Doc3908

Did my first outing in the A-4E yesterday! Wow!!!!! I LOVE it! I set up an early-morning mission against an F-5E, then landed back on the carrier. The feeling of flight is so much more real in the A-4E compared to the all-computerized F/A-18C... Here's a video (bad flying but nice sunrise views): Any tips of how to aim the guns in air-to-air engagement? Thanks in advance! And thank you for an outstanding module!!!

Thank you for the magnanimous comment, IronMike. In hindsight, I should not have posted my newbie video. DCS has been (and continues to be) a rich educational experience - so many modules, techniques, strategies. Guidance and tips from experienced flyers are always appreciated! Cheers! :) Doc

Hi guys, Just a quick update: You are all absolutely correct. I used to carry two R-73s (just in case, though I never ever used them) and full load of fuel going up against the F-15. I got rid of the R-73s and set the fuel to 70%. Now flying agains the excellent AI F-15 is a MUCH easier - I can usually get the bandit in a minute or two tops. Unbelievable what a difference the added weight makes to the flight characteristics of the Su-27. Thank you all very much for all the help and advice!! Doc

Good tip - thank you very much, DarkFire. There is SO MUCH to learn...

Yesterday I came back to the boat from a stressful engagement against two Su-33s. Rough seas, wind 20kts, pitching deck. I ended up with three "bolters" before I trapped. Then I got an LSO rating: LSO: Grade: C, 3PTSAW Wire# 2_EG_AW [bC] Clearly, he gave me a "cut pass" (:() and I caught the 2-wire. But what does the rest of it mean? Thanks in advance for the translation! :)

This is the default "Instant Action: Bomber Intercept" mission for the Su-27 in Flaming Cliffs3/DCS 2.5.5. I used to get routinely killed in that mission - mostly by the F-16s with their Aim-120s. They still get me every now and then, but now I'm consistently able to defeat both waves and make it back in one piece. And I finally started playing "the right way" - no labels, limited weapons, limited fuel. Very proud of myself. LoL! :) Hope you like the video! Doc

Yeah, I know. I tried it, and it is (to me at least) very disorienting. I don't get vertigo from VR, but the VR zoom almost gives me vertigo.

Very useful info - especially about GCI. Thank you very much, everyone!

Hi guys, A newbie question: Assuming the labels are off, how do you find the bandits in the Mig-15? The more modern jets all have radar (even the rudimentary stuff in the Mig-19 and -21). But the Mig-15?? I set up an intercept mission that has 4 B-52s bombing my airfield and 4 F-86s protecting the B-52s. I more or less know the direction they are coming from and the altitude they should be at. Even then, I've flown the mission 4-5 times already and fly up and down the coast without spotting anyone. Of course, it's easy once the labels are on, but that's cheating. :) I fly VR, so there is no zoom available (actually there is, but it's horrible and useless). Any tips from the experienced Mig-15 drivers? Thanks, Doc

Hi guys, New guy here, so please pardon me if this has been covered before. I've been trying to defeat an F-15 controlled by "excellent" AI in a guns-only fight, and I just can't pull it off. The fight always ends the same way: We chase each other around, then I'm guessing he runs out of gas and ejects and I fly home on fumes. The expert-AI flies like a UFO - unbelievable turn rate and infinite vertical. By comparison, setting the AI to "high" (one down from "excellent") makes the fight interesting, but very doable - I can get the F-15 99% of the time (see video below). Set on "high" the AI flies much more smoothly and, from my perspective, more realistically. It's still a challenging fight without feeling I'm flying against the aliens from "Independence Day". Anyway, here's a video of an engagement against a F-15 with AI set to "high": Doc

I haven't tried adding troops to a carrier - maybe it'll work. I'll try later tonight and report back. Thank you all!! Doc

Hi everyone, Is it possible to set up troops on the Oliver Perry or Ticonderoga to be picked up and transported by the Mi-8? In Mission Editor I tried putting some troops as close as I could to the Oliver Perry, but the editor keeps telling me "troops need to be on the ground" or something like that. I guess that answers my question, but I'd like to find out if anyone has found a way around this editor limitation... Thanks, Doc

A little practice, and landing on ships becomes much easier. The Mi-8 used to be intimidating - now I love it!!

First ship landing with the Mi-8 I'm new to DCS - started flying a couple of months ago. And, with so many modules, I never found time for the Mi-8. The few times I tried flying it, it was a pain to fly and a super-pain to land. Then I realized that there are two separate throttles - one for each engine. I had been flying around using only the left engine! :) Once I started using both engines, the Mi-8 is now a different beast altogether. So, last night I decided to try my first landing on a ship. In the video below I take off from Batumi, land on a frigate, then back to Batumi. Not the most graceful of landings, but I'm still getting used to her. Hope you enjoy the video!

Three screenshots from today's engagement.

Video: F/A-18 vs. three Su-33s

Just wanted to share a video of me having fun with two MiG-21s - guns only dogfight. Then some spin recovery practice so I don't forget how to do it. Hope you enjoy it!

I agree - nice video! Thanks for sharing.

I'm new to DCS and the UH-1H. In this video all I'm doing is taking off from USS Stennis, landing on the Ticonderoga, then back to the Stennis. Almost went into the water - twice. :) Hope you enjoy it!

+1 And a La-5, La-5FN, or La-7

Hahaha, I had to go fly and see if the skin on the wings actually vibrates: Not on mine, but the shadows make it look like it does, so I know what you mean. :) Any chance we'll see an equally good La-5, La-7, or Yak-3 module any time soon?? Fingers crossed...

I'm new to DCS and this forum, but I wanted to share how much I love the I-16 module. The I-16 has always been my favorite bird - almost my exclusive mount in the old IL2 days. So, when I came across DCS a month ago and saw they have an I-16, that was it - it was the first module I got and flew (before even the free TF-51D). It took me a little while to get used to the takeoffs and especially the landings, but in a dogfight, she is wonderful. Lack of vertical performance notwithstanding, I'm happier in the I-16 than any other WW2 module, including the Spit and the Bf109K. Here's a short video of a mission I cooked up - me and three other I-16s (both AI set to high) vs. four AI-controlled Bf109Ks (AI set to one excellent, one high, one good, and one average). I fly in VR, and the feeling of actually being there in the cockpit never gets old. Thank you Octopus-G and DCS for the wonderful module and sim!!

First Combat Mission in the F/A-18 Just got the F/A-18 module a couple of days ago. Frankly, I have mixed feelings about the F-18, but it's growing on me. :) Here's a video of my first combat in the F-18 followed by a poor case-1 recovery (much harder than any other DCS module - A-4E, F-14B, and even the F-5E).

Hahaha, of course - it's just a game. I never take it too seriously. :) Just curious if anyone else has tried not to destroy the F4E. Seems like most people just blow it out of the sky. :)

Did it again - got the F4 smoking this time, but it managed to make it back to the airfield with me right behind. Here's the video: