rweaves6

FA18C announcement As we’re now so close to EA release, I was trying to remember how long has it been in development. More specifically, how long ago was it announced, and was it announced officially to the public or was it slipped into a forum post somewhere? Or was there a Hornet parked on the tarmac in another aircraft video or something like that as we’be seen before??

good one. I hate you that you have earlier than early access, but good one :)

This looks promising. I'm loving the level of detail here, very impressive. Thanks for the update.

Well I just saw the new mini update showing the cockpit lighting, which was obviously posted to respond to my question :) This thing is gonna be unfreekingly beautiful in VR.

Glad to hear that. You would think it would be geared towards VR but I just haven’t heard anything so it made me wonder.

I haven’t heard any talk or mention of VR for this upcoming module. Even with the new Yak52 that’s being developed, there was a special mention of the VR cockpit in the last update. Can we get an update on what we can expect with the VR cockpit in F18 Early Access release? Will it be fully developed and optimized (like the F5)? Thanks

Thank you ED for such an affordable module! Given all the required research, licensing, manpower, time and effort, and finally marketing needed to produce a module of this scale of fidelity, I just wanted to say Thank You ED for keeping the price of this module so low. You are running a business and have to find that sweet spot where you can make a profit and at the same time you need to be competitive in a niche market, not an easy task. Thank you for all your effort on this, many are eagerly awaiting this module as the EA development heads into the final lap. I can assure you that 99.9% of the community is very grateful for your effort and supports you. Cheers, Robert

Oh yeah, that makes sense...that's a good guess!

I think I'll get it. Oh wait- doesn't look like VKB has an adaptor for it so I'll have to pass :joystick:

Roger that and thanks for the reply. And yes, I'll make it :smilewink:

I agree it looks great. In fact, the attention to detail is astounding, many corners could have been cut that would have still satisfied 95% of us and yet they seem to sticking to their goal of highly realistic modeling of the systems. The startup sure seems pretty simple compared to some other aircraft, I was surprised by that. Surely this release can't be long now. I've held out from buying any of the kids Christmas presents to save money for the likely event that this is released pre Christmas. Just kidding but wouldn't it be nice if us dads (and moms) received a Christmas present this year? *Edit* Do we know that the F18 will be released with DCS 2.5? If so I guess we won't see it this year.. :( On the flip side I guess the kids will receive presents this year :)

It would be great to someday have the f16 in DCS. I think a F16(x?) vs ED's fa18c in multiplayer would be a blast and lead to some interesting results.

Good question. I don't recall there ever being a statement on carrier release time and whether or not it will be bundled with the F18 EA? *Edit* Found this on the F18 FAQ: "Q: Will carrier operations be included? A: Basic carrier operations will be available at Early Access launch, but they will first be reliant on the carrier operations based on what we have currently for the Su-33. During the Early Access period, more detailed and realistic carrier operations of Case I, II, and III will become available."

We are getting way off topic but I keep getting bombarded by know it alls :) The powers-at-be admitted they were getting “it handed to them” since they had a 2-1 ratio to a small, (what they felt was an insignificant), developing country. 2-1 for THE world superpower vs a developing country (and yes helped by China and USSR), is beyond getting “it handed to them”, sorry. Those that initiated the Top Gun program knew that the brass had lost sight and thought dogfighting was dead. History has a way of repeating itself and we find ourselves in the very same situation nowadays. It’s always a push for advanced technology and always gets reverted back to basics. I appreciate your opinion.

Great ideas, +1 for everything listed. Thanks

I agree with this and maybe "fear" was the wrong choice of words. The point was it was a real air war and the american pilots knew when they launched there was a real chance of encountering migs, and not only that, some of them could be a challenge. Top gun was started because they were getting their a#% handed to them. There, that was worded better ;)

Good point. I understand what you are saying but that’s kind of my point as well. The coalition didn’t have the same air power competition in DS, didn’t they mop up all the aircraft in a few days? There were roughly 350 aircraft downed in AtoA in Vietnam and that number would have been a lot larger if it weren’t for the intense SAM coverage in the North. You can bet there would have been a lot more engagements with MiGs without that threat. The point is in Vietnam, the US pilots feared the North’s air power. They started the fighter weapons school because of it.

Fair enough, I didn't realize there were that many. Still quite insignificant to Vietnam, wasn't there around 13000 aircraft lost there?

Well 1st the HB development update that blew my socks off and now the Nov27 F18 update. This is getting exciting. I like the "most realistic simulation of an A/G radar ever done for a game" quote and one can't help but think we are just around the corner of an EA release. I'm getting confident that we will see it this year!

I've never understood why Vietnam has never had a greater appeal to the combat sim world. After all, it's the last war that had air to air combat, the most a-a combat in the jet era, and really the only large scale air war with jets (other than the much smaller scale Korean air war). Vietnam had everything as far as prop planes, jets, helicopters, naval (carrier) operations, land base operations, jungle, mountains...you'd think it would be a combat simmer's dream?

That looks like it might be shot in BC. Maybe Comox?

Maybe

I've really been back into flight simming as of late after purchasing a Rift and I'm loving the hobby more than ever. If it's doable budget wise then I encourage you to try VR as it's a game changer. My question is, I'm curious if we'll see a Hornet VR cockpit like the F5E where the viewpoint seems normal? I noticed that in the A10C and F15C, you are pressed up against the front of the cockpit and when you manually move your position back in the seat it skews the Hud view. Is this because the A10C and F15C are older modules designed before VR? I realize that it may seem like nothing to some but for me (and maybe others?), it keeps me from flying those modules. Any thoughts? Thanks- Robert

I asked for an update and received a life altering experience :thumbup: What an amazing update, this module looks incredible. Great work HB!