Outside perspective - DACT vs JF-17 (AI)

Already mentioned that this aircraft doesn't cease to amaze me, and it keeps going.

As it came out for the DCS World AI (as I didn't buy it yet), one would eventualy going to try to fly several different types against it.

In my case against the AI's JF-17... and what a surprise I got.

Since one of my favorite themes regarding jet fighters, is to determine which ones of them "turn best" go figure, I've flown against the JF-17 in: Mirage 2000C, F/A-18C, MiG-29A, F-14B and F-15C.

Take one: the conditions were essentialy (for both the AI's JF-17 and my aircraft):

- 2 x A-A missiles;

- 60 % internal fuel.

The results were:

Mirage 2000C

Very hard to keep maintaining 6 o'clock position on the JF-17, as this one's sustained turn rate is very good and although the Mirage does have a very good nose pointing ability, it rapidly kept loosing energy, frequently leaving me as a sitting duck.

Oportunity Fox 2 shots were possible.

A stable gun solution on the JF-17 was almost impossible.

F/A-18C

Less harder to keep maintaining 6 o'clock position on the JF-17, but even so it could eventualy run away thanks to the high sustained turn rate.

One circle fights helped the Hornet, until the JF-17 start getting speed and get out of the my kill zone.

Fox 2 shots also were possible.

A stable gun solution was a little bit easier than in the Mirage.

MiG-29

... what a disappointment.

For various reasons (amongst them its legendary maneuverability) I highly appreciate this aircraft, however it seemed to me it was the one which performed worst against the JF-17.

To get on the JF-17's six is now a pain in the a**, and wasn't always possible.

When trying to folow the JF-17:

- the MiG seemed to loose energy almost as quick as the Mirage 2000;

- however its good instantaneous turn rate is somewhat hampered by the flight control system, even with the paddle switch pressed to allow extra AoA;

- sustained turn rate... also wasn't enough from the start, to keep going with the JF-17.

- rolling when pulling Gs, forget about it - this also presented a great handicap.

- gun solution, forget about it.

R-73 Archer shots were possible, but that wasn't the point of my experience.

F-14B

Clearly more positive than the MiG-29 (which doesn't make much sense to me), and showed a better ability to get on the JF-17's six, essentialy thanks to a very good turn rate and good nose pointing ability.

When the JF-17 forced 1 circle fights however, the Tomcat started to show its "particularities"... as in low speed and AoA above 15 units, it beggins to buffet and eventualy will stall.

But was already a good experience.

F-15C

How come this was of the whole 5 aircraft, the best to fight BFM against the JF-17 ??

Rest assured it was, probably because the very good instantaneous and sustained turn rates.

Certainly it can loose energy quick if you pull exagerated turns, but it also recovers very quickly - and that is why this one can get at the JF-17's six with perceptible ease.

Take two: however I started to think if I wasn't being somewhat naive.

So now all of the 5 aircraft received the same fuel weight than the JF-17 (3500 lbs of it), instead of the same %.

... obviously this made a BIG difference, as I can now stay almost indefinetly at the JF-17's six with almost every aircraft - the Hornet particularly is perceivedly better.

The MiG also got better obviously, but eitherway the worst of the 5 in BFM performance wise.

Concluding:

The F-15 was positively a very big surprise.

The MiG-29 remains for reasons that I don't quite understand, the least "practical" to BFM, when it should be one of the very best... disappointing.

The JF-17 BFM capabilities left an overall very good impression, so I look forward to try it for myself in a near future. :thumbup:

Nice job, test in very detail, thank you very much.

mig29 takes a LOT of practice, you have to learn to be your own stick limiter or you will just AOA away all your speed. Maintaining corner velocity is key. It took me a bit of practice, but i was able to hang with the AI in the mig.