Fairey Gannet

I can confirm, it happens at random, or at least looks like it. Sometimes leading humvee just stops. And sometimes not. I guess driver is moody as hell.

Good read. I will return the kindness with some more Tiger stuff. https://www.the-northrop-f-5-enthusiast-page.info

Anyway, moving to facts we have - F-5 Upgrade (PBR cockpit and new external model) is listed in roadmap as "on progress 2021+". Granted, this is an unofficial roadmap, but I remember interview with Matt Wagner, where he stated, that they would like to revisit F-5 at some point. We can hope they will put some fixes to suit as well.

Well, willing to throw money is one thing, and I admit I would be happy to pay for an upgrade, that is for sure. Or downgrade in my case, as I mentioned I would be more happy to see earlier variants, something you actually don't see in DCS that much. Having said that, that will must be met with some nice quality and added value. That is also covering bug fixes. However, this is a misty-eyed conversation on "what if" topic, and I doubt that it will become relevant anyway. I know there will be F-5 lifting, maybe some new liveries, and it would be nice to see some patching to suit. I don't expect more, to be honest... but still it would be fun to see some more F-5's.

You are right! Well, I would pay for new F-5 upgrade full price, no regrets - would it be modernised variant or original A/C Skoshi Tiger.

+1 on F-5A or C. I am not sure if we really need more modern version, as I think it would still be somewhat worse than 4th gens it would probably meet on MP servers. A or C though would be great fit into Cold War ones. But to be honest, just a plain lifting, maybe some liveries added to the mix, and I am happy.

I am happy, that Viggen will recive some major update, and I am looking forward to it. But I also understand, that some modules need much more work, that HB is changing their structure to support creating new modules and maintaining older ones faster and better. And Viggen here, despite some bugs here and there, is good, solid piece. So, be it November, December or even early 2022, it still doesn't matter to me that much. I would say, personally, that I am getting fair share of fun already. Every update bringing digital Viggen (or any other plane, from any other team, for that matter) closer to real thing is a solid plus for me. And it is worth waiting for.

I even went one step ahead, and already locked away my MB-339 fund.

From what I managed to dig out - no. Historically, USSR satellite states were given "internal export" version by a general rule, so the middle shelf goodies. But there were Soviet bases in those countries anyway, and they were more of an enclave, with Russian personnel, administration, shops and supporting towns sometimes. Some of them were made public in 1992 or 1993 - until then they were not even marked on maps. Such bases could have Soviet-tier equipement, that would compliment more basic models of given satellite state. Also, Ukraine and Belarus for example had status of SSR, but for example Czechoslovakia or Poland - did not. I could not find any specifics on verisons of 29 they did use, but they probably could have something better in Soviet-era. But, that was general rule and there could be exceptions, so I stand to be corrected, and I will be happy if somebody will point out, that my info is low quality! After 1992 however, some of variants, that were not part of Warsaw Pact and non-Warsaw Pact export stock could surface... Myanmar has some 9.13's, more modern variants were sighted in Syria as well. Algieria uses 9.13S version, Peru has 9.13SE, Belarus upgraded recently some up to BM standard...

Yes, there is some variety in nomenclature. 9.12A was Warsaw Pact, but non-Soviet version, with downgraded radar (2 out of 5 modes) and IFF, with E-502-20/04 Turkus datalink. NATO called it either Fulcrum-A or Mig-29A to point out first generation of 29's. 9.12 was Soviet wariant with N019 Rubin radar, 5 radar modes and E-502-20 Bierioza datalink. Now, 9.12B was another export version, but it was for non-Warsaw Pact states, lacking IFF, datalink and having downgraded radar. That thing was called MiG-29B, but it was not formal, and in the West only. Instead, Fulcrum-B was pinned on MiG-29UB (9.51), trainer tandem without radar. So yeah, in the West A was used either for 9.12A or for 9.12, 9.12A and 912.B... That is why I referred to 9.12 with (A), just for safety reasons. I am unsure what 29 we will get down the road, but because that law I mentioned I assume it can be 9.12A. If they will happen to lay hands on 9.12 outside of that restrictions... maybe. But it will be Fulcrum-A regardless.

We will see, but things are moving into the right direction for dynamic campaign. As for the MiG-29G... Well, that was codename for 9.12 (A) used by Germany. Granted, they had an upgrade in the 90's to make them meet NATO standards, and the engines were tuned down to extend their rather short lifespan... But it is the same version. As Russian Federation has a law prohibiting gathering information about military equipement on their soil, all models used by USSR/Federation alone are off the plate. But A variant, as well as G were (and still are) operated abroad, so devs can gather info about them. I don't think I saw G mentioned, sadly, but it is not impossible, technically at least. If it be worth time and effort to put another version in the pack - that is another story.

Yeah, you have to reset that piece of... gyros before. But if you can do a fix in some cloud opening, then you are able to deliver goods with an acceptable amount of collateral damage even in the soup.

You are on point. I would rather have well-polished, well done 2000C than 2000-5 with a lot less realism due to sensitive information. And i think that 2000C will get some buddies to play along with - there will be MiG-23MLA and full MiG-29A at some point also. So there will be, along with MiG-21, some more red jets that are in the same time bracket. Since dynamic campaign is being worked on, that can also help. But even the weather update changed a lot. Suddenly dropping bombs on INS waypoints is very useful in IFR, feature that wasn't so much prominent before.

DCS is a great sim, and you are getting good, solid airframe simulation out of it. However, and this is where it fails, planes by capability and design are fulfilling the role in doctrine. That doctrine is not modelled right now, so many planes are used outside of their original purpouse. I have to stress it though, it is MP we are talking about, SP missions can be tailored to airframe capabilities. But I keep my hopes up for dynamic campaign in the servers. Right now we have kill-counting score fest. That is fun and we all know there are good servers, with nice missions and setting. In dynamic servers, I presume, it will be more important to fill the objectives, and that doesn't have to mean kills. Posturing shots from an escort can keep interceptors away from ground pounders, and you don't have to actually score a hit. Ground attack delivering payload unharassed is the goal, and keeping enemy at range is more than enough. There is ton of actions without lethal outcome, that can be a success or failure, and I hope that there would be a formula to count and award rather operational success, than personal score. After all the latter is usually a byproduct of the former.

If I could buy 2000-5, of course I would, because I love Mirage planes. F1 is on my list as well. But I think I know why C can be sometimes a bit frustrating at the first glance. DCS, as a simulation, fails in some aspects to recreate the bigger picture. Yes, 2000C lacks in A2G, but in reality SEPECAT Jaguar would do the heavy lifting in ground pounding, 2000C would be cover and support to a degree. But we don't have Jags... Radar is not that flashy, but the GCI would do vectoring to intercept, putting 2000's in best position to attack. Same as MiG-19's and 21's in that respect. We don't have complex vectoring... And main enemy 2000C would tangle with at that time was MiG-27 and early variants of 29 like 9.12. So there is some pairity, but not many birds from 1977-1990 right now. I mean - not many variants, using F-16 Bloc 50 without some weapons is not equivalent of F-16 Bloc 5. I think F-16's, 18's and other modules people consider to be more capable are actually less context-sensitive. You can do more with the airframe yourself, and you don't need to rely on external features. And some of those features are lacking at the moment. I know there will be overhaul of those implemented, but as it is now, M2k can't be utilised to its full potential, as well as other dedicated interceptors. Not to mention, that actual work they should do is clipping bombers, and servers are rarely including such scenarios. Not to mention, only thing that matters in most servers is kill count, not objective completion. You don't get points for stopping bombers or forcing them to drop and bug out - and that would be an operational success. I know that also can change with dynamic campaign. And I hope for that!

There was no direct help, but studies of the FW-190 contributed to Ki-100 developement. Japanese were not so kin on the airframe itself (other than being a yardstick for their own project), but they studied closely engine mounting solutions. They also didn't had intention of simply making a copy of that piece, they just examined it and used as a reference to save their time on researching something, that was potentially already solved. Also, they did a lot of cross-referencing their own designs with other nations, and that practice was established well in the mid-war, so it was just fitting in their way of comparing their solutions.

Well, good I reserved some cash for F1 and MB-339A. Otherwise... I mean food is overrated anyway, who needs that. I will call that "Mirage diet - kilograms disappearing like a mirage."

Great! I love Mirage, and I am very happy to see it being developed and refined. It is great, that she is still being pushed to be as close to original Baguette, as we can get.

Fast alignment was a nice option to have in multiplayer, that is for sure. But I actually didn't used it anyway too much - in nice weather I used low accuracy alignment, and it worked for me in VFR. I like to go all the steps anyway, as real pilot would. I like Mirage, it fits me, and I don't mind waiting those few minutes.

Well, I also love MiG-29. Slick, sexy beast. And I would also like to see it as high fidelity module, the sooner the better. I know MiG-29A is planned, and maybe it is even in some developement as we speak. But this FC3 MiG-29 is not bad either! You get professional flight model, and that is quite challenging. Weapons and sensors are working as they should, even if the inner workings are simplified. And you get S version, that can't be high-fi, because it was (and is) used by Russian Federation, and you are not allowed to gather data on that. MiG-29A we will get will be probably 9.12A version (Warsaw Pact export) or 9.12B (outside of WP export), the latter being more numerous, but also lacking lots of equipement. Those versions are open for study and modelling. I understand your frustration, but we will have to wait a bit for that high-fi variant, and it won't be the best MiG-29 version around either. But in that way your FC3 MiG-pack can compliment that module nicely, when it comes out. And until then, you still get nice worth for your money, as you get 3 versions and something to train in.

That is good question, but honestly I would say this - choose an airplane, that you like, and you know you will use. In whatever manner, but to get your money back in your enjoyment and knowledge. There are series of plane overviews on YouTube, so you can get some info about specific modules. Now, to be more precise I will tell you about my modules that fits your warbird-to-jet progression. I invested in trainers (L-39, C-101), and I am having blast with them. They can do some fighting, but I have much fun learning systems and general aviation. They are also forgiving planes. That floats my boat here. When it comes to simple jet, MiG-19P is something I really like. However! Bear in mind, that it is work in progress, and Razbam has many things planned still for that module. I would say though, that if you want Sabre or MiG-15, I am not sure, if you want that one in your stable. It is basically those planes, but supersonic. It has some missles, very limited ground strike capability, and simple radar. I love the plane, but I am not sure, if it is worth to buy 1st gen and 2nd gen, unless you really like the plane itself. There is simply not much extra capability, for the money you are paying. If you are looking for something more modern, F-5E Tiger II is nice step into supersonic world. It basically has all most of avionics you will get in later planes, but in more simple iteration. It is fun to fly, capable dogfighter and nice ground attack options are also there for you. The latter ones needs some practice, though. It is easy to fly, as it was designed to be first supersonic jet for many air forces in the world. I think you will like it. Staying in 3rd generation, Viggen is actually pretty easy to learn. Yes, it is different than everything else, but it is designed to be easy to operate. If you like capable strike plane, with some air-to-air capability, that is nice choice. I discovered that a lot of people are having troubles switching to that plane from F-16's or Hornets, because of different logic behind systems and the way of use. You will not have that problem. I started fresh, and it was smooth for me. In 4th generation Mirage 2000C is actually pretty simple. Don't get me wrong, it is well-done module, and it has many options to use. But it is not too complicated. I would say, it is F-5 +, and on the Viggen level. It is more air-to-air oriented, but you have also competent payload to choose, when you want to do some ground pounding. Radar is modern, IR missles are very good. You will be lacking BVR capability, but in guns/heat-seeker knife fight you can go toe to toe with other planes and still come on top. Those are airframes I am familiar with. I would say, that you can master them in 30-50 hours, with Mirage and Viggen being most complex (but in a different way). I won't speak of other planes, as I am not competent enough to give any sensible advice in that manner. Hope it helps!

I think your best bet for spotting and marking targets would be multiplayer

Ah yes, C-101 is really top notch and I use it with great pleasure. There is no single switch or function that was left out. Even if simple, comparing to 4th gen fighters, I think it is actually most in-depth module in DCS. Aviodev really pushed bar with that one, and their Mirage F-1 is no brainer for me because of that. And 101 is quite capable light attack, with really nice range of munitions. Setting up night attack with illumination rockets is challenging, but really fun. But what I really, really like in this thing is nav equipement. You have everything, from ADF to GPS. I started to deploy any kind of munitions after I learned how to navigate and land in bad weather and at night. No point in that, if you can't find your way back and end sortie in one piece. And 101 is great teacher. I really love her.

That is pure genius. Hands down. I mentioned that already.

This is absolutely fantastic idea!