Dscross

Swaps. Here's a couple pointers. Under "user files" you will find downloads for various skins and such. Search "English Cockpit" under the Su-25 section. follow the directions for instlation. That might help you out. Second, go to game options. You can turn on or off labels. Third. When you're flying in single player you can pause. Then the F10 key will open up your map and you can see where you are, where the targets are, and get a bearing and distance. fourth. I HIGHLY recommend the A4 community mod for beginners. I started with it, and that mod is why this sim has gotten so much of my money...lol. It really is a great little plane and a joy to fly. Find a group of people to help. There are all sorts in the "squadrons" section of the forums. I doubt you'll find too many people who won't offer to help you out in the learning process. You're welcome to drop by my discord (Arrorian Imperial Navy) any time and we'll help you out with anything we can. Here is a link to the AIN discord. https://discord.gg/WyJWTnhTkB I don't know if you've used discord before, but it's one of the way's we fly as flights or squadrons, or just hang out and talk about airplanes, etc. Most squadrons/ groups have a discord server, and again most people will help you out if you just ask. Welcome to DCS, we're glad you're here. drop by the discord if you have any questions.

Gomez Adams. There are a couple things you can do to make things easier, first, set some axis curves as one of the other posters suddgested. That's first. Second, go to the "user files" section of DCS home page (downloads) Search for "Su-25 English cockpit" (Assuming here that English is you first language, feel free to correct me.) Personally I could not get into DCS until I found something with an English cockpit and I started to figure out how the sim/ game worked. That's the big thing, just figuring out how everything works, from mission maker to landings and weapons systems. let me tell you what helped me the most, I downloaded the free A4 Community Skyhawk. This is a fantastic mod developed by the community. It has a clickable cockpit, predictable flight dynamics (I won't say it's easy to fly, as it has some personality, but it' isn't very difficult to begin with, mastering it however is a whole other matter and I let you know if I ever get to that point.) Oh and it's just loads of fun. I started with the A4, and I didn't fly much else for the first 3 months. Now I have 90% of the modules, a full Hotas... yeah, I found a sim I love. But I found it because of the wonderful A4, so give it a try. Third... and this is a big one. Find a community. Many groups of sim pilots in DCS welcome new players. We love brining the fun of this sim to others and watching them enjoy it as well There are sim squadron's, groups, all over the forums. Find one and ask for help. 90% of the people will be glad to share their knowledge of the sim with you. We all love airplanes/ helicopters and military tech, it why we're here. There are many groups you can find, and mine is just one of them, if you're interested, we'd be glad to share what we know with you. I'm sure others will do the same. Here's the link to our discord (Arrorian Imperial Navy.) https://discord.gg/WyJWTnhTkB drop by whenever you have questions and we'll do our best to help you out. Fourth. Let's be honest, you're frustrated now, but in a few weeks, you'll be a fully-fledged addict. A different joystick/ HOTAS will help. It's not required, and with enough patintece you can fly anything in this sim with a keyboard and mouse. But a really good quality stick and Hotas, with some sort of headtracking or VR will expand your enjoyment of this sim by leaps and bounds. No, it's not required, but it does make everything more fun. Fifth. I would personally recommend buying the Flaming cliffs three pack. You'll save money on jets you'll end up buying anyway, and you can experiment with different types of aircraft to find out what you like. personally, I find the F-15 easy to fly, but a little touchy on landing if I haven't flown it in a bit. However planes like the Su-33 (included in FC3) and the A10A are about as easy to fly as you'll find. they have robust landing gear and are just loads of fun. I would highly recommend buying the FC3 pack and downloading the Community A4 mod. Give those all a try, find some group to help you learn the basics of the sim, and prepare to join the rest of us in this obsession. Oh, and welcome to DCS. Drop by my discord anytime, and I'm sure others will tell you the same. Welcome.

The Arrorian Imperial Navy [AIN] is a group of sim pilots who welcomes new players. We have & welcome people from all over, for multiplayer, flight instruction, or whatever. We have people in AIN who fly almost every airframe I can think of in DCS world. (To be honest we don't fly warbirds much, but most all of us have 2-4 of them.) Between our 4 Admins we have highly experienced sim pilots of. F-14 Tomcat, A-10CII, F-16, F/A-18, Sa342 Gazelle, AV8B Harrier, and a moderate level of experience, working towards getting better in the Mirage 2000 and one guy who flies the JF-17. We also have multiple MiG21 drivers, AJS-37 Viggen, F-86 Saber, F-5 Tiger II and of course most of us own and fly the FC3 jets. About 60% of us have a military background and I mention that because sometimes it's good to have someone to talk to as a veteran. One of our goals is to make sure our fellow vets know that they can come and talk to someone who has been there and done that whenever they need. Furthermore, we're also looking for more veterans to be available to talk to veterans who need it on our discord server. We can do more than just enjoy a great simulator in these communities we have. If you're a new pilot and you have question, stop by. If you're a veteran just looking for someone to hang with who's been there, stop by. And if you're just looking for a good group of people to fly with, stop by. I'm posting a link to our discord below. Welcome to AIN. https://discord.gg/NnPgJxfVuH

The Ka50 is a prototype that never saw serial production, so while many, many people, including civilian owners can debate the merits of the Gazelle, the DCS KA50 is a figment of the imaginations of Eagle Dynamics programmers...if we're talking about realism. The comparison is like saying that the best trainer for the F-15 E Strike Eagle will be the Su-47. No, not at all. Sure, twin engine heavy fighters, but the design concepts are completely different, the systems are different, hell even the radios won't work the same way. (And one is only a limited flight-testing prototype that hardly anyone has ever flown and never got operational weapons certified...) No other helicopter will teach someone to run an AH-64...except and AH-64. Learning a complex system...in order to learn a completely different and very complex system doesn't make much sense to me, but that's just me. Realism... ha. Next they'll make a YF-23 and we can argue about all the redacted "expert" opinions of the like 4 test pilots that ever flew it. "realism"... lol.

personally, I'm using the Gazelle M. Now hold on, I know there are people who despise it, let me explain. First there are several versions of the SA342 and all have a digital fly by wire control system, as does the AH64 and KA50 (In simplistic terms, don't get all "well actually"). Next, the SA342 has a good sighting sighting system, specifically the Vivian on SA342M. This makes it useful in training to fly from hover to pop up behind cover, finding cover, etc. all of those will be good skills in the AH64. As any of us who fly helos in DCS know, the world looks much different at 50 feet than it does from 30,000. what looks perfectly flat from 30,000 through a TGP, in reality has knolls, undulations, trees, shallow valley's etc. Anyone who is already flying a helo in DCS will be way ahead in the skill of reading the ground and calculating targeting approaches. I use the SA342 for this because the Huey simply isn't as stable and requires constant force trimming and such. (it's a mechanical linkage helo, it takes work.) The sa342 gazelle for me is just a joy to fly. I own the Huey, and I fly it, but I don't enjoy it as much. I test flew the Hind, and it was fine, but didn't excite me much. To me the SA342 is more fun to fly than the hind. Now there are some problems with the Gazelle, in fact, big ones. I can't understand how Eagle Dynamics is allow the module to stay in the store in the broken state it is in. How can they even keep selling it when it's in the state it is? Specifically, the SA342 mini gun version is only good for flying as the weapons don't work, and multi crew doesn't work either. But Poloychop has "promised" to fix it after they release the Oh-58. Bad idea if you ask me, as they should fix what they have first, at least a band aide for the time being, but that's just me. While those are huge negatives, as someone who is looking for a trainer helo, it won't really be a problem for you. The mini gun version still flies, and it's fun to fly. It doesn't have doors, or a big sighting system so the visibility is great. It you are looking to practice shipboard landings there isn't a much better helo than the SA342 minigun verson because the visibility is so good. Some people will say that the SA342 flight model is "broken" Okay... But I haven't heard a real Gazelle Pilot say that. (I've heard "its' not perfect..." but that's very different) I hated, HATED!, the Gazelle until I watched a CasmoTV video on axis tuning for it. WOW! I tuned mine a little different but watch that video and tune your gazelle if you've given up on it, it's a whole new helocopter, and amazingly fun to fly. Here is the link to that video. (And Thanks, Casmo! you made me love my Gazelle!) Anyway, I fly the Gazelle while I wait for the Ah-64, and I'll still fly the Gazelle after the Ah-64 because it's a fun, agile little scout / light Anti-tank helicopter. (

I've been firing AIM-54's all day. The missiles are broken. 41,000, against 44,000 target, range 50 miles, hot. Target did not notch, missile flew past. My wingman in this missed 3 shot in a row at under 20 miles, all over 25,000, no hits. The missiles are completly ignoring targets that are right in front of them. (It won't let me post the track file, too big. But it's 2 tomcats missing targets over and over.) UPDATE: My wingman and I went and tried this again. We again flew F-14B's with 4 AIM_54 Mk60, 2 sparrow, 2 sidewinder. This time we hit on almost every single shot. The difference? The first server, where we missed 20 mile shots, was in Europe, we are both in North America. The second server, where everything hit was north America. so, it seems PING make a HUGE difference. (The ping wasn't even terrible, just not as good as playing on a closer server.) Our result were 100% (similar launch conditions) on the N.A. server with very low ping (like 20-30 for both of us.) the E.U. server had higher ping, around 80-100. On the E.U. server missiles we acting like they weren't getting mid-course updates from the AWG-9. is the missile API affected by Ping? (note, this was all tested in multiplayer, no single player.)

bkrull, I don't know which specific jet or questions you have, but if there it is something I know I'll be glad to share any knowlage I have. We've got a few peopel who know their planes very well on my discord, you are welcome to stop by any time. I know how daunting DCS can be at first, so I try and help anyone I can, especially new people get up to speed. Heres the link to my discord. https://discord.gg/NUHe98zVhY

FupDuck, Yeah, just come on over to the discord. Here's a new link, just in case. We had a bunch of people on last night and I think 2-3 harriers were flying. (I was in my SA342 if you don't count a couple tomcat sorties as a RIO. I'm still learning the back seat, but we did pretty well.) https://discord.gg/QXE4yEWjHr

FupDuck, I am in easter Standard time, USA. I'm retired from the U.S. Army because of a few to many dings, so I'm on afternoons, evenings, and middle of the night. Usually when we get the biggest groups it's between 9PM-2Am EST as everyone's children are usually in bed by then, and the honey-do lists are done. But we also have a few of us that play early to mid-afternoon's as well.

ZQuickSilverZ I fly the AV8b as well. I'm still working on getting a full squadron together, but we do have a good group of people. Here is a link to my discord (AIN). We have our own server, and we're working on building up some missions. Anyway, you, or anyone else looking to fly is welcome to drop by and find someone to fly with. https://discord.gg/Hempj9772b

Agreed. No Opel's, no GM pickup trucks, and those are used all over the world. I think Eagle Dynamics is getting better, adding more units all the time, but the oversight of missing ANY Royal Navy (official) units, is not great. As to the Somali pirates, it's just a generalization as it happens all over. But yeah, I'd totally use the PG or Syria maps, hell even the Marinas as it's mostly water with just a few islands. I'm hoping that a Royal Navy/ British asset pack drops with the South Atlantic map. Going to be kind of hard to do Falklands stuff when only we only have the A4 and it isn't an official mod, and the Harrier in DCS isn't even close to a sea harrier. Also, there isn't a Orlikin 20mm AA gun in DCS world, which again, kind of need for South Atlantic stuff. (And the OKN 35MM or Iran and everywhere else, it's a popular AA gun.) ...and Sheep. seriously, sheep live all over the world, and I want to simulate bombing and strafing some, help me out here Eagle Dynamics.

Agreed. There is a startling lack of naval assets in DCS world. Small boat teams, Somali Pirates. (Is Somalia even a national option in the collations?). I'll save the list of ships I'd like to see for another time, but yeah, more ships, more boats. There are no small civilian boats with polygon counts that don't look like a deformed marshmallow in DCS world. what about RIB's for big boat navies? Or that... That SOF boat the teams used? I can't remember the name due to a cerebral methane embolism at this moment, but I think someone will know what I mean. The boat with the 25mm Bushmaster that can be air transported? Anyone? Yeah, I want those too.

Update PROBLEM FIXED. I use a Wingwin Orion HOTAS, as it turns out the TDC slew is overly sensitive. "Backsoon" seemed to have had the same problem with the Warthog. So, if you use a HOTAS with a bunch of features, and you can't get your TGP to go into, and stay in Point Track, Set a dead zone. It doesn't need to be much, I think I solved the problem with a dead zone of like 3. It just needs to keep the TDC centered when you aren't actively moving it. Thanks to everyone for the pointers and tips. THe F-16 is noew much, much more enjoyable to fly and use.

Ramsay, thanks for your answer, but I didn't ask what the real helicopter does. This is a simulator, not a replicator, clearly there must be compromises for advanced aircraft to have similar capabilities to when operated by a guy behind a computer vs real people in a real helicopter. For example, I can't... feel the aircraft, because my office chair is firmly (most days) on the floor. I understand that the real SA342 doesn't have an auto hover/ auto collective working as the simulated one does in the game. That isn't what was referring to, and neither was the OP. The goal of the sim is to get the end result, I.E. warheads on foreheads. I don't need (for example) my datalink in the F16 to really travel to and from a flying computer with it's wiper blades on as the pilot eats a snickers bar, I just need something to simulate me getting link16 data. I don't need a simulated rabbit to get simulated cancer near some simulated airbase because I simulated turning on the simulated AWG-9 radar in my simulated tomcat while simulating sitting on the simulated cement. I just need the simulated jet to simulate what I would see in the jet if I turned the radar on while on the ground. As to "Polychop is working on it after the release of the OH-58", great, that's what I needed. This is the place to report bugs so that developers can be aware of them. The more people who report a bug, and others who second it, means it's not some random user induced error. But, since Polychop apparently knows about the bug, great, that's what I wanted to show them. So that's all that was necessary. But you should try it yourself (you implided you havent' done it yourself and experinced the problem) because then you'll better understand what we who have done it are seeing. Anyway, thanks for letting us know that Polychop is aware of the problem, and it might be a while before it gets fixed. Thats what I needed. It's still a fun helicopter to fly, and it allows me to practice the basic tactics of making pop up attacks with guided weapons on simulated tanks. I will look forward to the time when I can have someone in the left seat working the VCB, it will be great fun. Safe flights and happy landings.

Having same problem.

At any point in the future are we getting buddy refueling pods for the F/A-18? (And A4 community mod..., and the future A7, but I digress.) Really, I'd be grateful for a buddy refueling pod for any aircraft in DCS. It would make multiplayer missions just fun with another option. So, my wish list is a buddy refueling pod for the Hornet, but I'll take any I can get.

Yup. you're welcome any time

I have a discord server that I invite anyone too to learn to fly or just hang out. We do our own missions sometimes, and general multiplayer. And everyone is happy to share what they know. You are welcome to drop by. We'll do our best to answer any questions you have, but we're all learning something, be it a new plane or a new way to employ one of the systems. Drop by if you want, anyone (who isn't a troll...) is welcome. https://discord.gg/xpq2qQ2SmY

I cannot, for the life of me, get the F-16 TGP to enter INR mode, Area track, or Point track. Now, before everyone jumps in and tells me which controls to use, I know. I've read the Chucks Guide, the DCS Early release manual. I've watched Wags videos, and TMS Up simple won't do anything on my TGP in the F-16. But... TMS up does work for locking radar targets, mavericks, etc. I've remapped the controls twice. I've changed which button I map TMS too. (I'm using a Winwing Orion F-18 Stick and Hotas.) I've even tried completely uninstalling the F-16 and wiping it from my system. (including all the bindings) Then reinstalling clean and remapping everything. No joy, the damn TGP won't go to AT/ INR/ PT. This is getting frustrating to the point where it's not worth flying the F-16 with weapons which use the TGP. This is very frustrating because I do enjoy the jet, but not being able to use half the the functions is terrible. (FYI, I've also tried using the default keyboard keys, those won't move the TGP into AT/ PT/ INR mode either.) I know other people can use their F-16 TGP just fine, so I'm thinking this is either something about the Winwing HOTAS I'm using, or I'm missing some basic step that isn't in the Chuck's Guide, the DCS Manual, the GR videos, or the WAGS videos. (unlikely but possible?) I've had two good F-16 pilots try and help me figure this out, they couldn't figure out why my TGP wouldn't work either. Now, I'm doing a bug report after I've ruled everything else out. Thanks.