Sweep

The TWR is fine if you take gas out of it. A lot of TWR calculations are early test stand engines + full internal fuel/clean aircraft. That's just fine and dandy with a Block 52 Viper with 7k gas and a 229 - But with the Lightning you basically have an aircraft that's *always* in a combat configuration where fuel is concerned; 20,000lbs of gas is a LOT. If you're doing airshows as mentioned, how much gas are you really gonna take in any jet? :) Also, there's a story from a while ago about an internal A/G loaded F-35A out-accelerating a one bag F-16C (unknown block/engine/whatever) chase jet on a test sortie. IIRC this was on climb-out and something around Mil power for both jets. Not bad at all IMO.

Yes, the R-27 is bigger and heavier...Remember what the first one means when you're doing Mach 3.5+. :D Also, R-27 and AIM-7 have a 60 second max controlled flight time, IIRC.

:thumbup:

Well, 120A/Bs might care for chaff + jamming of some sort. Unfortunately the sim doesn't go into enough detail for such things to matter much. Hence my 'support' of the current CM model...If it's not "OP chaff/crappy seekers = missile defeated", it's "all sorts of CM combinations = missile defeated"

(emphasized part of quote) In terms of balance, I have to agree with removing the 120C, simply based on the ground of countermeasures. Considering a lot of the Flanker community seemingly feels like SARH CCM is borked with no fix in sight, having an AMRAAM that is defeatable with chaff would certainly make the fight fairer. Also, the 120B is somewhat worse in terms of kinematics...Although close in the 120B tends to be lethal as hell. Consider that we have a Flanker and Eagle both from the mid 90s (though missing some things) and removing the C (which is *supposed* to be a C5) does make a lot of sense, both balance and realism wise. Now if ED modeled an AIM-120C3/4... ;)

Wait, are you trying to put the boom in yourself? Is the boom moving? Did the tanker clear contact? There's a bug in MP where the boom won't move for the host, too, btw. Edit: Also, 270-300 knots works pretty well for the tanker - Anything higher is kinda inefficient for the tanker (doesn't really matter in the sim) and with anything lower you'll face some AOA problems.

You know what'd be fun? An A-29 with APKWS. *Looks at RAZBAM* Or an A-10C...ED...Hehe ;)

Oh I didn't mean it like that at all! I think what I was getting at is that a lot of other types have to train for offensive air to air missions in addition to a lot of A/G stuff (think F-18 guys for example). Edit: Also, what I meant with the "hopefully that'll change" is that as Hogs are retired (whenever), I hope that mindset and training focus will find another community. And as for dumping Hogs, I know they've been trying to keep them...For various reasons. Some reasons are great and obvious, others are a bit more questionable (mainly political BS, from what I've heard...).

One of the 422 guys said the F-35A had a 90 min loiter at a 200nmi radius, I believe that was with internal A/G stores. Internally it'll have 8 SDBs with 3F, externally - Well, you have up to 4 heavy pylons. F-15Es would probably carry, at max, 4 or 5 racks of SDBs per jet. Though they're much more likely to have 2-4 and not max load. Mixed loadouts are quite likely with all aircraft discussed, too, IMO. Edit: P.S., Hummingbird, why can't the F-35 fly (or did you mean fight? I haven't really been following the thread much) in the same weather as the A-10? Any specific scenarios you have in mind?

This isn't a two seater. The advanced F-15 is a bit different than the 2040C. 2040 is an F-15C/D overhaul. Consider that this is an F-15C forum... :)

Lol. Imagine the planning session for that flight: "What's our drag index?" "Over 9000!"

Totally not proving the Lt Col's point or anything with that post.

Wasn't aware that SCAR got booted as an acronym, thanks for the info!

Ya left out the 'big thing' with Hogs... Hog pilots are supposed to be the Gods of CAS (and CSAR support/BAI/SCAR). Everybody else has a bunch of other missions to train for, typically. Hopefully that'll change as they dump Hogs over the next few years. P.S. You worked on GPS IIF? I watched the sixth one go up from the KSC parking lot in person back in May 2014. It was a blast (pun intended).

The chaff memes are strong with this one. Notching/dragging to the merge works well enough. (and is very realistic...) The videos aren't great evidence of what you're claiming (see below), but rather just a good way to perpetuate the chaff meme and stir the pot. SARH missiles are not broken "more than anything else" - The real problem is more visible when looking at SARH in the air quake environment as done in this thread, though. The problem is EW modeling. That's jamming, that's chaff, that's seekers, that's aircraft RADAR. Acting like the problem is limited to SARH alone serves one purpose: Making your fight more enjoyable for you. That shouldn't be a goal placed alongside making the game more realistic nor should it be treated as a realism concern. Anyway, this is going to be a yearly tradition on here, right? "'Mid Winter Chaff Complaint Thread 2018', coming to a forum near you in 340 days!" :megalol:

The Eagle doesn't have a funnel in-game or IRL. It has Gun Director Sight (GDS/that's modeled) and Lead Computing Optical Sight (LCOS, mode not modeled). Gunsight stiffen/no radar track functionalities aren't modeled, AFAIK.

EDIT: I might've missed something...Been typing for like 20 minutes and noticed you edited in that time. Eh, yeah, I tend to treat it all as a fighter sweep. Maybe that's my own thing to do only, who knows. I used to fight for all the kills and no losses too - But I started learning how to disengage when required...Then I just stopped playing air quake PVP for a while. You have a huge airspace to play with, use it! Even on 104th...Though they do really try to limit it sometimes (SAMs/target areas). Maybe limit isn't the right word...Channel the fight? Something like that. Flanker driving is possible on there as I recall. It does take a heck of a lot of effort tho. I mean it's possible in the sense that you won't instantly want to blow your brains out (lol F-5 pilots, i'm so sorry for you!). RNGesus, LOL. I like that! :thumbup: Trying to out-maneuver a Slammer usually results in death in any situation. I had a dissimilar 2v1 (1x Su27 1x MiG21 vs F-15) on 99th where two Slammers missed by less than 300m. I thought I was dead, and he was well within his ability to take a follow up shot...But he flew into an ET or a max-range 73 (I forget). Oh okay, thanks for clarifying. Truth. I try to pay attention on the ground, though. I think for a second "how much gas do I need, how many missiles do I need" and roll with that. Normally I take 6 Archers and 2 ERs for just about everything air-quake-ish. Yeah AWACS could be better in the sim. Human GCI/AWACS is great for anything with an SA problem...Sometimes: If the guy tries close control on 10 fighters it doesn't go well (bad Blue Flag memories, lol). Unfortunately you burnthrough at 40km and his launch range is half that. It's difficult. Thankfully bulls posit calls are possible as a decently-coordinated two ship. My gameplan beats flying into Slammers. Sure, it doesn't win by much, but hey...If you don't wanna Mirage it (you know, run away at 870kts on the deck) then you gotta try to fight and survive somehow. It's basically "try to fight your fight...if that fails, try to fight a somewhat possible fight...if that fails, try to not die..." --- Odds don't look good, but who needs odds, anyway? :megalol: It works to some extent. You have to keep your head on straight and it's much better to have a wingman. Either fly the notch in trail or line abreast and stop flying formation when the bandit reaches 7km or so. Single side offset merges are the very first ACM thing you'd learn IRL, to my knowledge. Very useful setup...Tough when you have limited SA and are facing a vastly superior sensor/weapon platform, but not quite impossible. Notch to the merge is a real thing. For example, what do you think Hawg guys train for in air to air? It's all about preemptive flaring. It works, typically - But it's a double edged sword. The bandit can do it too. That's another thing, in the Flanker: I take 144 flares, usually. Might say something about my mindset. :) It's all situational, IMO. Again, sometimes it's better to just extend, wait a few minutes, and try again. Patience isn't something that air quake servers typically instill in fighter guys, though. Meh, maybe that's why my trade rate tanked on 104th late last year, lol. :thumbup: The snarky SOB in me wants to say "then act like it" - But I think you and others *are* trying to "act like it." - It's really tough, man...Especially in lone wolf air quake stuff. Been there, done that...Good luck!

Reply got a bit lengthy so I put in a spoiler:

Try to not merge with one group while inside decision range for another, maybe? I've had fine luck with the Flanker and driving down to merges. Keep your speed down, your head down, opposite notch and get tally early. ;) I don't think improved ERs would do much pre-merge (with or without enhanced threat weapons), the NEZ would be much higher (~10nmi), but CMs are/would be effective against the ER and the ER platform.

Side-mounted Warthog user here, I used something like a +15 or +20 curve in the axis config when I had a center-mounted stick. I also had sticktion problems then though. I use a user-curve now. Try all of that. Maybe try something like a +10 curve on pitch/roll, too. And make sure you know how to fly formation before attempting refueling. :)

Simulated DLZs and the like aren't quite what I was getting at. My idea/question/point/whatever was more like "Do you train now with a configuration you won't have until later in the year?" or something like that.

No, the pilot has eyes. :D Really though, some of the recent posters in the thread might want to read a certain European F-16 pilot's thoughts on the F-35 in dissimilar BFM. He covers visibility concerns, IIRC. I'd say it's a lack of WVR weapons more than any maneuvering qualities. I mean, two Slammers each, no X-rays, no guns; what are ya gonna do in WVR? Separate, blowthrough and separate, etc. --- Sometimes, the bandits figure out what you're doing too early. That's happened to Raptors, as well (there's audio of it on youtube). Despite popular belief, the F-35 is very likely a good BFM'r. As mentioned, it has more SA than just about anything out there.

MiG-19 sounds like fun to fly and fight! Good luck!