Rhrich

Thank you. And yes, I've noticed. I have no computer skill whatsoever. I bought a PC and VR glasses on recommendation from a young lad, and this game it's the only thing I use it for. (I've tried the windows simulator, but I can't get it to look decent).

This has helped me. Its difficult to find the folders, but you can find a command you can type in the address line in the top of file Explorer that will lead you directly to the saved games folder.

We won't know the capacities of the F-14 weapons system until it's made public, and that will take many decades. In contrast to the amraam the upgraded 54 was only used by the US, and the only other potential user is Iran - who had success with 54 As. Some capabilites, not modelled in DCS, has been eluded to publicly, but I won't mention them here. Suffice to say, both the makers of the Phoenix and Tomcat seem to think that they should model the worst version they can find. In this way they are quite off the mark in many aspects, but they're still quite good in others. Anyone over 40 will have retired before we get the correct picture, but for what it is it's still the best modelled plane in DCS. If you can accept that, then play it. If you can't, then you'll have to modify (like the cockpit) or just refrain from playing dcs or this one plane. The Viper is quite good as well.

If anything I would say AAR in the Tomcat is too easy. The basket seems to be magically drawn to the probe if you get anywhere close and you don't have to worry about the damn prove damaging the plane or vice versa. Irl, if you hit the damn thing close to the edge it can start to get an angle and do all sorts of crazy things. Also, some of them could be deformed after several attempts. Sucks if you tanked after the local idiot. Also, granted the cat is much bigger than anything I've flown, but it seems to be too stable behind the tanker and the probe seems to have minimal impact on how the plane flies. Ps: not sure if Im right, but in some crevice in the back of my memory I seem to recall that you need a bit of force (not much, but just a small bit) when you hit the basket, or there is a chance the fuel won't flow. Anyway, the two big disadvantages of DCS is lack of depth perception (if you haven't got vr) and no feel. Also, a long proper stick helps, failing that, I've heard there is a meny to change responsiveness.

Agree with Warthogosl. KISS

Hello Draconus, Thanks a lot. What you're describing is exactly what I experienced. The few times this has happened to me the plane suddenly started slowing, like I was towing a large stone or deployed a drag chute. (For illustration, don't take it literary) Do you think the error is still there? I've been in the south the last months, so I haven't played, but it did happen to me sometime not so long ago. Right before or after Christmas perhaps. Is there anything I can do to stop it happening again? Hate to be that guy, but since some seem to doubt both Draconus and myself: I used to be a pilot and I've got many hours in fast jets. I can assure you what I - and by all accounts him - experienced was not caused by pilot error.

Hi, thank you for the message. That did not cause my problems, but it can indeed cause something similar. And it's potentially dangerous in less powerful aircraft, like many GA planes.

Thanks! Skipping IRST should make the D more feasible, especially with regards to weapons deployment. (Though it would be totally badass.) hopefully they find a way.

There are certain features on the D that won't be released. The IRST is the main one. That said, from what I've read (this was after I retired and I've got no access, so this is purely "I've read it on the Internet" - so it's by no means certain information - maybe its not even probable. Anyway I take no responsibility, this is just a rumour) not all Ds flew with a working IRST. I belive they took it away on some later models because it wasn't that useful in AG and there where no peer AA threat. (if there had been, like there is today, the USN would never had retired the Tomcat until it had a replacement). I know for a fact that there are functions in the A/B that's not modelled or even alluded to in the game. Since they would have added to the playability and lethality of the Tomcat I will assume it's either because they are still classified or they haven't managed recreate it in game. Ditching the IRST would simplify both the looks (can use present model) and also the flight model work. If the rumour about Ds without IRST is correct they have a historically plausible explanation for ditching it. I think they know that a B+ is a niche product, while the D would make record sales. I for one certainly hope they make it, or a full fidelity 15C.

Hello again all! Apologies in advance, I understand it might be difficult to say something definitive about this. But, sometimes, I would say perhaps one of every twenty times, the F-14 B suddenly seem to lack a lot of thrust. It's especially noticeable above a30. Is there a known error in the game causing this or perhaps something wrong I've done in installation? I've experienced trouble getting a almost slick jet to do 250 ias - even with full reheat. Other times it storms past match 1 without breaking a sweat. PS: I've got an extensive background in aviation - assume it's not a "real life" issue.

I see pilots who seek the limelight state stuff like this from time to time. Not really surprising that internet fanboys and armchair generals jump on and belive. What I don't understand is why a real pilot would say these things - he's just making a fool of himself. The guy clearly doesn't understand what he's talking about, or forget it - for entertainment purposes.. It's entertaining though, I'll give him that. And ten percent is probably true.

The speed? How can you test it? He doesn’t even say how he did it. if he’s claiming it’s straight and level, then no. A tomcat would need about five engines to do so. (Would guess about 140,000 lbf instead of 54,000) In a dive? Perhaps, but I’m done doing math. That said, I have some reason to believe that the Bs performance is somewhat underestimated in the DCS. But I’ve never seen a B in the air, nor have I seen a clean A. And there’s no unclouded memories who can tell you this for certain. And anyone who claims they know and then state something publicly is a fraud or a traitor - and I don’t trust either.

I hope you can forgive an old man boasting a bit. I took up the DCS on the suggestion of a young pilot when health issues caused me to loose my PPL - the last remnants of my flying. Never really cared for computers before, the inner workings of PCs is magic and beside the stuff I had to do at work I've never really found much use for them. (Though I do love my smartphone, so I'm not completly left behind) Anyway... This is very much outside my thing. I first tried to copy your file in, but then I lost the ability to change the brightness on the HUD. So I had to try what you said. But the content of that file made no sense to me whatsoever. But, I've been quite fascinated by AI and got a subscription to GDP. So I decided to try that. Couldnt do it on the iphone, but luckily the login works in PC as well. After some trial and error I managed to get it to merge the two "default.lua" in the keyboard folder - my original and the one you provided The Tau. And, it worked! The only thing I'm missing now is the ability to bind wing-sweep to an axis, but that might be because i just sort of copied in all your files first. Anyway, chuffed! Thanks a lot The Tau, this was actually fun!

Thanks. This is for playing in the internet? I don’t, so then I won’t have to worry about IC? I tried it now. Should perhaps mentioned I’m an old fart. Don’t see an executable, do I copy the files to DCS manually? Will it remove my current configuration? Also, I can’t find a notepad in DCS How do I bind these commands? I can’t find them.

This is the way. curious if auto throttle was used in case 1. Never tried in DCS but experience suggest 60s technology auto throttle it’s not capable of sudden control inputs.

No. Grumman made a plane for a crew two intelligent crewmen in constant communication. Single seater myself and perhaps that’s why I find it extra frustrating, but I believe that was the correct solution for a plane as complex as the Tomcat with the requirements the USN had. And I believe the Heatblur team mostly have succeeded in getting it to work with only one. thanks for the tip, will check it out. What’s IC? Thank you for the tip. This might be just the one I’m looking for. I’ll have a look if I can find it this weekend. If not, I hope you will allow me to ask for some help in finding them.

That seems like a very bad solution? Not yours, but the game. Not depending on chaff is a huge downer and not acceptable. If the HeatBlur can’t get jester to behave they could surely implement a command to let him dispense either chaff or flares.

Fair point. No plane flying in the year 2000 was the same as it was in 1975. Vipers, Eagles, the lot. They got a plenty of updates for both engines and systems. I prefer B all the way. Find energy management extremely difficult when I can’t feel anything. The Bs engines almost make that unnecessary.

Dear forum users, I’m having a lot of issues with the Jester. the way I do it now is to set him to chaff and program, and I do the flares. The issue is that for one, he doesn’t use chaff when needed and two, spikes from long distance - even friendly units - can cause the plane to dispense a lot of chaff. (I understand some of this is mimicking a automatic system in the tomcat, but I’m sure any Rio would override that system.) I could of course set everything to off and do everything automatically- in fact I would prefer that. But, what do if I’ve set it up to dispense chaff and I suddenly need flares? How do you who do play alone solve this? Is there a way to bind one button to chaff and another to flares? I do get that tomcat is a two man team, and that the pilot ordinary only had one button. Having no two seater experience I’m not sure how this is handled, but I suppose if all else fail a shout from the pilot would get the Rio to dispense when needed.

And some do it for nostalgia. But I grant you it’s interesting. Though you will never be able to get a machine trouble seeking simulator to work without a scent-machine. I took the original question to be regarding start up procedures, I apologise if I misunderstood. Agree some troubleshooting of inflight failures is interesting, though I think it’s fine as is in the Tomcat

Would expect the Ds to look much better. I think you’re right, especially about balance between usability and realism. And as I’ve said before, if you do a perfect copy of a worn cockpit, it will be harder to read the instruments in VR or on a screen than in the real thing. one thing though: Not sure how it is today, but in my time: many of the pictures you will see in books of any planes are taken in the CAG planes or another especially good looking plane. They’re the ones that get shown at air shows and to politicians, journalists and other bothersome folks. So those will give a wrong impression of how to plane actually looked for those who operated it. It will look to clean and good. Just like those in museums usually will look too bad - and that last part is especially for the tomcat.

Sorry, not sure if you’re referring to the rattling noises , the TID or the general worn down ness of the cockpit. I’ve never said your cockpit is unrealistic. I have no quarrel with you on any of these. The only thing I think is unrealistic is such a clear TID in a worn cockpit, I would expect it to be more worn and perhaps have some burn in. As for the rest, I’m sure you’re right if you’ll aim to portray the Tomcat when it was about to be phased out. I’m a witness that not all looked like this in the 70s, 80s or early nineties. I’ve made my point before about the ease of reading the instruments in the cockpit, so I won’t go into that again.

A few yanks won’t like this (though most will) but if you’re looking for the best pilot with the best insight, read Winkles book. Wings on my sleeves. The most friendly, interesting and knowledgeable pilot there ever was. And in my book by far the best pilot that ever took to the skies. You’ll also find some videos of his talks and some documentaries about him on the YouTube. He also did a lovely episode of desert island discs.

I don’t get why you folks want this. It’s boring, tedious admin stuff. There nothing fun about this in real life, and the plane in DCs (if I’m not mistaken) can’t even fail. you’re not flying a real plane, you’re playing a game. Have some fun and lighten up. PS you should be grateful. You’ve payed something like 50 euros for a great PC game with one of the most realistic and fun modelling of a plane ever. Enjoy it. There’s 10.000 things they should do before fixing stubs. (And only some of those are working on the Turkey. In my view they should prioritise 100 good office parties with plenty of drinks over this)

There’s nothing magical about the Turkey that makes it looks more worn than others. In reality some planes looked better, other looked worse. I’ve said it before. I’ve seen a lot of cockpits, many of them on planes modelled in DCS. I’ve seen cockpits in all of them looking as muddy and worn as the HeatBlur tomcat, and I’ve seen them look pristine. Heatblur is right when they say it’s not unrealistic, but it’s not fully representative. And, more to the point, this is just a game. Others have made better choices than Heatblur when it comes to showing wear while still keeping it user and VR friendly. It seems Heatblur agree since the Phantom looks better than the cat. we all learn from our mistakes. in my view Heatblur haven’t made many when they made the cat. This one mistake I can forgive.