jaylw314

I'd also point out that for aircraft IRL, stuff doesn't get put in one document, so there's no real-world equivalent for what we'd want in an aircraft user manual, in addition to the limitations of avoiding non-distributable or classified data. Anyone who's tried writing reference material from the ground up knows how much this sucks, unless you're a masochist It WOULD be nice, though, to have the changes in the changelog logged in the front or back of the manuals, until they're written up

Ah, ok, haven't flown A-10C since the update. I wrote down angles there so you can double-check if there's a quantitative change

The FOV limit for the laser and POINT/AREA video tracking is the same in DCS, and the angular limits are significantly smaller than the camera FOV itself. It's not clear if this is accurate to IRL or not.

IIRC, you can contact ground crew on any working radio or intercom once the canopy is closed. However, the only radio that works on battery power alone is the UHF (ARC-164? dangit, I always forget the stupid numbers) radio

The ones that do self-level extremely slowly, like a couple of degrees a minute. So if you're visibly out of whack on the SAI, it may take several minutes of straight and level flight. That doesn't happen often in DCS. I don't know that the SAI in the A-10C does this, but I assume it does. I doubt DCS models this.

Wow. Just wow

If you're in the wheel, clockwise (right turns). If you're offset, counterclockwise (left turns).

Hope you're enjoying the F-15EX grip, it's the first time I've had too many buttons FWIW I bind the UFC SELECT rocker to the antenna roller to scroll weapon profiles in any SOI, and the pinky switch to the AAP Steer switch to scroll steerpoints as well, those are two handy functions to have in addition (I use the index finger roller as my VR zoom buttons)

The Winwing Orion 2 F-15EX grip has a "boat" switch that is a typical 5-way hat switch and an unsprung 3-position China Hat switch. If you use forward/aft on the 5-way hat that is in the "boat" position as the A-10C China Hat switch, and the unsprung 3-way switch as the A-10C Boat switch, it works fine without changing the positions too much from IRL. If you don't like putting 2 functions on a 5-way hat, you can use the buttons on one of the two sprung roller switches on the F-15EX grip for the A-10C China Hat functions. Also, remember you have a bunch of extra buttons and hats compared to the A-10C anyways, so no harm wasting switches

Start cycle? AFAIK that only happens (and the light only comes on) when the engines are not running. If the light comes on when both engines are already running something is off. FWIW a video clip and/or track would go a long way towards clarifying what's going on

Don't know the answer, but I suspect it is intentional--most aircraft have a lot more travel nose up than nose down, so center should be biased forwards from the middle of the throw. Most modules have some kind of bodge for standard joysticks where the forward half of the axis is less sensitive than the aft half, but that shouldn't be required for FFB sticks if they can just center to the proper position. It does kind of mess up your curve, though, since it's in the wrong place, doesn't it?

This one, I think

IIRC it was implemented in steps about 2+ years ago after the AH-64D was released, and applies to a number of other modules

@Ready 's videos are really good. Here's a clip of how I position the tanker. Note how the tanker wingroots are just below the top of the canopy arch. I moved the seat down for this, the default position is a little to high to see the top of the colored boom section (the important part). Your goal is to keep the tanker wingroots at a constant height when you're within range of the boom. That will put you at a reasonably constant down angle from the boom, which is what you want.

That's just your vertical velocity off your VVI. Barometric altitude should not "theoretically" affected by wind, although I suppose practically it could be

Hmm, a few thoughts: Does the track replay reflect where you're actually looking? The cockpit view shows you looking in the default direction, mostly at the instrument panel. You should be essentially looking up, just below or above the canopy bow, since that's where the tanker's boom operator will be, and that's the part of the tanker you're flying formation with. I'm just not sure if the replay accurately reflects where you're looking, or what headtracking device you're using (or not) Looking at the control inputs, remember every move takes two inputs, like changing lanes on the highway. You don't just turn left to change lanes, you turn left, then right. Same with corrections--if you "do" something to correct, make sure you "undo" it a moment later. If you're low, pitch up a bit, then pitch back down the same amount. If your left, bank right for a moment, then back to the left. If you're behind, throttle up for a couple seconds, then back by the same amount. If you put in a correction and leave it there, hoping it's the right "place" (which is what I think I see you doing), you'll overshoot. One other idea to consider in chasing the tanker is approaching to the spot 4-5 wingspans off its left (or right) wing instead of coming straight from behind. It's super hard judging your closure when coming in straight, but if you shoot for the spot off to the side, it's easier to see the closure speed and deal with overshoots. Once you've reasonably matched speed, then fall back a bit and slide behind the tanker.

IRL I've seen conversations that the perception of acceleration is a vital cue we don't get in DCS. Your ass is essentially an instantaneous VVI, and give you the immediate feedback to nudge the stick the other way.

I was more so talking about the idea of missions with in-game feedback, but yes, there are otherwise good user-created missions Ah, the talk about the tanker lights reminds me you obviously won't use them much in the A-10C. You'll put the boom driver's window on a spot near your canopy frame, and you'll use the boom colors for distance

FWIW, if you have a stick that you can take the springs out of, like the VKB Neo's or the WW Orion (among others), it's pretty nice not having the no-spring force-trim release setting. You don't have to worry about returning to center, you just have to remember to do it to reset the SAS, because there's no spring reminding you to do it. Looking forward to the new spate of FF sticks coming out

Pay attention to this one. The A-10C is one of the only 4th gen aircraft in the game with conventional trim. Heck, I can't even think of another one. That also means when you add power, it pitches up a bit, too. It's fairly easy to set up a practice mission, but getting feedback on what you're doing wrong in a mission? I don't think I've seen anything that actually does that. That would be the sort of thing to record a video with your controls display on screen and ask for feedback from people.

Ha, yeah I was just saying that to forestall any "uh, akshually..." comments

Doh! Brain fart on my part, thanks

The only way to get a location from your buddy is to talk over the radio. He needs to give you coordinates for the point. If you have coordinates, you make a WAYPOINT, not a mark point. If you can point to a spot on the ground with one of your own sensors, you make a MARK POINT, not a waypoint. So get the coordinates from your buddy, create a waypoint on the CDU, select it as your steerpoint, and make sure your steerpoint is your current SPI (TMS down short long) Yes, I know you can change markpoints to waypoints with some additional steps

For rudder and cyclic, I prefer leaving all the springs off and using clutches/damper if available, then using the "No Springs" trim setting. It means you don't need to do anything when resetting trim, you just leave the controls where they are. With the other options you have to think about recentering that control, which is impossible if there are no springs. If you do it this way, you want no curve, since any position could be the "center" of your controls. I suspect this is harder with a small throw in the relevant control, so it may be a preference thing

Also, at typical ballpark speeds (150 knots approach, carrier speed 30 knots), you would expect to be heading about 2 degrees to the RIGHT of the final heading. So if BRC is 270, and final heading is 261, expect your actual heading to be about 263 to stay on the centerline, which is the same idea as putting the FPM on the "crotch" at 3/4 mile