Jayhawk1971

Easy fix for you: follow proper procedures! Don't taxi with your wings fully extended. If they don't come back after you've commanded them, your flaps are still down. If you can't raise the flaps, you broke them. Easiest way to "deduce" you've broken your flaps in flight? Just look over your shoulder. You can see if they're extended. If you can't raise them, chances are good they're stuck. Easy way to not break them: keep them up over 225 KIAS. The only time I've ever over sped the flaps was during an air start, when I forgot to adjust the wheel on my throttle from a previous flight in a different module (use the same wheel for radar elevation). Otherwise, never had that problem. In the end, it's your game, so play it any way you want to. But don't expect much sympathy around these parts for "bothering" HB to add features to accommodate your (unrealistic) playstyle, at the expense of much more pressing issues with regards to the F-14 (not to mention the multitude of other projects HB has to attend to). Also, I would argue that this particular issue is waaaaay down on the "nice to have priority list" for most customers.

A-1. or don't even bother with a SEA map ( I would reluctantly condescend to accept said map without the Skyraider, though )

Of course, y'all are just interested in the pilot's body. What about his character?! His soul, even?! Typical......!

I agree, the Viper could really do with additional, mod-free SP content, not to mention another campaign (so far there's only Bunyap's Red Flag campaign).

I've started messing around with "Dragon Tooth" on the Marianas map. My plan is to set the flight up for a cold start on the carrier, hit the tanker after launch and then head to the CAP station, with a subsequent call to intercept incoming bogeys by AEW. So far the biggest challenge for me is to get the timeline right: allow enough time for start up, taxi to catapult, AAR, and flying to the CAP station, and allow for a certain amount of time to settle into the pattern (hit both CAP station waypoints once, for example). If successful, I'd do the same for "Hunting the Jeff". Unfortunately, I suck with the mission editor, and being a VR user, I don't even run "2D"-DCS full screen anymore. @IronMikeMissions I could imagine would be great as full-fledged options (not replacements for the quick start missions) are the Syria ones: On Devil's Ridge and Follow the Target. Heck, combined with the "factory bombing" missions (name escapes me at the moment), they could even form a 3-mission mini-campaign.

How do you generally feel about the Apache?

I'll give it a try. Need to start learning the ME at some point, anyway. So many great mission and campaign ideas in my head, so little skill with the ME......

107 didn't need no stinkin' DLC... ...he probably was already on the way to the airlines

@IronMike Speaking of IA/Missions: would it be possible, some time in the future, when the major work on the Tomcat is about done, to revisit the SP missions and maybe expand them into full-blown take off/ RTB missions? Maybe as an optional "full mission variant" (so those who simply want to quickly jump into an instant action won't have to go through the full fuss). For example, the LANTIRN IA missions would be a lot more fun if we could take off from a Carrier or an airbase. Or the Marianas intercept missions for the A and B, respectively (mission: CAP. Flight launches, AARs, then heads for CAP station, but is vectored by AEW to intercept the J-11s/Jeffs). IMO, air starts are always a little weird, and immersion breaking, and I'd much prefer a full mission. Unfortunately, many of the really good ones are air start only.

Yeah, was about to pounce on a 1TB NVMe, now I'm looking at a 2TB.

On the one hand, really glad to get a Sinai map. On the other hand, kinda sad that it's a separate map from Syria, and by a different developer. I was hoping that some time in the future, the "Syria" map could grow to include eastern Egypt, western Saudi and Iraq. Oh well. Maybe, hopefully, I'll live long enough (singularity?) to witness the great-grandchildren of the current ED devs implementing the whole world as a single map.

Would it be possible in a future update to make the setting module-specific rather than "global", so that each value for each individual aircraft is being "remembered" by DCS? In other words, move the slider from the VR tab to the respective module tab in the GUI? That way, users could set the individual values once (for the respective airframe) and not have to change (and remember) settings every time they switch modules.

I've found the thread. This looks quite promising! Apparently he also wants to add FFB rudders? Thanks for the heads-up, that project went completely under my radar.

Logitech G940 HOTAS. Was always going to replace it, now I'm glad I didn't. Especially with the Apache: I have zero trimming issues thanks to FFB. If I had any mechanical skills whatsoever, I would try to fit an extension to it. Alas, I don't dare to.

Odd. Did you compare your logfiles if there's any difference? Would be interesting if they look differently. I'll try the mission again tomorrow and see if it works for me then. Maybe ED snuck a stealth patch in?

Interesting. Did you do anything differently, or change anything (DCS version, drivers)?

Hi, I, too, am now plagued by freezing/ crashing issues. VR user. Mission freezes (with the "waiting..." message displayed) right when "things start to get interesting", as in it seems a major mission trigger event is happening (spawning of many assets?). I'm on the most recent OB patch. Here follow mission spoilers: Log file attached. dcs.log

I meant what Puck said right before that "Phoenix to Sparrow" story, at 22:40. When asked whether the excessive tests revealed new data about the missile's envelope, he answered that their "charts were generally pessimistic...which was good", which I interpret as "the missile performed better than anticipated".

Yep, lots of little gems in there, like the "Phoenix needed altitude, Sparrow needed speed" line.

From the "10 Percent True" Podcast interview with "Puck" Howe on the Tomcat. From the timecode I've "marked" onwards, he talks about the difference between AWG-9 and APG-71, the Phoenix engagement envelope, which is interesting regarding the actual timelines they used. Also he mentions that the Navy had to get rid of all those Phoenix missile stockpiles at the end of the Tomcat's lifespan , and they did it via massive live-fire exercises. He mentions that it turned out their estimates were too conservative, that the missile performed better than anticipated. Listen to the whole thing anyway, as this interview is very in-depth and interesting.

It'll take a while to get used to zero curves on this module at first, but it will pay off in the long run. Just practice flying around in freeflight and get used to the very direct input. I've found that trying to keep the VVI needle centered is good practice. The Tomcat handles like a warbird (think F-86), so it needs a light touch and lots of trimming. Literally two fingers on the stick (I mounted the stick center, and rest my right elbow on my lap while steering with two fingers and the thumb on the trim button). Admittedly, the force-feedback stick is helping a lot with the trimming. In that case, here's what I'd do: try to lineup as early as possible, and "stab forward" with the refueling probe. If you miss, back off a couple of feet and try again. If you see you're moving vertically on the basket, don't chase it. Also, maybe something in this video might help:

I use zero curves, deadzone of 1 or 2 on all axis (with a Logitech G940, no extension). AAR in the Tomcat is not an issue for me, at all. Easiest of the bunch, IMO. For me, the Hornet's too sensitive pitch axis makes refueling harder (not impossible, just less fun). Disclaimer: switching to VR helped immensely. It turned AAR from a dreaded chore to something I actually quite enjoy now. Still, even in 2D it's not impossible, just a little bit harder. Autopilot or other "shortcuts" will not help you. If/once you are able to fly a stable close formation with the tanker, ignoring other "input" once you are in formation (like airspeed, VVI), you'll find AAR not that hard. Find one or two distinct features on the tanker and try to make it/them "stick" to a point of reference on your aircraft (canopy frame, for example). If you can do that comfortably, apply the same principle to actual refueling. Every tanker in DCS has a certain frame of reference to help you line up with the basket. Also, if you switch to A2A HUD, use the right degree number next to the pitch ladder and overlay that with the refueling hose. That'll put you pretty much in the ballpark lineup-wise. Trimming helps a lot. Other than that, keep practicing. Sooner or later it'll "click" for you. Some people say not to focus on the basket, rather to keep it in your peripheral vision. Other's claim the opposite. Whatever you do, do not chase the basket. Take a "stab" at it (quite literally), if you miss, back off and try again. Once you're connected, don't get excited (which I found to be the hardest part ) and stick to formation flying.