Rick50

True, that whole issue of keeping the Army from buying too many fixed wing vehicles! But I don't think they like it. It seems like a "necessary drudgery" to the top brass. I'm not talking Hog drivers or line crew, or maintenance people, or Viper drivers, or PJ operators, or JTAC operators... they seem to all "get" the need for CAS... but it seems the walls of the Pentagon make it difficult to see how CAS isn't just "solved" purely by a fancy multimode smert-boom with wings an GPS an datalincks. Sometimes, in rare but critical cases, it means going low, getting down in the weeds, either slow or really really fast... just make some NOISE, maybe drop some high drag iron, strafe a little. Might not seem important in the strategic sense to the Pentagon boffins, but it's HUGELY important to ground forces, be they Army, Marines, SOF, or allied ground forces. And yes, I do know that fancy ord does go a long way, brings CAS help from platforms that you'd never expect to help out (for instance Bones, be it from JDAM's, laser pods with Paveways, or just doing a full afterburner low pass as fast as your Bone can go!!). But... for all the Vipers, Bones, Buffs, and Bugs, Litenings and Euro2k's helping out, or the Reapers and , ground guys still request Hogs and Specters often enough to ask "why is that?". I'm guessing that the Marines are calling for Harvest Hawks for similar reasons. I've noticed that several western armies are increasingly investing in their own smart weapons, such as GMLRS, Excalibur 155mm, ATACMS, and now a new generation of ground launched smart ordnance. One such test took the SDB with it's folding wings, GPS and penetrator, and mounted to the 227mm MLRS rocket, giving a rather substantial range (100km ? I can't recall) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-39_Small_Diameter_Bomb#Ground_Launched_Small_Diameter_Bomb_(GLSDB) Also, the Army is about to award a new longer range ground to ground guided rocket to supplement or replace the ATACMS, one that would be more modular in nature, cheaper to field and maintain, basically it'd be a single rocket per pod, like the ATACMS allowing one in a HIMARS and two in a M270. Then there is the unguided but increasingly accurate and fast to fire new generation of 155mm artillery, such as the Swedish Archer truck 155mm systems that both America and British Army are taking a very serious look at right now, serious enough it might lead to a new sale. It's VERY automated to lay, load, fire and fire several in MSIP missions (fire several shells, that all impact a single target area at the same impact time on target, due to different velocities and trajectories). And if they need raw precision, they can easily direct the selection of a GPS guided EXcalibur shell, that's proven effective in many uses in Afghanistan. Then there is Mojave UCAV drone... basically a Reaper that's got a high lift STOL wing. Carries more Hellfires or other ord, still a lot of loiter, but can operate from a gravel strip thanks to Tundra tires more commonly seen on bush planes like Twin Otters, Beavers and Piper Cub variants! Then there is Spike NLOS, and Switchblade... the 300 is good for dealing with situations that no other platform is effective at... snipers and such. But the 600 is a game changer, almost bringing a small level of CAS right to the grunt. And Phoenix Ghost basically is a Mega-600 that has enough range to do commando raids behind enemy lines. I think this trend of the Army adapting to the needs of CAS will increase a great deal over the next decade. But at the end of the day, troops on the ground still want the comfort of a Hog or Specter on station when the chips are down. A B-2 Spirit isn't going to strafe a technical, or do a fast low-pass to scare away enemy combatants... Regardless of ground-fired ordnance, if you are running away for your life from a kill zone, you hope like hell that someone in the air sees you being chased and decides to put a reticule on the guys trying to kill you, and I just don't see that changing any time soon!!

Yea, I hope the Kiowa will show up for sale. It's just that the drastic decrease in comms from the team has many of us wondering if the project will get to that point. The silver lining is that silence does not equal a dead project. Sometimes silence is just silence while things happen out of view of the many. That's my hope anyway. I can understand the silence of a sim dev team too... the increasing uncertainty of the project's finish time, new bugs to work out... dealing with frustrated fans like myself...

Hmm... makes me wonder if Cobra Command bought the Mig-31 Firefox and asked for a modified variant?

Pretty much. They launched with lots of talk about "release this year" and lots of beautiful screenshots. After a year, they got a lot quieter. And the release date estimate became a lot more murky. After a while of that, with a few assurances that things were coming along nicely, then with no warning they went silent. It's been silent for a while. I'm not sure of the status of this project. But I wouldn't bet money on an eminent release. It's an open question that no one's really asking, as to whether or not the project is still alive or not. It seems that most have embraced the Hind and Apache, and are looking forward to the Bo-105 PAH. While I do think a KW would sell, that requires a product for us to buy!

No, of course not, they clearly found a lone Typhoon in the corner of an airfield and started taking it apart piece by piece, code by code, all while disguising themselves with white labcoats and fake moustaches! Eventually, the wing commander will notice the missing aircraft and discover the plane in pieces and order it assembled ASAP "or else someone's getting posted to Thule AFB!!" (not that it's my place to question why a Luftwaffe airman would be posted to Thule in the first place!) Edit: Just like Fragger certainly has a Bo-105 hidden away in a barn on a hill in the Black Forrest, so he can meticulously recreate that agile fling-wing anti-tank nightmare of Soviet tank crews! Hmm... I'm sensing a pattern...

I think part of the reason I find lack of FF sticks strange, is because with automobile racing simulations, force feedback has grown to absolutely DOMINATE the market. You can spend a few hundred, to a great many thousands, then a beefy frame to keep it all rock solid and sturdy! But for flight? Oh yea, here's some 20 year old sticks you could buy used, take yer chances!

It's all good, gentlemen! We're ALL excited by the artwork Fragger is blessing us with... and by the anticipation of flying this nimble flying carpet between trees and under bridges!!! Finally saw one with my own eyes in the fall ex in 1990... first time seeing any kind of armed helo before!

True. bit off topic, but it's quite a surprise to me that force feedback didn't keep going after MS stopped their Sidewinder FF series... I mean I know there's one or two that are very high quality and very high prices ( like that of a car?), but nothing in the normal "flight stick" market.

Eh... well I think that some or most (??) of the people using force feedback sticks, like the Microsoft FFB2 can actually do this, but you'd have to talk to them!!

Whut? ED / Belsimtek are not developing a Phantom anymore. Heatblur is making it. Heatblur is a 3rd party developer. So yes, my original statement stands: ED shelved the Phantom. They might have wished to continue it, it's a great subject, but for whatever reason they dropped it. I'm pretty sure that at one point around 2 years ago Nick Grey stated that ED was not going to make a Phantom product (this well after the early screens and announcements) but that 3rd parties were welcome to do so... and clearly Heatblur rose to the occasion! The thing is, ED may have decided based on a lot of market research, that while some module ideas would sell, others would sell more. Thus, it's probably a nice profit for a 3rd party dev, but ED maybe has to look for fatter profits, to keep developing DCS World engine, develop better AI, develop a dynamic persistent campaign, create the global map (costly and lots workhours/years) and so on. It's my belief that this need for ED's own modules to create more money, at least partially drives the choices of which modules they make in-house, and which module subjects they approve from 3rd party devs. Hmm, maybe the NDA between ED and Ubi prevents them from talking? Ultimately, I'm in favor of bringing a C-Eagle to full fidellity module status. I do think it would sell quite well. I also think there are significant reasons why they've not done so yet, but I'm just guessing about those reasons.

Just because it meets the definition of PFM back 15 years ago (or whenever that was), doesn't mean that it meets the expectations of a full fidellity module in 2022 without criticisms from users comparing to the real deal. Meaning, it's in the right category, but would fail to meet today's expectations. No, I'm not claiming to be expert on FM's and the Eagle. I'm just offering that I'm doubtful the FC level product dynamics would please today's demanding audience. BUT, this isn't a showstopper, not at all. I'm very confident it's achievable, but I don't think simply copy/paste is the solution here, it'd have to be done from the bottom up for FF. And really that's all I'm suggesting: the efforts from the earlier FC example are largely, IMO kind of irrelevant to making a full FF module. Maybe the best is whatever data they collected back then, might be enough for a module today. The upside is, 3rd party devs are getting better at creating good complex products. And ED is getting quite fast at creating massively complex modules, which are usable from day 1 of early access, and they are getting faster at it all. So despite all the work needed, maybe an Eagle isn't so far off? As for Ubi being suspected of having the rights to the Eagle, perhaps that's true. It might not prevent ED from getting it's own permission to make one, unless Ubi somehow got an indefinite exclusivity agreement....? I don't know what Ubi is like these days, would they be up to selling such rights, or ignore such an offer? Do they even make flight simulators these days that don't involve feathered wings that flap?

I doubt that. I would think that the publisher wouldn't have such control long after the deal is done. But I could be wrong. Maybe licensing rights are in the way? Maybe Ubi has the licensing rights and not ED ? Even still, I think there would be an eventual sunset of such agreement, or some way to get such an agreement for ED now or soon. Not necessarily. Some would ask "why buy a new one? I already have the Eagle! and it wuz cheap!" Do we know what the sales were like, comparing the FC A-10A vs the FF A-10C ? Many did and do want the Hind. More or less than an Eagle I cannot say. I do think an Eagle FF module would sell, and I expect at some point it will come. I expect though that ED's choices of module topics is guided by more factors though. I didn't expect a Viper right after the Hornet, given their similarities. I didn't expect the Cobra and Phantom to be shelved... and I didn't expect ED to make the Apache Longbow D when an A might have been easier to source systems data. And I certainly didn't expect the resurection of the Phantom at HEatblur, and a few hints that a Cobra may restart development (don't hold me or anyone else to that... I'm probably seeing something that isn't there, maybe projecting my own biases!!) I think there is a greater overarching strategy here... competing systems, filling major gaps in the battlefield, when possible. I disagree. The FM does not meet FF. The systems are truly simple compared to an FF module. And the cockpit isn't even close to done for a FF module today: the polys would need to be increased, the model would likely get a 3d laser scan or photogrametry, the textures would need a major update, and every switch, that doesn't work today, needs animating and get hit boxes. If that's not done, you'll get a mob of complaints. Look at the upgrades to the Hog and Blackshark... that's the level needed to bring an Eagle to FF module status. But I agree that it would be worth it, for us and ED's sales, and it IS a little confusing why this hasn't already happened. But I do think ED's made great choices so far, and an FF Eagle will come to us sometime. I'm sure of it.

Looks even weirder when it's so easy to see the tank pointing at an angle...

I kinda wonder if the weird feeling is reduced by trimming out the plane? I mean, I don't imagine pilots fighting with the side weight for the whole flight....

LOL!!!!

Ah!!! Well 76mm is probably enough for Africa.... and probably easier logistics too, cheaper munitions stockpiles.

Incurious George??

Good idea... I like the two armored vehicles too... G6 155mm, and the other a 105mm ? Rookat or something?

Uh.... you might be right, but LOL!! They shouldn't! Artillery in general and MLRS in particular should almost always be employed beyond line of sight! I'm not even sure of an M270 is even set up to do line of sight.. I mean it probably is, but I wouldn't bet cash on it either.

Same mod as the C-130J Super Hercules. Don't get too excited though, the gunship variant is not terribly realistic. Maybe it's improved since then, but when I last looked at it, the guns were fixed... you couldn't aim them like on a gimbal or turret like real life. Nor would the sight calculate the ballistics like lead computing, slant range ballistics calculations and such. So not really like even the earliest Specters... but I can't really complain, it's a free mod, and Ive no idea how to code anything, much less code an improvement to the AC130 !!! The newest AC's have additional capabilities too, with glide bombs using GPS and laser designation, laser Hellfires and such.

Oh? I hadn't heard about that, care to expand a little on that?

Two interesting possibilities for a map: Kyrgystan / Tajikistan. Why? Because they are fairly independent. They have both seen conflict. A fictional conflict between them would be interesting, with lots of "team Red" aircraft and equipment, rather than another Hornet's nest of Spaamrams. Both nations are small enough for a current DCS map (ok I'm probably stretching the definition!) The terrain of both is... mountainous. Lots of chokepoints, lots of opportunity for non-stealthy Migs to sneak between the valleys. It's basically the same mountains seen in north Eastern corner of Afghanistan, but north of that. Scenarios could see the two nations pitted against each other, or from other neighbors, like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and China. === Another possibility could be Mongolia. It's quite a large nation physically, about the size of Spain France and Germany combined. The terrain does have a fair amount of mountains but there are deserts and large plains for maneuvers. Now, for adversaries, it's Russia and China. The nation is much too large for a current DCS map, so maybe choose the western end, and maybe even include a little of Kazakhstan terrain and add a third adversary? === (south ) West Africa could provide many possibilities, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, parts of Mali, parts of Nigeria... choosing an area for a map in that region could be quite interesting and a decent DCS map size. Ample opportunity for Red aircraft, but you can plausibly add in Western aircraft of different times, in "Cold War assistance" scenarios, Aircraft Carrier support from the Atlantic. === There are other very interesting regions for DCS campaigns, but it does seem like so many of them need more area than the current crop of DCS maps are able to represent and render fast enough for users! So with the Global Map starting development, these other locations could become practical. Examples could include Ethiopia, having conflict with Somalia, Sudan, maybe Yemen. Kashmir, the disputed/contested region between Pakistan and India. Iran Iraq, recreate the 1980's conflict. South American borders, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, Argentina... Ecuador, Colombia Panama Venezuela, Guyana...

Huey Cobra TOW, UH-60, CH-47 and/or '53, AH-6 Little Bird or MD-500 Defender TOW... perhaps a Kiowa Warrior... after all that, I think US helos would be pretty much covered "enough". Ok maybe a Super Cobra or Viper Cobra too for the Misguided Children*! Russian helos, well, we already have the Mi-8 Hip and '24 Hind, and the Black Shark... so maybe the future could see Mi-28 Havoc, Mi-171 ("Super Hip?" ...uh, sounds too much like a 1970's disco band?). I'm coming around to the idea of Mi-26 for DCS: basically a VTOL C-130 Hercules in capacity, but can move logistics from anywhere to anywhere. Sure, maybe not a full fidellity as it's got a significant crew... but for winning campaigns, say like moving up equipment to make a proper FARP to hold ground and operate from... I do think at some point there will be some Euro helicopters. Clearly we already have the Gazelle, and we "should" see the MBB BO-105 tank hunter arrive in the next 10 months (I hope), but after that... maybe the Super Frelon, and NH-90, maybe a EuroTiger ? Not a guarantee, but we are soon approaching "enough" helos for Russia and USA, after that I'd expect more European fling-wings to see a bit of attention! *(for those who never heard the term, the US Marine Corp has been sometimes nicknamed "Uncle Sam's Misguided Children"! in a teasing brotherly way!)