Lace

Agree broadly with the OP. My main take away from my initial flights is that it doesn't 'feel' like other DCS maps. The satellite imagery gives it a MSFS or XP11-ortho vibe. I had to keep reminding myself that I was flying DCS. Certainly lots of potential for mission building and a huge variety of terrain will allow some very unique scenarios. There are very few fixed-wing basing options, but that is as IRL, so not much can be done there, but for heli or carrier ops this is not an issue. I would love to see the Harrier FOB as a placeable item. Price seems appropriate to me.

It would be nice if these could be readable, as they are really prominent IRL. Map link for those who don't know.

Performance for me is decent - very smooth on the islands, even over Stanley & Mount Pleasant. Ushuaia had a few stutters. Rift S, medium settings, laptop 3080.

Seems a lot more lively in CAT III - almost like CAT I was previously.

^^^ all of this is great, but it still doesn't really answer the use case. I know it is nothing to do with medium level CAS wheels, I do have some tactical application appreciation, but I can do low-level pop up attacks and toss CBU-87/97 with CCRP without VIP/VRP against a known location target by careful positioning of steerpoints in mission planning. Is it simply to reduce the number of steerpoints in a flight plan? or to allow multiple targets to be attacked from the same IP? Like all of you, I want the Viper to be as feature complete as it can be, but I also like to know the 'why' as much as the 'how' with each feature added.

As much as I like the B-52, even on a full-world map, I'm not sure how much I would actually use it. It would soon be relegated to the back of the hanger with all the other modules which get a brief outing once a month or so. I know there are plenty of civvy-sim flyers who happily spend 8 hrs+ in the cruise at FL340, but my time is limited and my typical sortie is 1-2 hrs. I think the B-1B would be a better option for a strategic bomber, as it is capable of carrying out low-level high sub-sonic strikes, which as a pilot appeal more than sitting in the stratosphere (though it can still sit up there in uncontested airspace dropping JDAMs all day long if that's what you want). However, since both are in-service strategic assets, it is unlikely that we will see them modelled as anything other than AI (and forget about a B-2!). Now, an F-111 on the other hand... If rumours are to believed there could be a C-130 on its way, and an AC-130 variant would be a great addition, but again from a a piloting point of view endless left-hand standard rate turns might get old fast. Personally I think the standard Hercules has a more varied role and would offer a deeper experience, and would bring a more important logistical element to the dynamic campaign, even though the Spectre does more pew-pew stuff.

During Wag's latest video demonstrating the use of VRP and VIP, in both cases he is attacking pre-planned targets at a known location. In this instance, why would you not just position the steerpoint directly on the target during planning and do a standard 30/30 pop up based on distance to run? What is the advantage of the VRP/VIP attack? Is it a remnant of pre-GPS attacks when the IP would actually be used to update the position by using an easily recognisable feature? (is this why it needs a TMS up on passing the point?) What am I missing here?

I'm all for anything which improves the mission planning element of the game.

Even if there is no 'DTC' as such, you could still create a custom kneeboard* briefing pack, with marked up charts, PLOG, frequencies, weapon attack profiles, weather, etc. etc. The actual planning features are as important as the means of implementing them in the aircraft. All the DTC does is save a bit of time entering in the information into the various systems. The planner is the main thing. *oh, and put it on the pilot's knee, rather than glued to the Perspex.

Yep.

The Gazelle is probably my favourite helicopter in DCS (yes, even including the Apache!). I have flown in (but not flown) the Gazelle a couple of times, so by no means an expert but it is a light, responsive and agile helicopter. It isn't meant to feel like the Huey or Hip (It is 1/2 the weight of the Huey, 1/5 the weight of the Apache, and 1/7 of the Hip). Realism is a two-way street, for a simulator to feel realistic, you have to do things in a realistic manner. If you fly it like a real helicopter, then it behaves pretty much like a real helicopter. If you fly it in unusual ways at the edge of the envelope, then you will get unusual results. It definitely needs some work, but is far from a lost cause.

Power switch is outboard of the stick on the Sensor Power panel (labelled FCR).

What you need to remember about thermal imaging, is that two objects of the same temperature can look different. What matters is the rate at which they are losing heat (in a certain part of the IR spectrum) to their surroundings. It is as much about the material properties as the actual temperature. Edit - but yes, of course this is still WiP and will no doubt be tweaked.

As an option perhaps, but whatever you do ED please don't remove the feature altogether. Some of us VR users rely very heavily on it. Who carries a mouse in a cockpit?

It quite rightly should be bottom of the list. Once all the operationally relevant stuff is complete.

Runway lights are often highly directional. You can find yourself parallel the rwy and still unable to see it until lined up. Not saying the lighting in DCS couldn't be improved, but you'd be surprised how difficult they can be to spot IRL too. Use your ILS if you have it, or at least follow the published instrument approach to get you on to centreline. If still no good, then divert to your alternate. People want realism, real things are sometimes difficult.

Ok, here are the first couple, both as Red and probably of more interest here, Blue. First one is more of a FAMEX, second can be hairy. Keep your distance and use your sensors. BORDER SKIRMISH BLUE 1.miz BORDER SKIRMISH BLUE 2.miz BORDER SKIRMISH RED 1.miz BORDER SKIRMISH RED 2.miz

DATA is the receipt of a Datalink SPI. Added in the latest update.

I have the same issue on some missions. Doesn't matter if it is the left or right engine, it is the second engine started. Sometimes it goes after 2-3 tries, other times if Increase the power levers above idle it picks up too.

Ok, so like most of you I had it on pre-order. Unlike most of you I wasn't that hyped. From Wag's videos it seemed overcomplicated, and cluttered. I would fly it, but had already decided that I wasn't willing to invest the time to really learn it. So again, like most of you I downloaded it last night, and fired up a quick cold-start mission. There is something about this module which seems to have raised the bar. The little details, the monocle rendered in VR, with what seems to be correct focal distances. The dynamic elements in the cockpit. The parallax error and lag on the PNVS seem so real in their execution. Imperfection is digital perfection. The flight model seems good (IANAAP) and the systems aren't too complicated once you can play with them yourself. Performance in VR is no worse than any other module I have, and the new FLIR looks great. I think ED have exceeded all expectations here. BZ to all the team, well done on a first class module!

Two weeks.

Looks great. Can't be far away now I'd think?

Had a quick play with Blender last night. A few more features than 3D Studio 2! Stuff I could have only dreamed of back then. I'm going to make some donuts and then get on with some more relevant simple stuff, see how I get on.

Which helicopter do I want to see next? Kiowa!!! After that I think Chinook or some form of Blackhawk/Seahawk would be most versatile as a modern BLUEFOR lifter for the dynamic campaign. Pure wish list would be an Osprey. That's a helicopter, right?

They will be playable as SP, but will have 2x Pilot and 2x CPG slots for BLUE.