Future A-10 upgrades

[Vampyr]

It's starting to look like the A-10 will stay in service for for many more years to come, and the aircraft will more than likely receive upgrades throughout the remainder of their service life. Will DCS update the A-10C module to model those upgrades? Just wondering what "version" of the A-10 they're going to stop at and refine.

[cichlidfan]

The A-10 is finished, in terms of a DCS aircraft. It is Suite 3, which is woefully out of date compared to the aircraft currently in use, and extremely unlikely to progress beyond that point due to the terms of the original contract. It will, almost certainly, require an new contract to allow ED to model anything relating to the newer versions of the aircraft, which is highly unlikely.

[AMEDooley]

I care less about a version upgrade and more about an update to a better standard. Meaning the model, mostly the cockpit, is very out of date aesthetically. From head placement and what not they could do to update the A-10C cockpit for sure.

[deephack]

I agree that the choice of version isn't really an issue. It's a snapshot in time of the A10C and ED cannot be expected to upgrade the simulated aircraft to reflect the current IRL standard.

 

The only thing I would like to see is a fix for the VR issues with the aircraft. Head placement and HUD scale. If these two things were fixed I would say that the aircraft is perfect and very much up to the high bar ED have set for DCS aircraft.

 

Although if they were feeling generous a little bit of the cockpit ambient noise they have implemented for the Hornet would be nice (cabin air, inverter, avoinics fan).

[mstauning]

Just make a A-10D when it comes IRL ;)

[Redglyph]

It's starting to look like the A-10 will stay in service for for many more years to come, and the aircraft will more than likely receive upgrades throughout the remainder of their service life. Will DCS update the A-10C module to model those upgrades? Just wondering what "version" of the A-10 they're going to stop at and refine.

 

I don't feel it's outdated, nor in need of any upgrade, the only part that annoys me is having to patch the switch logic on every update.

 

Otherwise it's a great module with a really deep modelling of the systems, and plenty of quality DLC. It will be an interesting comparison to the Harrier.

 

What upgrade are you thinking about? Anything specific?

 

Perhaps the feeling some have is coming from a need to see something new because it has been there for a long time. Personally I'd rather see new DCS features to enrich the overall experience like improved AI, ATC, mission possibilities, realistic weather and their effects on aircraft, state persistence, or maybe even new aircraft, than refreshing a perfectly well-done module. Unless on some monitors the textures begin to appear too low-res (like the Black Shark's), but that'd just be a simple texture replacement.

[Bummer]

For me they don't have to upgrade the systems, but it would be great if they bring the cockpit model up to the F\A 18C standard.

Maybe outsource it to another company to do it for them.

I would not mind even paying for a DLC for a better looking A-10C.

[Vampyr]

I agree with all of you; I don't really care for aircraft upgrades and think that the current suite 3 model is pretty good as is (though it could use some refinements as you've all mentioned). I was just curious as to what direction Eagle was going with the A-10C module.

 

I'm still fairly new to the A-10C and I'm loving it.

Edited December 29, 2017 by Vampyr

[CrimsonGhost]

I would love for ED to address the cockpit visibility issues in 2.X. Currently things like the buttons on the CDU are impossible to read in direct sunlight. And it’s been like this for a very long time now.

[Wrench]

The only thing I wish we could have is a JHMCS. Given the TGP, or even the TDC for that matter, takes some time to get on target if you see it with the MK I's, It would be nice.

I read in a thread some time ago the JHMCS was specifically forbidden from modeling in the contract, a BS "Center screen SPI" or "Slew (sensor) to LOS" would be nice to have.

[Snoopy]

The only thing I wish we could have is a JHMCS. Given the TGP, or even the TDC for that matter, takes some time to get on target if you see it with the MK I's, It would be nice.

I read in a thread some time ago the JHMCS was specifically forbidden from modeling in the contract, a BS "Center screen SPI" or "Slew (sensor) to LOS" would be nice to have.

 

The A-10C doesn’t have JHMCS, it’s a completely different system (HMCS) and that wasn’t introduced until suite 7.

[Precog]

I would love for ED to address the cockpit visibility issues in 2.X. Currently things like the buttons on the CDU are impossible to read in direct sunlight. And it’s been like this for a very long time now.

 

Yep..this is my number one issue along with HUD scaling. If you sit in the proper seat position you lose alot of the HUD. A pilot body would be nice. Also, down the track with finger/controller tracking the ability to write on a kneeboard or even better the canopy would be awesome for writing down info such as 9 line briefs

[Wrench]

Snoopy, interesting point. I knew the later versions had an HMCS of some type, I just assumed it stole the system from another aircraft like it did the stick and throttle.

[Snoopy]

Snoopy, interesting point. I knew the later versions had an HMCS of some type, I just assumed it stole the system from another aircraft like it did the stick and throttle.

 

Nope, it’s actually cheaper, optical only goes over one eye.

[NineLine]

It's starting to look like the A-10 will stay in service for for many more years to come, and the aircraft will more than likely receive upgrades throughout the remainder of their service life. Will DCS update the A-10C module to model those upgrades? Just wondering what "version" of the A-10 they're going to stop at and refine.

 

That I know of there are no plans to upgrade the DCS module, it would require a lot of info and data ED probably isnt privy to, and chances are they want to bring new aircraft to DCS, I would love to see a updated A-10 someday, but doubt its in the cards anytime soon.

 

Of course the A-10C will benefit from work being done to the game engine itself, things like updated FLIR and such should help keep it a viable module for a long time to come.

[cichlidfan]

Nope, it’s actually cheaper, optical only goes over one eye.

 

Interesting. The Apache uses a, guessing here, similar, single eye system. The folks that come out of that aircraft end up with some rather amazing skills based on their ability to separate, and process, what their left and right eyes are seeing.

[goslin23]

I'd like to see some updated basic training for the A-10, and other older planes as well.

[NineLine]

I'd like to see some updated basic training for the A-10, and other older planes as well.

 

Have you tried this?

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/products/campaigns/a-10c_bft_campaign/

[jeffdude]

That I know of there are no plans to upgrade the DCS module, it would require a lot of info and data ED probably isnt privy to, and chances are they want to bring new aircraft to DCS, I would love to see a updated A-10 someday, but doubt its in the cards anytime soon.

 

Of course the A-10C will benefit from work being done to the game engine itself, things like updated FLIR and such should help keep it a viable module for a long time to come.

 

I personally hope to see no more changes, it's a great module that I consider complete, which is tough for many modules to say.

[normntaz]

I would love for ED to address the cockpit visibility issues in 2.X. Currently things like the buttons on the CDU are impossible to read in direct sunlight. And it’s been like this for a very long time now.

 

I totally agree. The A-10C has been unplayable for me for a couple of years now because of the HUD visibility issues, and it doesn't seem that a enough folks are having the issue for ED to address it.

[nessuno0505]

I agree. If A-10c needs an improvement it's not in functionality (it is maybe the most deep, advanced and complete module of dcs) but in visual / graphics / textures. I don't have problems with hud visibility or head placement (default head position in VR is completely wrong, but you can adjust it and then save changes, you have to do it only once in life! According to hud, when the head is correctly placed you can't see the uppermost part of the hud, but as far as I know it is so IRL too, pilots have to bow a little to see it, and in VR it is not difficult to do so); my major concerns are related to cockpit labels and CDU deals: they are barely readable even using VR zoom; I'd like to have an upgrade in order to have a cockpit definition at least comparable with the one of f-15, that is a lot more sharp and readable (even if not clickable). A pilot body would also be a great feature to add.

[markuscha]

Updated textures for the TGP would be nice :thumbup: