Pajeezy

A little limited with my budget, can't really afford a TM at the moment (using a Thrustmaster Extreme 3D Pro for now). All I have is that stick, TrackIR 5, a basic mouse and keyboard and that's it. I've done the tutorial for startup, taxi and takeoff without much trouble. But as far as advanced techniques (rudder/trim, throttle/manifold pressure/RPM management etc) how do you think this setup will fare? Doable but very difficult? I'm not sure if I should just tough it out with what I have or simply wait until I have a better setup for it all. Thanks for any input.

I've been an aviation buff since I was a wee lad, as was my father. He married very early, and never really "got around to it" as far as military aviation, but he'd always wanted to. The most he'd done is fly privately with Cessnas and the like. While it was and really still is the only thing I wanted to pursue in my life, I never really had the drive or motivation to do so. Call me lazy, but the "stuff" required to become a fighter pilot seems beyond my capabilities. I'm a bit of a pessimist most of the time, and tend to go with the "easier" route. I was the guy who just didn't care when I got to high school and did the bare minimum to pass most classes (slept a lot there also). I play a lot of PC games (including DCS, of course) and just like to relax. It's weird, the pilots that I admire and envy and the jobs that they have are/require the exact opposite of what kind of person I am it seems...I'm approaching the age of 26, and while I try not to think about it much, I see F-18s fly over semi-often from the NAS nearby and get that sharp pain in my heart...And I wonder to myself why I couldn't push myself then or now to become the person required. Also, my vision is horrid and the eustachian tubes in my ears are smaller than normal, so ascending and descending in an aircraft hurts like a *****. Those factors also kind of deterred me haha. So what's your sob stories, folks?

I guess this really goes for any aircraft after BVR, but I'm just currently attempting the MiG-29. I'm on the second mission of the campaign, "Over the Hump," and it seems simple enough, and with easy opposition. What seems to be a few groups of 2 F-5s at a time over the mountains armed with only AIM-9s. I manage a lock against one, fire off an R-77 at BVR and manage a splash against one. Now starts the problem. By this point I'm within range for the other F-5(s) to start coming after me with their short range IR onslaught. While they seem to know where I am at all times, it's near impossible to find them (especially in the mountains). What tactics can I possibly use here to track all of these guys AND not get shot down from a missile that I get no tone from? I've tried using IRST and flying in circles, while looking around the cockpit (I have TrackIR). I've tried my radar and I've tried going into burners and flying away from the fight to make another pass at another BVR R-77, but they seem to always sneak up somewhere and shove an AIM-9 up my tailpipe...So what tactics do you employ against the AI dogfighting in the mountains like this? (Also, my wingman seems to be able to get a kill or two off before he too goes down).

Thanks fellas! I will look into that.

I learned first how to start the aircraft via a youtube lesson. Since then I've decided to give the tutorials within DCS a go. Upon finishing the startup, I noticed a couple of things weren't done that were in the other video I watched. For instance, there was no alignment for the navigation system via CDU (LSKR4 followed by LSKL1), the g-meter wasn't calibrated, we simply turned the radios on and didn't do anything else with them etc. Now the aircraft started up still obviously and everything seemed good to go, but I want to make sure I do/have done everything necessary before taxiing out. What should one know that the tutorial doesn't cover?

So I've been an aircraft buff for pretty much my whole life. Now I don't claim to know everything, by any means, but I do have a good grasp on a lot of basic things regarding a lot of them. I've known of the strike eagle since forever ago, and always known it to be a 2-seater ATG variation of the F-15. I was talking to my co-worker today, and she was telling me how she has a niece who is a fighter pilot. This intrigued me, so I asked her, "Oh, what does she fly??" I was expecting either the 16 or 15. She texts her niece to find out and later that night she responds telling her that she flies the F-15. I thought this was pretty awesome, so I asked her what model. She found out that she flies the E model, which I thought was also pretty intriguing/awesome. So I was like "Oh, so she flies in a two-seater. Is she actually the pilot or is she the RIO?" Her niece responds that she is the pilot, and that it is only a single seat aircraft...Huh? So I implore her to respond to her niece asking if she's correct, since I've only ever known the E to be a 2-seater. Her niece responds back saying that it is, and that I should keep up to date with my research...lol So anyway, I looked it up everywhere I could and found NO mention of there being such a thing. What do you guys think? Is there maybe some super secret single seat version that the general public doesn't know about? Or am I missing something? I can't imagine that the pilot of the "F-15E" doesn't know their own aircraft...

Besides simply, "watched youtube videos and read the manual," in what order did you learn the mechanics and how did you do so? So far I've learned via youtube how to get the aircraft up and running, but I'm not sure where/how to go about it next. Any suggestions or firsthand experience?

F-15, MiG-29, Su-27, whatever. How do you approach general combat? Say you're on a multiplayer server. You are flying solo. You just took off from your airbase. How do you go about your next step when approaching the enemy? Stay very low throughout the flight? Fly high? Is mid-level flight the most dangerous? This is all considering there is no AWACS assistance, btw. And any other pointers when you're out and about and don't know what to expect, when flying solo and with wingmen. Thanks for any help

Any news from IRIS or updates on a possible Tomcat? In fact, what are confirmed to be still active third parties and projects?

As far as your clarifications, we tried it with both Public Server checked and unchecked, we are not playing over LAN (Hence I'm guessing we use our external/static ip to connect) and we have separate license keys :/ Just performed your suggested action and we will see how that goes momentarily

Lol why does everyone keep pointing me to port forwarding when I already stated in my OP that we've tried it? I've even enabled DMZ to no avail :(

Well, as I stated in my OP, on both of our computers, we opened up port 10308 on our routers. Also, I gave him my external IP, not the one beginning with 192.168

-Created a mission with two flyable F-15Cs. -Port 10308 is open on both computers -Created server with password -Gave friend password and my static IP (as I'm sure he doesn't need my local) -All he gets is message "Cannot connect" Am I missing something? We can join public servers just fine :(

I've been doing a lot of multiplayer, but there doesn't seem to be many people on at all, like ever. It also doesn't help that 85% of all servers are private...or their ping is 150+. These forums seem to be very active, while the multiplayer servers don't. What is my best bet for finding other people to fly with? Or better yet how does one meet people to gain access to private servers? I've a lot to learn and I figure other players would be my best bet. Are there servers designed to teach others? Maybe take someone under their wing? (bad pun)

Thanks for the excellent reply. I'll try and remember this next time I get into that situation. I do have a question though. What exactly is the "notch"?

Just got into one of my first fights on a multiplayer server. Went out armed with AIM-7s. Found a bogey (Su-27) and let loose with 3 different Sparrows, none hit. I can understand that, but what I don't understand is that my radar kept constantly losing the target and I had to reacquire him. Is there a reason for this happening? Also, once those failed, we got down into the mountains, but I simply couldn't see him and he got me. What tactics do you use to stay on a bandit when it gets too close? Keep turning around and searching? Keep the radar on and scan? Or just don't lose sight of them in the first place?

With the F-15C, whenever I follow my waypoints, and eventually RTB, it will eventually switch to the ILS by itself. I follow the cross carefully, and a lot of the time it just leads me on a zig zag-like pattern to eventually fly over the airfield from the side :/ Is this because I'm not far enough out before entering ILS? How does everyone else go about lining up? Should I talk to ATC and just listen to them when I choose "inbound"? Thanks

I've heard from multiple sources that an F-15E is supposedly in the works from a third party source. I've also heard that the F-14 (my personal favorite) would not be implemented because ED was trying to stay away from anything that wasn't a single seat aircraft. Is this true? Or is this only the case for ED and not third party sources? Either way, how are they going to implement an aircraft that requires two people under the dome? Would someone need to be your RIO? And if the Strike Eagle can be done, wouldn't that mean the Tomcat can too?

First off, what exactly are they changing as far as the FC3 aircraft? Second, what's up with the F-15C? I heard for a while that they were planning on doing a specific module for it, and assumed it would be on the same level as the A-10C. Is this the case? Or was this tuneup they're doing with FC3 all it was?

I see your point, but like I said before, I'm not going to be playing any of the complex aircraft modules like the A-10C. I'll most likely be playing strictly with FC3 aircraft to start, so the HOTAS doesn't seem as necessary for me at the moment as having something like TrackIR to look around much more effectively.

I apologize for a lot of incoming text. Okay, I've been very back-and-forth with this sim for a while now. It's quite intimidating, yet I feel I must play it. My only obstacle at this point is the outrageous cost of the best equipment for the game. I've made posts before in regards to this, but currently I only have a 3D pro joystick. IIRC, the list of things include: -TM Warthog HOTAS -TrackIR 5 -Rudder pedals of some sort Other than that I'm not sure what else to get. Unfortunately this entire setup would cost me around $600 it seems :/ which is a LOT of money to dump into something I may not fully get into (depending on how it goes). I'll preface the rest by saying that I'm pretty much at square one as far as learning any aircraft (including FC3). So, I was planning on starting with and sticking with that, maybe learning the F-15C and keeping the more complex sim aircraft, like the A-10C, on the backburner. If that is the case, could I simply do without the HOTAS for now and use my simple joystick? I feel as if the TrackIR would make the most difference for me at this point, and it's only 1/4 the price of the full setup, so I could start out by just getting that. What do you folks think? One last thing. If I do end up getting the TMWH HOTAS, will it work just as well and be adequate for any other aircraft I fly in DCS? Or even if I were to go to BMS? I understand it was made specifically for the A-10C, but for $400+ I would expect it to be the end-all be-all. Thanks for putting up with my incessant posting and for any opinions/information anyone can share. This forum has been an awesome help thus far and it keeps me coming back.

Man...all compelling arguments. Honestly, because I'm a gamer at heart, I will probably have to shelf this for the time being :( I wish I could commit to it, and I do want to play it, but I don't want to give up everything else that I do for it. If I were to play it, I'd want to actually invest in it and be good at it, and would settle for no less. So unfortunately, I must pass...

Now that's an enthusiastic response! Haha. I mean I guess I'm down to try and learn it, but I still don't have the proper equipment to make my life easier :( It'd be quite the steep investment...

I just purchased the A-10C on a whim, partly because it was on sale. I have high hopes, but I'm trying to keep realistic expectations as well. So I come to you folks with this. What does it take to get anywhere in this sim? I'm an aircraft buff, and the A-10 is one of my favorites, but I'm also an avid PC gamer in general. Most of my time is spent doing something on here. Only problem is, there's a LOT on my to-do list (or at least stuff I'd like to get done) as far as other games. Would I be able to learn this aircraft and do well in it without giving up the other things I do? Are other people on here gamers in general as well that don't spend all of their gaming time doing just this? Another problem is the fact that I don't have a HOTAS, or TrackIR or anything beyond a basic joystick and keyboard. What is everyone's story on the subject?

Thanks everyone for the excellent guidance. I have to get used to sideslip as well. How does one correct for sideslip? Simply rudder trim and/or applying the rudder during? Also, I just witnessed one thing he was talking about. During a turn, if he goes to pull on the stick for a tighter turn, the aircraft begins to shudder and then "flips out" as I said before. It basically just like flips over to turn the opposite direction. What is causing this? Is the Mustang simply unable to perform tight maneuvers?