Kirk66

There is an easy soulution to the grass and rocks problem, see this thread: I also just turned off Grass Visibility and Germany finally looks correct. You can finally play some foot on the fields! Try hiding the various files until you find the combination that looks best for you. I think I just hid GermanyColdWar.sd5, Anabasis_setifera.ref, Azalea.ref. Now just need the dirt patches seeded, and a fresh coat of paint on the NATO bases. You still have to dodge the trees on some of the helipads - but I can live with that for now.

Playing with my collective, the case rotates with the collective handle, but the big bolt and round cover do not. So some sort of coaxial clamp working on the inside or outside of the housing cover would work? It would not need a lot of clamping force or friction, just enough to make the collective a bit stiffer in cruise so it would not move when just resting your hand on it.

Any smart guys out there, could you come up with an external manual friction mod for the Virpil Collective base? It would be nice to be able to set the friction loose for takeoff and landing/hovering, then tighten it up for cruise flight. Looking at the hardware, it seems an external knob on the Left side of the base, working on the existing shaft cover, might be doable? Preferably not requiring any changes to the existing Virpil hardware, of course, but I'm not adverse to some drilling of holes if necessary... I'm visualizing something acting via the large center bolt, has a knob that can be adjusted to increase or decrease friction in addition to the default (internal) preset friction, which would be the baseline friction. This kind of external collective friction is present on just about all actual helicopter collective controls. Comments? Vulture

I also have a stick button for seat switching - invaluable for solo flying when you get tired of the teenager in the pit. My sim setup has a center stick as well as a sidestick for F-16 flying, I map the sidestick for the WSO handcontroller, in both seats. Makes using the radar from the front a lot easier. Most serious DCS players probably have an old gaming stick gathering dust somewhere - if it has a trigger, it makes a great WSO radar hand controller - and you can still fly from the pit while working the radar. Perfect for that Warthog stick that you replaced with a Virpil/VPC/Rhino...If you take the spring out - it's exactly like the real thing! (The hand controller in the actual jet doesn't have any centering spring or detent - you just had to know where center was. Took some practice!)

I just read your procedure for solo lofting LGBs, and would add that you can control the TGP from the front seat if you have a spare joystick - map that stick as the WSO hand controller and guide the bomb from the front. If you are ambidextrous, you can fly with one hand and run the pod with the other, but using Attitude Hold is probably a better answer; but at least if you are still in the front seat it's easier to recover if the AP kicks off!

WSOs actually got pretty good at handling the Spike pod during the delivery maneuvers; the key was for the pilot to be smooth in his inputs. And we are not talking a lot of G here, 2 - 3 usually, so not a bad working environment; all you needed really was to keep the target area in sight during the pull off and entry to the designation turn, then get back on target and start lasing.

There really isn't an easy way that I know to do Pave Spike LGB deliveries without a human WSO in DCS at present. It can be done, but flying the jet and running the pod at the same time is a bit much (but a lot of fun to try - kinda like backseat landings). I would use WRCS in TGT FIND, a VIP (freeze/insert) to cue the pod to the target, select track and spike toss the LGB, setup the designation turn, then try to find the target and lase before impact. If you haven't got these documents yet, please get them at: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3335473/ Pave Spike procedures are in 347th TFW DOW NIP #24. LGB delivery parameters are in 3rd TFS Conventional Weapons Planning Guide. Cheers

Nice - gotta check that out - perhaps sneak up there in my trusty Loach...and d'oh, now I see the name on the map image. I have time in the L-13s, L-23s, and L-13AC (acro version with short wings). All are great flying gliders, and the 13AC will do actual snap-rolls - unusual for a glider, and lots of fun! Vulture

There is no reason to wait for the INS to turn on the radios - or any other equipment, for that matter. For the UHF, the limitation is that on battery power, you only have UHF main (no aux). On external power with CNI on but before engine start, you have full radio but are limited to 10 minutes every hour without external cooling (rare - a maintenance thing). UHF can stay on during engine starts (and is usually required anyway for clearance and safety) - there is no issue with switching from external to internal power. INS is not affected by radio at all - it only cares that it has power and is not in ALIGN when the generators are switched to prevent possible power interruption that can dump the alignment. So Jester should really be turning on his UHF just before start on external power (and putting the INS in HEAT), because the pilot will be turning his on to call for a start anyway. And it's the same radio - just two control heads. Perhaps have Jester turn his radio on when the player does in the front seat, or after engine start, whichever comes first. Vulture

Same on the A62 near Ramstein - looks like Belgium! Vulture

OMG Blanik L-13 gliders! What field is that? Vulture

The bridge where the A63 crosses the B423 just West of Glan-Munchwieler, about 8 miles NW of Ramstein AB, would be a nice addition. https://www.google.com/maps/@49.4750436,7.4295488,3a,75y,212.16h,100.91t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4ig0_VtQcJlf4WjEzs5BoQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-10.908354647223206%26panoid%3D4ig0_VtQcJlf4WjEzs5BoQ%26yaw%3D212.1566986112752!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D https://www.google.com/maps/@49.4730682,7.4261714,3a,75y,33.05h,107.78t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPUjObheqUMcLDbJez85o0A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-17.780196584789167%26panoid%3DPUjObheqUMcLDbJez85o0A%26yaw%3D33.05245451405253!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Main reason? I used to drive under it every day on my way to work at Ramstein, back in the late 80s. And it was a nice visual landmark when flying around the local area. And I want to fly under it! And there are some other similar bridges already on the map. Cheers, Vulture

Nice! I'll definitely be giving it a try. Is there also a file for the rocks than can be removed? Vulture

1. Get rid of ALL the random rocks and stones laying around. They are totally out of place, and even show up on tennis courts and football (soccer) pitches - ON A MILITARY FIELD! They only belong in gravel quarries and on mountains, above the tree line. See pic below 2. Need to remove trees from Helipads. Noticed on H FRG-51 (see pic below) 3. The infields of large airfields need to be smooth, short, cut grass, without rocks, scub, or bushes. This is between runways and taxiways, and at least 500 ft or so from the runways. This is maintained to keep birds and animals away, and for safety if a plane leave the runway. Also, unless there is construction, there shouldn't be any exposed dirt. Espcially on NATO bases, these areas are meticulously maintained (gotta keep those draftees busy). See pic below. 4. Is there any way to make water LEVEL? It is disorienting down low, especially in a helo, to see water banked up around a curve or have a steep drop-off. Noticed a particularly bad example just south of Kessel. I realize this may be a baked-in feature of the DCS terrain... Pic attached Otherwise, LOVING THE MAP! Vulture

Noticed when I took off from Ramstein and landed at Hahn, there is way too much brush and bushes in the infield of airports, between runways and taxiways, and alongside runways. Note that this seem to be a problem in other maps as well, but really stands out on NATO airfields (where I was stationed and flew out of at the time portrayed). Airports all have standards for clear areas around runways to keep birds and game away, and to minimize obstructions to vision of airfield signs. So pretty much everything around the runways is cleared and mowed. Having random bushes obscure distance markers is not a good idea... Otherwise...GREAT MAP! Can't wait to drop an LGB into my old office on Ramstein. Vulture

Tail fuzes were absolutely an option for Mk 82 Snakeyes. FMU-54s. Whether they were used probably depended on fuze reliability requirements. Extract below is from -34-1-2. Tons of details in that TO about Snakeye fuze options and how and when to use them. null

I'm interested in trying this approach to VD with my QP. Question about the ethernet cables: My current setup has ethernet from main router to gaming PC, then ethernet from PC to dedicated 6E wifi router (as recommended by VD). In your cabled setup, is it possible to use the ethernet cable currently going from gaming PC to 6E wifi router to connect to the Ethernet to USB C connector, instead of an additional (and long, in my case) ethernet cable to from the primary router to the Ethernet to USB C connector? I did see your bullet point about User Error plugging E-net directly from PC to headset, which I assume is what I am asking (RTFM). Not being smart on Ethernet, can I just get an E-net hub or switch and use that in my gaming room, plugging in the cable from the router into the hub, then running independent short e-net cables to PC and E-net to USB-C connector for the headset? And about power: I'm now running a 20000ma/100w battery pack to extend the in-game life of the headset, plugged in directly to the QPs USB C port. Can that same battery pack be used if inserted at the Ethernet to USB C connector (assuming it has a power input like this one: https://www.unitek-products.com/products/usb-c-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter-with-100w-power-delivery?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=910545e70&pr_rec_pid=7473809293541&pr_ref_pid=4646690226253&pr_seq=uniform)? Finally, just a comfort tip for QP users: Try taking the front pad off completely, and supporting the headset with a couple of overhead cross straps and in my case a Globular Cluster back pad. And no light blockers, of course. When in-game (DCS, of course) set room ambient lights to match the conditions in the game, taking care to not aim any light directly at your head. This makes the QP incredibly comfortable, as it is hung from the top straps and naturally settles lightly on your nose for best FOV,without touching your forehead at all; and the lack of light blockers takes away the "scuba mask" feeling while allowing a lot of cooling air to your eyes. After a bit, you don't even notice the peripheral details of your room - unless of course a bright light is there! Only downside is nightime, where you need a minimum of lighting to keep the tracking happy. Thanks in advance, Vulture

Ok, I don't know what kind of voodoo magic this is, but these settings work like a charm with my system. Bravo! A couple of questions: if you use Virtual Desktop, what encoding do you use? I prefer 264+ at 400mbits, seems to work good. Then, do you add any supersampling in DCS? I run my system at 72fps, and bumped SS to 1.3, and it's pretty stable, and looks pretty nice. Anyway - you absolutely made my day. Went out in the Loach and shot up a VC camp, took a few hits, then flew back to a floating base and pooched the landing...FUN! A request for the mission - unless I missed it, when I launched in the alert F-4, the only tanker that was airborne was an MPRS probe and drogue - not much use in DCS for a thirsty Rhino. Is there a way to request a boom tanker? Vulture

This is a great mission - and really want to jump on your new server - but I get CTDs or crashes just about every time I run this mission. Only single player so far, and have the latest version and all the needed mods installed. Rig is a 14900k, 4090, 64ddr5, running Quest Pro via Virtual Desktop on dedicated 6e server. On flat screen it runs flawlessly on a 55 in 1080p tv at DCS HIGH settings, but in VR it always ends up either CTD or crash. Will attach latest crash log. Using F-4E and F-5E, and OH-6 and UH-1. What graphics settings are you using? I normally run pretty high and get steady 72fps everywhere, but in this mission I'm using the default DCS VR setting and getting OK frames. Playable. but a bit steppy. Here are latest crash files/log. And thank you for picking my (literal) jet for the F-4 alert bird! Best skin in the game! Vulture dcs.log dcs.log-20250222-210815.zip

Does this allow running VD at Godlike and still get a fixed pass-through that can be placed on a control panel? When I try the hand tracked MR pass through the drop in resolution in my Quest Pro is too much to handle - not worth the benefit of the pass through.

Just a comment. In real life (and unlike the bombing computer in the sim) almost all bombing was done referencing IAS, not TAS. The airspeed indicator in the F-4 is pretty standard for the timeframe in US jets, you read IAS in knots on the outside scale (3) up to about .4 mach, then use the inside scale for IAS (in the gap in the needle between 1 and 2) above that. In the picture below, IAS is 345 knots, and Mach is just over .62, read from the outside needle/scale. Since the inner scale window moves, it is useful to practice by setting up level flight, and accellerating to Vmax, then slowing down to 160 KIAS or so, and watching how the gauge works to indicate IAS and Mach. For bombing, especially Direct or Dive Toss, you should be looking at the planned IAS (usually 450 or 500 knots) at release. This is because the speed will usually be increasing as you dive, and it can be hard to judge your TAS via the spinning numbers! With the airspeed indicator, you can glance at the gauge and see if you are slow or fast and about when you will be at the proper speed. For some WRCS level deliveries, you are at a constant speed, so can monitor TAS easier - but if the delivery is a timed LABS delivery it is based on GS not TAS, so know your winds! Tip: multiply your speed in Knots by 2 to get KPH (close enough for flying). I have to do the reverse when flying Metric aircraft. And for distances, 1 NM is almost exactly 2 KM. If you havn't seen these, lots of good period info on the jet and how to fly it: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3335473/ Hope this helps. Bonne chance! Vulture .

I've been using my new Slugmice for a few days now and they are everything promised: well made, fairly easy to set up, and pretty easy to use. My only problem is the need to hold my head perfectly still while aiming the cursor with my hand; not the easiest coordination exercise for a "person of a certain age". But it does get easier with practice, and finding the exact rotation of the Slugmouse on one's finger for easy use of the hat. I added some Lizard Skins Mouse Grip to the inner surfaces of my Slugmice, both to make them fit better, and to add some anti-rotation friction so they stay in place without being too tight - works well, so if anyone has issues with their Slugmice moving on their fingers give it a try, takes a few minutes with a pair of scissors and the Mouse Grip goes right on, and is easy to remove if needed (I also use it on my stick grips and throttle grips for the same reason - awesome stuff!). Now for a question: is there any way to momentarily freeze the view of the cockpit in VR (I use a Quest Pro) but not freezing the hand tracking (and Slugmouse cursor)? A momentary on/off toggle of head tracked motion while switches are being set would make it so much easier to use. I realize this may already have been attempted by you smart guys and may be impossible, but had to ask. And I understand it would result in some sort of jump in viewpoint when switching back to a tracked head pose (damped, perhaps?) but assuming you didn't move your head much, that shouldn't be a big issue. Again, not a complaint, just a question. Along the same lines (and this would probably be more of an ED thing) could the cockpit controls be made momentarily "sticky" when a mouse cursor touched it? If the mouse cursor "latched" to the control for a few seconds, within a small radius, it would allow easier operation of the controls. Perhaps keep it latched as long as a mouse button is depressed/scrolled (which already happens for scrolling). Unlatch after 2 seconds or so, or if cursor is moved away from the control a certain distance. Again, I have no idea if this is possible, and it could make it hare to select a particular switch unless you had a momentary override you could hold until over the switch you want to activate. So it rapidly becomes not so simple.... Anyway, loving my Slugmice, 10/10! Vulture

Any update on this? Interested in joining.

That worked! Thank you. "F-5E-3" is the key for the new jet's kneeboards.

I'll go give it a try right now...Just got Virtual Desktop working and having fun with that can of worms!