The A-10C more fun than the F/A-18?

[Fred00]

Maybe it's just me, but I keep coming back to the A-10C. On paper the F-18 should take it:

 

- It's a nicer looking aircraft (subjective, I know)

- The cockpit looks alot nicer (at least for now)

- It's MUCH faster

- It's more maneuverable

- It's good at both AG and AA

- It does carrier ops

 

Still, the A-10C obviously has something that the F-18 is missing. It's hard to define, but mostly (for me) I think it's about the cockpit. I just think that the A-10C cockpit is more fun to operate. It's got more switches, the MFDs have a better, more modern interface and the HOTAS workflow is better thought out. Plus, I think the A-10C feels better in the air than the F-18. Sure, the F-18 can pull nicer stunts, but the A-10C has a nicer, more weighty feel to it.

 

How do you guys feel?

Edited December 10, 2018 by Fred00

[smitherb]

I love both. Been flying the F18 almost exclusively since it came out and find it so flexible and capable. Really looking forward to the ATFLIR, FLIR rendering, HARM and Grnd radar updates and it will just keep on getting better and better.

 

That said there is something about the Hog which is so endearing. I think its probably a combination of THE GUN, the amount of ordinance you can carry, the well integrated TPOD and its resilience. Its also a pretty big aircraft and is beautifully modeled (flight dynamics) in DCS so feels as if its very realistic. It's made to do one job and it does it incredibly well. Just a shame its so damn slow!

[David OC]

Love the extra power for ground attack (wow - Worlds apart) and quick to get on station at the AO, don't like the extra fuel stops needed.:(

 

The Gun.....and available decent size load out and loiter time of course...:)

[VirusAM]

i don’t touch the A10 seriously from more then an year ago when i finished enemy within campaign....

[MasterZelgadis]

I like the cockpit of the A-10C more. Maybe I'm more used to it, but especially flying IFR is (for me) much better in the A-10. I find it pretty hard to get used to the MFD HSI, I like the "hardware" HSI much more.

[twistking]

i'm always surprised, how little combat flight simmer give about the actual flying characteristics. i skipped the f-18 solely because of the fly-by-wire controls and wait for the f-14 instead.

so naturally one big aspect why i like and still fly the a-10c is the flight behaviour besides other things...

[Watari]

Absolutly!! The more modules i own the more i love the hog. I have it since beta times so i think 10(!) years or something.

I have to admit im a pure ground pounder. Im not into that PVP A2A so the hog is my first choice and probably will ever be. The wide range of weapons is incredible.

 

Well flying from A to B and fooling around is much more fun in a hornet but when you need to blow stuff ist simply one choice.

The Hotas workflow is much better than in the hornet and av8.

In some seconds you have your mavs on tgt and down in the mud.

 

 

It seems the whole DCS world is designed around it also. The quali campaigns the CA etc. Everything fits perfect with the hog.

 

im really waiting for the final step that makes it complete: the Pilot Body :-D

[Eviscerador]

One is a multirole carrier plane and the other is a dedicated CAS platform.

 

It depends on what do you find "fun"

 

For me the Harrier is more fun than the A10C just because it is faster and you can do carrier and beach landing ops from a Tarawa, you can fly from Farps and you are more flexible.

 

The A10C is still a powerhouse with systems capability bar to none currently (except maybe the Ka50) You can set markpoints, fiddle with the nav system, share with the DL and link every systems on the plane smoothly with two hotas switch clicks.

 

The Harrier and the F18 when finished will be able to do the same (F18 with the upper hand thanks to the A/A capabilities) but they happen to be still as WIP.

 

Patience, and enjoy what each airframe has to offer.

[MasterZelgadis]

im really waiting for the final step that makes it complete: the Pilot Body :-D

 

First thing I switch off in every module that features it. Covers up too many switches

[D3Magic]

I wish ED could release a later suite. I will buy even as a new module.

[Kev2go]

Maybe it's just me, but I keep coming back to the A-10C. On paper the F-18 should take it:

 

- It's a nicer looking aircraft (subjective, I know)

- The cockpit looks alot nicer (at least for now)

- It's MUCH faster

- It's more maneuverable

- It's good at both AG and AA

- It does carrier ops

 

Still, the A-10C obviously has something that the F-18 is missing. It's hard to define, but mostly (for me) I think it's about the cockpit. I just think that the A-10C cockpit is more fun to operate. It's got more switches, the MFDs have a better, more modern interface and the HOTAS workflow is better thought out. Plus, I think the A-10C feels better in the air than the F-18. Sure, the F-18 can pull nicer stunts, but the A-10C has a nicer, more weighty feel to it.

 

How do you guys feel?

 

 

IM going to avoid direct comparison of roles because these are two different aircraft, But i will comment on cockpit and functionality and ergonomics.

 

 

i disagree here with these points made with regards to HOTAS and cockpit

 

I actually like the hotas system on the F18 better. ITs simpler to use, and not over complicated. For someone who doesn't have a Thrustmaster warthog HOTAS I found the warthog had too many assignable keys to be easy to use entirely with Hotas i am using ( (saitek X56 user)

 

with the Hornet i can map all the HOTAS functions i need with the X56. and unlike the HOG can use it pretty much pure HOTAS reducing my keyboard bindings usage essentially completely.

 

and i actually find interfacing with the Hornet to be more user friendly. The Upfront control is more intuitive, and i find buttons and switches are more logically laid out. Plus startup procedure is simpler. The Hornet has a Proper Autopilot system, and not a basic altitude/heading hold

 

IF anything the Hornet has overall much more modern cockpit and has a much more digitally integrated avionics suite than the HOG does.

 

 

youve got 3 not 2 multipurpose displays to work with. the Hog being a 1970s simple vintage aircraft modernized in the 2000s, whilst the Hornet from its first service batches were built around Glass cockpit with 3 displays,. In the Hog the Glass pit has mostly to do with weapons/ sensors management. RWR and CM programing is entirely seperate. the CDU in MFD is just a repeater. that again is a separate module.

 

Radios, Seperate pieces of equipment. and requires heads down time to change frequencies among various radio sets. IN the Hornet, its all done via UFC, and therefore requires less heads down time. you already have a bunch of preset staions, and manually chaging them is easier to input via keypad than turning dials for each individual digit.

 

Its still got lots of analog gauges. IN the hornet everything is managed via MFD's or some form of digital display. again Many features even RWR screen, and countermeasures programming is done via DDI's. Sure the Hog has lots of fuel, and the Hornet needs to manage it more carefully, but I still like the fact the Hornet has something like the FPAS page.

 

 

OFFboresight helmet Display is also something the Hog does have in its iteration ( IRL A10C suite 7+ have offboresight HMD). overall more information can be displayed via HUD ( either fixed or off boresight)

 

 

The only thing worse about the interface is the symbology blends in with the moving map. IN the hog this doesn't happen i since symobology and alphanumeric are displayed against a black backdrop making it more visible in the HOG's MFD's.. That along with an IR Missile warning system are the only 2 features i wish the Hornet had from the HOG.

Edited December 11, 2018 by Kev2go

[mastersetter]

I love the A10c, it's the only aircraft i have any hours on really. But im at the end of the content, and im looking for another challenge,i dont fly online. I do have the hornet, and prob will go to that in the coming weeks. One thing i wont miss from the a10c is that dam beeping when you pull slightly too much G, god thats annoying :D But i will miss how easy the hotas is to operate and of course it's matched perfectly to the TM hotas, which was the reason i bought it in the first place. It will be hard to let go..

[Watari]

Thats the first thing i turn off on start up.

left console in the back, the two grey knobs

[GazAce]

I'M BACK!

 

WOW! What a nice perfect time for my reply.

A few days back I just decided to go back to my beautiful HOG after 6 months or more of fooling around in the Hornet. the Hornet was and is awesome, no doubt about it but something kept tuggin at my heart strings and that little voice kept saying.. "man oh man.. I'm not having much fun anymore". I don't know, maybe it's just me but whatever happened, I'm just so glad to be back in my faithful ole sluggish BEAUTIFUL awesome HOG!

And all those Campaigns in the very nice looking Caucuses now.. I'm so revisiting...big time!

Edited December 12, 2018 by GazAce

[3WA]

The Hog is a Hunter / Killer that can hang around a battlefield for what seems forever. Jets are in and out. The Hog can carry so much more ammunition and missiles.

[Kev2go]

I think i know the answer of why:

 

 

It's simply more feature complete

[Zimmerdylan]

Maybe it's just me, but I keep coming back to the A-10C. On paper the F-18 should take it:

 

- It's a nicer looking aircraft (subjective, I know)

- The cockpit looks alot nicer (at least for now)

- It's MUCH faster

- It's more maneuverable

- It's good at both AG and AA

- It does carrier ops

 

Still, the A-10C obviously has something that the F-18 is missing. It's hard to define, but mostly (for me) I think it's about the cockpit. I just think that the A-10C cockpit is more fun to operate. It's got more switches, the MFDs have a better, more modern interface and the HOTAS workflow is better thought out. Plus, I think the A-10C feels better in the air than the F-18. Sure, the F-18 can pull nicer stunts, but the A-10C has a nicer, more weighty feel to it.

 

How do you guys feel?

 

I have always come back to the A10. It's the only AC I fly missions in outside of the P-51. I own 2/3rds of the modules here but those two planes are the ones I fly.

[Nooch]

I think i know the answer of why:

 

 

It's simply more feature complete

 

I agree. It's a bit early to judge on which one is more fun than the other. The F-18 still has a lot to get in terms of updates.

The cool thing about the A-10C though is that it can carry more A\G ordnance. Appart from that my vote goes to the F-18. I haven't touched the Hawg much since the Hornet is out.

[sea2sky]

For me Hornet will never replace Hog even when fully released. Being able to fly slow is a big advantage for a close support aircraft. I feel I control the target area better, I'm the boss. In a Hornet I'm more like a thief - run in quick, grab a few souls, run back home. Also, I think Hog is a bit complex for many to learn/operate, but Hornet is a sweat spot - almost the FC3 level of complexity, a great deal of capabilities, and sexy too :), although feels a bit outdated comparing to Hog.

[Commandosolo]

I have both and fly both. I figured it this way. If I want to play with fiddly bits, then I play the A-10. If I want to play with not as many fiddly bits, then I fly the F-18.

 

 

Sometimes I just don't feel like turning 10000000 dials and buttons, all I want to do is fly. That's when I jump into the 18, cheat start and just fly. Also, when I want to try and crash (land) on carriers getting ready for my F-14.

 

 

 

sometimes it's all about the fiddly bits and sometimes it isn't.

[p1t1o]

sometimes it's all about the fiddly bits and sometimes it isn't.

 

/thread

[Dafiew]

Apples and oranges, regarding A/G operations the A-10C is a pure CAS/Tank buster platform with lots of station time, as for the F/A-18C it's a deep/precision strike and anti ship platform, fast in, fast out. Cannot compare the two at all, it would be like comparing the Spitfire and Mustang, two different planes for different roles

[LeCuvier]

The hog was my first module, I have spent hundreds of hours with it and I still love to use all these different weapon systems. Without the TGP though it would be much less fun. And it can only survive if allied fighters keep the bandits away as it's slow and poorly equipped for A/A defense. A bit like the Ju-87 Stuka which were very successful as long as the Luftwaffe dominated the skies.

The F/A-18 will gradually get a complete set of weapon systems for A/G strikes and I'm sure it will get far more attractive than it is today.

[Buzzard]

For me as a former A-10 crew chief. The A-10 is home.

Edited December 19, 2018 by Buzzard
Boring post

[javelina1]

For me as a former A-10 crew chief from 1986-2006. The A-10 is home. I could bore most of you with stories, but that wouldn't be right. My 'girls' were part of Operation Allied Force and when the 354th deployed to Bagram AB after 911.

 

If it wasn't for a YouTube video about DCS I would never have known who Eagle Dynamics were. THANKS

 

Again, the A-10 is home.

81-980 Christina or as she's known today 'Brown Eyed Girl'

79-196 Caroline

82-665 Chrissy

 

Yeah, in the Air Force I was nicknamed 'The Buzzard'

 

I'm still have

 

81-980 Nicknamed Christina

 

 

thank you buzzard for your service, and keeping those birds in the air!

 

 

at some point, you do need to share your stories!!! this is what we in the flight sim community love to hear. the real "stuff"!

 

 

 

respectfully,

 

 

-Jav :thumbup: