Bowie

Like the P-51D, which has the K-14 70-MIL gunsight ring - 35' wingspan/Half MIL Ring/1,000 ft (~300 yds) convergence. Both armaments produce the same ~ 20 rds./0.25 sec. So, a 1/2 sec./40 rd. burst, into a half of a 4x8 sheet of plywood (4'x4') size target (convergence), will absolutely shred an aircraft. Have nicknamed the P-47D, w/ their 8x0.50M2's, the "Fireman," as they are flamethrowers at convergence. The biggest problem is the DCS default "View Angle" settings. It is nearly a 2x Reduction. The arcade panoramic view for the cockpit causes the outside targets to appear small. So when they are visually at the right distance, they are invariably well inside of convergence range and getting closer, fast. Everything goes left/right of the gunsight pipper, resulting in a few stray hits at best. On the other hand... If one corrects this condition, by resetting the value to "40.0," a nearly 1:1 ratio w/ the outside view of 55°, the MIL rings jive w/ the outside view. Then, when they look right - they ARE right. Just have to learn to point one's nose where they want to look, which is also realistic. These views are 30°'s apart, giving almost exactly 30° of edge-to edge view. 1:1 view. EDIT: Damage Boxes - Are cumulative, so they do add up, w/in any box that is hit. And any 4'x4' location on an A/C ahead of the main spar, will not withstand Forty(40) M2/0.50 Cal. hits, which is the pattern and volume, at convergence, of a 1/2 sec. burst. Bowie

Carrier Tracking Aircraft Waypoint Situation: Carrier has a 7 NM airspace perimeter. A/C egress at 250-300 kts/500 ft. to clear. A/C Orbit ( 800 ft./4 min.) has a 2.65-3.2 NM radius, depending on speed. So, Rally Waypoint is ~ 10 NM out, on course, like an Airfield. Problem: The Carrier is moving, at 0.3-0.5 NM/min., on course, depending on wind/way. Deck-load Launch Cycle (R/T + 12 fighters) takes ~ 15 min. to the Rally Waypoint. The Carrier has moved 4.5-7.5 NM toward that Rally Waypoint, which is now well inside the airspace perimeter. Solution: Tracking Waypoint. Other ships use it, as does the Recovery Tanker S-3B. A Waypoint - fixable relative to the Carrier's current position. Please advise. Bowie

Thanks. Until someone produces a MiG-17...? This mod is near as matters. Would appreciate a MiG-17.lua file, if you get around to it. Vietnam to modern North Korea, the MiG-17 is a workhorse. Bowie

It's a map. Period. A jungle map. Works great as intended, and utilized for other time-frames requiring jungles. Just needs the airfields re-tasked to accept the modern heavies, as they already operate the fighters splendidly. N/I on the WWII user, and a big benefit to all others. Maps are like that. Bowie

Orote Airfield - Access and Direction Coupla issues: - Unidirectional - RWY29 TO, RWY11 L, regardless of wind direction. No geographic architecture to prohibit this field from being bidirectional, TO/L into the wind. Other fields on the map already operate this way. - Mid-field entry - Both North and South sides, produces long, on-runway taxing, resulting in a 15 min./Four(4) A/C launch cycle. North side has taxiways to both ends, unused, while the South side has access to the West end only, unused, because of the field direction issue. Need East end taxiway access on both sides, or both ends if the field direction is improved. Great map. Thanks. Bowie

To that, have added: 263 M_empty = 3991 , -- [MiG-17] (+238 kg) -- with pilot and nose load, kg -- 3753 , -- with pilot and nose load, kg , 264 M_nominal = 5340 , -- [MiG-17] (+296 kg) -- kg -- 5044 , -- kg To reflect the A/C as a MiG-17, as is being utilized. Superman - loses his cape. Thanks Curly. Bowie

Interesting Workaround: Started w/ Curly's "MIG-15bis Accurate SFM Mod" (a big thanks) And then added: 263 M_empty = 3991 , -- [MiG-17] (+238 kg) -- with pilot and nose load, kg -- 3753 , -- with pilot and nose load, kg , 264 M_nominal = 5340 , -- [MiG-17] (+296 kg) -- kg -- 5044 , -- kg To reflect the A/C as a MiG-17, as is being utilized. Superman - loses his cape. At the lower Vet/Rookie/Trained/Rookie skill set, their performance is similar to that of the A-4E/F-5E, as wing-loadings and T/W ratios' would predict. So, with parity, they are now more vulnerable to the 1960's missile technology, AIM-9B. Will be upping the skill set back to 1/5/3. Bowie

Most of SEA is jungle, 1944 or 1967. 2017, too. So, since the new Marianas II map is lighter/faster than the original, and mostly jungle, it is a great map for the Western Pacific. And all the modern fighter jets operate off the airfields. Am in the process of creating a 2017 NorK map with the CSG 11 USS Nimitz CVN 68, VMFA-323 F/A-18C's deployed, along with VMFA-232's F/A-18C's landed at Rota. Guam/Saipan being the NorK peninsula. Another great use of the map. Will need the heavy tanker access there as well. Bowie

Two out of the three DCS Marine F/A-18C Squadron Liveries (VMFA-232/VMFA-323) were deployed on the USS Nimitz CVN-68 (Carrier Strike Group Eleven) over a combined span of Fifteen Years (2005-2020). How could this Not be a DCS Supercarrier livery option? @Wags Bowie

Another big Thank You for the option to remove the ECM Panel. The original system unit was so bulky that they removed the 20mm Ammo cans and installed it there. So no guns. And a Fighter w/o guns is like a woman without... Yeah. On that note: How much trouble would it be to pull all the ECM "ice-cream cones" off the Model? Like having a Bf-109K-4... when everything in theater is G-6 or even an F-4. Just doesn't look right. Bowie

An AI AAR Affair... that Fails. Situation: Three division of Marine A-4C's out of Chu Lai SATS (Rota), one fully fueled BarCAP and a coupla CAS loaded w/ a 25% fuel state. All have mission waypoints South, in the Central Highlands (Guam). A KC-130 is first off, w/ a 34 NM racetrack station at 16,000 ft just North. A second station, 60 NM long and directly above at 18,000 ft, is manned by a KC-135MPRS out of Da Nang (Gurguan Point), along w/ two sections of "Skoshi Tiger" F-5E's as escort, and an additional division as BarCAP to back the Marines. The first Track is both tankers on station. Fighters join up and engage perfectly, and then form up on the tankers, and not continue on their mission route. The second Track is the exact same mission, sans the second, 18,000 ft station out of Da Nang. First division leader and wingman, while in queue behind the second division, first to arrive on the now singular low station, appear to line up on the same drogue, and the attempt to occupy the same airspace at the same time, fun and high-jinks ensue. This happens all the time. Then the other section of that lead division go kinda crazy. Then they too merge, and appear to be mating. Along the way, the MiG's break through the cap on this instance, a rarity, with the expected results before being driven off. The Fighters again join up on the tanker, and fail to continue their mission route. Tanker Love.trk Tanker Hate.trk Please advise. Bowie

Am just starting in w/ the A-4E/F-5E v. MiG-15bis/MiG-21bis - Vietnam, off the short fields and On Yankee Station, on the Marianas II map. Coming from '44 Normandy and the P-51D/P-47D v. Bf-109G6/Fw-190-A8, generally set All flights(8) to 1(Ace)/4(Veteran)/3(Trained), with no nuggets. Aces - Are nearly unbeatable, w/o luck and an energy advantage. Veteran - Are tough, dogged and relentless, but beatable. Trained - Will keep you sharp, but can be beaten with basic ACM skills. Rookie - 1G strafing targets. Gulf of Tonkin, 1967? MiG-15bis...? Veteran - Are Terminators. Pure assassins, that will fly up behind a hard maneuvering, high skill (Ace/Vet) pilot in an ACM loaded A-4E/F-5E, and drop'em like a 1G strafing target. Forget about the Aces. Have dropped the NVA skill-set to Veteran/Rookie/Trained/Rookie per division(4), and still need numerical superiority to break even. Much less run the table, or maybe with a coupla losses, like the '44 Normandy scenario. They need at least a two performance/skill level shift down. Bowie

Posted this elsewhere, but can't find it. USS Forrestal #3 Cat Bug Problem: #3 Cat, on the USS Forrestal is dumping AI A-4E-C A/C, even w/o a payload, into the sea. Assume: Lack of Airspeed - as 3,000 lb loaded A-4E-C A/C from the other three Cat's struggle and sometimes even drag their gear. Situation: Steaming at 18 kn., because of the Replenishment ship, into a 15 kn. (@33 ft.) wind, 10° port, down the flight-deck. Combined Wind Over Deck: a calculated 32 kn. External View IAS: (On flight deck or Cat) Player: 36 kn. AI: 19 kn. AI appear to respond to Wind at airfields. EDIT: Did External View Launch Tests off the USS Forrestal. AI A-4E-C: Full Internal Fuel, 3,000 lb payload + 2xAIM-9M (4074 lb), 86% Max Gross Weight. Launch Speeds/Results: Consistent over program CAT.1, .2, .4: 153 kn. IAS - (fly off) CAT.3: 144 kn. IAS - (swim) Cat#3 Bug.trk 393.52 kB · 8 downloads EDIT#2: Reduced Wind to 5 kn, increased Speed to 28 kn., for the same Wind Over Deck. Repeated the Tests. Same A/C results. Launch Speeds/Results: Consistent over program CAT.1, .2, .4: 152 kn. IAS - (fly off) CAT.3: 141 kn. IAS - (swim) Please advise. This is a wonderful product, and much appreciated. Bowie

Supercarrier: S-3B Recovery Tanker Operations S-3B: - Allows for a division of A/C/flight (4). - Operates in Recovery Tanker mode. - Launches/Recovers, and is then parked, some in the hanger (origami). Problem: - Will only load as "Takeoff from Runway," on the initial CAT load/launch. - Will only service from #1 A/C in flight, the rest of the flight, w/ unique Tacan/Radio, fly formation dormant. Please advise EDIT: 2(Recovery Tanker).trk - A/C also appear to want to stay w/ the tanker after tanking, instead of proceeding on their route. Bowie

How would one switch to other than a different waypoint on the same track? One could skip someplace, say, to the secondary bombing target, due to cloud cover at the primary bombing target, which is cool. Guess one could lay a convoluted track, and assume that unless advanced to alter course/targets, they would not be utilized due to the previous waypoint engagements. ie. Run a track around one side of the mountain, then back it out and run it around the other side. One would just need engagements(combat) prepared on both sides, for both the true track and waypoint advance, mitigating the backout. Bowie

This is an ask... The long fields: Rota, Gurguan Point, Tinian, and Orote, Guam. The WWII heavies operate from the ramp, and obvious parking locations, just fine. But... it's 1967. Rota - makes a great Chu Lai SATS, just the right distance and direction from the Central Highlands (Guam). Gurguan Point - makes a great Da Nang Airbase, just the right distance and direction from Chu Lai to the South, and Dong Hoi/Vinh pan-handle(Saipan) to the North. And, of course, TF 77/CarDiv 2 USS Forrestal CVA 59 is on Yankee Station, 98 NM East, out in the Gulf, steaming ENE at 18 kts into a 15 kt wind, VA-106 and VA-46 A-4E's aboard, along w/ a detachment of VAQ-308 KA-3B(S-3B) Recovery Tankers. The 10th FCS "Skoshi Tiger" F-5E's are at Da Nang Airbase, as is a 22nd ARW from McConnell AFB detachment, consisting of a single KC-135MPRS, that will operate in and out w/ a 65% fuel load but has no parking available, so must start from the runway and then disappear after landing. The Marine A-4E's, VMA-121 and VMA-311, are on board Chu Lai SATS. And because it is truly a "Short Airfield for Tactical Support," CAS loaded A-4E's require a 45% fuel load to clear the trees w/ 3,000 lbs of ordnance. So, a VMGR-152 KC-130F is embarked as well, due to parking difficulties at Da Nang, but suffers the same accommodations as the KC-135MPRS there. It is a great utilization of the map for the time-frame, save the inability to access the existing heavy A/C accommodations. Yes, this was egregious, for a simple ask, but it has been a fun project, and wanted to share. At your(DevGru) convenience - could you please re-designate the existing heavy locations on Rota, Gurguan Point, and Orote airfields to accommodate the modern heavies, KC-130/135MPRS Tankers. Thanks. P.S. the Super Carrier won't accommodate the S-3B in a similar manner, as it will only load them from the runway (CAT loaded), although will Recover and stow them below deck, which is extremely cool, given the origami involved. But that would be another egregious thread in the Super Carrier forum. Bowie

RE: the Mike model w/ the augmented A-4E-C.lua file. (see above post) Would like to have it available as an A/C, for GWOT missions, with the least amount of redundancy. Basically a name change where necessary w/ the augmented .lua file, and any other renamed/copy-over files/folders. Like a skin. Please advise. EDIT: Just found that the DCS MiG-15bis/MiG-15bis_FC are set up this way, two unique .lua files in the same MiG-15bis A/C folder. Will investigate. Bowie

Community A-4E-C v2.3 (May 2025) - Punch List: Stall shudder: In the pattern, from a little high to on speed, is very good. From on speed to low? ... quickly goes to what amounts to re-entering the atmosphere in a space capsule. Literally shaking ones eye-balls loose. Will post a track. Just some more - is all that is needed. Great A/C. Bowie

This is Hawkeye60, and it looks very good. Along w/ the opaque black stack smoke. Bowie

Community A-4E-C v2.3 (May 2025) - Punch List: Internal Fuel Capacity: DCS: 5,440 lbs. [906 gal.] https://skyhawk.org/article/-technical-data [4,860 lbs.] (810 gal.) EDIT: Disregard. Was calculating [6.0 lb./gal AvGas], not ~6.8 lb./gal. JP-5 jet fuel. DCS: 5,440 lbs. (800 gal. JP-5) Bowie

Where are the ship .lua files located in DCS? Have located both "CV-59-Forrestal.lua" and "LHA_Tarawa.lua", disabled the "GT.exhaust", and they look 1000% better. A little full power A-4E-C jet exhaust would be about right, if you could work it. Check out Cat#3 Cat#3 Bug.trk Bowie

NTS: Community A-4E-C v2.3 (May 2025) bug report: On Super Carrier - Main Gear float well above the deck, maybe six(6") inches. Nose wheel is tight to the deck. This is a quick Cat launch track made yesterday, w/ the 2.2. Cat#3 Super.trk This is the same cut today, w/ the 2.3, that shows the issues. Cat#3 Super 2.3.trk Please advise. Bowie

The airstrip is named Agana on the current map. You are then referring to the town itself. Bowie

Been spending time over Guam for carrier ops, as the airfields will support legacy jets. Fantastic terrain architecture. Outstanding for the floor all bar-fights eventually end up on, or for NOE attack profiles. But it still chunks. Needs to be Lighter, like WWII Normandy. Bowie

One first trims yaw using the ball (turn and bank indicator) w/ rudder trim, and then trims the roll forces out of wings level stick w/ aileron trim. Then pitch using the VSI/altimeter w/ elevator trim. Bowie