Brass2-1

This has historically happened to me perhaps one out of every 3 flights, it’s an annoyance to be sure. I’ve never found a causal factor.

ED crew, this is getting to me as well-it’s causing rough headaches. Perhaps it could be an option box under “Special”?

FCS panel, left elbow, beside the FCS Reset button. There’s a scrollable wheel with a center mark.

Do you have the HMD set to one eye (default and realistic is right I believe) or both? I am strongly left eye dominant and the JHMCS is all but invisible for me unless active on my left (or preferably both) eyes.

The SEA mode A-G radar is a big help for that mission also.

This is probably the answer. When the physical datalink boxes were added to the jets, they replaced the previous TACAN boxes and included the TACAN function. edit-IIRC

With some exceptions(ATTK RADAR won’t display on AMPCD iirc, and moving map won’t display on DDI’s - there may be others also) the displays themselves are agnostic; IE any page can be placed anywhere. Your “Top Level” pages are SUPT and TAC, with additional pages available for each. Both are available on any display. They follow quite a logical progression with respect to what sub-levels are present; FLIR, Stores and Radar are on the tactical page for example. Checklists, FCS and BIT are on the Support page. if you feel such a “Christmas tree” would assist you, hop into a hot jet on the ramp and jot it down. I break pages/locations into use cases, and configuring each is a part of my pre-combat checklist based upon my intended mission. For example; A-G Strike-Stores (L) FLIR (R) SA (AMPCD) A-G SEAD-Stores (L) EW (R) SA (AMPCD) A-A CAP-AZ/EL (L) ATTK RDR (R) SA (AMPCD) Cruise-FPAS (L) HSI (R) SA (AMPCD) Landing-ADI (L) HSI (R) Some variation depending on situation is also common. Note also that there are HOTAS commands to bring up or cycle through specific pages, particularly tactical-use pages.

There’s a kernel of truth for me here with every jet aside from the Hornet. Having fairly well mastered the Hornet, approaching a jet like the Viper with similar capabilities and struggling to employ them is maddening. I batted about in the Harrier this week, to be fair it actually gives me a small measure of appreciation for the Viper in that the HOTAS could be worse.

Also, the reason the FLIR is not locking onto a point that you designate may be that it’s not in a stabilized “Track” mode. Bumping the Sensor Control Switch towards whichever DDI the FLIR is displayed on will change the track mode. I recommend Chuck’s guide for visuals on the ATFLIR track mode symbology.

Hey Dutch, that link above is neat-check it out for sure. As far as how we can help, are you referring to tactical/combat pages or the supplemental/data pages?

Are you flying on Open Beta or Stable?

@Reclusethank you, I was unaware.

GBU laser firing is automatic and timed out for you. Mavs AFAIK have always required manual firing. Corrected by @Recluse

@Baaz I left out carrier ops in my post but you make a great point. Carrier ops are vastly more satisfying than flying fixed-wing from land based airfields. I own and will continue to buy any and all Naval aircraft in DCS.

It does, or at least did back in the winter.

I actually hopped into the Viper for a few hours last night (I do own both) and was pondering this thread while fighting. For me, it comes down to SA and switchology. Having the third MFD with the SA Page, plus Az/El and Attack Radar up front is a boatload of information available. To add to that, the RWR being displayed on both the HUD and JHMCS as well as the datalink integration into the HMCS are truly game changers. Should more of these features be implemented into the Viper, it would certainly close the gap. Personally I really dislike the stores management and HOTAS switchology in the Viper, it’s one redeeming feature for me is the fast slewable range and azimuth changes on the radar. The Viper’s raw power/speed is a great tool, but I do find that first-launch capability isn’t super relevant as most competent players can and will defeat long-range missile shots with ease. Once the fight moves inside 5-10 miles, the Hornet’s ability to point the nose (given current flight models) is a force to be reckoned with. Cashing in to make use of the AOA ability does require some confidence and commitment as you do sacrifice a lot of energy to point the Hornet. I am eager to work with the HTS and HARMS in the future as development continues, they’re really the reason I bought the Viper, so I’m along for the ride regardless.

Agreed, Growlers or at least two-seat Rhinos. Growlers (and previously Prowlers) are regular visitors to Nellis as the USAF doesn’t have indigenous electronic warfare jets since the retiring of the SparkVark.

Have you used the “Set” function to dictate your default configuration?

Personally I’d rather see the UH-1 team build a Super Cobra or Viper, though an older Cobra to accentuate the Huey period-wise would be great also.

Hornet for me. The Viper’s BVR abilities are nice to have and it has some A-G party tricks for sure; but the HOTAS commands, symbologies and pilot-machine interface I really dislike. Note that I don’t think it’s bad necessarily, but not my flavor.

Traveling for work at the moment and can’t grab a trk, but experienced the same issue.

@Lex Talionis thanks for diving in with us as always.

100% agreed-inside 10MI or within Fox-2 range things happen very quickly and fiddling with TWS may not be workable. ACM modes are designed for just such situations.

To switch targets automatically, you’ll need to have your Air to Air radar up and running on a DDI, TWS (left side top PB on the radar page-track while scan mode that allows building trackfiles for multiple targets) activated, and then depress “Undesignate” once on the stick. The mission computer (MC) will shift your L&S(launch and steering or #1 target) to the next in line or “DT2”-designated target 2. By using TWS, you’ve commanded the MC to track and categorize as many as 10 targets (limited also by search volume/shape-i. e. are there multiple targets within the radar’s view). Looking at the ATTK-RDR page, you will see the symbology denoting which target is the L&S (star) as well as the remainder, numbered in order of priority. Once a target is designated in TWS, command AUTO (right side ~middle PB in TWS) and the radar will automatically shift the search area within gimbal limits to track the designated target. You will likely still lose lock as you enter into a turning fight, but at this point you would shift to ACM modes (HACQ/LHACQ are my preferred modes when JHMCS is available). The ACM modes command a fast search in a specific area of sky and specific shape and will STT (single target track or hard lock) the first thing the radar finds. Very useful for knife fighting. edit-clarity

Confirmed good to go for me as well.