Lace

I just hope they fix all the bugs with October and November first.

A manual workaround could be to map a modifier button (maybe IFF OUT or IFF IN on the cougar throttle, or paddle switch on the stick) which swaps the RDR Cursor X axis for rudder control, this leaves aileron control unfettered for dealing with crosswinds and allows rudder operation with the throttle hand.

Perhaps, but then there would have to be one credible example of when 'wind to' is ever actually used IRL. Since the weather and ATC systems are both undergoing an overhaul this would be the perfect time to fix it.

It is really the only way which makes sense. There is no confusion or mental maths required if the wind in the METAR/TAF/ATC clearance matches the runway in use.

I don't think the range effects the accuracy, you are either in range or you are not. That said, I only release at maximum if it is necessary to maintain separation from a threat, otherwise I will give it a little extra margin by waiting until further into the LAR, just in case. Does anyone know - are the release parameters dictated by forecast winds or measured winds? Or an arbitrary worst-case (i.e 40kt headwind).

IIRC Falcon 3.0 had a Panama map. Quite a versatile option for COIN, peer/near peer, CV ops, etc.

I think people approach loadouts in the wrong way. Instead of just thinking MOAAAR GBU!!!1!, perhaps present a use case where a mission objective dictates a requirement to carry 12x GBU. People say they want realism, but then try to fly completely unrealistic ops.

Actually, sometimes it is. The Pacific is so named for a reason, I've done many crossings in glassy conditions (and a few in rougher states). Point is, both calm and rough conditions are realistic, and we should be able to specify in the ME, just like the atmospheric conditions.

I'm of the exact opposite opinion. My old genuine Microsoft XBox controller also sees the LT RT as separate axis. This allows full travel on each one, so left and right wheel brakes can be mapped, each side can be modified to TGP zoom, RADAR elevation etc, with full axis travel and single finger operation. I use the left stick X axis as rudder, which does work as a single axis. I have tried other controllers (RAZER, XBox clones) and found the common trigger axis was less customisable for DCS and returned or binned them. So you may consider it a short straw, but I see it as a better design implementation, and one I actively seek out in a controller.

+1 Sea states are affected by many factors, not just winds. Some long rolling swells in deep water would add some more realism to the water conditions.

Flying combat jets is a full time job for some people. It is not easy, it is something which requires lots of learning which in an air arm or air force is built methodically, in stages, with clear objectives and standards at each stage. There is a reason (well, several actually) why they don't just thrown ab initio pilots into F/A-18Cs. First they need to learn to fly an aircraft, and navigate, deal with emergencies, and communicate. Fly at night, in formation and in bad weather, and then all three at the same time. Then they would learn to fly aircraft with complex systems and a wide performance envelope. They will learn tactics, enemy capabilities and their tactics. And they will practice, and study, and be assessed along the way. All before reaching a pointy-nosed combat aircraft seat. The point is that even playing this as a game, you are not going to pick it up in five minutes (or even two months). I'm not saying it is as hard as doing it for real, but if you want to fly like a pro, then you need to think like a pro. We are lucky in DCS (from a student pilot POV) in that the comms is non-existent really, and there are no consequences for not meeting the standard (i.e. crashing), we can control the weather and rarely have equipment failures or emergencies to deal with. This means we can spend more time on the other aspects of operating an aircraft, like weapons employment, combat tactics and carrier ops. Break it down in to manageable chunks. If you are struggling with navigation, then plan a simple mission with a route to follow, with large easily recognised landmarks. Mix in some magenta line waypoint nav, with some dead-reckoning (at this point I fly at heading xxx for xx NM at xxx Knots to arrive at the next point at a certain time). When you are more confident try some RNAV stuff. See if you can find an airfield using a TACAN beacon, and then fly an ILS approach. Do this in the daytime, and then do it at night. When you can do that well, move onto the next thing. Crawl, walk, run. Burning holes in the sky is fun, but it won't make you a better sim pilot. Structure and deliberate learning outcomes will.

Indeed. If I were a betting man I'd be going MiG-29A, but I'd love to see a barn door airbrake and a low pig-like snout appearing through the darkness.

What do we think will be teased at the end of the new year video release? Let the wild speculation begin...

Thanks. I have similar ones for my most flown types. The blue boxes are controls which are common to all types (or very close in functionality), the white boxes are a/c specific. Makes remembering the mapping a little easier.

I've posted this before, but this is my Viper XBox map which I use when away from my 'pit. It is actually quite a versatile tool and with some imaginative mapping and modifiers you can still be close to 100% combat effective when compared to a 'proper' HOTAS. Obviously the LMB/RMB combined with the VR cursor removes the requirement to map the non-HOTAS controls, like gear handles, canopy switches, MFD OSBs etc.

I should have thought that it was obvious that my post was referring to the scenery civvy traffic, but thanks for killing those kittens.

Loving the increased capabilities the new GMT mode brings to the Viper. However I am curious about one thing - how does the GMT mode know the difference between military and civilian traffic? Are there any plans to have civvy road traffic to be detected too? Therefore adding realistic ground clutter, and making enemy units less obvious? I'm sure this is more of a DCS core issue, rather than a Viper specific one, but it is relevant to how the Viper is fought with the GMT mode.

Welcome. I am of a similar vintage, having started late '80s, and growing up with Falcon 3.0 and MFS, returning after a long hiatus with the DCS A-10 and being completely humbled by the experience. The level of detail was mind-blowing and required a serious investment of time. A few years later the Viper came along and that was it. The time was found, the books studied and the parts collected for the 'pit. The experience (in VR) of actually sitting in the a/c was more than I could have dreamed back in those Falcon 3.0 days, even with my modest hardware. People moan about the DCS Viper, but while admittedly it is unfinished, and likely to remain so for some time, it is still a great module and the one I spend the most time flying. Take your time, learn the capabilities of the a/c, RTFM, and most importantly enjoy it. @darkman222 Good luck with the PPL. It takes time, and is rarely a smooth journey (especially in the UK - not sure about Germany), but is very much worth the effort! The sim flying helps in some ways, especially with the checks, scans and RNAV. Not so much with the stick waggling. See if there is an XP11 module for your training aircraft and sit there in VR learning where all the switches etc are. It will save you time (and money) in the real aircraft.

Let the speculation commence...

Not to mention the real flying too. TacView is not just for gamers.

You don't say what kind of mission - assuming transport as the Mi-8 was never intended as a night attack a/c. Take off the NODs, fly IFR.

The expected use of many of the early F-16 operators was very different to that of the USA, i.e. defensive rather than force projection. Range not so much of an issue if the Soviets have already rolled into your sovereign territory. At that point nobody cares about loiter times, rapid turnaround is the name of the game.

Interesting stuff, it will be nice when fully implemented. What about A-10C DECM vs Gun Dish (for example)? I've not really treated Shilkas as a real threat when jamming, as they always seem to track behind the a/c.

Only once they have exhausted all the real-world units we are currently missing. So, never.

Voted snake, but actually I think some form of UH/SH-60 would be a better fit for the implied DCS timeframe. A Sea King could be pretty versatile too