Jamesp1

So, I'm sure it's been asked before but I can't find anything recent. How does this module look in terms of missing features/bugs/flight model? Also, content: What missions/campaign are available now vs the final product? Thanks!

It seems I do still have two memory slots free, which is a nice surprise! So yes I'll put in another 8GB since it's only £40.

Current PC: GPU: HIS 6950 Fan 2GB GDDR5 Dual DVI Dual Mini DisplayPort HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.3GHz Socket 1155 6MB Cache (overclocked to 4.6Ghz with a better cooler) Memory: Kingston 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz HyperX XMP Motherboard: Asus P8P67 PRO REV 3.1 Socket 1155 8 Channel Audio ATX HDD: slow-ass 2TB HDD Case: CM Storm Enforcer Case with Coolermaster 650W GX PSU Monitor: AOC e2795Vh TFT LCD 27" HDMI Monitor with Speakers My thoughts: This PC is 5 years old so I was expecting to buy an entirely new PC, but it seems the 2500k CPU is still not bettered significantly! If that chip should be replaced at all then that should probably wait for next year when the next gen chips come out. In turn that means the motherboard and memory don't have to be replaced. So, the GPU seems to be the only item that replacing will give significant framerate boost in DCS. That definitely should be replaced with a GTX 1080. Other components of concern are: 1. Memory: 16gb would be better for Prepar3d (and maybe for DCS), and you can buy 2400Mhz memory now. Will leave alone for now though. 2. HDD: it might be worth considering a 1TB SSD since I'll probably stick a fresh Windows install on it anyway. 3. Maybe worth getting a 4k monitor for other games since I'd have the GPU to drive it. In summary: I think I should get a GTX 1080, 512GB - 1TB SSD and a 4k monitor. Do you agree or disagree? I find it odd to only do a partial upgrade after 5 years ;-)

Planning my VR shopping list and when looking into using VR with Prepar3d, it seems everyone is using Flyinside. That looks great on many Youtube videos, but I was also struck by how useful Leap Motion looked with Flyinside: I seem to remember some poor reviews of it from maybe a year ago but this looks very different to what I'd read. Does anyone use it with a Rift/Vive and DCS to control the cockpit? If so, what do you think of it?

Wow - that's some seriously positive reviews! Thanks everyone that replied; I think you've convinced me to pull the trigger when my 0%-interest credit card arrives. You know, I realised that the real question came down to: Do I buy a first or second gen headset? First gen: Will certainly be completely outclassed in two-ish years time; £1k per year cost if my PC needs replacing to run the new hardware. Second gen: A two year wait, before which point my pc will be dead/useless. Well, my PC is five years old so could do with replacing soon: I guess I'll go for 1st gen! UKRifter has tipped me towards the Rift over the Vive, by the way.

Short version: Do you think your VR headset was worth buying, and do you use it without any problems? Longer version: I haven't had the opportunity to see a demo of VR (I have tried) but am tempted to get one. I'll need an entirely new computer though: £1,200 for a PC plus £900 for a rift/vive and 4k monitor... It's a good time to buy: The headsets are now shipping next-day and no next-gen computing parts are coming out for the next few months. It'll also move my gaming to 4k resolution. On the other hand £2k off my mortgage would also be nice! So, how is VR in DCS at the moment? It is still early-adopter hell or are most people using VR with no problems? Is it worth £2k? James

Hi, I'm on the fence about getting a Vive or Rift, primarily for flight sims. Does anyone near Exeter, UK have one they wouldn't mind demoing? Thanks, James

Tried the navigation training mission for the first time and loved it when it lowered the hood. [sarcasm on] My wife was very impressed [/sarcasm off] Will hopefully be trying some training in this and the possibility of being forced to fly by instrumentation only is a great feature!

Two campaigns! Fantastic. Bought the module :-)

Hi, What people/groups out there provide basic-to-intermediate flight training? About me: I'm 38, in the UK and just returned to DCS after a year off. I completed the A-10C campaigns, UH-1H campaign and done a bit of dogfighting in the P-51D and F-86F. Never got really in-depth in the A-10C systems, but could basically use all the aircraft as I wished. I'm back and am keen to work through a course on the more fundamental areas of flying such as navigation, ILS, formation flying, aerobatics, dogfighting etc etc . I did 1st Aerial Battalion's basic flight training in Rise of Flight a few years ago and loved it. Does anyone do anything similar here? I'd like to improve my general flying proficiency. I have most modules and will buy any others needed. I enjoy all of the aircraft and helicopters, with a slight preference for western airframes - don't know why but assume it's because I'm more familiar with them. @viperdogsnake: I'll pm you regarding the Adversary Pros training. Thanks, James

Thanks everyone - yes it's partly that clickable cockpit in a 4th gen fighter that I really want. I was surprised how much I missed clicking in the F-15C! @baltic_dragon: That this module will have a good campaign is a big plus for me; I'll probably play most/all of your campaigns in the future, and am looking forward to when more campaigns and missions start moving onto NTTR. Hmm, I think I'll get this when I finish the A-10C red flag campaign then :-)

Thanks guys, that's pretty much what I thought although I'd forgotten about the inaccuracies in the airport layouts. I was just thinking of trying some very short flights between airfields in a L-39, practicing basic navigation and ILS.

I'm thinking of buying this, but looking back through the last few pages of posts, I can't find anything discussing the current state of the module: Can anyone give me a quick heads-up of what functionality is in-flux/broken and missing? Also I believe the campaign is coming soon, but what about training & missions? Thanks

This is probably a silly question, but I've never got into the civilian flight sims. Let's assume I'm flying a civilian aircraft in DCS such as the civ versions of one the trainers: Is there any functionality DCS is missing over FSX or X-Plane such as civilian ATC etc?

OK, I checked and there are only the SU27 training missions. I can't see any others for Flaming Cliffs in any of the surrounding folders, nor any way to download more. Does anyone know what I have wrong or where I can find them? training fc3.bmp

Thanks - I don't have all those training missions; just a much shorter list for the SU27 only. I'll have a look in the surrounding folders to see if they are there.

Thanks guys - went to have a look at training missions yesterday but only found them for the SU27. Then tried to play some training missions for the Mig-21bis and none of those worked. Should I just use youtube to learn how to fly these things?

I looked for training missions for the F-15C yesterday but was surprised only see them for the SU27. I have the full FC3 package. Are there training missions for any of the other planes?, or possibly the controls and radar etc all work the same?

These are the only training missions I've tried. Radar mission stopped when going through the radar filters. AA missiles stopped on another trigger very early on. So I tried AA guns three times: first time it didn't detect me loading the gun. second time: it didn't detect me loading the gun but did after I pressed the control again. Then after the A-10C appeared I didn't get control of my aircraft back third time: I had to hammer the load gun control to get it to sense it but no A-10C appeared.

Hi, As the F-15C has a Nevada campaign I thought I'd buy it as a way to motivate me to give FC3 a go. Now I've got it though I'm unsure how complex to expect a simplified version of such a modern aircraft to be: Is this intended as a game or a simulation? I'll have a go at a training missions later, but taking the F-15C as a specific example, what simplification does it have over a DCS module?

I assumed the mouse wouldn't be rendered at the correct depth? Maybe this kind of thing is solved now but I know it used to be a big problem when using a mouse in 3D

Note: Unsure if this is in the right section; mods: Please feel free to move this. I'm beginning to shop for a VR headset (either HTC Vive or Oculus Rift) and am unsure on a couple of points: When playing DCS I spend a fair amount of time, especially when new to a module, with the game referring to/using keyboard shortcuts or just looking up the right method to do something. I also click a lot of virtual buttons! When you guys with VR headsets are using them with DCS, how do you deal with these issues? I assume you have to have everything mapped to a HOTAS or other control you can use by feel and cannot use a mouse to click buttons, so do you have the headset off for the startup and only put it on when you're ready to taxi? What about when you need to use the keyboard/mouse? Take the headset off? And obviously having to look up info would require the headset to come off as well. So, would you initially not play a module with the headset until you are familiar with all the controls and have an extensive HOTAS setup? One last thing: If you then need a monitor running as well, does this mean the computer has to render the image three times (one for each eye and a central view for the monitor)? Thanks for the advice, James

Hi, just reporting back to say performance is great! On high detail in a SU-25 free-flight, I got 60+fps over the desert, 40fps upside-down over Nevada at 3,000 ft and never below 20fps upside-down in Nevada at streetlevel. Nevada looks like it'll be amazing for a helicopter-campaign. I'll copy this to my desktop and see how performance is looking there. Overall I am very impressed both with the graphics and performance. Well done Eagle Dynamics!

I think that's because the graphics driver disable certain graphical effects in windowed mode so the graphics are/can be worse than windowed mode. Don't know a lot about it though, and if this game is designed to work in borderless window rather than full screen, maybe they don't use them anyway? Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can comment.

Sorry to ask this as I'm sure it's come up before, but I can't find the answer: When the Caucasus map moves into DCS 2, will there be any differences (extra features/textures/height map rendering/performance or anything at all) to what is currently in 1.5?