Kula66

I've probably downed most of the USAF tanker fleet ... not been caught yet :)

If that tanker starts his turn, after you've been trying to connect for 10mins, just as you are about to connect ... give him a load of 20mm. He deserved it!

Agreed - shame really, that used to look stunning ...

Interesting article ... not just 'Wow the F-22 will trump all". Why is it that people have such a hard time beliving that the F-22 is such a massive leap in technology? Like the F-15 over the Mig-21. The other side will catch up, probably faster than last time. All those IRBMs raining down on vulnerable bases, VHF radars, IRST sensors, volleys of AAMs, limited numbers of F-22s (especially given recent events) spread over multiple simultaneous conflicts, long transit distances, vulnerable tanker assets and the US carriers only fielding the barely comparible F-18E ... certainly an interesting scenario. If some emerging technology does crack the stealth shield, the USAF assets are going to be awefully vulnerable. But hey, China is a major trading partner, her future is dependant on world markets.

On a £/hr basis it is probably the best money I have ever spent! It has its faults - some major like missile modelling, but I still sit there thinking what a great sim this is visually, even low down and on current h/w you can crank all the graphics up and get good FPS. Shame self shadow no longer works - video driver problem from what I can gather. I've gone back to LO after getting board with BS ... highly recommended.

AAMs ... if they, and their associated systems and sub-systems, can be modelled right - that would be just fantastic!

An ok read ... makes you realise the incredible workload on a modern attack helicopter pilot. I really wonder how a single seater can manage it all.

IMHO, with 4GB of RAM, even Vista would be hardly touching your swap file ... unless you have a memory leak somewhere that is.

As far as I know, they are scapped/being scrapped - certainly no longer in UK service. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/07/harrier_jet/

Ahhh ... if only. I guess ED are putting off the difficult task of implementing BVR missiles ... although the terrain modelling and AI need need alot of work for more CAS systems IMHO.

I use: MIY /I 3 Spotlightdown ^ Spotlightup /O 3 KU-31Shkvalslewdown ^ KU-31Shkvalslewup MIX /I 3 Spotlightleft ^ Spotlightright /O 3 KU-31Shkvalslewleft ^ KU-31Shkvalslewright And in the macro file: KU-31Shkvalslewup = ; KU-31Shkvalslewdown = . KU-31Shkvalslewleft = , KU-31Shkvalslewright = / Spotlightleft = /P KD(RCTL ,) /R KU(, RCTL) Rem {RCTL ,} Spotlightright = /P KD(RCTL /) /R KU(/ RCTL) Rem {RCTL /} Spotlightup = /P KD(RCTL ;) /R KU(; RCTL) Rem {RCTL ;} Spotlightdown = /P KD(RCTL .) /R KU(. RCTL) Rem {RCTL .} Hope this helps.

Get your missiles in the air ... even if the proability of hit is low - launch as soon as you burn through the jamming. If you are in the Eagle you have 8 to play with. Try and manoeuver to take them on 1 v 1 ... keep your speed above 350kts so you can turn. Remember, if this is v the AI, it cheats, chaff/flares/jammers are poorly modelled and unfortunately, missile modelling is also flawed ... need to wait for fast movers in DCS!

Despite being very suspicious of StarForce (and hating the whole DRM concept) and having a laptop with loads of odd drivers, odd hardware, virtual CDs ... no problems and no unaccountable transactions on my credit card so far!

Tanks can't have thick armour everywhere and on the engine deck and turret top they are thin enough for a decent 30mm to get through easily. The 30mm in the BS, while not as good as a A-10s, is certainly more powerful than the M230 in the Apaches. From the front or even side - no chance. I've had resonable success with firing Vikhrs in pairs (singles have little effect) which seems odd - in GW1 TOWs had little trouble with T-72s and a Vikhr is twice the weight, so I would guess has at least comparible armour penetration. I guess this is down the the simple damage model for ground vehicles - I guess we need an Advanced Vehcile Damage Model - AVDM ;)

They may allow field replacement of the armour package - these things are now very modular. The front of the turrent still doesn't look like a real 2A5 ...

Except a real 2A5 looks like this ... check the turret front. http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/Leo2_Pics/Leo2A5-KMW-01.jpg

Are you sure that's a Leo? They either have vertical fronts on their turrest or that triangular section front to defeat long rod penetrators (A5s) ... that loooks like a slope more like a Challanger. The gun certainly looks like a German 120 ... No idea what the flaps are! They have shadows ..

hitman, Agreed you have to compromise something for a sim costing £20 on a £2000 PC ... and in SB your horizon is much more limited. Having seen video of 'military' sims, the graphics are very poor, not a patch on BS. However, in BS on most rigs, there is at least one other core still around doing very little! Still disappointing ... Anyone have any idea of the time frame for 'the new graphics engine' being introduced into DCS? With the A-10 or later?

But for a sim trying to model ground combat, that's exactly whats required - it's kind of fundamental - just look at Steeal Beasts. Trees need to be modelled like millions of those TV masts, just shorter. Watching TOW missiles fly through forrests is just not right.

Slightly OT, was there ever a fix for the missing self-shadow bug with late model video cards?

Lets be honest, a patch isn't going to be able to fix the main problems in LO, ie. missile/seeker modelling. I imagine that is a ton of work. ED have a load of other stuff to be working on - A-10, AH-64 and then hoepfully a fast jet and then we'll see proper missile modelling that will totally confuse the low flyers/spammers/barrell rollers etc. The patch isn't going to happen. I really hope they get it right this time, because if the level of detail they've put into BS is anything to go by, A2A will once again be fantastic!

When it has happened to me it is because the rudder has gone to the extreme of one side or the other, I think because of trimming/bug. Did you have <RCtrl><Enter> on? If so, you may be able to spot this.

Absolutely worth it ... next to a HOTAS. So good you wonder how you ever managed without it! 5/5.

Thanks for your help, that's just the sort of thing I was after ... Being an MPH guy, I find KPH a bit of a mystery!

Getting board with BS (there are only so many AI vehicles you can zap befroe it gets broing IMHO), so fancied some plain flying around and have always liked the challenge of the 25 - no fancy HUD, AFM etc. I can land it ok, but I've been looking for basic flight info for the vanilla 25. Stuff like rotate speed, glide slope, landing speed etc. Are there extracts of the flight manual available on the net translated into English?