NeilWillis

And I corrected your correction. He was referring to the version of DCS World in which the F-14 will be released, and you simply failed to see that. You just added to his confusion.

Except that wasn't what the OP was asking. He has the stable version of DCS World, and that has nothing to do with whether the F-14 arrives in beta, alpha or release versions. He will only be able to install and run the F-14 on the Beta until DCS World updates. You seem to have missed the subtlety of that? All modules arrive in a Beta version of DCS World and only reach the release version after at least a week - often longer.

It's a health and safety thing. We wouldn't want to go banging our heads on virtual cockpits!

The most predictable method of forecasting how long is to take a piece of string and measure that. Then apply the formula x=r x delta. Where x is an unknown quantity, r is length of the string, and delta is the change in time factoring in x.

The difference between the Beta and Release has nothing to do with individual modules such as the F-14B. The platform upon which the F-14 will operate is the thing that operates on the Beta update then release basis. Don't confuse the status of individual modules with that. As to whether we will see a Beta version of the F-14B or straight to a release version is down to Heatblur. When it transitions from one to the other is also something that hasn't been stated, and is highly unlikely to be until a lot of items that may or may not be on their list of bugs are squashed. And there has never been a policy of Beta on Wednesdays, and release version on Fridays. The Friday update was moved to Wednesday to alleviate the need for the developers to work weekends. Most updates now arrive on a Wednesday, but they have been known to get delayed if last-minute snags are encountered. The release version arrives when the beta testing in the public domain has reached a satisfactory state. There is no strict timing of the transition from one to the other. Second guessing schedules and arrival times is not an exact science and not something we will know until the originators whether Heatblur or ED announce something. As far as I know, Heatblur haven't said whether the F-14 will go straight to release or remain in Beta. But if you want the F-14 right away, then you will need the Beta version of DCS World to run it, or you will probably have to wait at least a week from launch to it reaching the release version of DCS World. It may well take longer and we could wait a month between launch and reaching the release version of DCS World.

Died, on numerous occasions, and watched my plane hit the deck in a ball of flames, then simply got into another plane and did it all again. Flown in my shreddies. Watched myself from outside the aircraft. Flew unlicenced, unqualified, and ignored all air traffic calls. Carried out suicidally rash manoeuvres just for the hell of it. Got into loads of aircraft and flown them (after a fashion) having never even picked up the pilot's notes. Pulled high G manoeuvres without feeling any more than +1 G. Travelled almost instantly from Georgia to Nevada to Normandy to the Persian Gulf without the aid of a Teleporter. All pretty damned obvious though, so why the silly question?

Read the latest post regarding the next few updates.

Then why are you even bothering to post when you no longer have any interest in the game? Want to poison it for everyone else?

Unless you want to learn radar, BVR tactics etc. But, yes, learn the basics first. There are no shortcuts in DCS World. Get the hours in, and you may just become mediocre like me.

Unless the state of the cockpit was included in the coding argument. It is a feature we need. Especially in cockpits with poor all round vision. Would you suggest that we lose some essential limitations to dogfighting so we can make climbing out of the aircraft realistic when that is such a minor aspect of air combat.

Air start, and quitting whilst airborne! Or you simply work round as best you can until a fix arrives like the rest of us. Or are you suggesting we all sulk instead? It’s an option, “but therein does not lay the path to enlightenment grasshopper.” Strange how the F/A-18 is suddenly the subject of discourse in a Yak-52 thread! I’m guessing the commercial application of the Yak-52 is the reason it exists at all, and I’m also sure ED will need to complete it for their commercial customers benefit, so don’t lose patience or hope. It’s just a question of priorities, which never match our expectations.

Someone mentioned the fact that multiplayer servers block the use of unlimited fuel, indestructible airframes as a reason we need an easy refuel option. This raises two points in regard to the OPs request. First, any easy option would also be excluded if the admins on servers choose, so using that as an argument is self defeating. And secondly, if you want to have those options, just set up your own server! Back to the OPs request. We could simply add it to the “game” version of DCS world, or the upcoming platform. Or we could have every option added to the simulation, providing all such options can be globally blocked by mission builders and admins on servers. Seems reasonable, on reflection, to make the platform customisable by end users so we can all have our cake of choice. The rub will be when 2 or more of us gather together. Just look at religion for an example of what happens when we humans try to agree to something abstract! Or, just get better at doing stuff.

That question again! Yes, and no. If you are still not sure, do a search. It’ll save us all repeating every recrimination ad nauseum.

Given that the F-14 introduces entirely new concepts and the necessary software to replicate them, how can you possibly expect Heatblur to be able to predict, to the day, when those concepts reach maturity? It seems we will always be on the horns of a dilemma regarding completeness or punctuality. We either get things to a schedule, or we get things that are more complete and robust. Add to that the fact that the core program is not under their direct control and you are approaching a perfect storm situation. The real question we need to be asking is what software house in it’s right mind would even consider investing in such a flawed business model! It’s nigh on impossible to predict when or what obstacles coding will throw up. It’s also impossible to say when your partner in putting together a platform will do the coding to enable your own additions to fit seamlessly. That, plus it is always winter somewhere on our home planet! All we can really do is give Heatblur the space and trust to enable them to have the flexibility to judge for themselves when the project reaches a state that we can all be happy with. It is simply too complex to manage to the hour when x or y is sufficiently complete for release.

Just buy it 12 months before it comes out of beta. Problem solved!

No video doesn't imply there will be no update. There have been posts regarding wingtip vortices which came with a video too, so the premise that there won't be an update is moot anyway! The best way to tell if there is or isn't an update is to sit on your hands and observe. The best indicator is the change log!

I can't envisage a reason not to leave them on. When the engines stop turning, they don't produce power - effectively an off switch in itself.

And now - wingtip vortices. Just another little factor to make refueling more fun. But we still definitely DO NOT need an easy option to make life boring. Life is hard, and then you die!

The benefits are there. First, it adds to the funding for future releases - never a bad thing. Second, you'll possess a trainer!

I also assumed NVG was prohibited when conducting air to air refueling?

It is a natural phenomenon. In the UK it is described as sleet.

Put simply, in multiplayer you get out of it what you are prepared to put in plus a lot more. You need to network to get wingmen. Or to get the most out of things, get involved with a virtual squadron. There are strict rule abiding groups and relaxed casual ones plus all shades in between. Get to know the squadrons, and more importantly, get to know your fellow pilots. Invest. You’ll get out far more than you put in if you do so.

Today?

I believe simply pressing Alt-Numpad 4 does the trick too.

No carrier would ever put the aircraft 20 degrees off the wind. They are steerable, and will always head into the wind for recoveries. The carrier speed is also determined by the prevailing wind speed. 10 knots of wind will put the carrier at 20 knots to give a 30-knot wind over the deck. The higher the wind speed, the more the deck will pitch, and the greater the burble of turbulence coming off the island. T%he greater the burble, the more the lift will vary and the harder it will be to maintain an accurate glide slope. What we will soon need is some gusting and backing and veering effects added to the wind to make life harder.