Aircraft Affected: F-16I Sufa (Israel), F/A-18C (All Variants)
Flight Model Discussion: F-16I Sufa Overperformance vs F/A-18C Drag Modeling
Hello everyone,
I’m posting this to highlight a significant discrepancy in maximum speed performance observed in Simulator/Realistic Battles (SB/RB) that suggests a severe error in the Flight Models (FM) for drag or mass.
1. The Discrepancy (Observed In-Game)
In test flights at low altitude (approx. 100 m AGL), the following maximum sustained speeds were observed:
| Aircraft Configuration | Loadout | Max Speed Observed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|
| F-16I Sufa (Heavily Loaded) | 3 x Drop Tanks (PTBs) + CFTs + 2 x 2000lb Bombs + 4 x AAMs (AIM-120/9) | approx. 1400+ |
| F/A-18C (-402) (Clean) | Min Fuel (20%) + 2 x AIM-9 (Wingtip) | approx. 1350 |
Conclusion: The heavily penalized F-16I is able to accelerate to a higher max speed than the virtually clean F/A-18C. Aerodynamically, this is impossible in real life.
2. Theoretical Analysis: Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (TWR)
We can quantify the error by comparing the Thrust-to-Weight Ratio (P/G), which is the primary driver of acceleration and max speed against drag.
| Parameter | F/A-18C (Clean) | F-16I Sufa (Loaded) |
|---|---|---|
| Max Thrust (Pmax) | approx. 16430 kgf | approx. 13560 kgf |
| Est. Operating Mass (G) | approx. 12518 kg | approx. 17548 kg |
| Calculated TWR (P/G) | 1.31 | 0.77 |
The Reality Check:
The clean F/A-18C has a TWR that is approx. 70% higher than the heavily loaded F-16I. This means the Hornet should have vastly superior energy performance, acceleration, and a higher maximum speed.
3. Conclusion and Proposed Fix
The observed in-game data strongly indicates a serious inaccuracy in the modeling of one or more components:
- F-16I Drag: The parasitic drag penalty from the 3 x PTBs, the CFTs, and the two massive 2000 lb bombs on the F-16I is severely underestimated in the Flight Model (FM). This immense loadout should limit the Sufa’s top speed to well below that of a clean fighter.
- F/A-18C Drag: The F/A-18C’s base airframe parasite drag may be overestimated/under-modeled, especially when combined with its engine performance at high Mach numbers at low altitude.
Request: Gaijin needs to re-evaluate the drag tables for external stores on the F-16I Sufa and/or the base airframe resistance of the F/A-18C to align the in-game performance with real-world physics. A plane with a 0.77 TWR should not outrun a plane with a 1.31 TWR at sea level.
