Cytarabine

That would be a great era for a scenario. The Hornet could do the striking with Walleyes (they are big bombs) while the Viper does SEAD and CAS. CAP duties could be performed by Mirages providing close in CAP with Tomcats providing additional cover perhaps coming up to cover the retreat of the strike package.

So I guess this means the ‘push’ on TWS and the TGP for the Hornet is kicked down the road another week while the Viper gets sorted out?

Yeah as much as I love the Mirage the 2000C we have is a tough fit against the early 21st century fighters. If you compare it to a contemporary Hornet or Viper it holds up quite well, the Magic II is quite a good missile, and the 530D is good for a semi-active radar homing missile. Realistically it would probably be doing CAP in a less active sector, maybe doing HVACAP with an AWACS or tanker?

Assuming this is with 'complete' modules that have all their features; SEAD - Viper - having the HTS pod just makes it that bit more capable in SEAD CAP - Hornet - more missiles means can stay out there longer (likely with a 3 bags, AIM-9X on the wingtips, 2 x AIM-120C on each outer pylon and an AIM-120 on each fuselage mount), better radar (the APG-73 SHOULD be better than the APG-68v5, whether it will be is another question) Interdiction - Hornet, it is faster with an A-G load than the Viper CAS - Viper, more Maverick goodness Anti-shipping - Hornet, no Harpoon, no contest Striking a heavily defended target - Hornet, SLAM-ER complementing the JSOW Ultimately other than anti-shipping where the lack of a dedicated anti-shipping missile is a big factor they are pretty even matches across the spectrum.

There were experiments with prone pilot positions for this reason (and allowing a reduced frontal aspect so reducing drag).

Ummm... Okay. Have you been trying to fly the Viper with the FLCS turned off again? Edit... Oh no I get it, been sniffing the Hydrazine in the EPU... that stuffs nasty!

So I played around with my settings on my system (Ryzen 3600, 32gb RAM, 2700S and Rift S) and found by turning pixel density to 1.5, cockpit displays to 1024 and turning off MSAA the displays popped in to readability. 1.5 was the lower limit, 1.6 a little better but diminishing returns for the performance hit. Turning off ASW seemed to help as well. While the Hornet I seem to be able to get away with a lower pixel density and add msaa to smooth out the jaggies no such option with the Viper.

What direction is the wind coming from and how strong?

It does indeed.

... and now the Walleye makes sense.

I wouldn’t bother with Grim Reapers for tutorials, they are more entertainment than tutorial (not saying that is a bad thing, Red Kite just does it so well it is hard to compare)

So I just discovered something (which I am sure is no duh to anyone) about the Walleye. If you have a target from another source (e.g. waypoint) designated as soon as you uncage the seeker head it will go straight for it and give you a time to release cue on the HUD. Used it during the "Dawn Raiders" mission and was quite useful in getting my Walleye looking into the target area. Haven't tried it with a TGP but I don't see why it wouldn't work (you just couldn't have datalink, but still if you have designated a specific target that might be a non-issue).

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).