian/Warsaw MiG-21Bis seems plausible to me.
While the AIM-9L is in the aircraft manual, I do not think that front-line USAF F-4E ever got them. Possibly some guard or reserve units in the 90s just before the type was decommissioned. The F-4G Wilde Weasel got AIM-9L in the late 80s.
F-4E in Ramstein, West Germany, in the early 80s on QRA with live AIM-9P and AIM-7E:
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If you don’t mind a mod, we have a MiG-17F in the Vietnam War Vessels. I’ve started rigging a late war MiG-21MF as well, but not clear when it will be ready. Might be month or two away and will be AI only.
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Are you guys in contact with ED about inclusion of your stuff?
I’m having a hard time finding any pics of armed Phantoms between Vietnam and Desert Storm. With frontline USN units getting AIM-9Ls in the early '80s I’m shocked the USAF didn’t have some on the front as well, unless it was a logistics thing to share older stock with the local German units.
Nope, also not sure I would want that. It’s merely a hobby, albeit I take it seriously. But getting stuff through a company QA and what not is probably a bit too much work-like and no longer the fun of seeing assets develop further.
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