Nexus-6

You have a very rude surprise coming the first time you find yourself across the circle from a competently handled F-14. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Screeching rants of "F-14 NAO! U PROMISED!!1!" will only serve to piss people off and paint you as a childish ass. It's not at all productive, and the product won't be in your hands any faster. Heatblur was very clear about the release window in October, and I don't want them to stop communicating with us because of this infantile f*ckery. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

en·​ti·​tle·​ment | [noun] 1a: the state or condition of being entitled b: a right to benefits specified especially by law or contract 2: belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

The F-14 is well known for being a difficult beast to master. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

It's nothing you can't learn just by doing a little research.

People just enjoy being dicks. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Yes, I seem to remember reading something to that effect. I was referring to the unsuspecting front seater accepting the request from said troll and then paying for it. I'm sure that it will be an excellent way to earn a server ban, but DCS isn't my first online rodeo, and I have little doubt that there will be a contingent out there bent on ruining someone else's fun anywhere they can. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I can already envision people jumping in the backseat just to pull the handle as another way to troll someone.

Being the unrepentant wise ass that he is, it's probably supposed to trick people into believing it's Tomcat content, but in fact will end up being the CEII. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

You beat me to it. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Exactly. It's not that the F-14 will be so much better, it's that it won't be any worse, and that is what a lot of naysayers will have a hard time swallowing. There's been so much dismissive criticism born of disinformation that the age old myth of "F-14 is an absolute brick" has become accepted as fact, and people will be in for a shocking wake up call the first time a Tomcat out turns them.

Unfortunately, I doubt it will settle anything. :/ If and/or when the DCS F-14 routinely thrashes Eagles, Vipers, Fulcrums etc, then it still won't matter. People will simply claim that: - Heatblur doesn't know what they're doing and screwed the FM OR... - Heatblur was participating in a Tomcat circle jerk and made it OP on purpose.

I think it was also due to the JBDs being unable to withstand the punishment of the F110s in full afterburner. I think... Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Guys, I get it. I really do. I'm a "Turkey" enthusiast from way back. Growing up, I had posters, models, books...you name it. I've been utterly dazzled by the F-14 ever since I was a wide-eyed kid watching Tomcats for the first time at NAS Oceana in the 1990s. In fact, the whole reason I even took notice of DCS was the official announcement of an F-14 module that was supposed to surpass all that have gone before. The fact that a real F-14 pilot has joined our ranks is no small amount of cool, in my opinion, but if he can't discuss certain things...then that's that. I don't think he really means to be crass or flippant when he tells you to read NATOPS. I have a million questions about Grumman's flagship war machine, and trust me, I'd love to bend his ear about all of them. But, you know what? All I have to do is exercise a little patience and I'll learn everything I ever wanted to know about the F-14 and then some. I have utter confidence that Heatblur's module will be that complete. It's like the old Chinese proverb about teaching a man to fish...

Very eager to see if you guys can make it happen. Thanks, Cobra.

I couldn't say whether Heatblur will include all of the F-14 squadrons, but I do know that VF-84 was one of the more famous examples, and it would be more than a little short sighted to exclude it. I mean, they were in movies, and books, and video games, and I think I even had a couple of toy F-14s growing up that sported VF-84 colors.

Heatblur has a good reputation for active communication with the DCS community and I'm sure it will happen as soon as they can implement it.

Both MiGs were very useful in their own way, but both possessed a common design flaw in that they lacked serious multi-role capability and were, in my (un)professional opinion, the result of a near perpetual Soviet myopia in regards to how much in the way of tech advancements should be given to a fighter aircraft. The Foxbat was capable of high altitude flight at very high speeds, but was structurally unable to tolerate anything above a moderate G loading (about 4 or 5 Gs, I think). This more less pigeonholed it into reconnaissance or high altitude interception. Also, if memory serves, it's engines had poor performance at low speeds. The Fulcrum was definitely a proverbial shot in the arm to eastern fighter design, but it too had a few glaring weaknesses. It's true the MiG-29 was very lethal in close with excellent agility and T/W, but it had poor range and lacked the advanced avionics of it's NATO counterparts. I also seem to remember reading somewhere that the Germans had to de-tune it's RD-33s to extend their lifespan. Could be wrong about that one though. Also yes, you're right, the article you linked was quite interesting. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I meant that the rumors concerning the capabilities of both MiGs were put to rest. Capable, certainly, but neither were what I would consider to be the equal of the NATO fighters that were in service at the time. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Ah. I had forgotten about Zuyev! Is the book any good? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

If you consider the Foxbat to be state of the art. :) Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

True enough. It's a common complaint from real pilots who pick up the sim and play with it. DCS in VR is a very cool experince, but there is, unfortunately, no (current) way to mimic the "feel" of being there. :( Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I'll admit that, while interesting, it's presented in a pretty dry manner, but I tell myself it's for a good cause. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Not so! I would never have guessed that the F-14 was a bad formation aircraft. In fact, I was never even aware that there was such a thing. If I'm struggling with formations, then I'd probably have simply assumed it was because I sucked at it. Also yes, I am reading the NATOPS manual. Reading it very carefully.

Especially when a quick glance over my shoulder will tell me everything I want to know. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk