Uxi

I created a Nevada Training mission for the Tomcat with some easy Mig-21 at waypoint 1, some ground targets at Waypoint 2, aerial refueling at Waypoint 3, etc and changed everything out the Cats for the Bug... Outside of being much slower, realized I've haven't been spending enough time in the Hornet. I have about 38 landings on the carrier on the Hornet with only a couple mishaps though chickened out once in the Tomcat and hit the back of the boat the other time, but am clueless with the radar and RWR in the Hornet. I get easy kills with the Phoenix or close in and do it with a Sparrow or even Sidewinder in the Cat, but I didn't see a peep on either TWS or RWS in the Hornet. My wingman for some reason is always running his afterburner and hit bingo fuel just as we were engaging while I had a good 5000 pounds left (might need to shorter the waypoints in the Hornet missions) before I noticed tracers going over my head lol. Ends in a turning fight where I missed with both sidewinders and got a gun kill on the one MiG and in the turning fight the other one runs out of fuel like my wingman but yeah, I'll need some help identifying these guys. I was able to get a lock in one of the turns but lost it before getting behind him (went as low as 150 knots in the course of it, as well, but that's neither here nor there). Even without relying on Jester, I see these guys from way off in the Tomcat through the HSD repeater of the TID (probably still thanks to Jester now that I think of it). Going to RTFM and watch some vids but any pointers would be appreciated. The left MFD always switches to stores with the various selections and have the radar going in the right, so I take it when I enter a fight I should change the AMPCD to the EW page or what's the optimal setup for the various configurable screens?

That would be interesting. I think I did see about turning on oxygen in the manual but didn't come up in assisted startup with Jester, so more than possible. Thanks!

Not sure what it's doing with screenshots... they show up in my Steam Library but not in the designated folder. You can see what it's doing, though kinda low resolution... I had to do a Print Screen and then paste to Paint to get these here. Almost like I'm blacking out or something but can't think of why it should be doing that. Not pulling any G's or anything... these shots don't seem to show the double vision.

Don't think it's the Phoenix but closing in on enemy aircraft actually. It doesn't do it when I try to practice refueling at the first waypoint, but seems to around the enemies I have at Waypoints 2 & 3. After the Phoenixes downed 2 x Mig 21s at Waypoint 2, I then switched to Sparrows and guns and I had two aiming crosses, the symbology was overlapped, etc. Then I went to another waypoint where there are some low SU-25's and noticed it started happening again. Was all out of Phoenixes, going right about Mach 1 and was getting ready to use Sparrows but Jester kept losing the lock and then I couldn't find them anymore. Clouds were doubled and noticed everything appeared to be going black & white except a narrow band of focus in the center but wasn't pulling hard G's or anything. It didn't seem to a larger VR issue since going to F2 external or F3 flyby didn't show any of that, just in the cockpit. Tried to take screenshots but apparently the directory wasn't set in Steam. I fixed that now so may try again. I saved the Track but hear that has issues, though didn't try just now. If that doesn't work will need to fly it again.

I'm playing a training mission at Nevada and notice when I fire a Phoenix, everything outside the cockpit loses focus and looks like IPD is increasing of not greater parallax but just outside the cockpit. Cockpit itself looks clear. Anyone else see anything like this? Doesn't do it on Hornet when I fire an AMRAAM. Need to test if it does with a Sparrow from the Cat....

Those of us who want max capability want the D. The A for history and the B splitting the difference would have been the preferred order of release if that was the logic, though it's probably close to the mark.

Thinking gonna get Voice Attack since the current comms menu bugs bad (seems like it should be chucked asap and replaced with a radial menu system even in the base game). Curious if I'd be ok with the base VA license or if I really need VAICOM, AIRIO, etc. I am mainly playing the F-14 right now but will eventually get back to F-18, F-15C, SU-27 and start the A-10A.... Otherwise, Bailey's profiles look the best alternative. Curious if anyone is currently fine with just these or if I won't be happy unless I have all the profiles. Or if it's just paying for convenience and I could effectively build the same thing without the additional expense. It's not a huge amount of money though I'm most concerned with running yet another app/plugin, etc and the bloat down the road.

At this point, I decided to wait for Ampere so went with a 2070 instead of a 2080 or 2080 Ti. They're supposed to be less expensive at the high end.

Definitely. My first WW2 plane will be the F4U.

Something like that! I'll be happy to have another map whenever, so would hope by within 3 or 4 months.

Of all the things to complain about, this is one of the least. This is very cool if you want it. If you don't, you don't have to get it. Seems pretty easy. I'll get it to support the game and it will be way better for running carrier ops in the F-14 and F-18. Those with the F-14 will probably get most of the coolness from the Forrestal Heatblur is working on, though not expecting nearly as many of the features.

:grabs popcorn:

Did you get anywhere with this? Would love to see F-14D stick and throttle, btw.

Launching seems to be an issue since the last update even on a slow carrier. Sometimes throttling down then back up after the salute works for me.

I am kinda hoping when the A comes out, the current cockpit goes to it and there's a less weathered version for the default B.

When he laughed hard and told me to stop teasing the KC-130 tanker. I wasn't teasing though lol. He's not the chatterbox I expected and seems mostly quiet.

Ha ha. The period hi viz liveries are the main reasons I would fly the A, if not time specific scenarios and/ or campaigns. Otherwise I'd probably spend most of my time in an F-14D if I had the choice, though an F-14B Upgrade would also be quite enjoyable.

What about the F-14D? ;)

It's not about not "liking" or being held back with the old HUD. It would be for the reasons they were added to the fleet in Real Life: increased situational awareness, lighter weight, etc: "...the VDIG-R gives pilots enhanced situational awareness by providing primary flight information and navigation data on the HUD, as well as on the panel displays. Pilots, therefore, do not have to look down for essential flight information, such as dive angle, angle of attack, airspeed, altitude, horizon, velocity vector and steering cues. It also provides weather landing data, target, peak aircraft "g" loading, and heading and barometric altimeter readings, as well as weapons symbology projected in both the air-to-ground and air-to-air modes. With all this information provided at eye level, F-14B pilots have experienced less fatigue, achieved greater situational awareness, and improved combat proficiency during more than 10,000 flying hours with the VDIG-R fleet-wide." https://www.aviationtoday.com/2003/11/01/new-hud-for-the-tomcat/

Looks great. Aren't the big roundels from the 70s though?

Thus the desire for the Sparrowhawk...

LoL Was the HUD installed separate from the rest of the upgrade? If so, it would seem an easy variation that adds a bunch of convenience. If not, and only coupled with avionics, etc , it would be tied to a hypothetical D update/module.

How does this compare to having AIRIO and Vaicom?

I made a few missions of the CBG template posted in the downloads which it's probably a good 10-12 assorted planes. I replaced 2 Hornets with Jolly Rogers F-14A and no performance hit in VR though it's a new high end build. I did notice I was using about 30G of RAM, though. I'm gonna download this campaign and give it a whirl.

Good point. I can't wait to see VF-84 low viz when the A is out. My favorite low viz scheme. Hoping for at least 4 numbers.