ApacheDoctor

Alright, guys, apparently my background wasn't clear enough. I was a mechanic on the Apache-while different in that I have worked on the real deal, the principles are the same. I have zeroed, calibrated, and worked with curves and null zones from 1 to 30, as well as gone through several different calibrations and other issues. I can promise you, it is NOT my control setups. As an airline pilot, I have hand flown twin turbine swept wing high performance jets through all phases of flight, and in one case, with the FBW system in an alternate mode. I reference this in case anyone doubts my ability to fly/airmanship capabilities. One thing that HAS worked regarding pitch is setting the force feedback to 0, since I do not have a force feedback stick....but that s for pitch only, nothing to do with roll and yaw. I concur that some rudder pedals are better than others, but again, simple matter of messing within the control settings to dampen some of that out. However, roll is still present with zero rudder input applied. I am going to be getting the Thrustmaster TPR s fairly soon...so we will see if that alleviates this tendency at all. Point being-I shouldn't have to go back through hundreds of dollars worth of equipment to get something to fly straight and level. Sorry, but I think this one squarely lands on the coding. I am working off the premise that if I trim an aircraft out perfectly, I should be able to fly with it hands off-and it should hold it if it IS in trim. Period. Regardless of static or dynamic stability. Aircraft are aircraft. And Ill be damned if I don t know how to trim an airplane out.

Ok, sure we will go with that. I will wait until I hear from the Devs...because I m not the only one with this issue.

Yes the negative and static stability. I get it across all modules. I have double and triple checked my setups. Curves, deadzones, and had it with the Thrustmaster Hawg. While less pronounced its still with the Virpil as well.

Virpil bases are on an all metal gimbal, and its fairly close to a "real" feel as I can get. That is to say-the stick behaves like a real airplane.

Brand new Virpil grip and base-calibrated incessantly and minimal deadzones. That s the thing-no roll tendencies should be there. No stick movement=no tendency for it to roll away. But, yes, thank you for double checking first.

I performed a search and have been unable to find anything (only thing close with reference the PFM of the SU-27). To start, I have had to hand fly a few jets now with no autopilot and trim only. If we accept the common definition that trim is there to relieve control surface pressures, I should be able to trim the aircraft out on all three axes and be able to leave it alone. Granted its rarely the case, but there have been times I have been able to do so. Note-these have all been swept wing underslung mounted engines, to give an idea of what the handling characteristics are. It seems like all DCS aircraft have negative/negative static and dynamic tendencies programmed into them. This includes A-10C, F-18, F-14, P-51...all seem to be having the same issue that roll tendencies get pronounced with trim inputs. Any chance that this can be looked at? The F-18 seems to be the best but there is always a right rolling tendency to it. No, I am not asymmetrically loaded, fuel is balanced and I can hand fly an aircraft quite well (even in the sim).

Good evening all, Perhaps with our real world folks chiming in, reduced visibility seems to be something I noticed lately flying a campaign mission in the P-51. Perhaps it is a lighting issue on my end, however, I wanted to bring it to your attention. When I go IMC in the real world, there is no lighting changes or enhancements, but rather just milky white or grey all around (orange at night with aircraft lights on). Is there a way that this can be fixed so that looking at the horizon in the game doesn't show a band of light discerning horizon to sky, but rather gray nothingness that demonstrates what real world instrument and reduced visibility is? To be fair-reduced vis (forward looking range) actually looks fantastic, but I have noticed that there is a band of light near the horizon. The whole point of IMC is no discernible reference to the horizon. Perhaps a Dev or two can chime in? Am I being too particular? Sorry for the noobish post.

I just got my Rift S today as well, and I am completely happy. Was an awesome change from the original Rift. Welcome to the club!

I would advise against paying anyone on the internet for "lessons" or instructions. Getting this far and into a system that can run DCS reasonably well costs an investment...no need to pay more. Enjoy the ride, watch the numerous free tutorial videos out there. I will echo Lex's stance that authority here doesn't necessarily translate well in the sim, and vice verse. There is stuff the sim does that the aircraft doesn't and the other way around. Why pay someone to teach you when you can go and fly yourself? FYI my day rate as a real world PIC is 1600 bucks with instruction. One day consists of 8 hours worth of flying, meals, per diem, and hotels. If you are going to charge, its worth charging right! So that equates to 200 bucks an hour, but hey! I m a real world PIC...which means I should REALLY know my stuff when it comes to DCS right? No. Save your money, find a virtual group, and have some fun.

Going to be busy bees if circuit breakers are implemented. Plus you ll know when system(s) are damaged from all the pop, pop popping going on LOL.

Personally, Id recommend setting your Primaries to outside entities (tanker, AWACS, air traffic control, tower, paddles, GCI, etc) and your Aux (Comm 2-to your specific inflight frequencies as well as your other flight frequencies) and have a reference card for them all.

To me it was a much more noticeable difference in the handling from the break and into the pattern. Lot less squirrely, lot more consistent.

Seemed a lot smoother in the pattern today though during my test after the update. Something got changed...

First and foremost, been looking forward to this one for a long time. The F-18 is now a LOT smoother in the break and Case 1 ops. While there is nothing simple out it, this now feels a lot like a FBW airplane, much smoother on controls, and now the math really works out well. Took a test flight and she handles like a dream. First the first time I don't feel like I m a hockey player on the ice rink. CV is a lot more smooth in motion, and you can see the HUD indicators moving with the motion of the ship. I did not mess around with the ICLS implementation yet, but my only recommendation is to make the needles a little bit longer both vertically and horizontally. They seem small. Did not mess with the airborne radar or munitions settings yet, but that will come soon. Only gripe so far-is there a particular reason why this new update wipes our keybindings out? Fortunately I did not have to go in and reassign/retune axis', so that's a plus.

Spool time for any turbine is roughly six to seven seconds from change to input to actual thrust being fired out. It's the power to weight ratio in fighters that make them so responsive. Has nothing to do with the engine.

Thanks guys, more to practice. Just got the Warthog HOTAS too, so that might help with some of the difficulties I have been having.

Thanks for the advice guys, greatly appreciate it. Had dinner with some VMAT-101 guys here at IWA the other day. They said you should barely be able to see the carrier on the break and actually have to "lean" over to see the carrier on the break pass.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks, that's what I thought.

Does this take care of the rest? How do we get the rest of the BITS to clear? That's been a question I have been wondering about since I bought the thing, is how do we clear all of the bits. Is it a functionality thing and not everything has been cleared out yet?

FOD, regardless of what aircraft, is potentially deadly. I work on US Army helicopters, and they are ANAL about making sure FOD stays where it belongs, well away from aircraft. We do FOD sweeps after every break, and when we are working on compenents we have to ensure there is nothing on us but our clothes, we just wear our boots, trousers and undershirts and thats it...nothing else. No rings, tags, watch, etc...nothing can go in there. Think about it, axial compressor engines have progressive stages that get smaller and smaller as the air runs further down the engine. Anything that gets wedged in there is going to cost a pretty penny. Hence, NO FOD period...it can kill and costs lives.

Great shots man, looks like a lot of the birds that were there were at NAS Oceana back in September. That new paint scheme on the F-18 was a great shot, and I love the Blue Angels montage. Semper Fi

Ok few things wrong, and since you were asking for critique, Ill give them for you. On takeoff, make sure you work on rudder control...fortunately you didnt ground loop it, but when you get to higher speeds that sort of rudder yaw like that can end up bad for the aircraft. Part two, when you take off, go into at least a 10-15 degree climb and maintain wings level. Until you get your airspeed off, you have a lot of load factor on the wings and stress. You pull up on it too hard you can be in DEEP doo doo. All right on to your landing, in most cases with half a wing gone like that you are lucky to bring it down. First thing that happens when you lose a vital structure like that is to clean your aircraft so you have the least amount of weight and the cleanest aerodynamic profile possible. Second, you wanna make sure that you cut off fuel from that part of the wing. The reason it was flaming was becuase you had fuel spilling from the tanks or the pumps still active. Shut down those pumps and divert it all to the left tank. It prevents the possibility of being blown. What I did like about your approach is that you approached from the high side, it makes sure you have the altitude you need if you have to eject, a good amount of time to asses your aerodynamic integrity, and the airspeed you need to land safely. So follow those two next time, with the fuel and ordinance. Least amount of weight and the fuel in an area where it wont blow. Hope this helps.

Something that F-16 pilots do, and I know the Israeli s used to practice, was something called the Idiots Loop. Id have to do some research and find the way to program the MFD, but theres a way to put the weapons on a ballistic arc into targets. Works great on convoys, but not the preferred method as when you are climbing you are exposing the underside of the aircraft to oncoming fire, and its not as accurate. Let me do some research and Ill get back...as I said, not the preferred method nor the most accurate but it works.

There is no doubt of the A-10s capability to deal death from above. I wish I d get the chance to directly work with them cause they are that awesome. 14 hardpoints and a 4 hour loitering time? Yeah makes them an asset to anyone who has them.