DCS

[AndyJWest]

For the benefit of anyone finding all the techno-jargon too difficult, here's a useful diagram. 

 

[Bremspropeller]

Just managed to do my first (OK) #3 pass.

The other ten were C(uts), B(olters) or no grades. ?

 

Tuning down the HUD-brightness helps a bit. So does a heavy bird.

I find the light Hornet to be a little hard to fly speed-stable when making corrections.

[AndyJWest]

1 minute ago, Bremspropeller said:

Just managed to do my first (OK) #3 pass.

The other ten were C(uts), B(olters) or no grades. ?

 

Tuning down the HUD-brightness helps a bit. So does a heavy bird.

I find the light Hornet to be a little hard to fly speed-stable when making corrections.

 

Yeah, I'd figured out the HUD tip too. Definitely too bright at default.

 

As for weight making a the Hornet more stable, you may be right. Definitely comes in slower though with nothing dangling on it, and with low fuel. More time to react. And in my case (a couple of days ago), more time to check the fuel gauge as it counts down through the last few pounds. When you catch a wire with 10 lb in the tanks, you know you've cut it a little fine...

[dburne]

3 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

 

Either by the radio-commands (IIRC it's groundcrew => salute) or by key-command. It's ctrl+shift+S.

You can put the Ball-call on a Hotas key, too. Much better than fiddling with the radio-menu...

 

Does anybody know where I can see a breakdown of the LSO-grades? I'd like to decypher my suckery.

Also, why does the wind blow me across the approach on the cold-start mission on Caucasus for the F-18?

 

I haven't had any trouble with seeing the ball (zoomed a little) - it's just about as visible as on the old Stennis.

The laser-lineup-system is neat.

 

Ok thanks for that, I use Voice Attack with Vaicom Pro, hopefully he will get that integrated into Vaicom.

[AndyJWest]

Had another go at landing. I don't think the LSO-bot likes me, from his grading:

 

2 waveoffs, and a bolter of sorts - I hit the deck well beyond the wires. First two graded (AFU) which means what you think it would. 2nd one the LSO says I didn't call the ball - I thought I did. _LOIC_ means 'very low in close', which was probably about right for the lot. 

 

The actual landing, which the LSO graded 'C' (unsafe, gross deviations, have you considered a career in the circus? ?) was...

 

_LOIC_  very low in close

_PIC_  very 'power' in close (not sure what that means - probably heavy on the throttle)

_PPPIC_  no idea, the manual doesn't say. I think the LSO has developed a stutter...

_LULIC_ very left in close

_DLIC_  drifted left badly in close (ok, I get the point...)

(LLIC) landed left (well, I would, wouldn't I)

_LOAR_ very low at the ramp

WIRE # 1 not surprising, given I was low...

EGIW pulled back throttle to catch a wire - which I may well have done, though to be honest I was pumping the throttle around so much that I've no idea where it was when I got to that point. Definitely not my best landing, though I think I read somewhere that they've added turbulence behind the ship, which might account for some of the close-in troubles. Needs more practice.

 

An explanation of the LSO grading system is in the draft Supercarrier Operations Guide (in \DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\tech\Supercarrier\Doc).

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2020 by AndyJWest

[CanadaOne]

Just bought the F-18 (on sale!) You gotta have a carrier plane if you have the carrier.

 

Had a successful first launch - meaning started in the catapult and managed to hit the "salute" buttons - and away I went. With a smile. And I have to say, that is some astounding flightsim eye-candy and immersion. I set the weather for cloudy with rough seas, had the plane ready to go with the coast visible off to my right, the little dudes doing their dance, and Holy Crap! is that some nice looking stuff. If it's not the best I've ever seen, it's close.

 

It's truly some next-level flightsim action. Worth every penny.

[Lusekofte]

I have a hold up in DCS. I will start practicing carrier landing and takeoffs when super carrier come. And see if my motivation for the Hornet become better. 
I like flying the tomcat I like the sarcastic remarks of Jester when I catch #1 wire. But I hate him on action. 
What is no. 1 wire first or last? 3 suppose to be good. 

[Dijital_Majik]

1 hour ago, CanadaOne said:

Just bought the F-18 (on sale!) You gotta have a carrier plane if you have the carrier.

 

Had a successful first launch - meaning started in the catapult and managed to hit the "salute" buttons - and away I went. With a smile. And I have to say, that is some astounding flightsim eye-candy and immersion. I set the weather for cloudy with rough seas, had the plane ready to go with the coast visible off to my right, the little dudes doing their dance, and Holy Crap! is that some nice looking stuff. If it's not the best I've ever seen, it's close.

 

It's truly some next-level flightsim action. Worth every penny.

 

I have to agree; that first line-up and launch, seeing all the activity actually happening on deck, may be the single best thing I've ever done in VR.  Launches on the old Stenis were also fun, but just so sterile.  I never really watch many replays or use external cameras in flight sims, but I spent a good hour doing just that yesterday with my jaw on the deck; I sort of begrudingly bought the SC earlier in the year because I got a good deal on it and the F-18 (that trailer with Motley Crue also may have been the best trailer for anything I've ever seen), but it's honestly surprising how much a nicer model and some animated people can make a difference.  As a life-long Viper and Tomcat fan, I'm also surpried how much I'm enjoying the Hornet.  I immediately went and downloaded an external sound mod, and will be sitting on the LSO platform in VR on MP in the future.

 

It also helps that I finally updated from 2.5.5, and got to see the new lighting engine at work for the first time.  Flying over PG at night/dawn is one of my favourite things to do in DCS, even with the old lighting.  Now it's simply incredible.

Edited May 21, 2020 by Dijital_Majik

[AndyJWest]

10 minutes ago, 216th_LuseKofte said:

I have a hold up in DCS. I will start practicing carrier landing and takeoffs when super carrier come. And see if my motivation for the Hornet become better. 
I like flying the tomcat I like the sarcastic remarks of Jester when I catch #1 wire. But I hate him on action. 
What is no. 1 wire first or last? 3 suppose to be good. 

 

The 1 wire is the one nearest the back. Generally the worst one to catch as doing so means that either you were too low coming over the ramp, you were coming in too steep, or you stalled into the deck. Hornets (& Tomcats too, I assume) don't really stall though (or at least not at any sort of AoA you should ever find yourself at when trying to land), so catching the I wire is an indication of getting it wrong on the downright dangerous side of things.

[DD_fruitbat]

number 3 wire is where you wanna be.

[AndyJWest]

And this is where you don't wanna be... ?

 

 

[dburne]

6 hours ago, CanadaOne said:

Just bought the F-18 (on sale!) You gotta have a carrier plane if you have the carrier.

 

Had a successful first launch - meaning started in the catapult and managed to hit the "salute" buttons - and away I went. With a smile. And I have to say, that is some astounding flightsim eye-candy and immersion. I set the weather for cloudy with rough seas, had the plane ready to go with the coast visible off to my right, the little dudes doing their dance, and Holy Crap! is that some nice looking stuff. If it's not the best I've ever seen, it's close.

 

It's truly some next-level flightsim action. Worth every penny.

 

Yeah the Hornet is a fantastic plane especially combined with the Persian Gulf.

My only frustration is the learning process, many many untold hours spent this thing trying to learn everything and still not at the 

point I feel combat ready. The training missions for it are good, but not enough so one has to search out for all the other stuff.

[CanadaOne]

2 hours ago, dburne said:

 

Yeah the Hornet is a fantastic plane especially combined with the Persian Gulf.

My only frustration is the learning process, many many untold hours spent this thing trying to learn everything and still not at the 

point I feel combat ready. The training missions for it are good, but not enough so one has to search out for all the other stuff.

 

Fortunately I have low standards.

 

I'm happy to never run through the startup procedure. I'm unlikely to learn the deeper intricacies of the SA screen, get into BVR action, or ever fly a scripted mission. I will, however, learn to drop/fire as many fancy A2G weapons as possible and do a ton of carrier action. In DCS every flight starts in the ME, and I set up whatever A2G or flying fun scenario I'm in the mood for. You could call it lazy sandbox flying, I guess.

 

But I want top-shelf lazy sandbox flying.

[Jaws2002]

6 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

And this is where you don't wanna be... ?

 

 

Edited May 21, 2020 by Jaws2002

[dburne]

Good ole DCS, an 80 page manual just for the Super Carrier - sheese! lol.

Hope to have a look at it maybe sometime Saturday. Too much fun going on in IL-2 right now anyway.

[CanadaOne]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

Good ole DCS, an 80 page manual just for the Super Carrier - sheese! lol.

Hope to have a look at it maybe sometime Saturday. Too much fun going on in IL-2 right now anyway.

 

It's been a good week for flightsims. New toys, new features, good stuff!

 

If I can stop busting trains at 500kph in the -9T, I'm going to see if I can manage a Case 1 on the SC.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

Got the SC for DCS. Game has run smoothly for me, so can´t say what they did for performance. I just wish they could do something to those uglyfugly prop disks on Spitfire, FW190A etc. Dora has it perfect.

[DD_Arthur]

2 hours ago, LLv34_Flanker said:

Game has run smoothly for me, so can´t say what they did for performance.

 

After several restarts of my pc Super Carrier performance seems to have got much better.  Hooray!

 

Does anyone know how to get rid of this landing aid thing that appears in the top left of the screen when making a SC landing approach? 

[ZachariasX]

Now I installed it as well. Initially, the update screwed my licenses, but now it seems to work. There are no missions coming along with the SC. You used the mission editor to fly from it? Or is there another way?

[CanadaOne]

9 minutes ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

After several restarts of my pc Super Carrier performance seems to have got much better.  Hooray!

 

Does anyone know how to get rid of this landing aid thing that appears in the top left of the screen when making a SC landing approach? 

 

I saw on a video that you can click on it and drag it around, but that hasn't worked for me yet.

 

Pretty sure a future fix is in the works. Lots of people complaining about it being there with no option to turn it off. But you can, I think, make a file adjustment and turn it off.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=273153

[Bremspropeller]

23 minutes ago, ZachariasX said:

There are no missions coming along with the SC. You used the mission editor to fly from it? Or is there another way?

 

Depends on the missions you're looking for:

 

Cold-Start, Recoveries and stuff like that (for the Hornet) can be accessed through "Missions" (not quick missions) and then scrolling down.

For the Tomcat (not tried yet, so don't hang me to dry...), they're supposed to be found in the Quick Missions selections.

 

Does anybody know it there's gonna be a feature that keeps track of your carrier-approach performance?

Would be cool so see a history, an average grade (maybe through the last 50 landings or so) and all of that available through the logbook.

Would also be cool to get some patches (e.g. "Centurion" for 100 traps)...

[Lusekofte]

Has the supercarrier come

[DD_fruitbat]

1 hour ago, ZachariasX said:

Now I installed it as well. Initially, the update screwed my licenses, but now it seems to work. There are no missions coming along with the SC. You used the mission editor to fly from it? Or is there another way?

 

For the Hornet, go to missions as opposed to quick missions as Brems has said, most are on the Caucuses map. The first one listed is a template and is very cool to start with, what it looks like,

 

 

Tomcat missions are in the quick missions and there don't seem to be any extra in missions at the moment.

 

On top of playing around with the super carrier, I'm finally making the effort to learn how to shoot stuff down in it since this monday. Still prefer the radar in the F16 loads, but at least I am semi getting it to work how I want now. Think the helmet is better in the F18 though.

 

Disclaimer, I am aware that I'm no Maverick in the Hornet!

 

 

[9./JG27golani79]

1 hour ago, Bremspropeller said:

For the Tomcat (not tried yet, so don't hang me to dry...), they're supposed to be found in the Quick Missions selections.

 

For the Tomcat there are instant actions available - yes.

[AndyJWest]

2 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

Does anyone know how to get rid of this landing aid thing that appears in the top left of the screen when making a SC landing approach? 

 

At the moment, you can't, without modifying a file (see here: I've not tried it). They will be making it optional in-game later, but the proper carrier ball is darned difficult to see, and I suspect it may not even be properly aligned. So unless you are going to eyeball your approaches, or rely on the LSO-bot's erratic assistance, you are probably stuck with it until they sort it all out.

[DD_fruitbat]

Lets show some Tomcat love for the super carrier, my first launch,

 

 

And because 2 Tomcats looks better than 1!

 

 

 

They won't tell you to unfold your wings with the Tomcat,  so probably a good idea to remember yourself......

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by DD_fruitbat

[Bremspropeller]

 

 

 

 

 

[Bremspropeller]

Beware! The carrier might hard-over to starboard.

Yarrrr!

 

That dude slid across the deck to the port-side, despite having choks and parking-brakes on.

 

 

[Bremspropeller]

Well, looks like it CAN be done, actually... ?

[AndyJWest]

Yeah, it seems to be possible. What I'm not convinced of though is how accurate the LSO-bot's gradings are. For example, I did this landing yesterday:

 

The approach could have been better (I got lined up late), but that isn't what the LSO is complaining about. '3PTSIW' means '3 Points into the wire', which a replay shows is simply wrong. I definitely landed mainwheels first. I may have been a degree or so flatter than the optimum, from looking at Tacview, but the LSO seems to be allowing no margin at all. As for '_EGIW_' (throttling back to catch wire), which I've been getting assessed fairly consistently, it seems from other people's comments that it may actually relate to how fast you throttle up after you catch the wire. Now, not going full mil power at that point is a bad habit to get into, but again, there needs to be some latitude, I'd have thought.

 

Trying to get a plausible 'human' assessment of a landing from software isn't simple, obviously. As a beta effort, this is good. I'd hope however that it could be improved though, because if it is getting things wrong it is going to encourage people to make poor landings in order to get a good grading.

 

Edit: The landing in question (cropped screenshot of video of track, hence low-res). Mainwheels on deck, nose still up:

 

Edited May 23, 2020 by AndyJWest

[Bremspropeller]

Andy, do you possibly have a source for me to look-up the LSO shorthand?

Still seems like a lot of jubberish to me ?

 

 

Nevermind - I found it..

 

https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/local/docs/pat-pubs/P-1211.pdf

[AndyJWest]

25 minutes ago, Bremspropeller said:

Andy, do you possibly have a source for me to look-up the LSO shorthand?

Still seems like a lot of jubberish to me ?

 

 

Nevermind - I found it..

 

https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/local/docs/pat-pubs/P-1211.pdf

 

There is an explanation in the draft Supercarrier Operations Guide (in \DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\tech\Supercarrier\Doc), which seems mostly to make sense, though some of it is a bit vague. As for the real Navy manual, it looks interesting reading, and I like this advice: ?

Quote

Fly the ball all the way to touchdown. Landing should be a surprise.

 

[dburne]

Wow just did my first cold start, taxi to catapult, take off and landing on the Super Carrier - Roosevelt with the Hornet.

Animations and co-ordinating with the crew was highly impressive.

 

Edited May 23, 2020 by dburne

[DD_Arthur]

47 minutes ago, dburne said:

Wow just did my first cold start, taxi to catapult, take off and landing on the Super Carrier - Roosevelt with the Hornet.

Animations and co-ordinating with the crew was highly impressive.

 

 

How do you rate the overall game performance in VR with the super carrier Don?

[Hoots]

2 minutes ago, DD_Arthur said:

 

How do you rate the overall game performance in VR with the super carrier Don?

I’ve found it pretty good, strains when there’s an aircraft launching in front of you but other than that it’s not too bad. 
 

[simfan2015]

IMHO Supercarrier performance in non-VR is ... great (IMHO), I didn't expect it to be that way.

Just tried the Catapult single Supercarrier missions and the F-18 to enjoy the carrier scenery ? so much to learn.

This is going to quite difficult ... so little time to enjoy both DCS *and* IL-2 ! 

[DD_Arthur]

31 minutes ago, simfan2015 said:

This is going to quite difficult ... so little time to enjoy both DCS *and* IL-2 ! 

 

Yes, that's very true.   A couple of big IL2 updates in quick succession and thanks to the DCS free month I've now got even more flight sim 'stuff' to enjoy.

 

My wife is ecstatic!

 

 

[dburne]

2 hours ago, Hoots said:

I’ve found it pretty good, strains when there’s an aircraft launching in front of you but other than that it’s not too bad. 
 

 

Yeah same here. My Rift S dropped below 40 fps just a couple times when sitting on deck and other aircraft launching.

Then taxiing to catapult and launching I maintained ASW of 40 fps. Once in air 80 fps.

[AndyJWest]

Finally managed an 'OK' Hornet landing. Not as good as Bremspropeller's '_OK_', but an improvement on my usual efforts. And fortunately the LSO-bot doesn't seem to take much notice of height variations on the downwind leg of the circuit. Getting the thing accurately on trim while slowing and maintaining a constant altitude is tricky, and I made a pigs ear of it. The blinking AoA indicator light reminded me that I'd not got the hook down, which was a plus, but also a distraction.  I need to establish a proper routine...

 

As for 'so little time to enjoy both DCS *and* IL-2' I've got to admit I've rather neglected the latter. Only really given the new Yak 9s a brief test.  They can wait though, while I master the art of surprising myself by colliding with a 104,600-ton object... ?

Edited May 23, 2020 by AndyJWest

[DD_Arthur]

 

"Catapults?.........."