flameoutme

No, although I would not mind having it. The buttkicker does have some frequency controls so you can sandwich the range of sound you want translated into vibrations. For the '86, it works beautifully to emulate engine, stalls, gun shots, taxi, takeoff and landing out of teh box.

Yeah it is great isn't it! And I think graphically it is better than fine. I was hoping at some point to get one of those seats. As of right now, I am using a Buttkicker 2. Definately immersion adding. have fun!

@Squiffy & @avenger82 - are there detailed discussions on these issues elsewhere? It's probably because I am such a novice shot - I did not know it wasn't working. Would like to read up on it.

Hey have some great times. Enjoy!

I own a large number of DCS airplanes (and one helo), and enjoy many of them. But the F-86 to me is the most enjoyable of all. I aim to explain why. If you are considering investing time and money in the DCS/ Belsimtek F-86 I hope my comments provide some useful info for consideration. Simmers come in all sizes and shapes and backgrounds and preferences and skill levels. So I don't mean for one minute to imply that if you like other planes better that you are some how mistaken. Not the case at all. I fly in VR only using a RIFT S headset. I have a "Buttkicker" and I play radio chatter in the background for immersion. (Could not be simpler to do, BTW, if want to know, ask.). I also use VoiceAttack to supplement my Hotas set up which is the Thrust master Warthog joystick and the Thrust master TWCS throttle. (I feel this throttle is better for VR unless you need multiple sticks). OK, 'nuf of that. The first reason I love the DCS F-86 is the flight characteristics "feel right". It acts like it has just the right amount of mass. It trims right, too. For example, after dropping a bomb you'll sense the need to alter the trim. The airbrake"feels right" in its effect as well. It takes off well and lands well. Its engine takes time to spool up (apparently, like the real thing). So you have to learn to finesse it especially at lower speeds which is both doable and a lot of fun. As this was a post WWII /50's jet you are not strapped into a flying bullet with electronics that rival the Space Shuttle. The systems are far, far more simple and basic. You do have a computer driven pipper (no doubt analog driven), but that's it. But that's the beauty of it. The systems can be learned. Personally, I find it hard to learn the modern airplanes ('tho I enjoy them too), because there's just so much to learn - and when you throw in ongoing changes that don't make their way all the time into updated tutorials - well that's a recipe for frustration. Not so with the F-86. The radar system, for example (it has one of sorts), could not be any simpler. That's just the way things were in the 50's. And that also means that as a pilot your basic skills of holding the airplane on target, and doing the few switches and dials required for flying, defending or attacking are within most people's grasp. And you can view tutorials made years ago with some confidence that they won't be another frustration recipe. There are two campaigns I know of for the '86. The first is the museum relic campaign. Personally, I am not enamored by the title because it caused me not to even look at it for a long, long time. And THAT caused me to not buy the F-86 for a long, long time. But I am glad I did. The museum relic campaign is BRILLIANT in how it runs a story happening today with a plane from 60-70 years ago. You can read up on it, but whomever crafted the basic story did a great job. Enjoy! The other campaign simulates conflict during the korean war. You can read the details on "Hunters of the Yula". It is, unfortunately, not available on Steam at this time. But I am counting the days. So, let me say in summary, the F-86 is a simpler plane to learn because it is from a simpler, almost "innocent" time. And its flight model and systems make it a joy to operate. It may not be the belle of the ball, but it will turn some heads still. I love it. Thanks DCS/Belsimtek!

Hey thanks! yeah!!!!!

Then depression set in. I was all excited when I saw ED in their advertisement say 'Hunters over the Yalu Campaign' was part of the summer sale... I thought that meant it would be listed in steam. Sale or not. But alas, no. Let us F-86'ers send thoughts to ED to get the campaign listed on Steam. I am sure Reflected! would be happy with that as well. Is there a different forum I should be posting this wish in?

UPDATE: 7/21/2020. Hunters over the Yalu Campaign now in Steam. Attack!!!! I love the F-86 - and would doubly love to buy the "Hunters over the Yalu Campaign" campaign - but it's not on Steam. ED, pretty please!

One of the great things on the forums is people being able to express themselves. One never knows when a useful comment will answer a vexing question. But really, when someone reports a bug post and asks for help, answering with "open beta, early access" comes across as "you idiot, don't you know...." A far better response (for both the poster, others and the devs) would be things like "I'm not having those same problems", or "have you tried xyz.." Just saying.

This may or may not be the your issue, but there are very specific cockpit lighting options available in-cockpit on the right panel. Dial lights, flood lights etc. IN their default states they are too dark, but you can adjust them quite nicely.

I heard the same interview, and caught on to the "business plan" description. This however can become a problem when pre-buy and early access funds are used to essentially borrow from the future. When the future arrives there is insufficient new sales to fund ongoing expenses, necessitating something else sold early access, and so on. If it is probably managed, there's no harm. If things get out of hand, it becomes essentially a ponzi scheme. Maybe not intentional, but when people (or companies) essentially live on credit cards of the future, it is easy to get out of hand. And it's nothing we will know until chapter 11. I hope this doesn't come to pass. More likely, update will slow to a crawl. The M-2000 modual has been out for 3 years, it has a huge fan base including me, but they just can't seem to finish it and have introduced new bugs in the way.

Ironmike, Thank you and the entire team for this wonderful sim. The joy I get flying the '14 is beyond beyond. Of ALL the developers creating DCS planes, including ED itself, HB is the one that consistently delivers and the ONLY one I trust when something says "early access". And I trust HB because they've earn that trust. Even your latest response to the pilot body issue is refreshing. There's another DCS modual that has been out way longer than the 14, has game killing bugs, and getting straight talk from them is like pulling teeth. It's refreshing. I'd rather have a straight talking developer tell me 'no', then one that tells me 'yes' then doesn't deliver - seemingly ever.

If you love the F-14 for its challenges and pleasures, it says a lot about you as a pilot. The Tomcat can be a beast but you are up to the task of taming it. You're not looking for the computer to fly the plane; you want to take charge of this massively powerful piece of machinery and ride it to defeat aggressive enemies. You care less about digital gauges and more about the feel of the aircraft in flight. You like working as a team with your RIO because he/she increases your capability to kill the enemy, at the same time you realize that RIO is depending on you to return safely. You know you own the sky in a vertical climb and you aren't shy about using it. You get satisfaction every time you climb in. It's not a computer, it's a plane. And a damn good one.

I started flying the '2000 almost a year ago and it was part of it then. Not sure about before that.

Just to be clear to those who haven't experienced it, it's NOT like a high pitch sound set above and in competition with the normal cockpit sounds. When it comes on, its a total domination of sound. If you have ever had an experience of a loud bang at damaging levels, and you heard nothing but a loud ring, that's a pretty good simulation of what I am experiencing in the P-51 from time to time.

it's happened to me several times. Can't seem to see a pattern to them. Really really weird.

Boy I do hope Jester grows to be much more communicative. But I think a text list isn't the best direction for immersion. Getting it verbally is much more immersive. And being able to "ask" jester radar status would be great too. If done by keypress, then those of us who use VoiceAttack (should be everybody...) could ask jester for radar status etc verbally. Just a few thoughts....

There's a reason why the AOA indicator is big and in the pilots face and the airspeed indicator is less so... just say'in.

Thanks!

This probably has been covered, but the Supercarrier will be the USS ?

I just got done watching 104th_maverick's most excellent demonstration of knife fight flying in the f-14, and I do recommend it to anyone. I *finally* get it about AOA. Thanks 104. But I'm posting here about the realization that flying with Track IR gives the pilot unrealistic visibility compared to VR. I fly VR and it's impossible to crank my head 180 degrees and look down the axis of the plane. My question is, do other VR pilots compensate somehow for that and how - the mirrors? I don't use them but maybe I should... thoughts?

I LOVE the AB on the '14; the AB on the 18 and 16 is barely noticeable. Couple the 14 with the Buttkicker and you are in for a ride!

I echo this. And for the record, I own all the study level (non-wwii) modules except the A-10. My other top module is the F-14. The mirage is an easier bird to fly, but also very visceral. And I like pretending to be french.

I echo this. I own both the F-14 and F/A-18 and hands down, the F-14 feels outstanding. And as you pointed out, the 18 is a little video-ee. Said another way, the 14 is a plane that has one foot in the past and one foot in the (almost present :)), and therefore requires more skill than the '18 to be effective. If you enjoy learning both physical and mental skills in your sims, the '14 is your baby.

It doesn't seem to depress visually. Make sure battery power then ground power is on first. Then click on all teh switches in the same panel as teh start button to toggle locations. Then try the start button. You will hear a sound like a far away engine that will only grow to about 11% or so. Then throttle...