boombazookajd

Thanks Tholozor. I figured out how to modify the BuNo in the cockpit for the livery I am making.

Hey folks, I'm working on doing a specific BuNo set for VFA-151. I have the BuNo's and bort numbers but I do not know how to modify them in the game. Help would be greatly appreciated as I've got skinning down pretty well thus far.

These philosophical debates always rage in various games. "I can do it, so can they", "git gud", or just flat out right denial of other people having issues. There are too many variables in the game for AAR to be, in my opinion, included in missions/campaigns. I see ones that flatly advertise "no aar required". Clearly like Shagat said, there's an acknowledgment that AAR sucks. First you have hardware variables. There are at least 4 common sticks; the X-52, X-55, Warthog, and T16000. None of which are cheap, especially the out dated yet still expensive AF warthog. Then you bump up to boutique sticks and i will never suggest someone bump up to these ridiculous prices when already we're spending so much on other peripheries. One suggestion given to me was "get VR" lmao. like just to tank reliably i need to drop another $1k for my make-believe. (this price includes the video card i'd need to run VR well). There needs to be an acknowledgment that the game has terrible tanking mechanics. We sit here and talk about "educational" then have a tanker that reads at a second grade level while we quote the NATOPS and have Lex making carrier videos covering carrier mechanics. NO ONE IS MAKING TANKING VIDEOS and do you know why? EVERYONE KNOWS TANKER MECHANICS ARE BROKEN. NO, they aren't broken, they aren't even there. Besides the random "breakaway" calls and the random "return pre-contact" and subsequent reeling in of the drogue, the tanker doesn't communicate. IRL, the tanker talks. So, we have to find ways around this and for me, the solution is simple: Just like when you are lining up with the catapult, the game slides you into perfect position and hooks you up. This needs to be an enabled feature for AAR. Place a box in the options that allows for "assisted refueling" so when you get within a certain box near the tanker for boom/drogue, things hook up and sort of hold you there. The hold should mimic autopilot, taking an extreme amount of stick movement to maneuver while refueling while you are "glued" to the drogue. This box can also be quite small requiring you to put the aircraft about 95% of the way there so to speak. I think everyone should be able to fly close enough to the tanker with enough skill they can hold within that larger "box" while they struggle to get into the even smaller area for actual hook-up. This can alleviate the issue for those who find it too difficult or have lesser quality controls.

This. I absolutely HATED AAR, and I still do. In all honesty I dread the tanker. Every time I line up with it, he turns. Then there's some stupid reason I'd climb or dip down. Everyone says "the drogue doesn't move" but I'd swear to everything holy that thing moved just as I approached it. Then I found this video. Now I line myself up and engage BARO hold, only to use pitch trim to bump me out of BARO hold, and that seems to dampen my crappy X52 to a level that I can actually hook up rather well now. I'm still working on it and I try to tank as often as I can as it seems to be an extremely perishable skill. But I've found the biggest issue that I have, in my opinion, is a limitation from hardware. that said, due to some folks not having top of the line gear OR the patience OR willingness to dump HOURS into such a minute task... I'm all for a mode that makes AAR refueling easier. I believe F4:AF had an "easy mode" that once you were in a certain area, you kinda got "sucked" to the boom. While the drogue often "pops" onto my refueling boom, it just as often flies right by as though it doesn't register my boom. I also get a really cool "breakaway" call just as i hook up, +1-2 knots of overtake, correct positioning and they'll call it. Also, I've had the refueling tanker randomly pull the hose in on me and call "return pre-contact" while I'm only a few feet away from the hose. There are many reasons why AAR sucks. I don't think I'd use an "easy mode" if offered but given there are several easy modes in the game, I'd welcome one for AAR for those who feel left out due to several different reasons. There's no need for elitism or git gud in the game.

i've got it. thanks all.

Can someone help me locate where I am supposed to be looking for the activation key for SimShaker Sound module? I purchased a license but don't know where the key is

Interested in joining!

Mac thanks for making me even more excited! I found an X-52 from gamestop (the black version, not the toy looking silver) for $200 and I simply couldn't find anything even close so I went with that. I'll get a set of pedals when necessary. I also grabbed trackIR. I am done spending money for now! I've used VR once or twice before and it makes me a little nauseous so I don't think I'll be going for that. Maybe i'm just out of my prime now. The stick should be in sometime next week so until then I'll probably do some tutorial watching and keep pretending to be Gen. Patton in War Thunder. Next up will be to find a training squadron, or just one that is open to a new pilot.

Well the computer arrived today and I downloaded the base game and used rudimentary K&M controls. Definitely going to get a HOTAS setup. Best Buy has the T-16000 flight pack for $260, so I'm going to order that and wait a week. I'd like to have pedals just so that I am not limited. I may spring for the F-16 module. I'm at least somewhat familiar with the aircraft and MAY even have the old F4 training book in a box in the attic, though I doubt that. The F/A-18 is also very alluring as it's more complete in its current state but also, the idea of flying off and landing on a carrier sounds challenging enough! There was a time where all I did after school was try to land that damned bird; I flare and balloon, then drop the throttle and dump it onto the tarmac... I still remember how excited I was the first time I actually got that sound of rubber hitting the runway and and the nose came down and viola! I was actually still in one piece! Then the computer crashed.... Anyway, the game is running alright on the limited amount I can play it so I think it'll do until I learn enough to actually get out on missions and by that time I'll have recouped enough cash to expand the RAM to 16 at least. I'll keep to learning all I can and thanks for the help. I hope to be flying with some of you guys soon!

I always forget this part: G5 comes with an i5-10400F and a GTX 1660 Super, 8g RAM (expandable to 64gb). What features is the F-16 component lacking? I'm also interested in the F-14 and A-10 components besides the F/A-18 but there's plenty of time for that down the road. I don't have the X-52 anymore, I gave it to a friend of mine a few years back who was better set up for flight sims and was still using one of those older single stick options. I've been out of flight sims for a while but really want to get back into what I've loved since I got Falcon 4.0 as a teenager. I began looking up flight sticks last night and I'm looking at the T-16000M flight pack. Are pedals not needed for modern aircraft?

Hey all! Thanks for taking the time to read this! First, I'd like to get back into flight sims. My experience is pretty limited. I first got into flight sims with Falcon 4.0 and then had some experience with Allied Force. I've also had a couple of the Janes sims. All in all though, I don't have a lot of hours but I'd say that I'm relatively competent. First, the hardware. Ive got myself a Dell G5 I5000 for my birthday. Is this a powerful enough machine to run DCS for me to get the hang of it. I also used to have an x52 HOTAS, what's a good stick to use now a days? I'd also look into getting trackIR. Next, is which version of the game is going to give me a good place to learn? I think falling into the F-16 would be pretty familiar for me so I'm certainly looking at that. The P-51 and P-47 sims are also very appealing primarily for the fact that there are no complicated avionics to deal with. Thank you for all of the help and I hope to fly with you soon!