tflash

I'm not sure the USAF really wants to use its high-prized F-35 jet to perform CAS. In low-intensity conflicts, other jets can do it and in a high-intensity conflict there are other priorities. My guess is the USAF will assign CAS to the remaining F-16's if it ever withdraws the Hog. The Marines however do not have much options when they withdraw the harrier, but essentially the F-35 can do what the Harrier does, be it that it seems to me much to sophisticated to operate in harsh and forward deployed environments, but then again this is exactly what the Marines aim to do.

Great work Harald and all those involved! Much appreciated!

The F-35 will arguably be a better F-16, Hornet or Harrier. But the idea that it could replace the A-10 is beyond imagination. It is not even a debatable proposition. The F-35 is nothing less than a giant statement that the USAF top brass simply doesn't want to do the CAS mission altogether.

Cool car, I like the HUD!

You need toe brakes indeed (even though I tend to take off without braking, but at least you badly need them for taxi). But do check whether they function properly: I had to invert the axis for the brakes on my X52 pedals.

Enjoy! http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/26/newest-u-s-stealth-fighter-10-years-behind-older-jets.html

Indeed I am 100% happy that Eagle developed these real joystick controls for CA, which is logical and a real improvement, only in my particular case, I seem to have much better motoric control with the mouse than with a joystick axis, specially for the aiming. Could be just me; in the mean time I got everything almost fixed, except the forward movement/brake which really doesn't work with the arrows, I learning to adapt to do it with the joystick. But I do guess the interference is just a small bug and they will fix that in a next release?

^^+1 !

Damn I don't seem to manage setting up the controls: I just want to use my mouse for the turret and my arrow keys for movement as I always did, but with the update it is completely porked. I understand that I have to map axes (that I won't be using ) to my X-55, but even if I do it still gets screwed up: I can now use left/right arrow again but still not up/down arrow and the turret movement is completely erratic. Is there a simple setup instruction for this?

That's all true, but the F-35 takes heat management a dimension futher, if I'm right also to improve the heat signature of the aircraft. So what I'm saying is the temperature tolerances might be narrower than on legacy aircraft.

Fuel is an integral part of the F-35 cooling system, so I can imagine temp tolerances are tighter than on other aircraft? Seems very logical to me that they do some tryouts to see whether somewhat cooler fuel helps improve system availability.

Los geht's ! Supercool, the sound of the DB 605DB engine is just addictive!

Yes, here updater starts also! Cool!

I also get an error: "Unknown module BF-109K4" So, what's next?

Osprey refuelling

^^+1

Awesome ... for me definitely a DCS candidate!

Hi, I was wondering how the warbirds like P-51D & FW-190 compare to the new generation of Turboprop trainers/COIN aircraft like Super Tucano, Texan and Pilatus? Of course the warbirds beat the fancyplanes in looks and sound, but what about performance? Does anyone have some RL knowledge to share?

Yes, indeed linear; the FW-190 is very responsive and extremely precise in flight. A joy to fly.

I took it for granted that the whole work on the Mig-21 was just a prep for the Phantom. Trying to argue why the Phantom is such an evidence would be somewhat disrespectful imho. :=)

Honestly I had the same impression, it takes me somewhat longer to get in the air.

Taking off in the Dora is frustrating until the moment you realize what you are doing wrong. I had about 30 crashes while I always started carefully with not to much thrust, hoping to get a "feel" of the aircraft. That was wrong: you do not have rudder authority at low RPM. So once I realized that the forward vector was my friend and I needed overwhelming forward power (and propwash) fast, I just slammed the throttle forward and then I finally got rudder response and I could "feel" the aircraft. With the amount of power the engine gives you, you are airborne in no time. It is immensely rewarding to master the take off in this bird. And OK, somehow I will figure out how to land the thing ... I hope??? Maybe I should have tried that first :=)

Some more ...

Some photos of Sunday

Airborne, at last! After what, 30 crashes or so? I read your post wernst and that did it for me: full throttle from the start, and right rudder/right aileron. Now I feel the plane and get airborne safely time and time again. Many thanks!