Cytarabine

Couldn’t agree more.

I think everyone knows what an early access program is, and that there are implicit risks. What we didn’t see coming was a deliberate decision to launch another EA product and then proceed to divert staff from this project to that project. That is where the ire comes from, at least from most of what I am seeing, not strictly a ‘this is taking to long’ but the why. If things are taking a long time but every effort is being made then so be it, that is not the case here. We all know that this isn’t down to individual devs, nor the public faces of the company, we appreciate their work, many of us do not appreciate the decisions made above them.

I never get why people are so quick to criticize anyone who dares ask a question about early access particularly when there appears to be a lack of progress on key systems. If you are happy with the drip feed then great, however some people are clearly not, and I think that the release of the Viper drawing staff away from the Hornet has added to that feeling and it is only natural to ask questions.

I agree compared to the Hornet the MFDs are harder to read in VR, though they are smaller/further away (or so it seems) so perhaps that accounts for some of the difference. They certainly aren’t totally illegible though while I never zoom in to look at a targets attitude in the Hornet I will often in the Viper. Most of the time my impression from a distance was correct but still I can’t be sure so will check. Perhaps the font needs some tweaking for VR, without breaking realism it shouldn’t be too hard to make it more legible.

Well not quite useless but harder than it needs to be. You would think as the targeting pod code must be determining the position within space for both GPS weapons and to reflect the position on the SA display it boggles the mind a bit why they haven’t added coordinates display, display in the JHMCS and the ability to have mark points and go to waypoints. Yes I know early access and all it is just some of the staged things get left at for substantial period of time seem strange.

If you have VR then absolutely. It is really the best cockpit in VR of the modern jets (that bubble canopy). Is it complete, absolutely not, no where near. If I hadn’t ordered at 20% off then I would probably wait unless I absolutely needed the Viper now. However if you have it then why not jump in and see what you think.

Heck yes - as for whether people care most about the putting bombs on target bit - not me, give me a complex flight plan, ToT’s to hit and a hook up with a tanker any day. I am planning a randomized CAP mission with no pew pew as a very likely outcome right now. Just need to find the time!

You have to enter a preset once to go into preset mode then it will change with the rocker. < Removed this paragraph as I was corrected. >

Which if you factor in the Pk of a sidewinder from that era (all-aspect AIM-9L or M) vs an AIM-7 (such as seen in the Gulf war) you probably aren’t missing a lot, particularly fulfilling a light day fighter role.

I think you will find that the minor discrepancies when you set up the autopilot will turn into major issues quickly. Just keep practicing. Try flying in stable formation with the tanker first, then positioning for contact and then contact. Remember small movements over large, better to under than over do it, adjust and counter and you will do it. You will be constantly adjusting the throttle and stick to keep in the zone. Helps to stay relaxed (tense muscles lead to large movements) and if it is getting frustrating go dogfight and then come back to it. Took me ages to get my first refueling complete in the Hornet, in the Viper it was my third hookup.

Well you can still go defensive just be mindful of your radars gimbal limits if you want to maintain track, you can also break early and if I recall the AIM-120 should continue on inertial guidance until it turns its radar on and if it sees the target go pitbull. Of course if your target is not in the field of vision when the radar goes active (for instance they maneuver) then it will miss. Now if an enemy is silly enough to keep flying straight ahead guiding their SARH missile when you fired in TWS and their first warning was an AMRAAM going pitbull, they could be in for a bad day.

It is a beautiful mission. Have only flown it once but enjoyed it greatly. As I was taxiing to the runway I looked to my left to see the first rays of dawn shine through a pair of parked C-130’s I couldn’t help but think just how beautiful this game can be. As I brought her in across the coast I couldn’t help but think; ‘this is going to be the lead piece on CNN this morning’

If dipping into MANPAD territory it might pay to release flares on your run in and out. Unless you have a good reason otherwise when doing CAS you should aim to be above MANPAD height as much as possible, dipping down to deliver ordinance before returning to the relative safety of altitude. It’s a luxury the Viper has that the Warthog does not. Equally in BFM don’t be afraid to drop a few flares if you lose sight of your enemy for a moment (and of course if you see a launch).

I know they aren’t on the list so am sure this is a negative, but given this is a 2007 Viper and acquisition of the LJDAM started in 2007 with the first operational drop in 2008 (by a 77th FS Viper no less, which we already have a skin for) was thinking it isn’t really unrealistic for a 2007 Viper.

Exactly. If it is only a couple of weeks, not such a big deal, but I think a lot of us worry that it is going to be much longer.

I couldn’t agree more. When I purchased the Hornet the Viper had not been announced. The Hornet is in early access, we know this, and we know that means that we are buying into something that is feature incomplete for an indeterminate amount of time. However the quid pro quo of the faith we place in a developer by handing over our money on a promise is that they will give their 100% commitment to delivering. For me the answer is simple, without substantial progress in the Hornet there is little reason to buy the carrier module when that drops. If there is that progress, then if course I will get it, as it serves a purpose. I’m not angry... I’m just disappointed.

Sorry to necro the threat, but I thought it might be worth commenting on for any who have the question. So the 5700XT is an interesting beast. For flat panel gaming it performs really well. However I found VR to be not so great. Initially the extra VRAM was a help over the 2060 (it clearly uses more than 6gb of VRAM in VR) I was using, but there were a lot of ASW induced artefacts (particularly at low level), even effecting things like terrian which is not fun. In the end I took the 1080 out of my home theatre PC and put it in, and the VR experience on this was much smoother without the same artefacts, so given my primary games currently are DCS and Il-2 both in VR the 1080 will stay in and I guess the 5700XT is destined for the home theatre!

Well given it is a major selling point over that other F-16 simulator one would hope the VR experience will be good. Personally I can't wait for the bubble canopy with VR!

Just choose one of the weapons qualification missions and change your loadout (depending on whether you want to practice with JDAMs, JGBs or LMAVs just put them on the pylons, a Litening pod under the belly and you are away). For my next sortie though I plan on doing the airfield strike mission from the campaign with a targeting pod and JDAMs, those pesky Shilka's and low-altitude SAMs will not bother me this time!

Thanks Chuck, great work as always. Required reading for all DCS Hornet drivers out there.

Spoiler alert but you are correct :smartass:

Umm. Well not really. This is not Ace Combat. Also if you don’t maintain your lock until impact your sparrow is going to go stupid.

Perhaps your confusion is from talking to Aussie Hornet pilots or getting information on the Aussie Hornets? They did replace the carrier ILS and ACLS with a land based ILS/VOR receiver along with removing equipment for carrier ops but that is not the version of the Hornet modelled in DCS.

There is no ILS on the US F/A-18C’s. It is fitted to some countries that have land based Hornets but they aren’t the version modelled here.

Nah I tend to agree. I enjoy the the Tomcat, but it is largely Topgun induced nostalgia and those massive Phoenix missiles that make me fly it. If I could only have one module now it would be the Hornet. Fortunately I can have more than one so when I need my early 80’s Topgun fix I can jump in the Tomcat, but when playing a full mission give me a Hornet any day of the week.