With kind permission from Dino Cattaneo, here is my improvement mod for the IndiaFoxtEcho T-45C Goshawk in MSFS.

CAUTION: this mod is NOT COMPATIBLE (YET) with IFE's latest release (1.3.6). However, nearly all of the changes I had made so far were incorporated in that release, so you can fly without the mod and get the same results. I am currently testing an updated version with more focus on the engine and flight characteristics.

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I wanted an aircraft that felt more natural in the air, that could be flown on-speed AoA with realistic approach speeds, and that didn't require 90% throttle input to taxi. I also wanted to fix a couple of minor issues in the cockpit that were either bugs or that were unrealistic. I spent dozens of hours reviewing real life documentation (NATOPS) and footage of the T-45C, and the first release of this mod was the result.

Since then, nearly all of my modifications have been integrated by IndiaFoxtEcho to their own release. I am still making a few changes here and there, see below.

Version notes

The current release is version 0.1.4, based on IFE's version 1.3.4 of the Goshawk. It has NOT been tested with earlier versions. In other words, if you are using an older release of IFE's aircraft, then use the previous version of the mod.

Differences from the original aircraft, kept from v0.1.3, are:

• fuel flow readings in MFD now match actual aircraft fuel burn
• MFDs: do not display speeds below 50 KIAS

New in v0.1.4: When both an ILS and a TACAN are tuned, if the CDI, TCN and ILS MFD controls are set (in this order), the TCN deviation is now hidden, instead of overlapping with the ILS deviation in the original aircraft.This way, the pilot can now follow the ILS while still keeping the TCN DME distance information, and without the confusing superimposition of both course needles.
This is necessary at a lot of airbases where ILSs do not have their own DME and rely on the TACAN's DME instead.

Previous changes included the spoilers blowback effect, that have already been integrated into the original aircraft.

Work is ongoing on engine performance, but changes made by MS/Asobo (and not really well documented) are making the issue more complex than it should be, so it will take time ;-)

Changes summary

• reduced the "spring-loaded" feel (excess stability) in pitch and yaw
• reduced stall speed to try and match real life figures more closely
• improved handling characteristics at lower speeds

• recalibrate AoA indexer around 17 units (optimum AoA was too high)
• fuel flow readings in MFD and analog gauge now match actual aircraft fuel burn
• MFDs: fix TACAN bearing/dist and wind direction/speed display (only the first figure was shown)
• MFDs and HUD: set AoA bracket center around 17 units (optimum AoA was too high)
• MFDs and HUD: round altitudes and VS to 10s of feet (real life behaviour)
• MFDs and HUD: do not display speeds below 50 KIAS (real life behaviour)
• MFDs and HUD: do not superimpose TCN CDI with LOC/GS
• HUD: display AoA units instead of angle

• engine now produces usable thrust from about 65% RPM instead of about 90

There are issues still left from the original aircraft and that I would like to improve on later, such as:

• engine is more powerful than it should be once in flight
• aircraft is too slippery (engine out glide is very shallow)
• fuel burn is too low (especially at higher altitudes)

The only unintended side effect (that I know of) of this mode is that the engine's idle sound is higher in pitch than before, due to the changes made to the engine RPMs.

Installation

Extract the archive into your Community folder or preferred location if you use the MSFS Addons Linker. Please make sure you do not change the folder name as it has an impact on MSFS's loading order.

Many thanks to Dino Cattaneo for our fruitful discussion about this aircraft.

Feedback is appreciated and encouraged :-) Enjoy the aircraft!