Zenra

You probably want to set your Saitek "throttle" axis to the BS Collective - to do so you need to assign the axis in the Options pages. Instructions for doing so start on page 18 of the (English) GUI manual...

I just wanted to add that I found this discussion very interesting as well. I also fly a lot of FSX and enjoy practicing many different approach procedures, particularly in more complex aircraft. As I started flying the Shark I have naturally been trying to incorporate realistic practices for returning to base following missions. It is nice to learn that helicopters are often required to fly by the plates - makes me feel more like I have a reason for adding such procedures to my missions. Using the ABRIS with waypoints set up at the Outer Marker and on the runway (e.g., at the TDZ), you can use ABRIS in VOR mode much like you would the HSI in a general aviation craft. I have not tried holds or procedure turns yet, but I do often fly the "large" pattern as described in section 10 of the manual. Will appreciate any more insight into military approach procedures for helicopters as well if anyone here has such knowledge.

Thanks, TAIPAN, for the ModMan package, and to miguez & Bucic for the original hard work - a very nice enhancement indeed. Rep inbound!

BigDog, For what it's worth I had the same problem when just starting out and it turned out I was turning on the generators and requesting ground power disconnect before pulling the throttles up to the Auto setting (Page Up twice with default mapping). As was explained well upstream the engines need to be running with sufficient speed for the on board generator to engage, and without them there is no AC power to run the Shkval. Anazing how well modeled this thing is, isn't it?

Great job, ED - thanks for the patch, and just in time for the weekend!!!

I am not sure I understand what you mean by "trim is on". Trim is always "on", you just change the trim state when you release the trim button (or the T key with default mapping). EDIT - Ah, I see - by trim you mean the pitch, roll and yaw AP channels as sweinhart3 deduced...

You add a Ka-50 and in the "SKILL" drop-down you choose "Player"

That is very interesting, and I hope suggests that maybe it would be easy to fix. As I expect is the case for many DCS: BS fans I am drawn by its depth and fidelity of the systems simulation and getting things like this to work right really adds to the suspension of disbelief. And, if INU drift could be introduced, that would be just glorious!

Thanks, all for the replies - looks like 5 it will be...

To add to A16's reply about point 15, see http://http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=53112

I ordered the printed manual, too, and feel it was a very good investment. I've actually gone back to the Russian cockpit - not that I am going to learn Russian or anything, but now that I know my way around the Russian labels are familiar enough and I find it adds to the imersion and sense of realism - YMMV...

Climbing the Black Shark learning curve (and loving every minute of it, BTW) and see that I am finally going to have to break down and invest in TrackIR. I see that version 5 is out and has a wider operating field and finer resolution than version 4, but my real question to the Black Shark community is whether version 5 is worth the extra 50% price? I see a lot of comments on these boards about TrackIR 4 - has anybody stepped up to 5 and noticed any difference for flying Black Shark? I am not usually shy about investing in good hardware for the sims I fly - I use Cougar HOTAS, for example, but don't like to spend money I don't need to to get the performance needed for something specific like this. Any thoughts / feedback will be appreciated!

Just wanted to add my thanks and vote of support - very much looking forward to this!

Yes, indeed she is! +1 for the F/A18!!

Check out the radio commands to Ground Crew - there is a wide variety of weapons load outs to choose from (starting on p14-18 of the manual).

Strike the question regarding the Leading Edge training videos - I did find their web site and see the status & plan... Squadron training has been a good way to go in other sims, so I will look around.

Definitely interested in checking out some squadron/MP action once I climb up the learning curve a bit. I had a lot of fun a year or so ago doing MP with Falcon 4.0 RV/FF/OF, depending on versions and who was flying. It's great to see such a community here, and a choice of squadrons and training options. @CornBread: I've looked at Track IR a few times and have not bitten yet, but BS looks like it will be the one that makes me cave. I am impressed with all the options supported for different cockpit views, but trying to do all that from the KB is hard to imagine while trying to fight. I am patched to the latest and working my way through the manual, tutorial flights and Developer's notes videos. I watched the "Leading Edge" sample training video, too - an impressive piece of work, and really shows off the depth of systems simulation in BS. Was this "series" ever extended? I did a search but did not find reference to any follow-on sessions. I am working on a Cougar TMJ for this, but I have to believe someone else must have already done one by now - does anybody here use teh Thrustmaster Cougar with Black Shark, and if so, do you know of any program files available for download that I might start with? Thanks again for all the great welcome messages - Black Shark is really something, and the more I read and try the more impressed I become - great work!

I use the TM Cougar for Falcon 4.0 - I presume some sharp cookie has programmed a TMJ file for Black Shark and will take a look around, but if anybody have recommendations...

Thanks, all, for the welcome, information and correction: Thanks Eagle Dynamics!

Wow! I cannot find words to describe how I feel about Black Shark. I am going to have a lot of questions, but right now the foremost one in my mind is, “Where have you guys been hiding?!?!?” I am a long-time flight sim enthusiast and especially of military sims going all the way back to at least Falcon AT. Work has been really busy lately so I’ve been away from my beloved Falcon 4.0 for a few months, but went online to see what the Open Falcon guys have been up to, upgrade to the latest, etc., and get a few missions in now that I have some time again. But, trolling the forums I see a reference to “DCS Black Shark” – hum, don’t know what that is, so I do a bit of searching and find the DCS website and start reading. Sounds pretty cool, I think, must be somebody’s dream project that will never come true. But wait, what’s this? It’s for sale?? Can’t be real – must be some watered down, bug-riddled third-rate try at a new combat sim. But man, does it ever look cool… So I venture into the forums, and soon start thinking I must be dreaming. And then I found the manual – all 534 pages of it! Then I started dis-believing again – NO sim could really do all of this. Then I found the Developer’s Journal videos – incredible! Could it be? Could it?? Could it really be true??? When I got home from work last night I tore the credit card from my wallet, purchased, downloaded and installed. Still disbelieving that this thing could actually be all it appeared I anxiously loaded the program, activated and went into the tutorial missions. The next thing I knew it was midnight, I hadn’t eaten and the dog was begging for her “evening” walk. I just cannot tell you how happy I am that I found this, great job DCS! I still cannot believe Black Shark has been out for over a year and it took me until now to find it – I must be working too hard or something – OK, enough of that – first question: I downloaded the PDF manual before installing, and see that after installing I have PDF manuals in the doc folder as well. The manual I downloaded is named DCS-BS_Manual_EN.pdf and is 534 pages. The main manual installed with the game is named DCS-BS_Flight_Manual_eng.pdf, is 383 pages and has a file date of 8 Dec 2008. Can anybody tell me if one is more up to date than the other? Has there been a manual update since the 1.0.1c patch? Thanks and, and especially DCS – I thought I would have some time on my hands, but with Black Shark that’s all over now. :cry: Zenra