DCS

[dburne]

Spent a lot of hours today just finally using the new Virpil Collective with Alpha L Grip in the Apache, and must say I am becoming more and more pleased with it. Finally have everything pretty much dialed in ergonomically for it. Still though of course the force required to raise the collective is greater than to lower it, but am becoming more used to it and better know the force I need at the time so that really helps. And that Alpha Grip is really one sweet grip. Excellent buttons, well positioned ergonomically, no problems reaching and manipulating any of the buttons. A very nice pairing with the Collective. So great they offer this grip in a left hand version as well.

 

I am very happy now!

[Lusekofte]

13 minutes ago, dburne said:

Spent a lot of hours today just finally using the new Virpil Collective with Alpha L Grip in the Apache, and must say I am becoming more and more pleased with it. Finally have everything pretty much dialed in ergonomically for it. Still though of course the force required to raise the collective is greater than to lower it, but am becoming more used to it and better know the force I need at the time so that really helps. And that Alpha Grip is really one sweet grip. Excellent buttons, well positioned ergonomically, no problems reaching and manipulating any of the buttons. A very nice pairing with the Collective. So great they offer this grip in a left hand version as well.

 

I am very happy now!

I knew you would settle in. Using a throttle that long give you bad habits.

I have the ka 50 grip with throttle.

I am not too happy with the hat switches, but flying with a collective is almost like getting used to rudderpedals first time. Once you have grown into it. You won't fly without it.

But I have to say of the collectives I owned Virpil feels wrong, too light.

I am not a chopper pilot, but I flown a Bell 206 and probably other Bell types. 

They let me try it in straight passages in unprotected airspaces

[Bremspropeller]

All hail the Twatwagen 2.0

 

 

It is one secksea airplane!

[Hoss]

21 hours ago, dburne said:

Spent a lot of hours today just finally using the new Virpil Collective with Alpha L Grip in the Apache, and must say I am becoming more and more pleased with it. Finally have everything pretty much dialed in ergonomically for it. Still though of course the force required to raise the collective is greater than to lower it, but am becoming more used to it and better know the force I need at the time so that really helps. And that Alpha Grip is really one sweet grip. Excellent buttons, well positioned ergonomically, no problems reaching and manipulating any of the buttons. A very nice pairing with the Collective. So great they offer this grip in a left hand version as well.

 

I am very happy now!

 

Is the friction working okay?... heard some people on the Other Forums saying theirs do not stay put anymore and start falling down. 

 

[Gambit21]

On 6/24/2022 at 8:08 PM, Hoss said:

A-6, A-7 are on the street.

 

Working on F-4, A-6 content.

No A-7 plans, but never know.

 

On 6/24/2022 at 8:08 PM, Hoss said:

 

Some guy says he's going to make the mission.  I was in VA-94 on the Enterprise April 18, 1988 when that happened. Largest Naval engagement since WWII.. was nice to see some payback for the Hostage Crisis in Tehran, the Iraq, Iran War, the mining of the USS Roberts, the ramming of the USS Ranger, and the USS Constellation during the hostage crisis.. I was on the Connie when it was rammed in 81 I think.  They (Ranger) were coming to relieve us on GONZO station.  It was 0100 when we were hit............ during an UNREP to boot.. called Emergency Breakaway, I felt the boat rock, I heard report all casualties to the bridge, and then General Quarters sounded and it was NOT A DRILL............. thank god my shop was just one deck up from berthing... Both tankers were Liberian flagged ships.  The Ranger limped to Yokuska and had cement poured in the damaged spaces on the bow so they could go home.  The Midway had to come relieve us on station

 

Gonzo Station was an acronym for "Gulf of Oman Naval Zone of Operations" or "Gulf of Oman Northern Zone." It was used to designate an area of carrier-based naval operations by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in the Indian Ocean during the 1979-1981 Iranian Hostage Crisis and the "Tanker War" between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. We reflagged Kuwait's tankers to US to protect and retaliate if attacked. Then the USS Roberts hit the mine in the Gulf.......

 

That's damn hairy stuff. I just talked with a guy who works at our local Ace Hardware...was an ordie on the Ranger.

[Gambit21]

14 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

All hail the Twatwagen 2.0

 

 

It is one secksea airplane!

 

That was definitely a tawtfest! 

[Gambit21]

Well it's just the AI asset we already have for now...and wrong paint job, but just laying some groundwork for the first mission.

 

 

 

A familiarization flight along the "DMZ"

 

 

[DD_Fenrir]

[Gambit21]

That never get's old...need to get some F-14 time in.

[Hoss]

Always with the East Coast Navy... WESTPAC Squadrons are the best... LOL

 

And always the Jolly Rodgers.............

 

[DD_Fenrir]

2 minutes ago, Hoss said:

Always with the East Coast Navy... WESTPAC Squadrons are the best... LOL

 

And always the Jolly Rodgers.............

 

 

Well, they are my squadron, so I gotta represent....

 

 

[Hoss]

Ex USN Fenrir?

Aviation maintenance, or Aircrew?

 

[DD_Fenrir]

11 hours ago, Hoss said:

Ex USN Fenrir?

Aviation maintenance, or Aircrew?

 

 

LoL! I wish old chum... would have given a kidney or left arm to be around Cats on the boat.

 

No, as well as being a DangerDog I'm part of virtual Carrier Air Wing 17; Tomcat is where it's at so the only choice was VF-103. Plus the skull and cross bones calls to me inner pirate, yarrrr.

 

[Gambit21]

Thread winner - start a new thread.

[AndyJWest]

I downloaded the MiG-21 again for another free trial. And reminded myself of why it scares the hell out of me.

 

Got far too low, and I should probably have gone round once I lost sight of the airfield. Or when I had to dodge the chimneys. On the plus side, I actually landed on the runway - twice - even if I didn't stay there... ?

 

Edited June 30, 2022 by AndyJWest

[Hoots]

7 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

I downloaded the MiG-21 again for another free trial. And reminded myself of why it scares the hell out of me.

 

Got far too low, and I should probably have gone round once I lost sight of the airfield. Or when I had to dodge the chimneys. On the plus side, I actually landed on the runway - twice - even if I didn't stay there... ?

 

It's very blue isn't it. Two lots of landing fees for you

[Gambit21]

On 6/30/2022 at 4:39 PM, AndyJWest said:

I downloaded the MiG-21 again for another free trial. And reminded myself of why it scares the hell out of me.

 

Got far too low, and I should probably have gone round once I lost sight of the airfield. Or when I had to dodge the chimneys. On the plus side, I actually landed on the runway - twice - even if I didn't stay there... ?

 

 

 

I love the idea of going online with this aircraft. It's the opposite of a dweeb plane (like clubbing seals with the FC F-15C)

Do well with this, and you've really done something. I'll be on it (probably not online though) when it get's updated to the new standard.

[DBFlyguy]

Recent interview with two Eagle Dyanmics reps with some good info!  Love that ED (and Microsoft/Asobo for MSFS) do regular stuff like this to talk about what they are doing:

 

 

[Trooper117]

Watched the whole video, very informative, loved the way that they were so passionate about what they do... and great to hear two ex British jet pilots loving and remembering what it's like to fly for real and equating that to the DCS experience. This is why I'm such a fan!

[Gambit21]

Yeah, this is the second one I've seen.

ED has had to issue a few "addendums" let's call it, after this last one. I'll leave it there.

 

 

While entertaining and (with caveats) informative, if this guy would talk less and let his subjects talk a bit more, he'd have much better interviews on his hands.

Still, good stuff.

 

 

[Bremspropeller]

 

Chasing that demon up there in the thin air.

[Dallas88B]

 I only started back at DCS in earnest late last year... FA-18, Super Carrier and Apache AH-64D. The Apache has really got me in. I appreciate my info below is certainly not news to many folk here but I wanted to share this because its been a great find for me and maybe some folk are yet to come across it.

 

CasmoTV does really great AH-64D videos. https://www.youtube.com/c/CasmoTV Well worth subscribing. Informative and entertaining. Vids where he interacts with others like "Dodging SAMs and stuff" are especially good.

 

Casmo also has a twitch stream - normally twitch has limited appeal to me given time frame differences and all that chat comment stuff - lots of it off topic or inane.

But Casmo has been smart - chatting to the feed folk throughout the stream doesn't happen - he turns off chat when the mission starts - so no feed folk interrupts

 

Great example here :

 

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1515152646

 

Its long, about 1.5 hours for the mission itself, plus briefing before and wrap up after... but it got me in. Apaches, Blackhawks, Jets, ground forces. Skip to the 15 minute mark if you want to skip the briefing... though it does explain whats going to happen.

Casmo was a real Apache pilot as were two of the other folk flying other helicopters. Excellent on your TV if you can and great on a decent PC too.  There is a free twitch app you can get for free for most smart TVs.

[Gambit21]

We all know who Casmo is, and glad you're making good use of what he offers.

I'll wait for the Cobra.

 

[Dallas88B]

12 minutes ago, Dallas88B said:

I appreciate my info below is certainly not news to many folk here

 

[Gambit21]

I guess I should have said that I appreciate your appreciation? ?

Seriously, you guys that are flying it @dburne etc, post videos or something. I like watching other users who know stuff that I don't...which is every other user.

 

 

 

[AndyJWest]

30 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

I guess I should have said that I appreciate your appreciation? ?

Seriously, you guys that are flying it @dburne etc, post videos or something. I like watching other users who know stuff that I don't...which is every other user.

 

I could post a 'how to nuke yourself in a MiG-21' video, if you like. I need to refine my toss-bombing technique. ?

 

Either that or go back to flying something actually designed to be flyable. I feel saver in a Gotha G.V.

[Bremspropeller]

 

[Dagwoodyt]

On 6/30/2022 at 4:39 PM, AndyJWest said:

I downloaded the MiG-21 again for another free trial. And reminded myself of why it scares the hell out of me.

 

Got far too low, and I should probably have gone round once I lost sight of the airfield. Or when I had to dodge the chimneys. On the plus side, I actually landed on the runway - twice - even if I didn't stay there... ?

 

Well, compared to the I-16, landing the Mig 21 seems easy. What I am having trouble with is the PRMG instrument landing system. Don't know if it's me or the module. Really like the Fishbed though.

[Bremspropeller]

Some great arguments presented by @Enigma89 - I'd even add that Cold War era aircraft are more enjoyable to fly as you're more involved and max-performing them is more challenging than riding some limiter in the F-18, looking over your shoulder and splashing the other guy with an AIM-9X.

 

 

[Gambit21]

[Bremspropeller]

 

[Bremspropeller]

 

[Dagwoodyt]

10 hours ago, Bremspropeller said:

 

Is that really the "letterbox" field of view described for the Aero?

[Bremspropeller]

For the Aero?

[ZachariasX]

26 minutes ago, Bremspropeller said:

For the Aero?

Varjo Aero, the VR headset.

[dburne]

9 hours ago, Dagwoodyt said:

Is that really the "letterbox" field of view described for the Aero?

 

While the Aero has one of the smaller vertical FOV's than most other headsets no it does not appear letterboxed like that in the headset itself. But yeah the vertical FOV is not so great in the Aero. I got used to it and it does not bother me at all which seems to be similar experience by other Aero owners.

 

Edited July 17, 2022 by dburne

[Enigma89]

On 7/9/2022 at 11:41 AM, Bremspropeller said:

Some great arguments presented by @Enigma89 - I'd even add that Cold War era aircraft are more enjoyable to fly as you're more involved and max-performing them is more challenging than riding some limiter in the F-18, looking over your shoulder and splashing the other guy with an AIM-9X.

 

 

Thanks glad you liked it and that it resonated. Cold War is the future!

[ZachariasX]

16 hours ago, Enigma89 said:

Thanks glad you liked it and that it resonated. Cold War is the future!

These are good vids! 

[Dagwoodyt]

Interesting perspective, but understanding and making use of AWACS callouts and doing unit conversions while flying Mig 21bis is not exactly easy even in SP practice missions     ?

[Gambit21]

 

There might be some Hell Hawks testing happening.