DCS

[AndyJWest]

I don't enjoy watching rugby on TV. So I don't watch it...

Edited April 28, 2020 by AndyJWest

[dburne]

44 minutes ago, CB77Don246 said:

My opinion of DCS well its not a patch on IL2 GB. Trying to set up controls are a nightmare, and the aircraft are not in the same league as IL2 that is the few WW2 stuff cockpits are not as good, ho I am not going on I think you know how I see DCS this is my opinion.

 

Back to my first love IL2 Sturmovik I only wish they would be a little quicker giving us more add-ons and then I could say it is the best in the world 

 

I love them both for what they offer. IL-2 GB is my favorite by far and what gets the most of my gaming time.

I disagree on the control setup, I wish IL-2 had a similar control setup GUI. 

[Bremspropeller]

3 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

The MiG21 is a Rosa Klebb of an aeroplane.  You need to try something more.........

 

 

Ahhh....thats better!  How was it for you darling?

 

That moment when your knowledge of French is sufficient to kind of understand what they're saying, but not quite getting if they're talking adult stuff in the end...

 

Anyway, the M2k is quite a looker and flies like secks, too.

Aligning the Nav, though...

 

 

[[CPT]Pike*HarryM]

Lovely plane. Nice it is getting updated too (Mid-life overhaul).

I am *trying* to also learn the Mi-8. Not having spent much time in Helos at all, it's somewhat challenging... Got all the green cockpit and a bazillion switches goodness going on like MiG-21...

[AndyJWest]

It's got a tailhook. It says 'NAVY' on the side. What could possibly go wrong?

 

Crunch! My first attempt wasn't exactly well executed. Hit hard, and bounced over the wires. Afterburner time!

 

I then noticed that the nosegear indicator light was off. Which wasn't surprising considering the angle the gear was now sitting at...

 

What the heck though, I'm not flying all the way back to Fujairah. Round for another try. Success, of sorts, I caught a wire this time, though the main gear collapsed as well...

 

I suspect with enough tries (and/or a lot more wind over the deck - I had the carrier at 25 kt into a 10 kt headwind) it could probably be done without breaking anything. If it hasn't already. If I do, the next problem will be taking off again. Taxi to the back of the ship, Go full afterburner, release brakes, and pray that I've got enough speed by the time I reach the bow? Got to give it a try...

 

(And for those of a serious-minded disposition, I'm well aware that the F-5E's tailhook is for stopping runway overruns, not Hornet imitations. Just messing around, and working on my Winkle Brown impressions...)

 

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by AndyJWest

[Nic727]

Will try the free planes this week, but I would like to say that IL2 is the best you can get for military aviation fan. I mean, it’s a simulation, but an accessible one compared to DCS where you need to remember 30 buttons just to start the engine.

 

That’s why I love IL2. It’s fun and easy + realistic physics, damage, etc.

[CanadaOne]

7 hours ago, Nic727 said:

Will try the free planes this week, but I would like to say that IL2 is the best you can get for military aviation fan. I mean, it’s a simulation, but an accessible one compared to DCS where you need to remember 30 buttons just to start the engine.

 

That’s why I love IL2. It’s fun and easy + realistic physics, damage, etc.

 

IL2 is great, and for WWII A2A combat it destroys DCS. (IMHO)

 

But there are things DCS offers that IL2 never will. Try this: get the Huey, give it really low fuel, then put it a few miles from a destroyer with a helo pad, and make it dusk, overcast, and with rough seas. Besides the excellent eye candy, it will impart a deeply immersive feeling of flightsim goodness and horror. I have yet to land successfully, but in real life those guys do it all the time, so it's fun to get a virtual taste of the experience.

 

And lots of DCS stuff can be simple as well. As simple as you want it to be. And fun.

[unlikely_spider]

8 hours ago, Nic727 said:

Will try the free planes this week, but I would like to say that IL2 is the best you can get for military aviation fan. I mean, it’s a simulation, but an accessible one compared to DCS where you need to remember 30 buttons just to start the engine.

 

That’s why I love IL2. It’s fun and easy + realistic physics, damage, etc.

It depends. Do you want to be able to jump in and out of so many different planes depending on your mood or what's available on the server? Then IL2.

 

Or do you want to study each system and become proficient in a real representation of a single plane for a couple of months like the real pilots did? Then DCS.

[CanadaOne]

DCS can be lightweight on the brain as well.

 

Inside of 2 minutes of learning you can be hunting tanks with the GAU-8, and in 5 minutes you can be whompin' AAA with Mavericks. The A-10A lets you do that, and it's fun and the graphics are first rate. DCS can be a nightmare of memorization and systems manipulation. It can also be fun and easy and fancy looking with very little study. It's what you make of it.

 

I've had the Harrier for months and have yet to go through the startup procedure, it doesn't interest me. But after watching a few Grim Reapers tutorial videos on Youtube, I can drop LGBs from 30,000', take out grandma's cat like a boss on the first try, and then (50% of the time) successfully land on a carrier. At night. Hell, I can even use the ILS. And I'm no rocket surgeon. DCS is as complicated as you want it to be.

 

And the mission editor is great! In-game, easy to use, and in one-minute flat you can build exactly the flight you want.

[Lusekofte]

Win and home and you start a plane the boring way in DCS just like GB. It tells what  it switch on like GB do. If You choose a early jet it is no more complicated than GB. 
But it take interest to do it. I would not recommend DCS to anyone not interested in it, like I would not if it was the other way around. 

[fiddlinjim]

I fly and enjoy DCS as well as IL2 but need help with a DCS  problem.

When flying the Hornet and I press F-10 I do not go to the the theater map and therefore cannot access the 

ADF or TACAN frequencies.

Help with the location and how to access the freqs will be most appreciated.

 

 

Edited April 30, 2020 by fiddlinjim
left out info

[AndyJWest]

Just tried the Mig-19. Seems to be a MiG-15 trying to be a MIG-21, but not quite succeeding.  Which is probably authentic. And the 'roll hard to detach drop tanks' feature is novel, though I'm not sure I'd want to use it in combat. ?

 

I suspect if I put in enough effort, I could grow to like it, though it doesn't appeal to me as much as its predecessor, which is much simpler, or its successor, which is a fine demonstration of how to beat aerodynamic inefficiency into submission with raw power and complicated plumbing.

 

Anyone got thoughts on the L-30 or the C-101? I know little about either, and I don't really need a jet trainer (well, I probably do, but I'm not going to say so. ?). Is either worth downloading?

 

 

[Jaws2002]

1 hour ago, AndyJWest said:

Just tried the Mig-19. Seems to be a MiG-15 trying to be a MIG-21, but not quite succeeding.  Which is probably authentic. And the 'roll hard to detach drop tanks' feature is novel, though I'm not sure I'd want to use it in combat. ?

 

I suspect if I put in enough effort, I could grow to like it, though it doesn't appeal to me as much as its predecessor, which is much simpler, or its successor, which is a fine demonstration of how to beat aerodynamic inefficiency into submission with raw power and complicated plumbing.

 

Anyone got thoughts on the L-30 or the C-101? I know little about either, and I don't really need a jet trainer (well, I probably do, but I'm not going to say so. ?). Is either worth downloading?

 

 

 

 

The Mig-19 is a handful. It looks cool, but every time you point the nose down it doesn't want to come back up again. It bleeds all your speed in pullup. The guns are rewarding though. Few hits on a Tiger's wing and it comes off.

 I want to love it, but it doesn't do it for me. 

   The training jets i just took for a few flights. I find the L-39 a bit sexier and i think it's also flying nicer. 

I just downloaded them last week so not enough time in them. Just a few free flight missions and some rocket/guns attacks in the L-39.

Edited April 30, 2020 by Jaws2002

[Bremspropeller]

The C-101 comes with a Sea Eagle. To fire it successfully, the mission-builder has to perform some magic, though.

It and the Albatros are cool aircraft for hunting insurgents.

[AndyJWest]

@Jaws2002: Yup, the MiG definitely turns better going down hill, especially with drop tanks (which I've now discovered also self-detach if you exceed Mach 1 at low level - my apologies to the inhabitants of Tbilisi ?). 

 

@Bremspropeller: I've not really been trying out weapons systems in my 'free month' tests so far, but from looking at Chuck's Guide to the C-101, the Sea Eagle seems to take 'fire and forget' to a whole new level. Fly to within 60 nm. Press trigger. Almost takes the fun out of it... 

 

I'll give the C-101 a try. Cockpit looks like something designed by a pilot at least. I think that MiG employed former U-Boat designers for the 19 & 21 cockpits, which though it adds to their charms, does little for ergonomics. Or the view. ?

 

 

[Bremspropeller]

18 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

@Bremspropeller: I've not really been trying out weapons systems in my 'free month' tests so far, but from looking at Chuck's Guide to the C-101, the Sea Eagle seems to take 'fire and forget' to a whole new level. Fly to within 60 nm. Press trigger. Almost takes the fun out of it... 

 

It's gonna rock your boat.

 

19 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

I think that MiG employed former U-Boat designers for the 19 & 21 cockpits, which though it adds to their charms, does little for ergonomics. Or the view.

 

Try the Tu-154M in in X-Plane ?

[CanadaOne]

On ‎4‎/‎29‎/‎2020 at 11:20 AM, 216th_LuseKofte said:

Win and home and you start a plane the boring way in DCS just like GB. It tells what  it switch on like GB do. If You choose a early jet it is no more complicated than GB. 
But it take interest to do it. I would not recommend DCS to anyone not interested in it, like I would not if it was the other way around. 

 

I'm just here for the fun parts. And for the moment, going through the startup procedure is as much fun as someone moving the toilet 100' further away at 3AM.

 

On the other hand, I was in my Harrier dropping GPS and laser guided bombs before, up to 14 at a time, and that was some good high-tech fun and some pretty amusing eye-candy.

[Lusekofte]

The only reason for me to fly in DCS is learning the modules. 
This is why I am very diverted wether to use VR or not. And I get a fatigue by that game. But now I am ready for a new module. I am not sure if its gonna be F 14 , Mig 21 or relearning the. Viggen or maybe take on the F 5 

[CanadaOne]

11 minutes ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

The only reason for me to fly in DCS is learning the modules. 
 

 

Why do I fly DCS?

 

 

 

Why... do I... fly DCS?

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I remember now! 

 

 

[Lusekofte]

Damned if I know what to fly. I think I go for the Mig 21. Learn it and fly it and then the F 14 Tomcat or F 5 or Viggen

[Nic727]

On 4/29/2020 at 9:05 AM, unlikely_spider said:

It depends. Do you want to be able to jump in and out of so many different planes depending on your mood or what's available on the server? Then IL2.

 

Or do you want to study each system and become proficient in a real representation of a single plane for a couple of months like the real pilots did? Then DCS.

Not sure. In the middle ? 

Not sure which plane is best for beginner. Tried the F5 this morning and took me 40 minutes to start the engine and for some reason my wheel wasn’t turning so I got stuck into the grass... in the tutorial mission.

 

I think I need to configure all my controls from scratch since they are so different from IL2 and my joystick is half configured...

 

I got F5, L39, F18 and Mirage 2000. Not sure what to do... It’s too hardcore for me and I need some automation to make the aircraft works (engine, system, etc).

[AndyJWest]

The best way to learn the basics of a DCS aircraft is to download the relevant guide from Chuck: https://www.mudspike.com/chucks-guides-dcs/ Lots of pictures, so you know where to find everything. You don't really need to go through the full startup procedure either: Win+Home keys will do an automatic startup run through, or look for 'instant action' with a runway start.

 

The F-5 is probably a good choice for someone with experience of IL-2 GB aircraft - less complex technology than the later fighters, and it handles well.

 

 

[ZachariasX]

57 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

The F-5 is probably a good choice for someone with experience of IL-2 GB aircraft - less complex technology than the later fighters, and it handles well.

Agree on that. Just today I spent an afternoon with that module after some months of not using it. But it has simple functions and just a couple of switches to operate everything. Very straight forward. It is simple enough that you can fly and land it within an hour. Then you still have a good time ahead of you in getting to handle her well. I find it a very rewarding crate.

 

The Mig-19 I find rather similar in this tespect, but it has a rather cluttered cockpit making it less practical for doing the same as with the F-5.

[AndyJWest]

The continuing misadventures of a Hornet rookie:

 

After spending a futile half-hour trying to master air-to-air refuelling, which was only a success in as much as I didn't actually collide with the tanker, I decided that heading for the nearest runway was a better option. 

 

Straight in, slight crosswind, but no problems...

 

...apart, that is, from the rapidly-emptying fuel tanks. The computer says I've got a range of one nautical mile, and an endurance of nothing at all. Not good.

 

The engines cut as I was flaring out, at maybe 20ft off the runway. At which point, all the systems shut down. Being a Hornet, it didn't object to the hard landing, or to the inevitable off-runway roller-coaster ride as the crosswind swung the tail round, ignoring my entirely pointless footwork.

 

Lessons learned:

 

1. Air-to-air refuelling is hard.

2. When the computer says 'low fuel', it means it.

3. A plan B figured out in advance is usually better than one you make up as you go. Though not always as exciting...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lusekofte]

Well barely assigned any controls for it I took the Tomcat for a spin. Slowing down and lining up for landing I had to pause and assign the flaps for it. Then touchdown pause again snd assign wheelbrakes , then again stop to assign nosewheel toggle?

but not bad for a first flight. I think I will spend a little more time with it. 

Edited May 1, 2020 by 216th_LuseKofte

[Jaws2002]

35 minutes ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

Well barely assigned any controls for it I took the Tomcat for a spin. Slowing down and lining up for landing I had to pause and assign the flaps for it. Then touchdown pause again snd assign wheelbrakes , then again stop to assign nosewheel toggle?

but not bad for a first flight. I think I will spend a little more time with it. 

 

  Just like me.

 

Just take it for a ride at sunset, at high altitude. Put some good music and just fly around at 50000ft.

[Lusekofte]

Made five carrier landing attempts 

1 touch and go

2 2. wire

3 2 wire

4 1 wire

5 3 wire and pass

[AndyJWest]

1 hour ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

Well barely assigned any controls for it I took the Tomcat for a spin. Slowing down and lining up for landing I had to pause and assign the flaps for it. Then touchdown pause again snd assign wheelbrakes , then again stop to assign nosewheel toggle?

but not bad for a first flight. I think I will spend a little more time with it. 

 

Yup, entirely the best way to do it. I find that if I assign controls in advance, I've usually forgotten where they were by the time I need them. Same with reading manuals. Leave instructions for landing until after you've taken off. 

 

Entirely authentic too. From what I've read, this is the way the brave pilots and pilotesses of the Air Transport Auxiliary used to do it during WW2. Pilots notes if you were lucky, something scribbled on a Woodbines packet otherwise. 

[Jaws2002]

It's nice and quiet up here.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by Jaws2002

[CanadaOne]

Awesome eye candy!

 

I can't find my Steam screenshots. I'll keep looking.

[DD_Arthur]

On 4/30/2020 at 8:05 PM, Jaws2002 said:

 Few hits on a Tiger's wing and it comes off.

 

The F5's?  That never goes too well for me

[Jaws2002]

9 minutes ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

The F5's?  That never goes too well for me

 

 

Same here. ?  But when it goes well the guns are rewarding. 

2 hours ago, CanadaOne said:

Awesome eye candy!

 

I can't find my Steam screenshots. I'll keep looking.

 

 

Thx. That's the best thing about DCS.

If steam saves the screenshots like the regular version, the shots are here:

C:\Users\XXXX\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta (the name you gave your DCS instal)

If it saves them in the steam folder they are in the userdata folder.

To find your screenshots in steam, go to \steam\userdata  and you'll have a folder with big number as name. Click on that and look through the new folders that are inside it. Steam gives numbers to each game, so try to find the folder for DCS and your screenshots should be in there.

 

[[CPT]Pike*HarryM]

Managed to land the Mi-8 for the first time in hover/near hover (+9 knot forward speed), white-knuckle ride!

[Bremspropeller]

Finally Polandball can into space.

On reentry. The engines are only slightly over-reving in idle

 

I figured it was cool to pull up to 60° at 35000ft and Mach 2.3 - not sure if the real airplane could do it all dragged up like I was...

[Nic727]

I had a bit of time to try planes tonight.

 

First try, F5-Tiger. People think it's good for beginner, but took me 30 minutes to takeoff and I hate the fact you can't turn the wheel without pressing a button and the flight level trim is a bit annoying.

 

Second try, L39. Tutorial voice is in Russian and everything in the cockpit is in Russian. I just left...

 

Third try, Mirage 2000. My tutorial just bugged where I need to switch the radio communication on/off...

 

Fourth try, F18. Was just flying in the first training mission which is following waypoints.

 

Whatever, I don't know how people are playing this game/simulation. I need to take more time and maybe someone help me figure out how to play, but the clickable cockpit is a nightmare when you don't have TrackIR or VR since you need to move the camera and move your mouse to click on a button... Or I really need to map all 300 controls just to turn on engine, choosing missiles/bombs, etc.

[Jaws2002]

27 minutes ago, Nic727 said:

but took me 30 minutes to takeoff

 

 

Just get into a "free flight mission and fly around. Why do you want to start a new game, by learning how to start the plane and take off. Jump into a plane and take a quick free flight mission. Map just basics to your joystick and go fly. 

You'll start in the air and now you can just fly around and map additional controls as you need them. 

It's important to start by having fun and not by frustrating yourself with  startup procedures and learning to switch radio channels. 

  

27 minutes ago, Nic727 said:

Tutorial voice is in Russian and everything in the cockpit is in Russian. I just left...

 

 You have a section in the options/ settings where you select the language and cockpit labels and even units.

27 minutes ago, Nic727 said:

Third try, Mirage 2000. My tutorial just bugged where I need to switch the radio communication on/off...

 

 

Forget the tutorials. Go fly around a bit in quick free flight to get a bit familiarized with the cockpit and basic controls then go watch tutorials on youtube. There are a ton of good ones and you can chose how deep to go into it. 

 

   When i get a new plane, I map the main axis then go fly. Map a few more in the first sortie, then i watch Crash laobi's  "One minute DCS" totorial for that plane.

 Just use headset and don't let your kids listen to the video.

 

  This are complex planes and you don't want to learn them like a job. it kills the fun out of it. Fly and have fun and learn as you go.

 

Mirage 2000 is pretty easy to learn and it's drop dead gorgeous.

 

I forgot. You also have a "cheat" to auto start the plane, if you want to start on the ground. Look in the controls menu in the "cheat" section for the auto start procedures. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Jaws2002

[DetCord12B]

I haven't touched DCS in awhile so I don't keep up with the news anymore. Has anything else been said about the Kiowa?

[[CPT]Pike*HarryM]

Nothing that I have heard, I think the Mi24 is only help in real development.

 

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

The P47D is shaping up very nicely for EA. Looks stunning. 

[Bremspropeller]

7 hours ago, DetCord12B said:

Has anything else been said about the Kiowa?

 

Nothing *said*, there there are some videos floating on youtube, though.

Edited May 3, 2020 by Bremspropeller