DCS

[AndyJWest]

Does your ISP lovingly hand-craft bits from organically-grown wholemeal electrons, Gambit? 

[Gambit21]

30 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

Does your ISP lovingly hand-craft bits from organically-grown wholemeal electrons, Gambit? 

 

lol - it must be something along those lines.

Either that or somehow a small animal and treadmill is involved.

[BladeMeister]

3 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

 

lol - it must be something along those lines.

Either that or somehow a small animal and treadmill is involved.

I am pretty sure it is several of the latter in Puget Sound Sir. Shhhh, you don't want PETA coming up there after your provider, or then it's back to two soup cans and a long string!

 

S!Blade<><

[Gambit21]

2 days later...starting the home stretch!

 

[AndyJWest]

Move to Canada. I hear they have better internet there. Or maybe not: Hundreds lose internet service in northern B.C. after beaver chews through cable. ?

[Gambit21]

If I go north, I'm going all the way to Alaska...bet the internet is great up there!

 

I should have said another 2 days above...all in all it will be close to a week of solid downloading.

[busdriver]

On 4/23/2021 at 6:57 PM, Bremspropeller said:

Montana - that was a song by Toto, wasn't it?

 

 

I don't recall if I posted my "there I was story" about a stupid pilot trick I witnessed one weekend thirty years ago. So here's the setup, the boys in the MT ANG were fairly new in the F-16 ADF version which were Block 15 A models. I was a DC-9 FO and we had stopped to let some folks off in Great Falls before a short hop over to Missoula. The F-16A had one UHF radio and one VHF radio. UHF was always...always...always used for ATC and VHF for inter-flight communications. 

 

So I'm sitting there monitoring Ground for our clearance over to Missoula when an F-16 guy gets his clearance over to Klamath Falls Oregon (the ANG F-15 RTU) on VHF. I immediately assume he's an airline puke since he's "sharing" on VHF instead of being on UHF. He gets it, while taxiing I hear [imagine your best United States Air Force Thunderbird narrator voice] "Ground, Viper One-one can you pass along my request for a quick climb to Flight Level two-five-zero." Ground advised him to expect that, Tower was coordinating with Center.

 

Now I'm thinking this guy is in a slick jet, no tanks. Because my last paid gig in the Air Force was the Wing FCF pilot and I always topped out my quick climbs between 12,000 to 15,000 feet with my airspeed around 250 KCAS in a clean jet. But here we are with a Field Elevation of 3700 feet MSL on a warm afternoon. Now I'm thinking..."I need to watch this." But wait, it gets better.

 

Looking out my window I see Viper 11 taxi by and he has three bags of gas on the jet. I key the microphone and say something snarky like, "dude you really think you're gonna get a three bags full jet to 250 in a quick climb on a hot day?" There was a pause..."Yes." Now I know this guy has NEVER done a quick climb. So I poured salt into an open wound. "Well I was an FCF pilot and I don't think you can. This will be fun to watch." Pretty sure at this point he's starting to question his decision to make the request on VHF...and pretty sure he's calling me names that start with "that f*cking______[fill in the blank]" or f*ck you *sshole.

 

Now Ground gets into the discussion, "Viper One-one do you still want a quick climb to two-five-oh?" A brisk "Affirmative" is the reply. He's gonna show me who has the bigger d*ck. Just you wait. 

 

Gleefully I hopped out my seat and hustled outside on the ramp to watch the airshow. I smiled a knowing smile as he accelerated down Runway 21 before pulling up in a max performance AB climb. Suffice to say his turgid vertical trajectory became a flacid level off much lower than he hoped. 

 

Back in my seat I called Ground, "Soooooo...did he make two-five-oh?" As he keyed the mike I can hear them laughing, "Not even close, made it above ten." 

 

What's that saying? You can tell a fighter pilot but you can't tell him much.

 

 

[Gambit21]

Good stuff Robey.

[Bremspropeller]

I love those stories! ?

[DD_Fenrir]

A note to all you DCS Spitfire pilots...

 

As both a Brit and passionate Spitfire appreciator, please do yourself (and me!) a favour and get some decent skins to adorn that exemplary 3D model; EDs default skin is a travesty to history, the RAF, graphic design and good research as well as being a monumental eyesore to any aficionado of RAF markings.

 

It is profoundly wrong on nearly every level. This travesty is further exacerbated by releasing a skin template with all this inaccuracy in situ and thus perpetuating the cringeworthy errors across the efforts of many well meant (but ultimately unknowing) third parties.

 

There are, however, a lovely selection of skins made by some talented folks who comprehend the concepts of research, proportionality, tone and colour balance. 

 

Every time someone posts a screenshot of the default ED Spitfire skin it's like torture to my soul; if I have wronged you somehow or you're of the mind that the Marquis de Sade was a bit too pedestrian for your taste then please continue to punish me and know that I will be twitching in an OCD hell with each shot

 

If however you are a person of compassion, erudition, savvy and guile then please see the offerings I have linked below....

 

Reflected:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/filter/type-is-skin/unit-is-spitfire_lf_mk.ix/user-is-reflected/apply/

 

 

Jocko:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/filter/type-is-skin/unit-is-spitfire_lf_mk.ix/user-is-jocko417/apply/?PER_PAGE=100

 

Edited April 28, 2021 by DD_Fenrir

[Gambit21]

After a solid week of 24/7 downloading I now have:

 

DCS 2.7

Nellis

Syria

Dora (bought it years and years ago)

F-15

Hornet

F-14

Supercarrier

 

...and the T-45.

I hope that I never have to do that again (is DCS easy to move to another drive/PC?)

 

Now the real work begins - mapping controllers! Well the REAL work comes after...but I hate mapping.

[DBFlyguy]

 

Seems like the T-45 has been a hit! I still need to set some time aside to give it a try. I'm guessing this mod is gonna help get more folks interested in the Supercarrier, Hornet and Tomcat modules too so definitely a win for ED.  If there is a way, it'd be great to see VNAO get invited into becoming a third party developer and produce the mod as a full fledged module with the SDK.  It worked out for the IndiaFoxtEcho guys and the MB339 so anything is possible.... VNAO mentioned in one of their Q&A's that they would like to eventually do the T-6B too, that would allow virtual squadrons to have a full up training syllabus with the T-6B and T-45C

Edited April 28, 2021 by DBFlyguy

[Bremspropeller]

2 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

Now the real work begins - mapping controllers! Well the REAL work comes after...but I hate mapping.

 

Haha, see you in a month or two! ?

1 hour ago, DBFlyguy said:

Seems like the T-45 has been a hit!

 

Yeah, it makes me think about learning all the tactical stuff (proper formations and radio-discipline) and no hitting the feck-it button, lighting the blower and heading for the closest fight.

 

 

[AndyJWest]

Yeah. Gambit, don't try to map all the aircraft at once - it will drive you nuts. Get one going, and fly it...

 

 

 

 

[unlikely_spider]

13 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

Yeah. Gambit, don't try to map all the aircraft at once - it will drive you nuts. Get one going, and fly it...

 

 

 

 

The Chuck's Guides generally (always?) have a very useful section in the beginning of each that show the important key mapping assignments. I couldn't imagine getting into something like the Tomcat raw without something like that.

[Lusekofte]

I map the flight controls , and what I am about to learn, weapons and system are last part of mapping, you always change things as you go anyway

[Gambit21]

4 hours ago, unlikely_spider said:

The Chuck's Guides generally (always?) have a very useful section in the beginning of each that show the important key mapping assignments. I couldn't imagine getting into something like the Tomcat raw without something like that.

 

Downloading now

[unlikely_spider]

14 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

 

Downloading now

I don't know how "Chuck" does it (or whomever manages those guides) but they are updated much more frequently than many of the official ones and they are all of impressive quality. I probably should donate, I know.

[AndyJWest]

8 minutes ago, unlikely_spider said:

I don't know how "Chuck" does it (or whomever manages those guides) but they are updated much more frequently than many of the official ones and they are all of impressive quality. I probably should donate, I know.

 

It's just one person. As for how he does it, I don't know, but it's impressive. Even he has his limits though - there's a thread on the DCS forum where he expresses frustration with Razbam over the way their documentation for the Harrier isn't getting updated, and the many recent changes make it impossible for anyone to figure out how it is all supposed to work.

 

Anyone wishing to donate, see here: https://www.patreon.com/chucksguides

[Gambit21]

22 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

 

It's just one person. As for how he does it, I don't know, but it's impressive. Even he has his limits though - there's a thread on the DCS forum where he expresses frustration with Razbam over the way their documentation for the Harrier isn't getting updated, and the many recent changes make it impossible for anyone to figure out how it is all supposed to work.

 

Anyone wishing to donate, see here: https://www.patreon.com/chucksguides

 

That doesn't bode well for my beloved Mud Hen.

Although I've decided not to pursue anything newer than the Tomcat anyway just for time/quality of life/practicality reasons.

 

F-14, F-15C, A-6, F-4, F-4U for me.

[Gambit21]

10 hours ago, DBFlyguy said:

 

Seems like the T-45 has been a hit! I still need to set some time aside to give it a try. I'm guessing this mod is gonna help get more folks interested in the Supercarrier, Hornet and Tomcat modules too so definitely a win for ED.  If there is a way, it'd be great to see VNAO get invited into becoming a third party developer and produce the mod as a full fledged module with the SDK.  It worked out for the IndiaFoxtEcho guys and the MB339 so anything is possible.... VNAO mentioned in one of their Q&A's that they would like to eventually do the T-6B too, that would allow virtual squadrons to have a full up training syllabus with the T-6B and T-45C

 

Here are all the CNATRA Docs....it's a gold mine.

 

CNATRA MATERIALS

 

I've used these quite a bit in recent months for reference/research for 'the next big thing' if you will.

Way, way more than I could ever digest or make use of, but some great comms brevity stuff (some of it didn't apply back in F-14 times though), tactics, and on and on.

 

 

[AndyJWest]

Nice find, but shouldn't you be flying? ?

[Gambit21]

1 hour ago, AndyJWest said:

Nice find, but shouldn't you be flying? ?

 

Got all set up earlier this evening, controllers setup and calibrated etc - I'll be starting at the RAG tomorrow. 

 

[Robli]

While Chuck's guides are impressive indeed, for key mapping of full fidelity planes I would suggest initially mapping just the HOTAS controls to your own HOTAS and operate other things with mouse. Later on can map additional things, when you find out from experience that some button would be more convenient to use with a key than mouse. For F-15 and other Flaming Cliffs planes the key mapping part is important of course - or memorizing/printing out the default mapping.

[scram77]

Completed my first even Campaign mission in a jet yesterday.

 

I've done a few missions in the Huey, but most of the time I'm just doing the training missions for the jest, or messing around in the ME (about 90% of my time to be honest).  However recently bought Raven One in the sale and the book to get excited for it.  Loving the book so far, so thought I'd give the campaign a go this week.  Unfortunately my Rudder pedals broke the day before, but undaunted I carried on regardless, lining up my Hornet with the trusty z,x, combo.

 

I have say it was a real blast, and I managed to land back on the Carrier with a 3 Wire so happy with that.  

 

I'm going to wait for my MFG Crosswinds to arrive before continuing, but just wanted to be another who extols the virtues of the Raven One campaign in case anyone was in doubt about getting it.

[Bremspropeller]

V 1.01 of the T-45 is out.

[DD_Crash]

Must get this

[DD_Crash]

Got it, and now I will have to go back to monitor and trackir to learn the start up.

[Lusekofte]

20 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

A-6

?

Intruder?

Where? ?

[Gambit21]

1 minute ago, LuseKofte said:

?

Intruder?

Where? ?

 

Coming

 

My lunchtime reading.

[Lusekofte]

8 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

Coming

Well that would make me a fixed wing pilot for sure. Hind and Intruder, Intruder Hind . Glory days ahead

[DD_fruitbat]

Some TOMCAT and Hornet pics.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bremspropeller]

Nice ones, Kev!

 

Some recent shots:

 

Testing the updated version. Some nice fixes!

 

High altitude performance now seems way more reasonable.

 

On the prowl in the Viper.

 

I managed to shoot down a MiG-29, but just at the same time I ate an AA-11. Bad show...

 

Which clouds?

 

On a more successful sortie with the 'cat. I managed to bag four Floggers. Two by a Phoenix-volley, one with two Sparrows and the final one in a fight in the clouds, evading missiles and spending the remaining two Sidewinders. Then there were those SA-10s somewhere out in the goo, which the Floggers tried to drag into, that were really making me nervous...

 

[dburne]

On 4/28/2021 at 1:32 PM, unlikely_spider said:

The Chuck's Guides generally (always?) have a very useful section in the beginning of each that show the important key mapping assignments. I couldn't imagine getting into something like the Tomcat raw without something like that.

 

Yeah I consider Chuck's Guides the bibles of the planes, they are awesome and I always use his recommendations for the most part in controller bindings.

 

I will also say regarding the Hornet:

Serpents Head, and Serpents Head 2 are fantastic campaigns for the Hornet. The first is freeware and the second is a payware campaign.

Well worth the price of admission. Both have been updated for DCS 2.7 and also now have a Super Carrier version, so I am having a second play through of both and they are just awesome campaigns. Man I so love those carrier ops especially utilizing super carrier. Some are cold start, some are hot start, but they mostly all begin and end on the super carrier.

 

Just finished one mission in Serpents Head 2, which has you ending up landing back on the super carrier in a blinding rainstorm and having to trust the ICLS to get you there. You are practically on top of the carrier before you can actually see it. Talk about a pucker factor, got to land successfully for the mission to count. I got it though.

 

The same author also has a new campaign he has just submitted to ED - Rise of the Persian Lion.

I will be all over that one when it gets released for sure.

Edited April 29, 2021 by dburne

[AndyJWest]

What happens when you take the T-45 up to 40,000 ft, and fly around for 20 minutes - isn't hypoxia fun. ?

 

The cabin pressure gauge (now working) reads 20,000 ft, which is about right for the 4 psi maximum differential specified in NATOPS. Dropping back down to 20,000 ft gives a cabin pressure reading of 12,000 ft or thereabouts, and clears all the blurriness. As would a working oxygen generator system - don't know if the modders can do that though. 

 

They've fixed the issue with too much thrust at altitude, so no supersonic cruise any more.

[busdriver]

4 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

The cabin pressure gauge (now working) reads 20,000 ft, which is about right for the 4 psi maximum differential specified in NATOPS. Dropping back down to 20,000 ft gives a cabin pressure reading of 12,000 ft or thereabouts, and clears all the blurriness.

 

Unless my wife is in the room where I get to play "fart or egg salad." Full disclosure (what the hell, she doesn't read this forum) this is an actual challenge in our house since she eats a lot of egg salad. It's a lot like being in the Altitude Chamber as they crank up the cabin altitude...

[Bremspropeller]

10 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

isn't hypoxia fun

 

 

It is!

 

 

[AndyJWest]

Scary. Apparently, research on high-altitude hypoxia goes back a long way:

Quote

During the second half of the 19th century Dr. Paul Bert (1833 - 1886) was the Professor of Physiology at Paris. Observing the experiences of balloonists such as Glaisher and Coxwell as well as several mountaineers he set about methodically evaluating the effects of altitude on human physiology. His research began with observations of the demise of small animals in 'decompressed' bell jars exhausted of their atmosphere. From these initial experiments he concluded that death occurred when the partial pressure of Oxygen fell below 35 mm. Hg., irrespective of the proportion of Oxygen in the atmosphere. It may seem awfully straight forward today but this recognition that the partial pressure of Oxygen was paramount to survival was a major landmark in the investigation of hypoxia, not to mention Aviation Medicine as a whole.

 

Bert subsequently built the world's first man-sized decompression chamber which, although primitive by today's standards, was capable of an altitude equivalent of 36,000 ft. above sea level. In this chamber he continued experimentation on animals as well as himself. In February 1874 he spent over an hour at 16,000 ft. noting the effects of hypoxia and their relief by breathing an Oxygen rich air he had previously prepared. Several weeks later he was joined by Scientists Croce-Spinelli and Sivel who similarly observed the "disagreeable effects of decompression and the favourable influence of superoxygenated air ...." at 20,000 ft.

 

Bert's demonstration of the protective effects of Oxygen at altitude prompted Croce-Spinelli and Sivel to carry Oxygen on their subsequent balloon flights, attempting to break the altitude record previously established by Glaisher and Coxwell. On their flight of 22 March 1874 they attained an altitude of 24,300 ft. using Oxygen enriched air  intermittently to maintain their sensibility. During a subsequent attempt on 26,200 ft. they took a third person (M. Gaston Tissandier) on board without increasing their already inadequate Oxygen stores. Prior to this flight they had corresponded with Bert who had advised they should take much more Oxygen than they had planned. They achieved their goal, climbing to 28,200 ft., but all three lost consciousness due to hypoxia; Tissandier was the only one to waken - they had all been too weak to reach out for the Oxygen tubes only a few feet away from them.

http://europeanpilotacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Hypoxia.pdf

 

 

 

Edited April 30, 2021 by AndyJWest

[Enceladus828]

We lost Payne Stewart due to hypoxia and the first item on the emergency checklist in the event of cabin depressurization being NOT 'Don oxygen masks', but something which is as clear as mud in an emergency situation... then it's 'Don oxygen masks'. At the altitude they were at, the time of useful consciousness for the pilots was likely under a minute or two, and in their confusion with the first item on the checklist, they got even more confused as the effects of hypoxia set in.

Following that crash the FAA revised that checklist on all corporate and commercial airliners so that the first item was 'Don oxygen masks'... but pretty sad that a famous golfer had to lost in order for that to happen?

 

Another case involving hypoxia: Ghost Plane | No One in Control of this Boeing 737 | Helios Airways Flight 522 | 4K - YouTube

 

[Dakpilot]

I had a bit of a close call with hypoxia, 

 

It was a fairly mundane mission, fly 3 VIP's to a meeting with the President of a central African country at a military base in the North of the country, it was a non pressurised 20 seater twin turbo prop with no weather radar. 

 

They had very specific instructions on departure time from the base, so we would be back before night as weather (from experience) got pretty nasty in the evenings at that time of year. 

 

Needless to say they were about 3 hours late and it was dusk when we departed, we were pissed off with them, it was impossible to stay there, there were no working lights at the military base and security was a bit jumpy so a return was out and no other alternates en route or within range. 

 

On this trip I was co-pilot the captain was pretty experienced and we had flown together a lot and got on well. 

 

About 40 mins in we were settled in the cruise and a very large stormfront was now evident ahead, stretching the horizon, no way round, going through or under was a real nono, but there was a "low" gap we could make out, calculated decision made we would go over. 

 

Long story short, we snuck through the gap at about 24,000ft, the pax were having extreme discomfort, one of them, a female had it very bad (extreme headache) and was starting to freak out, it was fairly turbulent and we were definitely feeling the effects of hypoxia simple things were hard to do, I could not remember our call sign and also could not read it where it was neatly written on the dash, the letters did not make sense and I could not put them together, even though I knew them well, communicating with ATC was going to be a bit of a struggle, it seemed likely that a let down would be needed, but the ndb and vor seemed like something mystical I could only remember vaguely. 

 

As we descended and became a little bit more self aware I was able to hack an aproach with the old 3 line VFD display garmin to avoid the nearby hills/mountains to the east of the airport and did a visual approach in intermittent showers. 

 

Funnily enough the pax actually realised the seriousness of the situation and refused to fly with any other crew, but in future they always kept to our timetable or made prior arrangement for overnight stops

 

Cheers, Dakpilot