Hook47

Interesting discussion. From everything I've been able to find, the Pilot Operator is very weapons oriented, but can fly the helicopter using fold out controls. Seems in the MI 24V the front seat has the AT 2 Missile controls, the bomb sight, and that seems about it aside from some flight instrumentation. Even though the front cockpit is obviously more sparse than the rear seat, I'm still very excited for multicrew. I've logged a lot of time in DCS multicrew, starting out in the L-39, then the SA342 (back when it actually had functional multicrew...) And of course more recently the F-14, where I flew almost exclusively as a RIO during my squadrons F-14 mission series that lasted about 8-9 months. After all that time I've found that all of the DCS Multicrew aircraft, even something as simple as the L-39ZA, can greatly benefit from multicrew if the crew utilizes it correctly. Crew Resource Management is a deep topic, and there are endless ways to draw on that concept within DCS. Sure, there are times where the crew won't be busy, but finding work and diving up crew workload is part of the challenge and the fun. I'm sure the front seat will have a lot to do, if the Hind crew works together and draws on CRM. If the rear seat is busy doing X or Y, why not have the front seat take the controls? Both seats can actively scan for threats and other aircraft. I'm sure the extra set of eyes will be welcome when squeezing into a tight LZ for troop transport work, and having a front seat to call aiming corrections during gun or rocket runs will make the crew that much more effective. Again you get out of it what you put into it. I'm sure the cockpit will get very busy when the gunner is trying to bomb or hit something with those TOW missiles too! The coordination required to use TOWs in the Gazelle (again back when the multicrew wasn't totally a wreck) was an absolute highlight for me.

Personally I'm also happy we are getting the 30mm Cannon. Yes, the turret would give the front seat something else to do, and would be a lot of fun, but I think the fixed Cannon will be more effective. One has to look only as far as the SA342L Gazelle to see how effective a large fixed Cannon can be on a helicopter. I've turned light armor into twisted metal quickly and effectively with that beast! One question I have for the Hip experts is what will be the primary duties of the front seat in the MI-24P? Im guessing guiding the AT-2 Tow missiles (if I'm remembering their name correctly) but aside from that I am pretty ignorant on the topic. I also echo the above question on the Igla... Gonna be great to get them on the KA-50, would be awesome to get them on the Hind too! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Wow... I'm blown away... this is awesome!

Hello, thanks a lot for the reply. I was the original author of of a pretty popular Gazelle weapons mod, with some help from Poly_Roie years back. The mod simply added the Hellfires, BGM 71 tow missiles, and some new rockets for the Lima version, among my favorites were the FFAR rocket pod containing 19 rockets. I edited Sa342.lau to add these weapons, and adjusted the pylon positions to get the rockets right for the Hellfires on the Mike and the rockets on the Lima. I made a few tweaks to the Weapons.lau as well, but that was more trail and error to get the Hellfires to have a longer range. I was informed by my virtual squadron (we still use my mod as recently as last week) that SA342.lau has now been encrypted, which would break this mod permanently. My question for Polychop is- I'd love to update it if that is possible using the Saved Games mod infastructure, but is that possible now that SA342.lau is encrypted? Thanks for taking the time to reply. This mod brought many years of fun so I want to get it working again. Having 8 Hellfires on the Gaz was a blast!!!

Yes, as stated a few times in this thread the Gazelle has been feeling somewhat abandoned. Polychop is focused on the Kiowa and has said they will Polish up the Gazelle after it releases, but they have not been able to manage multiple modules like other third parties such as RAZBAM or Heatblur, and that is probably due to manpower. I loved the Gazelle and put a lot of time into it but I cannot recommend it to a prospective buyer in it's current state. I really hope that changes soon!

Yea I hear ya. Multicrew is in a beyond broken state and I can't blame that on DCS, as there are other modules (even mods!) with functional multicrew. Please prioritize fixing this, it was one of the best features of any module.

Now it's also backwards in VR with all head movements reversed. Sadly the last bit of multiplayer possible with the Gazelle is broken.

The M4 could be as simple as a 3D model or even 2D screen overlay of the Comp M4 Red Dot Sight, that would allow the left seat to fire 30 round magazines. I'd be fine if they left out reloading animations and stuff like that, as I'm sure that would complicate things. They could make the M4 be the "third" seat, meaning that pressing 3 on the keyboard puts you in the left seat with the M4 ready, aiming out the left door. Having a lot of experience in Army Aviation, I can tell you that while the M4 being used by OH 58 crew isn't at all unheard of it's probably not as common as some would think. All aircraft (include the Chinooks and Blackhawks I crewed) carry M4s somewhere on board for the crew, unless the crew is armed with another weapon system. The crew is also all carrying M9s (soon to be the new M17 Sig!) I can neither confirm nor deny if I personally fired my M4 and M9 out of a Chinook :) The reason the OH 58 crew using the M4 is rather well know is because the 58 is the only Army chopper that flies without the doors in an attack role, and therefore has the opportunity for the crew to do crazy sh$t like shooting shoulder fired rifles at ground combatants... Either way it would be a great feature and I think it could be implemented in a fairly straightforward manner. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Apologies if this is reported. I couldn't find a thread indicating this bug. In Open Beta 2.5.5.41962, I have found that if the radar display is moved to the center MFD, you can move the TDC all the way through the top of the MFD, and into the HUD and even above the canopy! I'll attach a screen shot with the TDC Cursor circled in red. Hope this is helpful!

Hey all, Black Knights Squadron still has TWO pilots openings that we are looking to fill, so if you are planning on applying get that application in ASAP! We kick off our F-14 focused Kosovo Campaign this coming week, so we are sure to have some intense coop missions ahead of us. Here's the latest PLAT cam from today's mission. Hope to see you in the skies!

I'm fighting this issue too. Only with my Rift S, normal Rift works great. Are you experiencing this crash with any certain aircraft? For me it's the F-14.

A mission builder could easily set up a scenario where you are working with Apaches, but DCS currently limits having mixed aircraft types in flights. Polychop would need to do a lot to simulate the interaction between the two however, and that would probably mean they create an Apache AI unit from scratch. They have no plans towards that (that I am aware of anyway) Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Hello All, Black Knights Squadron (BKS) is looking for a couple motivated DCS World/Aviation enthusiast to apply for membership. BKS has a storied history of over 15 years of cooperative focused sim aviation flying. BKS flies on Monday nights at 2000 hours Central Time USA. If you enjoy cooperative multiplayer in DCS, and are an absolute nut for anything military aviation, you might be a fit for BKS! Current primary requirements are Monday night availability, ability to proficiently fly the DCS: F-14B, and decent hardware and internet speed. Make sure to watch this motivational video (our last CV Recovery Cam) and check out the squadron link in the video description! All applications must be made through the squadron website. Moto Video: Good luck! Hope to see you in the air!!! :pilotfly: Hook Operations Officer Black Knights Squadron

A pylon in the aircraft loadout would be ideal. Out of all the options, that would be the best for the AAR probe. It would please all parties involved Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Air to air refueling is the biggest issue for me, as the jet really needs it for me to enjoy longer sorties. Deka could please everyone by simply making the refuel probe a checkable box in the editor or in special options. I don't think the probe will be "in your face" while flying, however. I was worried about that with the mirage, and after flying it for years I hardly notice it... As far as in the face fuel probes go, it doesn't get more in ones face that the M2000! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

I respectfully see it differently. Infantry in DCS would be totally up to the task of being a great M4 Target, particularly with how detailed the newer models from ED have been, they just need a damage model tweak. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Except that in the F-14, they can, and in the L-39 I don't have pit synch issues, so IMHO the tech is there and that has become an outdated anecdote. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

What semi-working feature? Do you mean as in the way the Gazelle released multicrew or multicrew technology in DCS in general? The Tomcat leverages DCS to create outstanding multicrew that I personally (with many hours as a RIO) have had almost zero issue with. The Gazelles multicrew was absolutely usable on release, however it's bugs were not addresses and then became worse as time passed (as most bugs will). ED recently announced the Huey will be getting multicrew, so it's not like I'm mentioning something from years and years ago. There is no evidence that the F-14s cross controllability between pits was an accident or somehow unintended, if you are aware of a source for that let me know. It's clear to me that a lot of work went into making pilot and RIO synched, ergo pilot and RIO can use each other's pit. The technology is there, the sim can handle it. Polychops ability to leverage the technology may be the issue at hand. Ultimately I return to my point that it's a must for the OH 58, as much as it was a must in the F-14. The real bird requires two crew memebers and it just will be a hard sell for me if we don't get it this time around, so I hope if nothing else Polychop will note the public interest in this much needed feature. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

You guys knocked it out of the park. Great job! Customer me a loyal customer from here on out! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Do you have a source for that? Sorry but I have every reason to believe side by side multicrew is totally possible, particularly in the style of the SA 342 (back when it's multicrew was functional) where the CPG has access to some controls, and the pilot others. The Tomcat has front and read pit synch, heck as a RIO using VR I can reach forward and turn on pilot switches! ED is planning to release side by side multicrew for the Huey in the near future, so I can't help but reject the assertion that somehow side by side multicrew is less achievable than front seat back seat. It's the same technology, and many seem to have forgotten that the SA342 launched with very functional multicrew. I spent a lot of time using it! I hope Polychop will revise their decision and plan multicrew. It's a must for this module and the only thing holding me back from a day one buy.

Congrats on release of this awesome jet, Deka!!! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

I want to make something known to those debating the guided rockets ability to take out a MBT. It's very possible. I've worked with the U.S. Army's Armor for a good many years of my career, and I can certainly tell you that even with many of the modern features such as reactive armor, a hit from a weapon like that will almost certainly injure crew, damage tracks, destroy sensors and mission kill the tank. DCS doesn't have a way of representing that yet, but make no mistake- even the mighty Abrams simply isn't able to stand up to solid hits from shaped charges like that. Too many things can and will break, and the tank will be out of the fight. I can attest to that first hand, having seen real battle damage from weapons such as RPG-7s up to more potent systems such as the already mentioned RPG-29. Yes, the front armor and gun mantlet are seriously tough, but other places as much, and a tank doesn't have to be destroyed to be out of the game. Also on a side note- I don't think the Abrams in DCS has a reactive armor kit but maybe there are tanks that do. In either case- that s### ain't full proof, I can also tell you that first hand! I don't really care either way if Deka chooses to allow those guided rockets to take out MBTs or at least seriously damage them. Tanks are generally overpowered in DCS due to the sort of basic damage model (that I think EDs plans on upgrading). Aside from the usual pre release debates, I'm seriously stoked for the module! Congrats and thanks Deka! Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

My hopes are high, multicrew really is a must in a module like this, however, so I am seriously hoping Polychop will not only add multicrew but fix the major issues with the Gazelle. Some of my best moments in DCS Multiplayer were while multicrewing the Gazelle back when it released. At this point it seems clear that DCS can support solid multicrew (per the L-39, F-14 and EDs intent to release a multicrew Huey). Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Awesome! Thanks to the developer. Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

Just buy it, brother. It may have issues, but all DCS modules will have issues here or there. It's worth the money and I've been enjoying it for years.