F1GHTS-ON

Post deleted : original question has been better answered than my post by the Hyperlink to Wiki on MAWs provided on 2nd page (Wills post #12)

I don't have access to DCS at the moment, but 3144 feet is 958 metres - so i wonder if it is just an error in units being displayed?

A lucky few got to transitions to the F/A-18F in the same way that a "few" A-6E pilots & BNs got to transition to the F-14 back in the mid 1990's. the majority found themselves in other Navy aviation experienced jobs (battle Staffs etc). remember the S-3 viking community suddenly found themselves out of a job in a similar time frame. All the Shooters (officer Yellow shirts) on CV decks and many of the other roles on the ship that require "experience" in aviation, but are NOT actually flying jobs needed filling. All USN fixed wing pilots (even the E-2 & C-2) have to deck qualify on the Goshawk before being streamed to an aircraft type. When the EA-6B prowler went (crew=4) the replacement F/A-18G only needed 2 crew. So in addition to new pilots/systems officers joining up/training there was a requirement to move some (but only some) of the old Prowler crews across. perhaps they should all join a Union to fight for their job protection!

Rhino - in answering your 1st question, In the "real" world JHMCS works along very similar lines to the VR headsets/ TrackIR in the PC world. In the Hornet cockpit, on the left rear of the canopy is a mounting (about the size of a GoPro camera) that is effectively using (magnetic I think) measurements of the pilots helmet to measure alignment. Inside the visor is projected the data similar to the heads Up Display.

How smart are the AI Surface to Air Missile operators in DCS? I have seen some excellent tutorials on You Tube explaining the math and advantages of “cranking” when taking a head on shot in an air-2-air missile engagement. Against AI pilots in DCS this tactic seems to work very well as the AI pilot tends to shoot at max range but what about ground based AI SAM operators (who presumably flunked out of AI pilot school!). If a SAM system in DCS is claiming 50 mile range, and the target aircraft is flying direct towards, does the AI “shoot” when the target is still 70+ miles away so as to achieve the “intercept” at the 50 miles?(where clearly a “crank” by the target will defeat the missile shot) Or does the AI SAM operator wait until the target is inside the 50 mile range bubble and then shoot (when the target is forced into chaff, manoeuvring and good luck to defeat the missile) I know how this all works in the real world, but am interested in the DCS AI SAM operator mindset so that I can create some SEAD missions (who knows, we might be getting HARM for our legacy Hornets soon ) Thanks [edit: I couldn’t find a thread on SAMS to add this question to, if the Moderators know of one, please delete this post & I’ll search there – thanks]

As someone (very) gradually building up his system and components on a very limited budget, the CH Fighterstick has been my 1st purchase, largely based on reading these forums. This has replaced a £5 Ebay purchase 20 year old , no springs etc Saitek stick which was frankly beyond usagble... all i can say is Wow and a huge "thank you" to all who have taken the time to post - The difference to my playing satisfaction in just 3 days is off the scale (last week i could barely align with a runway, now I can land on a CV.) In a month or so I will go for the next big purchase, either TrackIR or a CH Throttle......I say CH because, as already stated, these posts suggest that CH is the way to go. Thank you