Matrix Games Forums

The Briefing of scenario 1 (Down Bird) says that there are F-104 Starfighter stationed at Banak Air Base (which makes sense as Norways operated F-104s back then), but instead there are F-105s (which Norway never had).

And speaking of the Thuds, it seems their only usefulness is bombing the Russian radar posts along the border, none of which seem to contribute to the battle or even reach the scene of the battle. I can’t figure out how to get the F105s into the fight at sea or on the islands.

So this issue has been fixed in the recent update, which replaced the F-105s with F-104s, but there's another mistake now: Additional buddy tankers have been added in order to provide AAR for the F-104s as the changelog says, but the F-104s aren't even AAR capable...

* Fail Safe - 1. Down Bird: Replaced Norwegian F-105s with F-104s. Also changed loadout on 2x Scimitars as Tankers and amended briefing to point that out so they can refuel the F-104s.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app ... 2841615542

This is correct. The F-104G is not capable of in-flight refueling. On the other hand, USAF F-104Cs (and CF-104s) did have a refuelling probe. The scenario designer could perhaps replace the -Gs with some -Cs (although I doubt the Scimitar was ever cleared to AAR the F-104)?

Another thing is the Graham Bell/Greem Bell (and not Green Bell) airfield. This is an ice airfield that would be inoperable in July.

Gus112GR wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:57 am This is correct. The F-104G is not capable of in-flight refueling. On the other hand, USAF F-104Cs (and CF-104s) did have a refuelling probe. The scenario designer could perhaps replace the -Gs with some -Cs (although I doubt the Scimitar was ever cleared to AAR the F-104)?

The fact that there are F-104Gs in this scenario, which are not AAR capable is correct indeed, as this is the Starfighter variant that Norway operated at that time. The issue is that the scenario provides tankers for non AAR capable aircraft. That's just poor mission design.

QuiGon90 wrote: Mon Mar 31, 2025 3:05 pm

Gus112GR wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 9:57 am This is correct. The F-104G is not capable of in-flight refueling. On the other hand, USAF F-104Cs (and CF-104s) did have a refuelling probe. The scenario designer could perhaps replace the -Gs with some -Cs (although I doubt the Scimitar was ever cleared to AAR the F-104)?

The fact that there are F-104Gs in this scenario, which are not AAR capable is correct indeed, as this is the Starfighter variant that Norway operated at that time. The issue is that the scenario provides tankers for non AAR capable aircraft. That's just poor mission design.

Future update, replaces the F-104s with Norwegian F-86Fs which are AAR capable. I'm not sure why the update hasn't been released yet.