=) i did it!
This is how....
Open the cfg. file for the F-18 with the effect you want (exhaust/heatshimmer). Copy all SmokeSystem entries and paste them in your desired aircrafts cfg. file, replacing whatever was already there.
Since the effects are controlled through gauges, open the Panel.BlueAngels folder and copy the FX folder into your desired aircrafts Panel folder. Then, in the Panel.BlueAngels folder, open panel.cfg file and scroll down to the bottom. You should see this....
//EFFECTS
gauge01=FX!Afterburner,
gauge02=FX!Vapor,
gauge03=FX!EG_Smoke_NORM, 0
gauge04=FX!EG_Smoke_APP,
gauge05=FX!EG_Heat_Shimmer,
Copy and paste this into your desired aircrafts panel.cfg file on the last Vcockpit entry (outside view with color). You will have to change the guage values from gauge 30 something to 01, 02, 03 and so on. Shoud look like this.....
[Vcockpit07]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=1
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$vcrio1
gauge00=F14D!Riodisplay, 0, 0, 512, 512
//EFFECTS
gauge01=FX!Afterburner,
gauge02=FX!Vapor,
gauge03=FX!EG_Smoke_NORM, 0
gauge04=FX!EG_Smoke_APP,
gauge05=FX!EG_Heat_Shimmer,
windowsize_ratio=1.000
window_pos=0.756,0.358
window_size=0.243,0.641
[Color]
Day=255,255,255
Night=223,255,255
Luminous=246,115,119
[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8192
SIZE_Y=3200
Now the effect will work, but you will have to adjust the datum reference point values in the cfg. file to get the effects in the right position. And then change the XML files in the FX folder you pasted to get the effects to show at lower throttle percentage and altitude. Works beautifully for me now.