DCS World updated

[Daunt]

Has Heatblur said anything about a volleyball sim?

 

[Jeeve79]

@Skid_Marc_

U forgot the P-51 Mustang, u really did.
Although the F-18 and F-14 are a good choice, i cant argue with that.

 

[ElektroVodka]

No

@Skid_Marc_

U forgot the P-51 Mustang, u really did.
Although the F-18 and F-14 are a good choice, i cant argue with that.

Nah, Marc just read our "Props are for Plebs" remarks

 

[little P]

Welcome to the crew @Skid_Marc_

At this point I didn't think I could get any more hyped for the Tomcat but @Daunt 's video did it

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Getting really frustrated with maintaining a level glide path while also trying to hit buttons. Not really much of a multi-tasker, and every time I look away for a button, I drift off way course or fall well below the glide path... I've gotten a few landings in, just struggling a lot with the inputs.

One thing that I really appreciate about Jester, is the ability to ask him to navigate you back to home base. Not sure how much of that he'll actually do, as Magz hits more buttons after giving the command, but that is exactly the reason why I'd rather fly with someone else in the cockpit and why I'm looking forward to the F-14.

I was really hoping to get that kind of not-alone-in-the-cockpit feel out of the tutorials, too, but it's not the same. Also hard to trust your trainer when he 'lies'... I ran out the fuel in the F-18 because even though he says the tutorial is "paused", the plane is still eating fuel, so if you dawdle, (like I do, a lot....) you'll fall out of the sky before you even get control of the plane.

 

[little P]

I don't know how much you know about these kind of sims so tell me if you already know, but trimming your plane well is essential, especially in the beginning when you are still figuring out where things are. Trimming your plane or helicopter also makes it much, MUCH easier to fly smoothly and consequently perform smooth landings etc.

Stick with it, it does have a learning curve, but that's a very big part of the reason I love DCS. It really does help to have a "trainer" and for this as you mention, and I recommend the @Nejtun module. It's free to install, a bit sassy at times, but extremely helpful

In all seriousness though I wouldn't have had such a great experience as I did getting in to DCS and learning various mechanics if it wasn't for Nejtun helping me by walking me through the basics in a very clear, easy to understand way. If you are able to get on while he is I know he would be happy to help and it was invaluable to me personally.

 

[Daunt]

I would recommend watching Wag's videos before doing the tutorials first. It just helps to get a sense of what he's doing and when and sometimes why.

As for trim, don't also forget about the different autopilot modes. You probably haven't gotten there yet though, but there are different AP modes:

ATTH: Attitude Hold. Aircraft will maintain the existing pitch and roll attitude between +/ - degrees in pitch and +/ - 70 -degrees in roll
BALT : Barometric Altitude Hold . When engaged , aircraft will maintain current heading and barometric altitude between 0 and 70000 ft
HSEL : Heading Select . Aircraft will turn to and fly the heading as set on the HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) .
RALT : Radar Altitude Hold . Aircraft will maintain current heading and radar altitude between 0 and 5000 ft

There's also ATC modes for automatic throttle control.


Here's a great guide for everything hornet: https://www.mudspike.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DCS-FA-18C-Hornet-Guide.pdf

 

[Kinger]

I ran out the fuel in the F-18 because even though he says the tutorial is "paused", the plane is still eating fuel, so if you dawdle, (like I do, a lot....) you'll fall out of the sky before you even get control of the plane.

If that’s the case you may have been in “active” pause which allows for button pressing and such in the cockpit while the world continues on as opposed to the full pause which literally stops everything.

 

[Brainling]

I told him about BALT HOLD yesterday, but frankly learning these things is like drinking from a fire hose. There's always a new detail. Just have to keep at it and realize you're going to die in some hilarious ways until some of it becomes second nature.

I know watching me slap @Jeeve79 's ass in a dog fight makes it look easy, but it really does take a lot of practice to get comfortable. Especially with the modern systems laden jets that have a thousand things to manage.

Unrelated: I ordered my Warthog slew upgrade today. My batch goes out in April.

 

[Kinger]

Unrelated: I ordered my Warthog slew upgrade today. My batch goes out in April.

I know I’m looking forward to getting mine.

Brainling is right about drinking from a fire hose though. Best to just break down the learning in chunks and keep repeating those things over and over until it just becomes muscle memory. That’s what I enjoy about the sim though as you are always learning something new.

 

[Jeeve79]

@Brainling I never stood a chance but good thing we tried it to clarify things. U try dodging an F-18 in a A4-E with air to ground rocket pods mounted under the wings and countermeasures turned off. It was fun though and it showed us that damage model on the A4-E is open for discussion. At least in my P-51, i can out turn u, once, then die. hahaaa

 

[Kinger]

No chance in the A4e to perform an emergency jettison of stores to become more nimble @Jeeve79?

 

[Jeeve79]

yep , i figured out how to jettison those pods Mike. @Kinger

 

[Nejtun]

Going to pop the big mission up at about 18:30 GMT if anyone fancies a little fly about !! , going to test out the Nuke from the off ( which could easily spoilt the whole mission in which case I will reset it ) some backup to help distract the SAMs would be nice .

If anyone would prefer a different Map/Mission then thats cool but one of will have to host if it is a different map as my other PC only has the free map on it.

@Kinger @Jeeve79 @ElektroVodka @Brainling @Kenadian @little P @Wapwap @Daunt @Skid_Marc_

 

[Kinger]

I’ll be on in a few hours for sure. Just need to visit a coworker in the hospital for a bit first.

 

[Kinger]

In watching this video today, two things struck me. 1.) The buffeting caused by objects (airplanes and missiles) is fantastic for immersion and really would benefit the sim as a whole if it could be applied to all aircraft. 2.) Even for folks flying the kitty sans a human RIO, they could have quite the advantage in a dogfight when it comes to picking up bogeys . Especially when that bogey is against the ground and hard to see.

 

[little P]

 

[Daunt]

Serpent's Head Campaign

Mission 1: Deploy to Stennis Carrier Strike Group on a flight from Nellis, NV. In the last leg of a long flight 160 miles out, the 2 ship Hornet, carrying nothing but fuel tanks and 2 AIM-9x. Just finished refueling and heading towards mother when Stennis Radar asks if I'm carrying any weapons. A russian bomber and escort are flying patrol and requiring some "coercing" to turn back.

Of course I need to keep up foreign relations. Not long after, they turn back inland. The rest is an uneventful cruise back to Stennis.

 

[Daunt]

Looking for other Hornet pilots to take place in a mission this Saturday, 1pm Eastern.

Operation Top Down
Mission: Escort B-52 Bomber Group
Target Area: Hormozgan Province, Iran
Objectives: Bomb Manufacturing Facilities Producing Weapon Grade Plutonium

Intel/US satellites have identified a facility that is key to Iran’s ability to produce weapon grade plutonium and centrifuge parts. This facility is located the city of Anveh. Their military continues to build these facilities in an urban area hoping to hide their activities.

Operation Top Down will be a strategic strike of force to this newly identified compound. The strike force will consist of two B-52’s, followed by a single B1-B bombing attacking of the Bandar Lengeh Airbase. This airbase has been a threat to the region with regards to air space intrusion. This second strike will only proceed if the first portion of the mission is successful.

The B-52 group will be escorted to the target area by the USS Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) aircraft. The operational command of this mission will be the JCSSG.

Mission Air Threats: There are MIG’s in the area, the air threat is HIGH. They do routinely fly cover over this facility, and once they know we are there, they will engage with a significant force of strength.

On station: This mission is under the command of the JCSSG operating in the Persian Gulf. It consists of the Stennis, the USS Normandy, USS Oliver Hazard Perry and the USS Tarawa. The ALERT aircraft assigned to this mission is squadron VMFA312. Ground and air targets must be destroyed for this mission to be successful. AWACS will also be on station, Hornets check-in once airborne for bogey status. A KC-130 tanker will also be available if needed near the Strike Group. A second tanker may be available depending upon how low in fuel the Hornets get providing cover and dealing with any threats.

Hornet Escort will be armed with 6x AIM-120C and 6x AIM-9L

Hornets will be ready on Cat, waiting on order for launch.

As a note to anyone: This is a simple PvE mission just to practice working together and flying together. No issues if we foul up at least once I'm personally hoping we won't need to A2A refuel or I will admit I'll crash lol.

 

[little P]

I'd love to join in as it sounds awesome but alas, no F-18. Good luck though pilots!

Speaking of F-18's myself, @Nejtun and @Skid_Marc_ flew some practice carrier landings and takeoffs, it was bloody good fun! Landing the A-4 on the Stennis proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I nailed it in the end with some encouragement from my F-18 counterparts! It was really a blast learning how to do this in a little group and cheering each other on.

I grabbed a few screenies;

Marc calling the ball

3 wire!

On my 9th attempt, finally a successful landing and taxiing to the waiting F-18's of Nejtun and Marc

Great fun guys, thanks