BlackLion213

DCS: MiG-21 took about 18 months to complete, with the discarding of the FC3 version of the MiG-21 and starting over with the code base (90% new code). The Tomcat was started about 18 months ago and finishing in 2016 would mean a development time that is nearly twice as long as the MiG-21 - with a LNS team that is 3x the size of the one that did the MiG-21. No one knows when it will be done, but claiming it will be another 2 years seems a bit extreme - IMHO. -Nick

They used to call the KC-135 basket the "iron maiden", the outer ring of the basket is rigid metal and the refueling door would sometimes contact this outer ring during a refueling attempt. If it contacted hard enough, it would knock off the refueling cover. Conveniently...the line of airflow from the refueling probe leads almost straight into the right engine....so knocking off the door would frequently FOD the engine. Ingesting fuel fumes into the right engine was also common due to the flow of air off the probe, so it was standard procedure to select the "air source" to the left engine during tanking, otherwise the cockpit starts to smell like jet fuel. The Tomcst had many interesting chsrscteristics, we could talk for hours about this stuff. :) -Nick

Sorry to hear this, I hope things settle down and you feel better. We'll still be around to buy and support LNS when you feel better. I'll put my pitchfork in the closet for a while. :) -Nick

Yes, but whoever operates it seems to have insights beyond the average user/forum goer. Plus, it was a good segue for posting more pictures about Tomcats. ;) Great pics and article, thank you for posting. I am amazed that the IRIAF has kept a decent number of Tomcat's airworthy. Quite a testament to their ingenuity since it was one of the most complicated and maintenance intensive warplanes ever built. A LOT of heart and soul has been poured into those Cats! I wonder how much more time they have left in them? -Nick

:thumbup: -Nick

Don't worry, I wouldn't have harassed much more. :) Occasional comments about how cool their upcoming stuff is would suffice. ;) -Nick

The Viggen did have ground mapping radar and I'm pretty sure than targeting as well. It's avionics were considered quite impressive for the 1970s. Also, here is a summary of the reasons that there is so much Viggen talk around these parts: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=2484270&postcount=1167 It's the only aircraft proposed by forum members that fits all of the clues and does not have parameters that exclude it: 2-place aircraft (ie, Tornado - Jester AI is supposed to be first released with the Tomcat), module under consideration by other Developers (ie, Harrier), development would earn you prison time in Russia for espionage (ie, Su-34)... -Nick PS - I wish I could believe you Sith, but you already told us to the contrary. :D Of course that post has been deleted (part of the "I want to Believe" thread)...I bet many politicians wish they could do the same. :music_whistling:

I think you have some inside information...and you sound hungry. ;) If you give us a few details I'd be happy to contribute to your Steak fund....er...I mean...congratulations on winning the lottery this week. What are the odds, huh! :D -Nick

Looking at the small details, I really think it's the old AI model that is currently in DCS (like 95% sure it's the AI model). Doesn't have the refinement of the upcoming DCS Tomcat (even at a distance) - though I could be wrong. https://www.facebook.com/213475292002987/photos/a.268870599796789.90450.213475292002987/1209064122444094/?type=3&theater I think we have a while before the Tomcat is really ready (even the first version) - figure late spring or summer 2016 at the earliest. But who knows..... (well a few people do, but they aren't talking ;)). -Nick

I think we'll have to settle for pictures. ;) Even though this was posted on the DCS A10C facebook: Still a bit optimistic on my part. Still, here are a few "Turkey-ish" Tomcat photos. The Tomcat earned it's "Turkey" nickname mostly from it's appearance when coming aboard the Boat (all manner of control surfaces flapping and big, outstretched wings). Also, here is a link for a Thanksgiving day article about the Tomcat from last year, it's a fun read (for me at least:) ). http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/you-thought-cooking-your-turkey-was-tough-try-maintain-1664041009 And a few Turkey-ish pictures: And a few respect shots :D: Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Tomcat fans! -Nick

I was trying to reinforce what you wrote. :) Didn't mean to be too repetitive...plus I can't help myself when it comes to posting pictures. ;) -Nick

Part of the confusion is that there was no true "Bombcat" upgrade, just a series of incremental changes that allowed for or improved the F-14's A-G capability. Tomcats started with adding the BRU-32 bombracks, depicted by LNS here: This happened in the early 90s as Turkeydriver said, here is a picture from VF-14's 1992-93 cruise carrying Mk 82s: Tomcats were now able to drop "dumb bombs", but A-A was still the priority with the secondary role as a "bomb truck". Some Tomcat squadrons started referring the the Tomcat as a "Bombcat" at this point, though the term became more widely used once LANTIRN integration started. LANTIRN started in 1994 with testing performed by a VF-103 jet. Here is one of those demo flights (before VF-103 took over as the Jolly Rogers): This project was completed on a shoestring budget and the cost of buying LANTIRN pods was pulled from the AMRAAM integration budget (hence AMRAAM never happened). The total cost of initial integration and testing was ~$250K (like the cost of those new black seat cushions for the F-15E ;)). VF-103 was the first to deploy with LANTIRN and did so in 1996. From 1997-99 the remainder of the active Tomcat squadrons were upgraded to use LANTIRN, but the new MFD was not necessarily part of the LANTIRN upgrade. The MFD was slowly integrated into the fleet between 1997 and 1999. They started with the F-14B and many F-14Bs became "F-14B Upgrade" - which included a new databus, digital TARPS interface, the RIO MFD, and few other things I can't remember. Because the Tomcat upgrades were so piecemeal, it's hard to know what specific features the LNS F-14B will have (BRU-32 and CCIP only, LANTIRN, LANTIRN with MFD...). LANTIRN is the certainly "later-mid-90s" and the MFD is more like late-90s. We'll see what they come up with. -Nick

Hello to Leatherneck Simulations The temporary bugs aside, these new liveries are awesome. Thank you for the huge upgrade and the new metal schemes are wonderful to look at. It's also a great mix of different colors and countries. Finally, Tac Numbers seem to be a traditional weak point for DCS schemes - they often don't seem to have the same resolution and stand-out from the rest of the scheme. These new ones look excellent, they blend into the scheme very well. Thanks again for all the upgrades. -Nick

Leatherneck has said that they plan to include ground attack capability with the F-14B. However, they have not confirmed whether they will include the LANTIRN Pod for target designation. The F-14A will be set in the mid-late 1980s and will not include ground attack capability (though the F-14A has basic CCIP software, the Tomcat did not have either bomb racks or clearance to drop bombs back then). We'll have to wait and see about the LANTIRN part, but you will be able to drop bombs with the F-14B. -Nick

One last thought on the matter (Sith...please bear with me :)). This explanation is quite correct for a "pop" that is heard when throttling back: I have a new 2015 (fuel injection, variable valve timing, catalytic converters, etc - it's a bone stock new car with a warranty) car that does this on throttle lift (generally lifting between 2000-3500 rpms and more prevalent after periods of aggressive operations). You can't even change the air filter on this thing without triggering a check engine light and it is definitely running properly. Even in a modern car with fuel injection and mass air sensors, there is a very brief lag between closing the throttle and the air-fuel mixture adjusting. A bigger concentration of unburned fuel travels through the exhaust and ignites upon reaching the exit (where oxygen is present). At night, you can see flames appear for a split second, but generally you just hear a pop. It doesn't harm anything since it's happening at the exhaust exit (like firing blanks in a rifle) and no significant pressure is generated. Race cars do it all the time (more so than street cars) and you only see it during off throttle periods. There may be other things that cause "pops" like this, but Sobek's explanation is definitely accurate and does not represent improper tuning or a bad gasket. Not sure if this is the cause of of the sputter heard with the P-51, sounds like I might need to check things out. It's awesome that DCS depicts all of these nuances of piston engine operations, this is far more sophisticated than I would have expected. I might need to spend more time in the P-51D (I tend to prefer the FW190 D-9 and BF109 K-4). -Nick

Bugs aside, I really like that new skin. :) Can't wait to see the other ones...but of course I'm out of town right now. :doh: -Nick

That's my point, they can manage. :) -Nick

Ahem... Current IRIAF line-up includes: F-14A, Su-24, MiG-29, F-4D/E, F-5E, Mirage F.1, MiG-21. No capacity to operate together? -Nick

Couple of quick things, if you are using DCS to train for real combat in which you will use a MiG-23 or MiG-21Bis - then call it a simulator (and I might need to notify the authorities - what's your address again? :)). Otherwise, it is for entertainment and therefore a game, that is not debatable. We are all here because we want a VERY REALISTIC game, thats what I love about DCS. I suspect this campaign scenario was created to give the MiG-21 a place in a post-2010 conflict, because thats what the Black Sea map offers. They did not have the option to do a new map or era...because thats DCS 2.0. Leatherneck is currently the only developer that is planning EXACTLY what you asked for - optimized missions with the right theater. Yet you are railing against them in spite of this. Why are you biting the hand that feeds you? Finally, the active duty MiG-21 Pilot on their development team knows the tactics...please show some respect. Back to the original question: I would LOVE a Leatherneck MiG-23 and I have zero reservations about it's quality or content. But, please finish the Tomcat first.:D It might even come with a Map for ideal 1970s-80s Soviet MiG-23 scenarios (well...maybe not after this thread). -Nick

As I think about it, the whole purpose this video must be to agitate us. :) The video clearly took some effort and the 3D model of the Stennis must have been a huge investment of time, yet there are no indications of who made it. I wouldn't think that ED uses videos like this as proof of concept or internal updates (video seems too aesthetically driven, plus music), so I don't think it's a "leak". Also, it was published to youtube on October 1st and uses EDGE - so the video creator either created the video and posted it within a few hours of the DCS 1.5 release, or they had early access for whatever reason. Plus, it's published by a user who has one video hosted (but joined in 2012). In short, it's clear that someone is trying to be sneaky about it (whether it's a modder or otherwise). Also, if CVN-74 becomes the updated CVN for DCS, then there will be more than one updated carrier coming to DCS. The Stennis didn't start it's first cruise till 1998, so it's out of the timeframe for Leatherneck's F-14A (and almost out of the timeframe for their F-14B). I do enjoy watching the video though. :D -Nick

My experience with the freeware add-ons is that most are pretty superficial representations. The really good ones, such as Dino Cattaneo's work, is pretty detailed, but still pretty far off from what you get in DCS (or the Aerosoft Tomcat for that matter). I stopped getting stuff for P3D because it's just not as engrossing as DCS (for me and my preferences). So I disagree (which makes the conversation much better BTW ;)), if you want good aircraft with decent fidelity - you need to pay for it in FSX/P3D. True about the 777 vs MiG-21 (but it also costs ~3x as much, is it 3x as much work?), but what about VRS Superbug? What does it offer that a full DCS modern fighter would not have? The VRS stuff is at least as expensive and much more if you consider the need for TacPack to use weapons. I would always like things to be cheaper and I have taken advantage of sales. But the value proposition as been a good one for me in DCS. I also understand that it may not be for others (especially with exchange rates and differences in cost of living - that sounds like a BIG problem for some - I sympathize). -Nick

Thanks guys, I'll keep my eyes open for more. ;) Thank you for the link. :) There used to be another official Navy image archive that went back into the early 1980s, don't know what happened to it. Used to be called "DVIC" I think. -Nick

Well, no one seems to know what it is, so probably something totally new. That bit of info is helpful. Even if isn't something coming to DCS formally, if gives us nice insight into how good DCS carrier ops could look. :) -Nick

Whoa... That looks to me like EDGE and that is a beautiful model. I suppose a user mod could look that good, but someone invested some serious effort into this. It's hosted by "Yura Brat" (also interesting :music_whistling:) who has no other videos hosted. The original source is here: https://yadi.sk/d/cqItkJgGizxnQ Don't know if that means anything to anyone here? In any case, that has me seriously salivating for the Tomcat and Hornet, simply looks fantastic. The ocean environment for EDGE is really compelling, carrier ops will be seriously awesome when its ready. :thumbup: Thanks for sharing. -Nick

Here are a few VF-14 pictures from the mid to late 1980s, courtesy of Bill Paisley's facebook page. He is a former VF-14 RIO and used to have a blog, a classic counterpoint the Neptunus Lex (both were fun to read and very informative). These images are otherwise unpublished and from the heart of the DCS F-14A's timeframe. Can't have too many Tomcat pictures. :D Best, Nick