Brass2-1

Markus at Omega Tau is an excellent interviewer and the podcast is brilliant in general, highly recommended. An English-language episode on the Hornet was released today, highly recommended. http://omegataupodcast.net/378-flying-the-f-18-classic-hornet/ Other episodes are available on the Viper and Apache, among others.

@kgillers3 thanks for spending so much time explaining. Can’t wait for release day.

Agreed. I spent a solid two hours last night in the back seat of the T-45 practicing basic instrument flying, level turns and aerobatics all over southern Nevada. DCS is a sandbox-there’s truly plenty to keep us busy.

I suspect the digital skies will initially be filled with yahoos like myself trying to figure out stirring the soup and hovering...but I do think there are a lot of rotary wing fans that will both be born and come out of the woodwork.

I succeed in ripping a wing off once, but I was literally trying to do so and overriding the G-limiter at very high speeds. I’ve never noticed airframe/FCS damage from mishandling aside from that.

If memory serves, a target needs to be within 10 or 15 NM for a pitbull AMRAAM to track at all, and that’s optimistic. Are you making use of TWS-Auto? You mention constantly manipulating the radar to keep the target within your scan volume, if you’re using the auto mode of TWS you’ll alleviate some of that work. The look down capability will still be limited due to DCS’ configuration.

Not that I’ve noticed, there is and has always been a bit of noticeable rendering stutter when looking far to the sides at low level. That’s not exacerbated though.

Dropping in to say thanks again for this mod. Really a joy to fly.

I believe this is correct as well. My memory is that Mech is a redundancy for an FCS/computer failure, not a total HYD failure.

Running V33 also, I added MSAA 2X and I’m enjoying by far the best VR visuals I’ve gotten yet.

Shocking improvements for me as well. I’m very pleased.

Not while flying, there are failures shown on the debrief/stats screen. I will say that visual damage does not always seem to coincide exactly with what the jet experiences in the simulation, either. Limping a damaged bird home is good fun...in the safety of my gaming chair.

Dual-tube units, which virtually all aviation goggles will be (if not more tubes), offer reasonable depth perception as your brain is seeing a stereoscopic image. Single tube and 2-1 units do struggle.

If I may recommend it, the Raven One campaign is an excellent intro to the Hornet and will challenge you with refueling, proper carrier launch and recovery, CAS, CAP, SEAD, Strike, and Anti-shipping. You’ll also learn very quickly to manage your fuel. Of note, you won’t touch a land-based runway. If you take the time to learn it as you go, there will be very few tactical or even administrative tasks that you can’t complete.

This has been a long-standing complaint, glad to see it updated.

I feel like we’ve got two separate issues here. One is a switchology issue for designation of L&S. Coinciding we have a difficulty breaking grouped targets out. When you say the above method isn’t working, what’s the failure mode or point?

While “unrealistic”, and problematic on servers with limited inventory of stores, I habitually jettison tanks prior to landing on MP servers. Problem solved.

While annoying I do believe this function is correct to the real jet. I originally used the SA page on the LDDI, but now keep it on the AMPCD for several reasons-this being one. In addition, when performing A-G missions it’s common to need stores page and FLIR page, and the ability to toggle back and forth between SA for SA and HSI for Run-in/range symbology on the AMPCD is useful. Thus for consistency I keep the SA/HSI n my AMPCD full time.

I don’t have a number for you, but it won’t be generous from on the deck launches. Off the top of my head I usually get IN RNG around 65 +\-5 NM from angels 30+ and just past Mach. If you’re using preplanned mode, the HARM page and HUD will cue you when in range. I’ve found it to be quite accurate since the HARM update...early this year I think.

“Combat Tree” in Vietnam (Click) was a great example of how IFF type RF signals CAN be used against the own ship broadcasting them.

Adding onto @AKRocco’s post, I have several “target range” missions created. One is primarily a Fox-3 arena; my jet is set to unlimited weapons and fuel. It takes 30 minutes at times to complete as you’re chasing bandits all over the sky in Nevada. The entire purpose is locating them via radar and intercepting to Fox-3 range. Likewise, I have a similar mission over Caucasus with 20+ armed targets, ranging from SU-25’s with guns to Mig-21’s with Atolls to SU-27’s that are guns only. the experience here is much more BFM-focused, as I try to match my capability to the enemy-guns vs guns. Again, same unlimited weapons and fuel setting. On this one I fly with two 9X’s, two 9m’s, and guns.

Same. It works really well.

As I understand it, the “decision” to loft or not is made by the missile on a preplanned launch, depending on what it calculates is necessary. IE, a missile launched in close and low would only expend energy (and time) lofting that are likely unnecessary. What distance and altitude are you launching from?

One aspect to the Hornet is that the FCS almost won’t allow you to depart the jet, meaning it’s easy to harshly over control the stick. Like any fighter, the basic principle of managing your G and AoA still apply-despite the fact that the jet won’t allow you to over-G or depart. The high-Alpha capability of the Hornet should ONLY be used for “cashing in” to scoop a shot, as the jet bleeds energy incredibly quickly at high AoA. There are situations, such as pointing the nose that last little bit for a Fox-2 or gun shot where the Alpha will work for you-but in general you must guard against it.

Correct, there is no communication with the missile post-launch. It only knows generally where you’ve told it to look, and it’ll destroy whatever it comes across. You can use Man in the Loop (MITL) weapons such as SLAM and SLAM-ER for anti shipping work also, when target discrimination is needed at long range. For targets without ranged defenses, laser-guided bombs can be used.