CONFIRMED: Next aircraft will be a fixed wing US FIGHTER!

All the guesses ... very little logic being applied.

Let's reason this out shall we?

While I will broadcast from the highest mountain that DCS has produced some of the best sims I've ever seen ... I think it is safe to say that their weakest point in these sims is the AI. Can ANYONE argue this? I don't think so.

So ... it stands to reason they are not going to rest their reputation on an aircraft that relys on AI for half of the aircrafts functions. So it is safe to say that ANY 2-seat aircraft is out. Maybe they will tackle this hurdle later once they have had more time to work on their AI ... but right now it just isn't there.

As to the poster who stated F-4 ... interesting ... but given the technology of the existing DCS aircraft ... that's just too antiquated.

On the flip side of the coin, you will see a blizzard in he** before you see a DCS-level quality sim of the FA-22 as that's WAY too classified. I would hazard a guess that the FA-18E also falls into this category. There's just too much about them that DCS would not be permitted to release to the public. Don't get me wrong ... I believe the USN could potentially contract DCS to make just such a sim for MILITARY personnel for training of airmen. But there would simply be too much classified to re-release to the public and still be enough there to be a full fledged sim.

So ... modern aircraft, that aren't uber-classified, but aren't antiquated, and single seaters.

Something to think about though folks. We have the A-10C ... and a RUSSIAN aircraft in the KA-50. So ... who's to say it has to be an American aircraft?? So with this in mind that leaves us with:

F/A-18C

F-15C

F-16C

MIG-29 (variant model?)

SU-27 (variant model?)

I suspect those are the only logical and possible choices. However ... DCS is gearing, I think, towards doing a full blown all-aspect war simulation series. As such any aircraft introduced as time goes on needs to fit in to this picture. We have the rotary aspect covered, and now the CAS role, it makes sense to work on air superiority next. I suspect what they will do is crank out a US fighter, and then maybe backtrack and cover a US rotary (AH-64A) to cover the U.S. side ... and then proceed to cover Russian aircraft (probably the SU-25 and then the MIG-29) that way you can start going head to head against other players in a full on campaign.

With all this in mind, since they did the A-10C last, I would imagine they would continue with U.S. aircraft so that leaves the 18, 15, and 16.

The 15 is air superiority ONLY. As such its use in DCS is somewhat limited since it cannot assist in the prosecution of ground targets. So while I like this aircraft I have my doubts they would go with it (though I wouldn't mind if they did). Though I easily see them doing this one later on.

The 18 has the sexiness of being carrier based. Who wouldn't want to do a carrier based landing in a sim of DCS quality? But there is the rub. Doing so is EXTREMELY difficult. Even real USN pilots regularly bolter off the deck. So that might almost be too difficult. Plus you have the added difficulty of having to not only model the aircraft in full detail ... but the entire carrier as well. That's not a small feat ... and might be a huge resource hog for your typical desktop computer. But it IS an attack aircraft as well as a fighter, so that makes this one a little more likely than the 15.

The 16. Yes ... it's been simmed to death. So you lose the sexiness factor because everyone has seen it before. But it's land based (so don't have to worry about modeling a carrier and its entire associated battlegroup), the developers would undoubtedly have full access to the aircraft and aircrew (heck ... I had access to F-16 pilots for a research project for Ohio State Univ like 15 years ago so I'm sure they could manage now). And it is an all weather attack and air superiority aircraft with full BVR capabilities.

So I'd say the odds are good for the 18C (I'd give it around 35%), or the 16C (about 50%) ... with about 15% left over for the 15C.

Honestly I'd love any of these and can't wait to see it.

I wonder though ... is Thrustmaster going to release yet another controller simultaneously with it? Holy crap that would be an expensive venture to keep getting new controllers. lol

The great thing about the A-10C was that nobody had any idea in how to use it and how it avionics work. It was great in the beta with most topics being discussions on how things work, and basically the entire community learning at the same time. I learned a lot from this, more then the manual even.

But if the next module is a F-16, and since it looks like most here played Falcon, most topics will be on "why things are not working the same as in Falcon".

Did any of you actually WATCH the installation of the A-10 release? How many times do they show an F-15 that is very, very detailed right down to the afterburner rings?

For me is the contrary, why show the model prior to releasing said module. The improved external model is a great 'marketing' point to sell another module. I think this level of detail is the new "base" on which all external models will be upgraded with the time.

Wait, where is it confirmed that it will be a Fighter? It was confirmed that it was going to be a US fixed wing, but nothing about it being a fighter. Theres so much to read through these threads but could somebody just post me the link where it was officaly confirmed? if not, please change the thread title.

But if the next module is a F-16, and since it looks like most here played Falcon, most topics will be on "why things are not working the same as in Falcon".

Precisely. Rep.

Wait, where is it confirmed that it will be a Fighter? It was confirmed that it was going to be a US fixed wing, but nothing about it being a fighter. Theres so much to read through these threads but could somebody just post me the link where it was officaly confirmed? if not, please change the thread title.

A quote from the link provided by the OP:

"3) Any hints on what aircraft you guys are planning to simulate next?

A) The next DCS aircraft will be a fixed wing US fighter."

I was hoping for the Apache, but a sim along the lines of the F18, F15E, or F16 would be a welcome addition.

Well that sucks. I really find it boring flying at 30k ft. spamming missiles, thats all people do online usually...unleash six missiles at a time, yawn..., oh well I can choose to skip it and wait for a multi-role or new helo game. But here is hoping the term fighter they used in context there isn't in regards to strictly air to air (which is what I interpreted it as anyway heh)

It was confirmed here-

http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/8965/DCS__A-10C_Warthog_Review_-_PC.html

Besides... What else would it be? This "lack of confirmation" was a pointless exercise in hair-splitting since Jim Mack's interview came out.

Eagle does not have to release a sim for every plane they create training software for. The contracts drive ED's business- but the other bits need to be in place (including marketplace demand) for it to come our way..

Then what's up with the 110 pics of F-18 this maniacs (ED) posted on facebook?

I don't see those..

There are so many aircraft I'd love to see modeled to DCS standards, it's hard for me to pick any one that "I want". However, the logic I see is:

1. F-16C: I'm not clear where the thread is at the moment, but there were some F-16C cockpit renders floating around the DCS forums at one time. These were very early stages, but I believe Blk 40/42. Granted, they may not have ever been further developed. The F-16 is certainly a popular aircraft and enough of a fighter (doesn't really fit the interceptor role) and ground attack aircraft to satisfy all crowds. I must admit, visually it is a gorgeous aircraft.

2. F/A-18C: DCS did ask for detailed pictures of a CVN (Carl Vinson I believe). Just about all that's left in the fleet are Legacy Hornets and Super Bugs. I'd pick the Legacy because...

3. F/A-18E/F: A much more capable (and I think better looking) aircraft, but it is actually relatively new and much information necessary may still be classified.

4. F-15C: A true world class fighter, but I don't know how appealing many will find burning holes in the sky waiting for bandits. The AI model is quite well done and perhaps that could be some hint.

5. F-15E: This would appeal to a large number of people. It's a marvelous mission/aircraft to fly. However, I do worry about the feasibility of implementing a backseat AI for those times you just want to play off line.

If this were 5-10 years ago I would be one of those trying to argue for an F-14. As I've matured in my aviation interests though, what I really want is the carrier ops that would come with an F-14. There are other more capable aircraft out there and if it wasn't for Top Gun, the F-14 may have been lost to all but the naval aviation community.

I just think it's a really ugly aircraft, particularly the aft where the engines poke out way behind the stabs.

 

I also can't get over the ones I saw in Afghanistan, where our F-15Es were sitting there carrying GBU-31s, -38s, and -12s, and two possibly Canadian F/A-18s that diverted taxied right through our ramp, carrying all of a single GBU-38 under each wing. Wow, way to carry some firepower.

Well, an F-15E doesn't have to worry about coming back to land on the carrier. Granted, neither do CF-188's, but the base design did need to take this in to consideration. If you're going to trap at a vertical speed of -6-700 fps at touchdown, your MLW is pretty limited. Work backwards from there (accounting for fuel burn and munitions release) and it just doesn't make a lot of sense to pack large quantities of munitions in to you MTOW calculations. This is particularly true in the modern battlefield where you may or may not expend these on a patrol. Should you not expend your munitions and come back to the boat overweight, you drop those expensive toys in to the ocean needlessly.

:yes:Whatever it is.................I'm All In Baby!!!:yes:

"3) Any hints on what aircraft you guys are planning to simulate next?

A) The next DCS aircraft will be a fixed wing US fighter."

Seriously-they had 99% of us at DCS.

I would LOVE an A-6 sim...that would be a blast...one of my fav planes of all time...Imagine the multiplayer missions you could have....ea-6s doing EW, ka-6s air-to-air refueling, a-6es bombing...plus carrier ops...awesome...

Those were the days: Movie, Book, Sim.

You do realize that USAF jets also equip tailhooks?

I didn't. Which ones?

I didn't. Which ones?

All F-16 and F-15 types for sure. I believe actually most tactical aircraft have them (A-10 doesn't). They are an emergency backup in case of brake failure to prevent runway over run. They are typically pretty small and puny compared to the naval counterparts.

Me thinks a....navy plane.

Here is why:

ED allready have the engine specs in their sim for a navy plane.

22

The Plane i think about has been, most likely, declassified.

9

ED got tired of people not skilled enough to fly their current line of planes, so they toned it down abit.

11

A steady and nice approach to naval flying(trap, ils by night and so on)

9

People of the community showed so much love for the refuel thing, so now they are getting it.

14

rumor....is oleg sneeking a prob plane in dcs ?? who said it was a jet?..just fixed wing was said.

7

No, there isn't.

Well VRS seems to have done quite a good job of it and are making an even more detailed one I don't think that they'll do the AESA version but the earlier blocks. The Pro version will be the one to look out for as that will have even more features from what I understand the limitation is the TGP for FSX maybe one day they'll find a way to model it also their plans include a DC for FSX as well as that another dev is making a Naval addon using Tacpac SDK for Ship combat. Theres alot of potential there.:thumbup:

Really? How is the Slammer employment? :lol:

 

And even with the stupid...I emphasize the word STUPID, tacpack, online mp is babrbaric and the FSX FPS will continue to suck donkey b@lls. ;)

Their intention for Tacpac is to include mission planner and improve everything to realistic performance. Tacpac is also going to evolve.

:thumbup:

VRS knows combat simulation and military aircraft systems like nobody else, and we're going to continue proving it year after year. In early 2011, VRS will turn FSX on its ear; Weapons ranging from AGMs to LGBs and guns are all modeled with realistic physics, performance, effects and lethality envelopes rivaling stand-alone simulators. Not only will you be able to take out AI aircraft in single-player, you'll be able to dogfight your friends (and enemies) multiplayer, take out SAM and AAA, or bomb a hostile airfield - all in free-flight. When the dust settles you'll be able to call for a tanker, fuel up behind an intelligent AI refueler flying dynamic racetrack patterns, then RTB to review the action (and lick your wounds) via TacView - an amazing ACMI playback system.

http://www.vrsimulations.com/tacpack.htm

I know the FPS sucks but eventually PCs like they did back in Falcon 4s day will get to the stage where everything runs better.:joystick:

Well the only way you make money is to have a product that most people want. I don't see them making a sim with a prop plane.

I know the FPS sucks but eventually PCs like they did back in Falcon 4s day will get to the stage where everything runs better.:joystick:

That's a lousy excuse for it.

One aircraft not mentioned here is the Harrier. It would fit into the current realm of the simulation modeled around Black Shark and A-10 and it's not as classified or overly done in the sim world as the others. The Harrier, would allow close -off airport operations in the simulation and add a uniqueness not found in anything else available today.

I'd love to see what DCS could do with the Harrier.

my guess is the falcon.

But whatever it is they make, A10 has insured I will be buying this DCS product.

However I only give out one strike so it better be up to the same standards as the previous 2.

F-18 would be my pick. F-16 has kind of been done to death. Maybe the 15.

I was kind of hoping for the apache, using track ir to slew the cannon and everything else would be....Awesome.

We've had falcon 4.0,janes f-15,fa-18,something new would be nice,how about tornado GR4?Or eurofighter?

Sure a European fighter would be nice, but this thread is speculation on the next module, which has already been confirmed to be a US fixed-wing fighter.

No, there isn't.

Was this a confirmation that the next DCS module is NOT a super hornet?

Not the super hornet just the regular hornet. ;)

One aircraft not mentioned here is the Harrier. It would fit into the current realm of the simulation modeled around Black Shark and A-10 and it's not as classified or overly done in the sim world as the others. The Harrier, would allow close -off airport operations in the simulation and add a uniqueness not found in anything else available today.

 

I'd love to see what DCS could do with the Harrier.

That would be a blast...

Of course, so would an F-16, F-18, F-15, even A-6, A-7, F-117...