Agiel7

Keep in mind that the GAU-8 and the A-10 were designed when the primary tanks of the Soviets were still T-55s and T-62s, the T-64s were a major disappointment, and the T-72 still used cast steel for armour.

Is the effectiveness of AWACS-killer missiles not contingent on whether the AWACS' radar is emitting or not? Unless it has either the Alamo D's heat-seeker or the AA-12's onboard radar to switch on in the endgame phase, can't the AWACS simply turn off its radar until the missile is no longer a threat (surely one of its HAVCAP aircraft can see that big ol' missile coming if the AWACS' radar cannot).

Hopefully the Iranian scientists have the common decency to have a way to euthanise it before it dies from asphyxiation, dehydration, or starvation (and not just say they have one, like the Soviets said with Laika). This not being a one-way trip is infinitely preferable though.

I'm still a bit disappointed they haven't gotten around to at least putting in the Superhornet, even as an AI aircraft. All respect to the legacy Hornet, but what I wouldn't give for a DCS: Superhornet. I mean, you can have TWELVE slammers to the Eagle and the Hornet's 8. Let me repeat that: "TWELVE SLAMMERS." Get a flight of four and you're set to take on an entire squadron of Flankers.

Found two gems from Bowden, he of Black Hawk Down and Guests of the Ayatollah fame relating to US air power. A lot of it reiterating what many of us know, but wrapped in flowery prose that's pleasingly very well-researched: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?151598-PT1-The-Last-Ace-Mark-Bowden-Atlantic-Monthly http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2002/11/the-kabul-ki-dance/302610/

DCS prides itself on modeling modern military operations within inches of real-life. This entails mirroring real world developments in the field. So when one side virtually stopped military R&D for nearly a decade and the other only had the occasional speed bump throughout the years, of course there is going to be a disparity in overall technological capabilities. In fact, a lot of MiG-29 drivers in FC3 should count themselves lucky they even have the R-77/AA-12 to play with, considering that in real life its biggest customers is not the Russian Air Force, but those of the Indians and Chinese. Of course, there are ways to make the "Red" side in DCS very much the equal of the "Blue" side. Ground-based air defense technology is something Russia has historically had the edge on the West. It's just that the way the AI works (not to mention limitations in the engine's AI) means it doesn't behave very intelligently or in line with actual real-world tactics(ex. SA-15s and SA-11s remaining largely stationary with their radars constantly blasting, which is asking for a HARM to drop right down their paints).

I've checked the weapon's cam as I drop these bad boys, and while I see the skeets doing their jobs and getting solid hits, they don't seem to penetrate tanks as armoured as the T-72B and those moreso. As of now, I've only been using them against columns of BMPs and groupings of trucks and loading up on six GBU-12s and six Mavericks for tank-busting missions (Yeah, I barely clear the runway at Kolkhi at 66% gas, full throttle, and full flaps). While I doubt this is effecting their penetration abilities, if it helps I have been using them at 1800 HOF and the default RPM.

So is this campaign actually working as intended now? Last I checked, this and Devil's Cross had a bunch of scripting and mission progression bugs.

While I know clickable cockpits are out of the question, I would like to see a key command that at least changes what screen the MFD displays, which could mean some form of data-link (that's not completely omniscient, mind you) implemented, or more crucially, a navigational display of some sort. Playing the F-15C campaign mission where you have to do some valley flying to get close enough to down the A-50, it bugged me that I had to constantly check the CDI to make sure I was on the right path, which went right out the window again when I had to take another course change to maintain terrain masking.

Don't sweat it really. Some changes to the mission scripting mechanisms throughout the patches means the SEAD flights aren't doing their jobs in the campaign and make a bunch of hard missions even more punishing. This was the big reason this campaign and The Shore were removed from the final product. I've inquired about this before, and the creator of these missions has said they have some difficulties finding the time to bring these missions up to the standards of the current patch, so it's wait-and-see.

Given how astoundingly similar the PAK T-50 and this beast look to the F/A-22, perhaps the issue of friendly fire in WVR engagements wasn't given much consideration.

But sadly for the most part only available in French. That said, here's a translation of a few select pages: The series is called Lieutenant Mac Fly. The artist, Jean Barbaud, is quite fond of military aviation and has drawn a bunch of other comics (la bande dessinée) relating to the field.

Some of you were miffed that their video on P-51D was limited to paying subscribers only, but the Giant Bomb squad threw us a bone and released a free video of them attempting to fly the Black Shark (or should I say Black Akula?). They have said they will do a free video of P-51D once it reaches final release, and the three knuckleheads have made a pact to have each of them learn at least one of the modules so that they'd have a squadron at the end of the year.

I can ask their staff since the "Flight Clubs" tend to be the most well-received feature. In the mean time, a sample of that specific video can be found at the start of this video:

Unfortunately, we're talking about *paying* to watch "premium content".

Some of you may remember their escapade with the A-10C (http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-digital-combat-simulator-a-10c-warthog/17-5490/). This time they try out the P-51D beta to rather predictable results. Unfortunately, in order to view it you must purchase a subscription. http://www.giantbomb.com/flight-club-digital-combat-simulator-p-51d-mustang-beta/17-6311/ However, as a subscriber to their site, I can tell you it's actually well worth it, if only for a month, as you can download the videos as well, as this sample can attest to: If you're still on the fence, here's what you've got to look forward to: -Despite not having to mess around with the EGI/INS, loading DTS cartridges, creating countermeasure release programs, and altering weapon profiles, it somehow takes them longer to get airborne. -They learn the consequences of using Alt-Shift-Tab, while the plane is still cold and on the runway. -Upon flying into a cloud, they learn how much of a bummer it was to fly without a HUD. -As always, they attempt to eject from a plane while upside down. They've also done a video on The Space Shuttle Mission and Lunar Flight, which of proven to be equally hilarious. And rejoice, they will do a proper video available to all upon P-51D's proper release, and the three have taken upon themselves to learn at least one of the modules by the end of the year to make a Giant Bomb Squad.

Are the bomblets able to differentiate between a T-80 and a Lada Riva with a family inside? That's been on of the reasons I'm quite hesitant to use them in a built up area.

Alright. Thanks for the heads up. Guess it's using ripped audio from Youtube now.

Figured out a way to use the GAU-8 sounds from this game in lieu of the standard minigun sound in Team Fortress 2. Would it be alright if I had uploaded the mod to some mod sites such as FPS Banana?

A bunch of people, big game companies included, like sending them free stuff in the mail (popular items from the fanbase include obscure energy drinks and foreign snacks), and they often do video features of them unwrapping them. You could try sending them a boxed copy. Also, the entire editorial staff's inability to fly helicopters in *Battlefield 3* is a running joke in that circle.

I do love how impressed they were by the GAU-8. Though personally the thing that bugged me most was how they couldn't set the TGP to SOI (the first time because they forgot to turn it on, the second because they failed to see it had an A-G mode). And amazing they still managed to take off using the taxi-way :pilotfly:

As a word of caution, please do not have something to drink while watching this, else it be all over your monitor from out of either your mouth and/or nose. http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-digital-combat-simulator-a-10c-warthog/17-5490/

While not a full-on editor, one of the engineers on the site who does some video features, Drew Scanlon did include DCS: A-10C as one of his top 10 games of 2011: http://www.giantbomb.com/game-of-the-year-2011-drews-top-10/17-5464/ And he's no joke either. He's done Quick Looks of Il-2 Sturmovik and Red Orchestra as well. Here's a gem (go to about 1h55m for the absolute highlight): http://www.justin.tv/giantbomb/b/290741426 And yes, I've already sent him a PM begging him to do a Quick Look of DCS: A-10C.

Man, I don't want to have to settle on the legacy Hornet. If I had the Superhornet, I'd have the latest and greatest in avionics, the Alpha, the gas, and the payload to launch so many AMRAAMS that it'd be illegal (I should imagine quite a few people here will catch the reference).

Now that the SFWs can do their work without crashing my machine with the new hotfix, I've been dropping CBU-97s like they're going out of style. However, I did run into a little problem. I've always dropped them using CCRP with the HOF set to 3000 ft in the hope for maximum coverage. However, CCRP only take into account of where the bomb would hit if, you know, it still was say, a Mk. 82. Once the CBU-97 disperses, the submunitions more or less parachute straight to the ground, meaning they stop short of the target and at best take out 1 or 2 tanks at the edge of a column. So will I have to eye-ball a new release point with the TGP? Or is there something I've missed in the PROF/INV page for the weapon?