TOMCATZ

Hello, I'm sorry to say that I'm really at a loss at the moment. Before the last AI patch, the AIM54 was running fine. I could shoot from 40 thousand feet and 70 miles away and the enemies were mostly hit. Everything was fine. After the last patch, the AIM 54 doesn't hit anything anymore! Either: The enemies turn away early or make 4 to 5 g turns and the missile immediately loses all its energy and sinks to the ground. Or: The enemies go on beam early and the missile loses its lock-on. If the missile loses lock, it should automatically fall back on the data from the mother radar. But this does not happen. The missile turns and tracks the target in a way that looks like an emergency stop. And in the end game it is again so un-maneuverable that it does not hit a 4g pulling target. All this means that I haven't been able to get a shot off with the AIM-54 for 2 weeks. Not against MiG21, MiG23, F-5. Even Su-24 are hardly to hit. With opponents like MiG29 or Flankers, I can only flee. I don't know what happened. But Eagle Dynamics has turned one of the most successful fighters in history into one of the most worthless modules! Because: AIM 54 - hits nothing AIM 7 - hits nothing AIM 9 - hits but you also get hit. What a disgrace! Cheers TOM PS: I am firmly convinced that HEATBLUR has done a top job. I love this module - for me, the best module in the DCS world! That's why my disappointment is so big right now.

Hello, Okay - after a few days of testing, I have now come to the following final opinion: The new AI's behavior is a bug! Short explanation: The AI dodges the missiles too well. Explanation: The AI shows a behavior under fire that requires a lot of experience and long training. The maneuvers shown here can only be trained and perfected in years. If you set the AI to "inexperienced", it will still fly almost perfect beam maneuvers, go for the notch or pull at the right moment. Not to mention newer designs like the Flanker or comparable machines. Certain missiles, like the Phoenix, have no hit probability at all - even against inexperienced AI pilots in very old aircraft like the MiG-21 or F-5. Consequences: The AI is never tired. It is not affected by poor visibility, weather or stress. Now that it perfectly avoids enemy missiles, success for the user is almost impossible. In the best case he returns to his own base without weapons, without firings but still alive. In the worst case, a user is shot down over and over again. What does that lead to? Experienced users who have known this simulator for decades will be happy to have to master new challenges. But they have had many years to train certain things in order to succeed. If necessary, through high-risk maneuvers and a lot of risk, which hardly corresponds to real world experience. New users are very quickly overwhelmed, frustrated and could prefer to devote themselves to other simulators and hobbies. So- The programmer of the AI made an impressive, a brilliant job in that special part. But he made it too good. Thank you very much. Cheers TOM

Hi, The new AI shows a lot of good things. First of all, that the enemy planes from now on actually want to survive and do not pursue their target until the last fuel and then eject with the ejector seat. I also like that they use the crank maneuver well and also turn cold when under fire to fly the energy off the missile. BUT: In the last few days I have unfortunately had to watch all enemy aircraft dogging missiles. MiGs and Flankers were able to dodge 3 to 6 missiles without any problems and then achieve aerial victory themselves with an infrared missile. No matter if in the deepest night or in the densest clouds. It is simply disgusting! Now one could argue: But online players in multiplayer mode also show this behavior! Yes, exactly: Online PLAYERS! Such behavior has nothing whatsoever to do with realism, is absolutely unbelievable and turns my DCS into a dogfight simulator because the missiles have obviously become worthless. In the end, there were a number of interesting improvements. I hope that ED will continue to develop artificial intelligence and neutralize this arcade behaviour. Cheers TOM

Just my two cents ... I will have the highest possible realism- that is why I support DCS since "Su-27 Flanker"-days. During the winters I trained with DCS aircraft handling and used that skills in real life. Clean smooth and controlled inputs on stick and rudder can make a big difference and separate the good pilots from the ...rest of them. G-load will not help you to fly better. In reality you have to use the instruments because your feelings can be totally wrong. Stick and rudder force would be nice but ... not everything is possible. (Warbirds) For me DCS is a tool but not a game and yes - That is why I really enjoy it. So from my point of view the direction of Eagle Dynamics is right. Thanks and Cheers TOM

Well - Of corse above 20 thousand. My tactic is to make the enemies shadowing my actions. That means I normally speed up and climb so that the oponents were forced to do the same. The perfect condition is that the AIM54 is on the way while the enemy is in climb, hot, high AND very slow. But even when they stay low- if the missile comes out of space with still mach2, there is mostly no direction to escape because the missile comes from above. Only the Flankers with ECM and Chaffs making my efforts very hard. Cheers TOM

Hello Mike, finally I understood (hopefully) the new missile model. First: I got the trust back about my AIM54 missile. As long as the missile has speed- everything works fine and even the guidance is doing her job. I think there is still a g-limit but I can deal with it. So- Great job- very well done!!! (my 2 cents) I got my fun back with that wonderfull brilliant masterpiece. One question please: In case, the seeker is loosing the target because of limits or notching- does the missile receiving the update from the Tomcat radar in order to fight the way back on track? Is the missile logic a part of Heatblur or ED? Cheers a (very happy) TOM

Hi trenchfeet, I found out that it is possible. Yesterday I was able to kill bandits twice out of 80NM. I was in 43 thousand feet with 0.9. I lifted the nose up to around 15 degrees. It was more a try to see what will happen. Interestingly the missiles climbed up to 90 thousand feet and felt down like a piano but still with Mach 2. And the missiles still were tracking the target. One of the KI Enemy tried a lazy turn with 3g's and was hit from above. The Other MiG23 still moved forward and catches a direct hit- so there was not that much to do for the Phoenix. I still in the position, that the guidance is broken or the logic is not correct. But for the flight model of the missile is pretty cool. So I decided in that way: If I'm below 20 thousand, I only do a shoot under 20 NM's. And even that is highly optimistic. But if I'm above 35 thousand (And that is were I want to be in a Tomcat), I start my missiles in 60 miles or sooner. But from my point of view: If the missile is active and the seeker has no contact, the missile should be updated by the Tomcat radar if the Cat is still illuminating the target. So the outflying of the bandits out of the seeker limits of the missile and even notching the missile should not be possible. But that is, what the AI in DCS is doing with highly success. And the missile take not much g. How much g's can the AIM 54 take? (I just ask for a friend ) Cheers TOM

Hallo Mike, yes- all of these were online. Unfortunately I deleted my TacView folder a week ago but I hope that these last flights show a little bit my problems with. Thank you very much. TOM

Hi, For me, the steering control, or better the logic behind it, makes absolutely no sense anymore. During the cruise flight, the Phoenix does not receive any updates. The only sense to stay hot for the target is that the AIM54 will get the signal to switch active at some point. However, this is useless if the target has moved. Often, even at short ranges, an incredible loft is executed which renders the missiles completely useless. In the endgame, opponents often try to go for the beam. However, they remain on the Tomcat's radar. However, these updates do not get to the missile, which makes no sense. But even if the lock is preserved, the missile does not pull more than 6g. Yes sure- it is very big and heavy but in the end game it burned the fuel and it has extremely large control surfaces. From my point of view, this flying body is much more flexible and maneuverable than this free-falling brick here. But (!) : The new aerodynamic model is really very well done and fun. If only the steering and control logic would be improved, I would be totally happy again. In any case, thanks to the team for your hard work and pioneering achievements.

Oh yes. That car is awesome. No - I meant a Ford Focus.

Hello Mike, the rocket now flies very smoothly and pleasantly. Speed and range also look very good. Unfortunately, I have a real problem with the missile because they just don't hit anything anymore. Sometimes they climb straight up to 80 thousand feet like a rocket for no reason, and then fall out of space behind the target and lose lock. Or the target makes a lazy 30 degree turn and the rocket just gives up. Even if the missile makes it to the end, it seems like it just gives up and stops working in the last 100 metres. I have no problem with a shorter range, a quick loss of speed. But if the missile can't hit the simplest targets, it's obviously useless. I fired a total of 10 missiles last night online on the 107th's server. Mostly over 30 thousand feet. Only one AIM54C hit - in ACM mode. If you're in a Tomcat-A and your primary weapon doesn't work, then you don't stand a chance against pretty much any opponent. Even when the enemies can see you perfectly in the night trough the clouds. But that is an ED Problem. Yesterday I was parachuted in seven times. Even a F4 E took me out with a Sparrow. Thats like you driving a Ferrari and be outperformed by a Ford. - I turned off the computer, annoyed and exasperated. Kind regards TOM

Yes- automatic PDSTT -> PSTT is enabled. I think that TacView could not show the problem. But to be honest- Jester is doing his dark magic in the backseat and I do not understand completely what he is doing. For the AIM54 in TWS everything is fine and I really enjoy Jesters comments and work. I will not miss him. But shooting a AIM7 seems to be impossible because every time he do something (because I hear him clicking something and the mode seems to be switched) and finally I hear the typical "I lost lock" from Jester. So should I disengage these automatic-function and everything is fine?

Hi, I really don't know what Jester is doing but in fact I lost EVERY lock on target when I tried to use the Sparrow. Doesn't matter of range, altitude and the targets were all times hot and nearly at the same alt or higher. So pretty typical is: lock on (STT) , Fox 1 , Jester click some thing and telling "Damned I lost the target!" , visual, Fox 2, Fox 2, Fox 2 ....

Ahem....Hi. Where does this pic comes from?! I've built the UB for Flaming Cliffs 10 years ago. But I never worked on Cockpits or stuff like that. So sorry - no. There is no mod in progress and I not working on any kind of mod now. But a full clickable MiG29 or Flanker ... that would be very very cool!

Great Work!!! Hope many online servers will make this mod available. In special the "through the inferno"- servers. We need more Russian jets as opposite to the Falcons, Hornets and Tomcats. Cheers TOM

Totally agree with that! And it would help to make the Mirage interesting for me again. I mean- it's a fighter and for now you can use it as a tactical bomber only. Sad because it's a sexy aircraft. Cheers TOM

Hi, yes- I can confirm that. Jettison the tank causes the sidewinder tone for no reason. I was forced to switch to the sidewinder and back to AMRAAM but the radar is loosing all entries. So again : TWS, Range 80, 4 bar and so on. Not a showstopper, but not helpful because when you drop the tank? Yes - normally short before you start shooting ... Cheers Tom

nope!

Very cool! Is there a mod? I just need good satellite on the ground- I'm not interested in flowers, waste bins or umbrellas on the beach for tourists.

Hi, after the update: Works very well. Thank you so much. I´m totally happy with the AMRAAMs now. Well done, Cheers TOM

Hi, indeed - there is something wrong in the late phase of the intercept path of the missile against a target. Short before impact, the missile start with wild weird oscillations for no reason. Even when the missile pass the target in 7 or less metres, the missile do not detonate as should be. Even the beam effect seems to be too effective. In fact it's factor for long ranges (more them 40 NM's) but not in short. The modern software and radars can dial with it much better then DCS now. For jamming targets - yes, the missile should go straight from the rail because there is no range to calculate the intercept run and even no range to activate the seeker. So from my point of view, it's correct. If there is no range from the RADAR or DATALINK. On the other hand: Now I can release a missile from 40NM's against two Su-27's and go cold. The missiles gliding perfectly into the Flankers. I tested it multiple times and I was really impressed. So it's not to bad. So for me: Just correct the missile behavior of the intercept endgame, the beam-effect in lower ranges and everything is fine for me. Thank you very much, TOM

Hi, yes- the historical filter was the problem. My fault. So - NO BUG! Thank you very much. Cheers Tom

Hi, I don´t know if this is reported or not. In mission editor no F-14Tomcat is useable and the aircraft is not shown in the drop down menue when setting a new aircraft or flight. It´s possible to open a quickmission and there the F-14 variants were present. Think that there is a problem since the last update. The F-14 is missing in every theater I have. (Syria,Caucasus,Persia, Channel) . Cheers TOM

ITs NOT A BUG! ITs A FEATURE! Hi guys, Thank you very much for your helpful answers. I think the lights have put me on the right track. I turned the lights on just before starting and everything worked fine and as expected. LAter I found this statement in the HeatBlurSection. Yes, a case of RTFM : Night Catapult Signalization The standard way of launching off of the carrier at night is to flash the aircraft’s lights to signal the carrier crew. This is now implemented in the F-14, and takes the place of the standard salute during daytime.