Help with the F-15

[SierraFox]

I'm still relatively new to DCS (about 40 hours or so) and currently only have the FC3 module. I've been flying the campaigns that come with FC3 to learn the planes and the basics before getting a full Fidelity module.

 

I have a few issues with the f-15 that I've not noticed in the Russian planes. While it excels at BVR it feels pretty much useless at all other times. It bleeds energy way too quickly, even during shallow turns and once an su-27 in on your tail it's very difficult to lose them or turn the tide, doing a tight turn and dropping speed makes it far less maneuverable, therefore harder to get away. I know i'm not supposed to get into these situations, but like i said, i'm still learning.

 

What's the best way to keeping distance between you and the enemy while still being able to fire off missiles, having enough time to react to missiles being fired at you and not allowing your self to get into situations that will end up with you being painted on the side of a mountain?

[Sweep]

On energy: Keep your speed up, the rate band is 350-410, decent merge entry speed is gonna be about 430-440 typically, sometimes you'll want to be up at 470+ if you want to play the bandit with energy fighting or something.

 

I would find a copy of the "F-16 combat aircraft fundamentals" and the "T-38 introduction to fighter fundamentals" for better dogfighting instructions. A simple Google search should bring those up pretty quick.

 

Let me tell you this, though, the Eagle is far from useless against aircraft in dogfights - It doesn't sustain its turn rate as well as a Flanker at lower speeds, but if you start thinking about maintaining energy until you can't (defending a missile), and getting your wingman a shot at the bandit, you will win every single time...The Flanker is a great 1v1 platform in-game, but it is mostly horrible in ACM. (or that is this F-15 fanboy's opinion at least... :lol:)

 

On missiles and engagement ranges...It depends. Your max range for a low-medium altitude AMRAAM is typically 8nmi with a no escape range of about 6. The long-burn R-27s have about the same range, but they have inferior seekers (80s SARH and 80s/90s IRH) so their range is somewhat irrelevant, from that POV.

 

One other thing, good job on asking the forums for help - I didn't, and it took me 2 years and a thousand+ hours of virtual flying to learn stuff I could have known in a month or so.

 

Good luck!

 

P.s. I'd try to find some youtube videos of dogfighting, but from the cockpit or HUD tape - Ones with real audio are nice, as well.

[JazonXD]

Basically what sweep said, but adding slightly to it: maintain your situational awareness is your best bet to "still being able to fire off missiles, having enough time to react to missiles being fired at you and not allowing your self to get into situations that will end up with you being painted on the side of a mountain?"

 

One of my favourite advantages to the F-15C is that it has much better SA than the Flankers or other Russian aircrafts. The RWR isn't even fully modeled, but even that is enough to give it a much better view of the battlefield. (obviously, the really experienced pilots can still read the SPo-15 like a book, but I would say the western RWR still has an undeniable advantage)

 

With that said, it is easier said than done. But basically, use your instincts a lot. If you see a 29 spike on your RWR and it disappears, that means it was there. Don't forget about it. Also, it goes the same way that if you DON'T see a 29 spike on your RWR and you see it on your radar, then lucky you! He's not looking at you and you have a chance to get closer and surprise him (of course, unless he is tracking you in his EOS, so be aware of his ET shots).

 

Also, learn where your radar CAN see and CANNOT see, all in relation to the RWR. For example, 1 oclock on your RWR is 30 degrees right to the nose of your plane. So if you see a spike there, you will know which target is spiking you by matching it up with the azimuth of the radar (if you have multiple contacts on radar).

 

Other little things like that (also keep your head out of the cockpit). I'm not great at explaining unfortunately, but these are some of the things I can think off the top of my head at the moment.

 

Edit: also, it is really good to be familiar with the performance of the missiles of your enemy: Know how far that ER can fly with how much you're manouevering. Know how far it can reach at that altitude (obviously, a rough feel, not memorizing the performance characteristic of it lol). This way, you know what you can do in the situation after he fired: if you need to go full defensive or you can still press.

 

(I think I'll edit more as I remember more lol)

Edited August 29, 2016 by JazonXD

[DarkFire]

I'm still relatively new to DCS (about 40 hours or so) and currently only have the FC3 module. I've been flying the campaigns that come with FC3 to learn the planes and the basics before getting a full Fidelity module.

 

I have a few issues with the f-15 that I've not noticed in the Russian planes. While it excels at BVR it feels pretty much useless at all other times. It bleeds energy way too quickly, even during shallow turns and once an su-27 in on your tail it's very difficult to lose them or turn the tide, doing a tight turn and dropping speed makes it far less maneuverable, therefore harder to get away. I know i'm not supposed to get into these situations, but like i said, i'm still learning.

 

What's the best way to keeping distance between you and the enemy while still being able to fire off missiles, having enough time to react to missiles being fired at you and not allowing your self to get into situations that will end up with you being painted on the side of a mountain?

 

I'm a Flanker driver, so I'll comment from that experience perspective. As an Eagle driver the last thing you want to do is to be forced in to a turning fight below about 6,000m. A WVR engagement at low altitude offers me better instant and sustained turn rates (dependant on weight & other factors of course) and much better nose authority. These, combined with my ability to 'go dark' on your RWR by using my EOS to track you at WVR ranges, combined with the off-bore advantage I get from my helmet mounted sight and R-73 missile means that under equal skill conditions I have many advantages.

 

The challenge form my perspective is surviving until the merge. Your radar is better than mine, and this combined with your better RWR offers you significantly better situational awareness. Under nearly all conditions the Eagle also accelerates faster and climbs better than the Flanker.

 

Use the Eagle's superior radar and RWR to deny the Flanker the chance to 'capture' you in a WVR fight. Use the Eagle as an energy fighter and also make full use of your active radar missiles: fire and crank and don't be afraid to turn away if you need to extend and reset the engagement.

 

BVR: The Eagle has a very significant advantage over the Flanker.

WVR: The Eagle can turn & burn, but against a skilled Flanker pilot you're likely doomed.

[GGTharos]

As an Eagle driver the last thing you want to do is to be forced in to a turning fight below about 6,000m.

 

As an Eagle driver, I really don't have any problems with turning fights below 6000m. It's harder for an eagle, in some cases it may be unwise, but it's not the end of the world.

 

A WVR engagement at low altitude offers me better instant and sustained turn rates (dependant on weight & other factors of course) and much better nose authority.

These, combined with my ability to 'go dark' on your RWR by using my EOS to track you at WVR ranges, combined with the off-bore advantage I get from my helmet mounted sight and R-73 missile means that under equal skill conditions I have many advantages.

 

Eagles have a lot of nose authority; just stay out of the AoA warning tone and keep speed in the corner band since the flanker has a somewhat unrealistic (according to me) 'bump-up' of turn rate as it slows, rather than a ramp-down.

 

BVR: The Eagle has a very significant advantage over the Flanker.

WVR: The Eagle can turn & burn, but against a skilled Flanker pilot you're likely doomed.

 

You're never doomed, you just need to know what you're doing. OP obviously does not, so he's doomed in any BFM or BVR fight.

 

There are very well written BFM manuals out there (and BVR is an extension of BFM: That missile is an aircraft, it just happens to be a rocket-boosted suicide glider ... but still an aircraft).

[mattebubben]

if you are interested in some reading on the F-15C or Air-Air combat at large for DCS i would recommend this guide.

 

https://forums.mudspike.com/t/dcs-f-15c-combat-guide-for-beginners-by-sryan-very-img-heavy/2063

 

It covers everything from the the basics on how to operate the F-15C to more advanced parts in how to use it effectively etc.

[Bushmanni]

It's very hard to shoot down a skilled player in BVR so staying out of WVR will limit your ability to kill bandits. The trick is to arrive into VWR with an advantage, ie. make the bandit defend against your missiles while you maneuver into his six. If you get a kill in BVR it's more because the bandit made a mistake than you were good. When you are behind a bandit it doesn't matter which plane he's flying as Eagle has all the tools and capabilities to shoot down any aircraft from that position.