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Extending the probe is standard procedure whenever you suspect losing combined system pressure which was most likely the case here.

I remember that two Tomcats could launch side by side from the bow of the SC initially but at some point the behaviour we see now got introduced. It would be very helpful to get this back since it unnecessarily delays both AI and player launches.

I've read this too on the forums but I never saw anything in the RW manuals or any SMEs stating that anything except zone5 or MIL was used on the boat. Fact is that the TF-30s are most stable at either zone5 or MIL and thats the critical part when launching from the boat. Anything else is asking for an engine failure during cat launch.

There is no such thing as a zone3 launch. You may take-off with at least zone2 from ashore but its always max AB from the boat.

I'm also not impressed with the improved notching behaviour tbh. Had an F-4 defeating a PHC at high altitude with a split-s and a couple of chaff. I know the AI have perfect SA but still, I dont see how a non-ECM equiped aircraft can notch a modern PD missile up high.

When launching from the catapult, the stick can't be moved for the duration of the cat shot. Moreover, when hooking up to the catapult after having launched previously on any catapult, the stick will also freeze (that is even before the shot itself) and you cannot perform a wipeout. Rudders are not affacted. IIRC this bug got introduced three patches ago. Prior to that, you could move the stick aft during cat shots to make it look a bit more realistic.

The TF-30 in the F-14A always exceed the maximum TIT for ground starts (750°). During both ground air and cross-bleed starts, the TIT will go up to about 800°-820°. The engine obviously does not take damage in DCS but it cringes me a little to see the temps go through the limit every time I start up the jet.

There are some lights missing/not working properly on the caution-advisory panel: Launch Bar Light: Should come on whenever the launch bar is down and throttles are below MIL. Used to work prior to the suspension update Starter Valve Light: Should come on whenever any of the engine starters is working. Used to work at release then became non functional after some update Ladder Light: Should be off at all times except during LTS test. The ladder is not animated but the light comes on whenever the canopy is open. Of course, the best solution would be animating the ladder OVSP/VALVE lights: Should be there instead of the "SEC" lights in the F-14A. Should also illuminate during instrument test. I know these are small things very few people care about but it would be nice to have them working properly.

The 4SP/4SW loadout was the only loadout for fighter missions (that is everything that did not include fleet air defense against bombers and strikers) up until the mid/late 80s. It was believed that the Sparrow provided enough of an advantage in the BVR arena against anything the USSR and its allies would field. The Phoenix on the other hand was considered too valuable to be expanded against fighters. It was not until the R-24 and R-27 were introduced that the Phoenix was also considered for fighter missions as the Sparrow was not superior enough in range and reliability (although that is debatable given the quality of russian fighter radars and radar missiles) to provide favorable kill ratios.

I dont understand why people wanted it in the first place. There is that one (probably partially made up) story of it being used in a training engagement but the MCB is there for a very good reason. The last thing you want is one engine quitting in a low speed/high AoA situtation that will almost guarantee a departure from controlled flight. In all other situations, the MCB will be closed anyway so there is no point in having the CB modelled.

I know this isn't SC specific but I thought maybe I'd get more attention here than in the general bug forum where my reports went largely unnoticed. Since 2.8, the AI won't launch if there are other AI in the overhead pattern. Likewise, the AI in the overhead pattern won't commence. deadlocking the whole launch/recovery process. Moreover, the AI wingman will never commence during case3 ops. Instead, he will stay in the marshal stack forever. I've made two bug reports with tracks regarding these two issues: I understand that making the AI behave correctly and reliably around the boat is very complex and unrewarding since very few people actually care for that functionality. But the issues were not present prior to 2.8. You could have AI flights circle overhead the carrier, waiting for the planes on deck to launch and commence once the deck was free (as it should be). Same for player aircraft. You would not get 'signal Charlie' until the deck was actually clear. Now, trying to launch/recover AI flights in a realistic manner is simply impossible. It would be greatly appreciated if the team at least acknowledged the issues or, even better, restored previous functionality (that is recovering aircraft in the stack not preventing aircraft on the deck from launching). Having ME options to control the carriers launch/recovery state, which are now automatically controlled by some logic, would be best of course but that's probably too much to ask for in the year of the strike eagle and phantom.

I dont know if/how the test is implemented so I'm not sure if you can use that to check MCB operation. One thing where the MCB is really noticable is during AAR. Once the probe is out, the MCB opens and you will need substantially more throttle to maintain the speed you had before probe extension. You can test whether this is also the case with the CB pulled. Edit: Just checked and the test indeed does NOT verify if the valve is actually open, only that the control circuits are functional.

The MCB opens only under very specific conditions (e.g. high AoA), you wont normally see a change with the CB pulled, its not a magic switch to give you more thrust.

I never paid attention but IIRC the catapult endspeed will depend on aircraft weight (as it is IRL), that would cause faster acceleration for heavy jets. Btw max launch weight is 76k

The new ground handling and suspension model feels great, thanks working that out! It always bothered me to taxi around at 80% rpm and suspension being almost non existant. Taxiing is much easier and more enjoyable now!

Its a video game not a dialysis machine, you'll be fine...

Stll can't login either and all the activations are gone

When doing a night approach (i.e. Case3), the wingman never commences, meaning he will orbit forever in the holding pattern without starting the approach. I've attached a small track. My wingman has less fuel than me, so he gets a lower holding altitude (6000ft) and an earlier push-time (07 minutes) assigned than me (7000ft, push-time 08). This is correct so far, however, my wingman never leaves the holding pattern to perform the approach. If I however eject from my aircraft, he will immediately leave the holding pattern and start the approach. I've also tried giving him the RTB or continue route command with the same result. This used to work in 2.7.AI_case3_bug.trk

Very nice mod thank you! Red cold war planes are badly needed in DCS, especially AI. I found that it is a bit overperforming though. It will outrun and outclimb a clean Sea Flanker and a Tomcat in an upward spiral. Only the Mig-29 can (barely) catch up. Otherwise it is a great asset!

The discription is a bit ambigous in regards to what 're-engaging the servo' means. On the one hand, pulling the handle up does not disconnect the spider detent as you need to pull it back with quite some force to get it out of the detent. On the other hand, pulling the handle up already puts the wings in emergency mode so I guess while you can move the handle back to wherever the spider detent is, the spider detent won't move the handle unless the handle is fully stowed. What is also not quite clear is what is actually commanding the wings to move. The manual says that the handle is directly connected to the hydraulic valves controlling wingsweep, implying that in normal mode, the spider detent just moves the handle thereby controlling wingsweep.However, a fold out suggest that the handle does not control wingsweep in normal mode and instead, the CADC controls the wings electronically. Perhaps some SME can give a more detailed explanation

Is there any way to get rid of the first digit on the tail? E.g. there were squadrons who painted only the last two digits on the tails, (00 instead of 200 for example). With the old system, I could control the visibility of individual numbers but now it seems to be all or nothing.

There is another thing to consider. When the handle is raised from the stowed position, a locking mechanism is engaged which has notches every 4°. So in order to move the handle after putting it out of stow, it needs to be raised another 1inch, moved to the desired position and released to snap into one of the notches (the handle is spring loaded). The rw manual has a description of the mechanism, if you manage to find one (any variant).

I think you are basically right except that the handle can only be stowed (i.e. pushed in) in the full forward or full back (oversweep) position. The spider detent does not move if you are in emergency mode (i.e. handle pulled out). The way the system is put into normal from emergency is that you move the handle fully forward, stow it, press the master reset button and put the wings in auto mode. This will drive the spider detent from whatever position it is (usually around 55° because the handle is pulled out from the 'bomb' sweep position after landing) to the forward position, pushing it into the handle and latching it.

Keep in mind that in the A, the mid compressor bypass valve opens when you extend the fuel probe. This increases engine stability at the expense of thrust which is very noticable if the tanker flies high and fast. During OEF, F-14As sometimes used zone 1 afterburner on one engine to keep up with the tanker when fully loaded. Taking gas from an S-3 flying at 200 something knots should not require AB. Did you sweep the wings back? If so, try refueling with wings in auto and you should be good.

IIRC the earliest As where around 40k empty but Bs and Ds sit around 44k. In any case, I dont think a couple of thousand pounds will make much of a difference anyway so its safe to say that the main gear should compress a lot on touchdown which the modified config replicates nicely.