AcroGimp

Finally managed an air-to-air kill vs the AI machines at NTTR. TacView is an awesome tool as it shows, in this case, many missed opportunities and many mistakes that could have turned out worse for me. In the real world I use video to debrief my formation and aerobatic flghts so I see TacView as invaluable. Lots of respect for the real world Adversary and Aggressor guys who were going up against substantially better machines in the little Tiger. Enjoy 'Gimp

So I have been getting to know the F-5E and really like the model, BUT, everyone has a big but, let me tell you about mine. BUT, I can't fight it for crap. Never any energy, no matter how much smash I carry into the merge the AI opposition is wrecking me, literally 1 kill for 30 attempts today. I have lost to the AI F-14 at NTTR, and to the AI F-5E in Caucasus. They ALWAYS have more energy, and always get to maneuver to the WEZ. I am trying not to be salty but I have flown actual BFM and ACM in my Yak-52, I am formation qualified, I fly formation aerobatics, just don't seem to be able to turn that into killing in DCS and it is pissing me off a little. TrackIR5 doesn't always help translating my head movement into accurate pointing, and then being able to maneuver the aircraft with only the sky/ground and my intended target (eventual murderer) visible is also hard without mother nature helping like she does in the Yak. I know DCS has a steep learning curve but for a real pilot, with decades of flightsim experience, hundreds of hours as a real-world pilot with actual dogfighting experience this is pretty aggravating and awful humbling. Not looking for sympathy, just looking for recommendations on TrackIR settings, good tutorials, tips of the trade, anything from my Brethren Tiger Drivers to help me feel just a little better about my chances when I venture out into MP servers. Don't bother calling the Wahhhmbulance, I am already in it and on the way to crybaby hospital. 'Gimp

Happy to report SkateZilla's updater/repair technique worked, Caucasus map and missions restored, although the download was painfully slow, no doubt due to everyone downloading 2.5. Thanks all! 'Gimp

Just upgraded to a Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS setup last night (and cleaned up my home office/gaming room), SO much better than dual stick (I use dual stick for Star Citizen but like this so much I will try to come up with bindings using the HOTAS). Very natural and deeply immersive (combined with TrackIR 5), easy to set up, and not too expensive, especially since I already had a set of Saitek Pro rudder pedals. I love this little jet, can't wait to get home and fly it some more. Thinking I am going all USN/USMC fleet, will add the Hornet and Tomcat when they come available. 'Gimp

Awesome, thanks guys will try this when I get home tonight. BTW, NTTR terrain is gorgeous. 'Gimp

Pro Tip - don't be a noob and remove the Caucasus folder instead of CaucasusBases, you lose the terrain set and it does not go to Recycle Bin, just gone. Have not figured out yet how to recover it so open to suggestions. 'Gimp

So I looked for a repair option and did not see it. I was looking on the right side of the main menu with Mission, Instant Action, etc., and did not see any repair option there, also looked at Settings - is there a hidden menu? I am a noob to DCS, only had it for a week. Thanks 'Gimp

Keep in mind that jet maneuvering is dominated by the lift vector and to get a real change in direction you need to bank and pull. My experience (over the last couple days) is that regular maneuvering sees about 3-4 G's typically but BFM/ACM maneuvering and bat-turns do require substantial G's. The F-5 IRL was not I think capable of sustained 7+G maneuvering, just not enough specific excess power even in burner, and I have not, again in my limited use of it, seen any sustained 7G+ loads, but also no descending rolling scissors or anything like that and no PVP yet. That doesn't mean you wouldn't see instantaneous G's over the limit load, just not sustained. I've noticed that watching PVP engagements on the Youtubes it seems everyone flies their aircraft substantially beyond real world limits with G loads that even seasoned fighter pilots would have difficulty with (I fly solo competition style and formation airshow style aerobatics in my Yak-52 and can say G tolerance is a real thing). That said, I absolutely LOVE this airplane, Northrop did so much right on the F-5, a real pocket-sized multi-role machine that is a joy to fly. 'Gimp

Currently downloading NTTR 2.5 terrain, will try that after, thanks! 'Gimp

It's all in the title, noob mistake. I was trying to fix a kneeboard builder issue and deleted the entire terrain folder by accident - not in recycle bin and the uninstaller does not show a 'fix' mode - any way to recover or download the terrain files without uninstalling and reinstalling the whole thing? Thanks 'Gimp

Just joined the DCS family and am starting with the F-5E from Belsimtek and must start off by saying wow. I am a long time FSX: Acceleration user and am a licensed pilot and aircraft owner and so far I am very impressed with DCS and the F-5E. My 1987 Yakovlev Yak-52 is a tribute to the US Navy's VFC-13 Saints Adversary Squadron - I fly it in formation, aerobatics, formation aerobatics and will be taking up BFM and ACM training this Spring if I can get my knee to recover (ACL surgery last year, slow coming back). I have several study-level simulators in FSX and so far the F-5E stands up pretty well by comparison. Once I get a full HOTAS set up (I dual-stick in Star Citizen, and use T16000.M in FSX, thinking about adding Thrustmaster TWCS) I think this will be a very immersive and fun setup (TrackIR 5). Have been watching all the excellent videos on the Youtubes (Ralfidude and Bunyap especially) and have been grabbing all the great community produced training aids as well. See y'all out there, check six. 'Gimp

Yak-52 New DCS flier here, currently learning the F-5E Tiger II (awesome fun). Will be interesting to see the Yak-52 in DCS, as I own one in real life - fly it in aerobatics, formation, and formation aerobatics. Video below is from the Fall, 1st 2 elements are me flying right and left wing during formation loops (I normally lead), 3rd sequence is flying line abreast (hard), 4th is a multi-figure airshow sequence with me as lead, you can see wingmen in formation mirrors. The -52 is an excellent sportplane, an effective trainer, affordable, easy to maintain, tough as nails, and the sound from the Vedenyev M-14P is unbeatable. 'Gimp