Tank50us

Eh.... kind of. It's all down to what the developer, be it ED or a third party, wants to make. You certainly don't need all of the documents to accurately model an aircraft and all of its systems, you can infer based on available data how it might work, and if you're off, correct later. Having SMEs willing to talk about the subject also helps, as does access to an air frame. An example of this would be with the UH-60. If someone wanted to model one, they might have a hard time getting all of the required data needed to make it, especially if the version they're making is something currently in service (like say the MH60R Seahawk). But, if you have access to one of the Civilian S-70s, you can likely take information gleaned from it, and apply it to what you're trying to make. If you know it has certain systems, you can make 'simplistic' versions of those systems that basically get the gyst of how it works, without going into the finer details. You have to remember, that under the hood, DCS is just like any other video game, and code is code. Now, if you take that approach, could it still be sold? Yes. You just have to be honest with your future buyers that "This is not a full 1-1 recreation of (insert aircraft), but it's as close to what can be modeled based on available data as we can get". If you're honest with the customer, they'll buy it, despite the flaws.

I mean, I know it's not modeled in DCS, but typically, removing the wheel chocks is supposed to be one of the last things that a pilot has done before they start rolling. Although depending on the design of the wheel chock in question, you can, at least in the real world, roll over the chock. However it's.... well.... not recommended.... Although one thing that would be nice in DCS is if they had some of the more 'standard' wheel chocks that can be applied to the aircraft regardless of country or aircraft design. Something like these: That way, unless the aircraft has them modeled, when you request the chocks be applied, these spawn a few inches/centimeters from your main gear tires.

Actually, real world NVDs vary greatly in image quality. Here's some from the 1991 Gulf War (one of the first times night vision entered the mainstream) Sure, that last one of the Apaches looks pretty clear, but I think it's safe to say that that is about as clear as it really gets. In truth, the NVGs used by pilots aren't really supposed to be used for a whole flight, and having actually used NVGs, I can say that their best use is outside the cockpit, not inside it. IE, not using them to try and read instruments, but using them to see what's going on outside the cockpit. In the cockpit, it's best to use the Mk1 Eyeball and the red lighting of the instruments. Here's some more night vision pics: null

This I like, and it could be tied in with a special code within the map itself that if military assets enter the red state in a certain proximity of the civies, or something lands in that area, the civilians all run for cover to the nearest building (where the map simply despawns them). It would need some work to make it look right, but I think it would be a viable option as it would also clear the resources for the Michael Bay moments about to go down.

indeed it would be. The aircraft does seem simple enough in design, although I get the feeling that one Tomcat taking fuel from it would drain it of all its gas....

Shame we can't add weapons to DCS without the SDK. The Mk48, Mk50, and Mk46 Torpedoes would be welcome additions to DCS, especially the 48 which irl can split a ship in half with a single shot.

Yeah, I imagine work would be going much smoother had COVID not kept ya's from the office space (Intranet > Internet/Cloud). Still loving the work that is getting done though

I think you might have missed my point. The Eagles engines are incredibly powerful, and I'm saying that while an Air to Air loaded E still weighs in more than a C, it's going to be just as fast as a C despite taking a bit longer to get to that speed. A more apt comparison would be the difference between the Jug and the Mustang. The Mustang is lighter, faster, and technically has a longer range, but the Jug is still very capable in a dogfight (as evidenced by its kill record), and not to be underestimated.

Hell, I don't even think Ace Combat uses Google Earth data in the making of their terrain. I believe the program they use is GeoEye, which I think other map makers also use as it provides very accurate terrain details, but these still require a heavy amount of work in the map editor to polish out. Let's say I take the data for.... erm... hmm... the Cuban islands. The data comes back... and... I have terrain. That's it. And it's a 3D Mesh that isn't exact because buildings and trees mess with the scanning tech. So now, I would have to go in, and smooth out those bits until the terrain looks right. And then, once that's done, I'd have to go in and place every single house, building, tree, road, street light, and shrub that exists in that region. And if things weren't fun enough, I'd also have to go in and texture it all. This process can take months of work to accomplish, and that's if I have all the resources ready to go. If I don't, and I have to 'build' them, then that will mean it will take years.

And given the raw power of those engines, it's probably about the difference between wearing a pair of running shoes vs wearing a pair of heavy work boots as far as they're concerned. So in reality, while an F-15E might need a second or two more on a standard take-off roll (IE, no A/B), once the burner cans are lit, it makes near enough no difference that the E weighs a little more than the C. And in actual combat, given that the E is still an Eagle, it will still turn and burn with the best of'em, and with the extra fuel provided by the CFTs, it may even be able to burn a little longer than a C (or any other fighter it might come across for that matter).

Oh I'm well aware of that. But from what I understand in DCS, if it has a hook, it'll snag the wire no problem (assuming you make a correct approach of course). The plan is to start everyone at a base with a waypoint that should get you in visual range of the carrier with a 10kt head-wind and the ship itself moving at 10kts. I'm hoping to get 20+ people for that, because I think it'll be fun, and a good chance to put our server through its paces. Fuel loads and weapon loads will be restricted to about 75% and CATMs/Smokes respectively, and if all goes well, it should go about as well as the one GR video did. It should be interesting to see that many people crammed on if all goes according to plan. Rules: land intact don't explode Once down, safely taxi off the landing area and go park somewhere where there's room. Helicopters will be the last down.

Shame you can't toss them at Heatblur and have them part of the next official release. I personally think that would be an awesome way to have the ships. Sure, they may not be as detailed as what Heatblur can produce... but it would still be nice to have some of these ships as part of the base game, purely so we have the accurate escorts for the Forrestal.

Oh I know in the real world that's the case, But I'm talking about how many of these aircraft, both naval and non-naval (with hooks) can be crammed onto the Forrestal.

Or a modeled tail-hook and short take-off roll.... and let's of course not forget the vertibirds

I'm talking about more than just was on the ship historically. I mean which of the planes in DCS can successfully land, rearm/refuel, and take off again (Cat assisted or not), and how many people can actually squeeze onto the flight deck as well. Basically... have some fun... FOR SCIENCE!

Ya know, with all the Helicopters that we're getting that have entered service, how would you guys feel about tackling one that could have entered service, but was canned because the Soviets suffered a critical existence failure...

Now, while my unit is planning to do an extensive battery of tests on the USS Forestall, I am wondering just what can be expected from the ship on day one. Some of the things we intend to test are: Can people without the F-14 Module spawn on the deck? (I know this is stated to be possible, but it never hurts to test it, right?) How many players can actually spawn on the ship? How many players can actually land and fit on the ship? Can we use the LSO station? What weapons will the ship have? How well can the Forestall protect itself from attack? What bits will assets will come with the ship? What can land and be serviced on the ship? and much more. Now, I'm not expecting an answer from Heatblur on this, and even if we were to get one, it's still fun to put the theory to the actual test (after all, it is how bugs get found, right?) What do you guys think? Think it'll be fun to run such a test? Think it'll be pointless? Does someone have a crystal ball to tell us what we can expect? Leave your comments below!

If ya think about it, they'd also be good for makeshift runways since they, ya know, *lack* these features.

Same way you can adjust the trains, and then adjust the load out screen to make adjustments to each member of the group.

Or maybe.... nah.... it's nuts....

The one thing I'm starting to notice is that we're getting plenty of videos, but no "Pre-order now!" videos, and it's got me a but suspicious...

To be honest... the Eagle just looks better with the CFTs anyway, and I'm struggling to think of reasons to not have them since the loss of maneuverability, while noticeable, isn't something Eagle Pilots are all too concerned with as they get along in mock dogfights as is. Plus you can't argue that having more gas a bad thing at the end of the day. Kinda makes the Eagle look like it spent a bit of time at the gym.

Maybe it's a happy accident that a bug in the game allows it to simulate one of the firing modes XD

Last time I checked, in the real world, the Radar can be used for just search, and the gunner can use optical sights to actually aim the gun.

Hell, it'd be nice if these planes could also be placed on the Nimitz class carriers. I know it's not exactly realistic, but if they can land on the carrier, I don't see a reason why they can't spawn on the deck, even if they'll require a bit of a long run-up like a WW2 era fighter on an Essex.