Jester2138

Doesn't matter because due to a little thing called "The Law" he still has to work off the same publicly available information as anybody else. And it's not like other modules don't also use SMEs in the development.

Also experiencing that the Tomcat is not flying itself in the CVN-73 instant action Case I mission even when CMD CONTROL is illuminated.

If this is a joke, I don't get it.

This has been the case for me as well ever since VR was released. The alt-tab/tab/enter workaround described by Buzzer above does not work for me (or the OP, as he said in his post...). I suspect ED has been missing out on the vast majority of crash reports from VR users because of this

Source?

He's not talking about lag between head movement and PNVS movement. He's talking about how the PNVS does not appear to smoothly pan/tilt in the first place, but rapidly "step" across positions. It's most visible in the video he posted when tracking a passing scenery object with his head. You can see how the PNVS "steps" to pan instead of panning continuously. What he's showing would not be physically possible in a real sensor.

If you're talking about Karbala, a couple dozen Apaches overflew an entire Iraqi division in a deliberately planned ambush due to faulty intel and sustained hits from PKM, NSV, 23mm, and 57mm fire. Only one was forced down (intact) and the crew was captured. Nobody was killed by enemy fire, though one CPG had to be evacuated to Germany. That sort of event would be impossible in DCS right now IMO as even the PKM fire would rapidly kill many crew members with no trouble before we even start talking about the 23mm and 57mm.

Detailed on page 63 of the DCS Apache manual...

I was actually just thinking about how distracting I find the hook... Would love to be able to hide it.

Skill issue

Not even necessarily true for a low-intensity conflict. In Iraq/Afghanistan the Navy planes had MASSIVE tanker requirements compared to planes that could be based in-country or a neighbor.

If a Hornet is running cold from a Viper it's already lost the fight, regardless of not having to take 1-2 seconds after a 180 turn to bug the Viper manually before launching on it and turning cold again. Bizarre scenario to use to show the usefulness of the hypothetical capabilities of MSI. I always find these discussions that toe the line between classified/unclassified capabilities to be pretty pointless. Sure, maybe the Hornet in 2007 could shoot at a datalinked target without using it's own radar. It's implied in some documents that were leaked. For all you know, the Viper could do the exact same thing, but the documents showing that weren't leaked. Just stick to the unambiguous public stuff, or stuff you can find out yourself with CFD and whatnot. Better for everybody.

Wow. Hard to express just how strongly I disagree with that. The Apache is better at everything except high altitude. And for most of those things, it's not even close. The excellent RWR alone makes the Apache hugely superior and more deadly. Hellfires are hugely better than Vikhrs. The navigation and avionics in general are ridiculously superior in the Apache. The sensors and fire control systems are at least one full generation ahead in the Apache. I could go on and on.

If you think it's unrealistic, check this out: Good luck doing a lot of that in a coaxial helicopter like the KA-50/52!

See image. My understanding is that the disk would only tilt when there are aerodynamic forces from the spinning blades producing lift to tilt the disk. It can't tilt just sitting on the ground not spinning. Additionally, the blades seem to be articulated up down mechanically instead of just flexing. IIRC (can't seem to find this on the internet so I'm going off memory) the Apache is a rigid rotor system and the blades can only flex, not hinge like they're animated in DCS. Am I correct?

I see a lot of real-life Apache pilots/crew on these forums, Discord, and Youtube helping ED and the users out. The knowledge and passion they are extending for their aircraft is awesome and I've really enjoyed seeing their influence. All modules should be so lucky to have as involved a SME community as the Apache. It's really awesome. Thanks!

I think the Apache is a lot more agile than the default controls make it feel. Now that I'm comfortable with my setup, I can really throw it around pretty good. Lots of fun. Yeah, the Apache has other "lock" or "track" modes on the TADS that aren't implemented yet.

The two issues I've encountered with the Hellfires are: 1) The LMC is bugged and doesn't sync to the pilot, and since apparently the pilot client owns the aircraft, laser, and weapons in MP, a CPG using LMC will not be lasing what he thinks he's lasing. Solution: pilot flies better so the CPG doesn't need to use LMC until it's fixed. This hasn't been a problem for me (and we didn't even realize LMC was bugged for a while) because anytime we're firing Hellfires we're in a hover anyway and never used the LMC. 2) On MP hot starts, the Hellfires seem completely INOP in all respects. Have not found a workaround yet. I have never achieved a Hellfire track in MP from a hot start. I don't think I've encountered literally any other meaningful desync issues. As you said, this is a shockingly decent release for Eagle Dynamics. I expected far worse.

Try cycling LOAL/LOBL and shooting in each. Worked for me.

I don't really agree. I'm certainly not God's gift to aviation but my CPG friend and I have used all 16 Hellfires in one sortie multiple times in different online public server missions, once even at night under PNVS. With 16 Hellfires you've got over two hours of fuel and it's actually lighter than some 8 + rocket loadouts so time on station is not an issue. The assumption many here have that 16 Hellfires is heavier than 8 Hellfires + rockets is often not the case, depending on the rockets you take. Additionally, the assumption that it's not realistic is also false. As said earlier, the Apache was specifically designed as a Fulda Gap tank buster and for carrying and shooting 16 Hellfires. In fact, once the FCR and datalinking is implemented, we can take a flight of two or more Apaches, one of which has the FCR, and shoot all 32+ Hellfires at once from a masked position after the FCR bird does a sweep and datalinks all the targets. Yes, that's realistic, and something they specifically train to do because of their original mission as a Soviet tank buster. It sounds insane because it is... insanely awesome. That's the Apache.

Try a curve on the collective and stop making big movements on the collective.

I could see this either way. 1) The Longbow radar is expensive and not equipped on every (or even most) US Army aircraft. It's not even necessary to do so because of the sophisticated data-linking. Therefore, the status of an AH-64 being radar-equipped or not is somewhat of a strategic/tactical choice that should be set by the mission, not by a random client. 2) This is already true of things like targeting pods and heavy weaponry and yet DCS allows all of that to be changed via the Ground Crew by a random client. Therefore, it should be true of the radar, as well. Furthermore, the tactical situation that enables the US Army to simply not need every aircraft to have its own radar (never flying alone) does not apply to DCS, and clients should be able to make it work even across varying player counts and dynamic missions.

Yes, this is sorely needed in a simulator that uses controls that do not mirror the real-life controls perfectly.

Guys, of course the Apache has a hover hold (via position and altitude hold). It's even mentioned in the EA Guide that you all hopefully are reading. However, it doesn't work yet.

"Yeah, plane A almost always beats plane B but that doesn't make plane A better." Hmmm? On the tank thing, I always bring only the centerline tank when doing A2A in the Viper. I don't know why you're so fixated on having to take the wing tanks. Regarding the relative BFM performance of Viper vs. Hornet, in fights that start BVR, Hornets have never survived long enough to get close to my Viper to find out who's better at BFM.