bies

If you fly FC3 regularly, you probably remember all this - next radar PRF mode, next navigation mode/waypoint, next bomb/rocket interval etc. because they are identical to all FC3 planes. I don't remember them by memory since i fly FC3 very rarely. And there is no shortcut - you just need to remember it. In full fidelity you don't have to remember, you just see physical lever in the cockpit and you pull it, or button with A/A text - you press it. And MiG-29, F-15, Su-27 etc. are not comparable in terms of realism or in depth modeling to DCS modules. Full fidelity simulation is the reason i'm buying just about every DCS module and i'll definitely buy any FC3 module when developed in Full Fidelity DCS standard. Developers was talkind about disconnecting FC3 from DCS a few times, idk if this was due to announced MAC game or something else or i understood this incorrectly.

Yes, all 3 of them; F-15A from 1975, F-15C from 1979 and F-15C MSIP II from 1985 are pure Cold War machines. Su-27S entered service 1985 exactly like F-15C MSIP II. After the Cold War F-15C still received modernisation far later on, but it was slow due to lack of priority and lack of need for specialized air superiority fighter at all in a world of US military dominance. But yes, F-15A from mid 1970s would be great, it had the best low speed maneuverability and nose authority and awesome acceleration with lighter airframe, but tempremental engines to tame. In 1970s, just like F-14A, it was considered superfighter. It had much simpler radar avionics and it relied more on a classic air combat, being great for mid Cold War 1970s scenarios. It would be fantastic if someone would make F-15 like DCS F-14 equivalent - with A, C and C MSIP II versions.

Full fidelity MiG-29 9.12 is coming to DCS. It will have far less buttons to remember than FC3 one, because it will have clickable cockpit. I'm always reluctant to fly FC3 modules being forced to remember huge amount of buttons due to their non-clickable cockpits. If something is visually represented in cockpit, like gear handle or some cockpit button with name on it or contrast fire extinguisher i remember it just after one use, but to remember 20-30 FC3 abstract commands like next radar PRF mode or next navigation mode/waypoint, or next bomb/rocket interval etc. is pain in the ass compared to full fidelity modules - despite them being way more realistic and in depth simulation they are simply way easier and more pleasant to operate.

No, they are yet another type, they are MiG-29 9.12, not 9.13 - without hump behind canopy, but with different classified avionics package, integrated with R-77 missiles and rescaled cockpits, they have been retired in 2017.

Yes, early F-16A would be the best, the earlier Block the better like Block 1, 5, 10, it would be the most distinct, with completely different gameplay and character, analog cockpit, short range weapon only, but fantastic maneuverability with "small tail" optimised for dogfight and light nose with APG-66 radar. When it comes to Block 30 - later on they were modernised, received reinforced structure to houl more bombs, integrated with more weapon systems, new avionics blocks - and they grew in weigh being only marginally lighter then Block 50 and their kinematic performance difference diminished. Block 30 from late 1980s and Gulf War though - it was half ton lighter airframe with nearly identical GE engine and significant kinematic advantage over later Block 50 having significatnly higher T/W and even bigger advantage in wing loading.

We are having two F-4E variants, one from 1970s, one from 1980s. Great for? Great for nearly any conflict F-4E was being used, Vietnam war, Iran-Iraq war where we have practically all assets for both sides, Israeli-Arab wars like War on Attrition 1970, Yom Kippur war 1973, Mole Cricket over Bekaa Valley 1982 and all what if scenarios with different remaining F-4E operators all around the world since 1970s like Turkey, Greece, Japan, Australia, Egypt. And F-4S? Only fictional scenarios. And I'm not extreme, I still see a place for the F-4S, but let's not be silly, the F-4E was incomparably more relevant than the F-4S. In short F-4B in early 1960s was the best fighter aircraft anywhere in the world, with cutting edge performance, holding speed and climb records, able to fight every most modern opponent and win, still having multirole capabilities. F-4J in late 1960s was still top fighter as well. F-4S in 1980s was just a way cheaper substitute of modern and capable F-14, giving up prestigious role of a fleet defender and being relegated to secondary duties. Libyan Su-22s and MiG-23s were delt with by Tomcats, for a reason. Everything has its own time.

Agree, but Block 30 would be nice as well having better kinematic performance than our late Block 50. Higher T/W, lower wing loading, better acceleration, climb, sustained and instantaneous turn. At cost of simpler Cold War avionics. And it was the main variant during Gulf War and famous US Navy aggressor hotrod to train dissimilar air combat.

There were two main very distinct 9.13 variants. One 9.13 was Soviet fighter produced from 1986, produced in hundreds, its only important modifications compared to 9.12 were added Gardena ECM, slightly increased fuel tank inside enlarged "hump" behind the canopy and additional 2° AoA requiring less physical force from the pilot. At the expense of slightly lower kinematic performance of a bit heavier airframe compared to 9.12. And there was 9.13S, post Cold War variant, produced in tiny numbers in mid 1990s, this had modified radar with TWS and R-77 missile (which didn't entered service in RF), modified IRST, newer computer etc. at cost of further mass increase. This is the one we have in FC3. The first may by possible to model in full fidelity and it was possibly used in some limited combat. The second is strictly classified, only marginally relevant and probably with 0 combat use, and a mix with prototype solutions.

It was used by the Soviet navy during 1980s, but it couldn't operate on ocean, only at closed calm seas like Caspian Sea. Never intended to be used in Arctic. Only one single craft was built. But yes, it was unique distinct interesting design. Just not suited for Arctic.

I didn't say anything about it being a concern. I said i just treat it a disadvantage compared to more combat aircrafts which have more atmosphere, if there is possible to chose between few variants. I.e. if we would have P-51H instead of P-51D it's lack of combat use would make it way less appealing then P-51D - iconic WW2 aircraft. Despite P-51H having better performance and capabilities.

F-4S would be nice, it had two disadvantages that's why i listed it only at 3rd place: it was relatively significantly less capable than F-4B and -J during it's time of Tomcats and Eagles, it was simply becoming outdated as soon as it entered service. And, contrary to F-4B and -J, it didn't see any combat IRL so it lacks the atmosphere or combat variants.

DCS Cuban Missile Crisis ! Needed aircrafts of this era like MiG-21F-13, Su-7B, Su-9, F-4D Skayray, A-4D Skyhawk, F-8U Crusader, U-2, F-104 Starfighter etc. SA-2 S-75, CIM-10 Bomarc missile systems.

Maybe by changing Normal to Bore button befow the HUD.

SD-10 parameters and electronics are strictly classified. We will not be able to verify its effectiveness like we can in case of weapons used in many real life conflicts.

The only US F-16C variant ever integrated with AIM-7 was Block 25, and not all Block 25 machines were integrated, there is an interview with a pilot flying them. Overall AIM-7 were close to useless with small F-16 radar that's why USAF never deployed AIM-7 integrated F-16 in Europe. AIM-7 also significantly decreases F-16 kinematic performance, acceleration, climb, maneuverability, range - F-16 contrary to AIM-7 integrated fighters like F-4, F-14, F-15, F/A-18 - didn't have semi-recessed low drag AIM-7 pylons. Oh, and "they" absolutely didn't want AIM-7 from start. USAF specifically didn't want it. Masterminds behind F-16 concept Boyd, Sprey, Myers absolutely and purposely didn't want AIM-7 on F-16. That being said i would love any Cold War F-16, especially lightweight more maneuverable early F-16A, especially super nimble Block 1, 5, 10 - with small tail, better for dogfight, but worse for heavy bomb loads. Or topic night ground attack Block 40 with LANTIRN.

Both would be great, early MiG-25P from 1971 with original ridiculusly powerfull vacuum tube Smerch radar and 1980 MiG-25PD with pulse-doppler-ish Saphir radar, integrated with R-60M missiles, RWR, flare/chaff dispencers etc. As well as even faster recon/bomber variant MiG-25RB.

Yea, and AESA radar to shoot down every enemy from - at LEAST - 100nm, 200nm preferably to be sure i'll never see any enemy. And laser canons, lots of JDAMs. Oh, and two Mach=8 internal mounted railguns instead of vulcan gun. And it's not ED, but HB.

Yes, as i said right now ASW is impossible in DCS, dedicated specialized 3rd party would need to join and code ASW environment.

I've counted DCS aircrafts, current and in development. It's 9 from WW2, 10 from 2000s modern-ish and 28 from the Cold War. 9 WWII aircrafts (Spitfire IX, P-47, P-51, Bf-109K, FW-190A, FW-190D, I-16, Mosquito) + (F4U-1) 10 aircrafts from 2005-2010 (F/A-18C, F-16C, A-10C, Ka-50, JF-17, AV-8B, AH-64D) + (Kiowa, EF, Strike Eagle) 28 Cold War from Korea to Desert Storm modules (MiG-15bis, F-86F, MiG-19P, MiG-21bis, F-5E, L-39, C-101, Mirage F.1, F-14A, Mi-24, Gazelle, Mi-8, Huey) + (Fiat G.91, MiG-23MLA, MiG-17, A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair, Bolkov 105, Sea Harrier, MiG-29A, Su-17, F-8 Crusader) + low fidelity A-10A, Su-25A, Su-27S, F-15C, MiG-29 There are also 2 originally Cold Wars aircrafts but in DCS modeled as variants from 1990s not fitting any category namely Mirage 2000 and AJS-37. British aircrafts like Hunter, EE Lighting, Tornado, Jaguar or AI Victor, Vulcan etc. would be great.

Right now i'm wondering if Cold War 1980s JA-37 with Skyflash is classified or maybe HB tried to obtain 1990s post Cold War variant with modernised avionics and only this one was classified? For me 1980s JA-37 with Skyflash would be the best anyway - this would be the one for Enigma server and Cold War SP scenarios.

I would say 2 variants: F-4B since it did most of air real life combat over Vietnam in US Navy and it was groundbreaking entering service in 1961 with stunning kinematic performance, being slightly lighter than later models, having capable radar and IRST. And being proper for 1960s scenarios, even Cuban Missile Crisis. F-4J since it was the most modern Vietnam era variant, with arguably best AA radar and weapon system of its era being the first fighter in the world with operational look-down/shoot-down capability. Plus it still had hard wing having distinct flight performance with better speed and acceleration at cost of low speed maneuverability than F-4E we will have first. And maybe F-4S? It entered service in the very end of 1970s when US Navy was already well in the process of deploying F-14 in big numbers, but F-4S still had interesting features like first operational helmet mounted sight VTAS, slats like F-4E, partially digitalized weapon control system.

Jaguar would be very interesting. Maybe not GR3 which entered service in 2000s and it would be badly outdated in 2000s, possibly even impossible to use in symmetrical battlefield and possibly still highly classified. But Jaguar GR1 from 1970s or GR1A from 1980s and Gulf War would be very nice and distinct, requiring skill to employ weapon, navigate and far more survivable in symmetrical battlefield.

Dangerous Waters simulated controlable 1980s Soviet Submarines as well, different diesel/electric Kilo class variants (Project 877) and nuclear propulsion Akula class (Project 971).

True, F-15 augumented flight control was significantly more advanced than classic hydraulic systems of its era with most basic dumping. Still every pilot i've heard flying F-15 and full computer FBW jets like F-16 or F/1A-18 confirm F-15 was very capable in BFM, but required way more skill to be flown well compared to FBW jets.

1980s ASW is simulated very well and reasonably in-depth in Sonalyst's Dangerous Waters with controlable P-3 Orion, MH-60 Seahawk, 688i, Oliver Hazard Perry, Akula, Kilo. With sound propagation, sound bouys, different types of sea floor, sound layers, passive and active sonars, magnetic anomaly detectors, FLIR cameras, different types of passive and active guided torpedoes, mines etc. "The hunt for Red October" in cold waters north of Kola Peninsula would be great in DCS, but to be close to Dangerous Waters level of fidelity and to be attractive and reasonably realistic it would require dedicated specialised 3rd party to join and make it.