Wait....seriously!!!???!!! The HUD doesn't show airspeed????

[Eaglewings]

Equally flying based on feel/"seat of your pants" IRL rather than looking at speed/alt gauges is probably much more doable because the seat of your pants is actually getting some feedback.

 

 

 

And as you note, an awful lot of things in the cockpit are between quite and incredibly hard to read. I'm reminded of doing the cold start training mission and struggling to make out (even on full zoom) with certainty the markings of the position on the BIT dial on the RH console. Although i'll try an earlier suggestion someone made of sticking the console lighting on to see if it improves things.

There is mod that you can use now that give very good clarity on the right console. You can download from the dcs user file section and install.

Works really good.

 

Heatblur did an amazing job with the Tomcat. When on low speed you get some subtle vibration. The aircraft gives you feedback that would make you check your airspeed and spoilers.

I still feel it would not diminish the work they have done now if vital instruments panels are made clearer.

Pain to keep zooming to get precise airspeed during aar, Time on target missions and other missions that you would need the airspeed.

 

 

Note: I have read the right console mod does not pass integrity check during multiplayer section

Edited March 20, 2019 by Eaglewings

[dAsReLiCT]

yeah its hard always checkig the instruments and flying, combat and so on. Yeah Right thats hard work and you need multi-tasking-skills. The Tomcat is not a TOY

[bfr]

There is mod that you can use now that give very good clarity on the right console. You can download from the dcs user file section and install.

Works really good.

 

Heatblur did an amazing job with the Tomcat. When on low speed you get some subtle vibration. The aircraft gives you feedback that would make you check your airspeed and spoilers.

I still feel it would not diminish the work they have done now if vital instruments panels are made clearer.

Pain to keep zooming to get precise airspeed during aar, Time on target missions and other missions that you would need the airspeed.

 

 

Note: I have read the right console mod does not pass integrity check during multiplayer section

 

Cheers, i'll take a look later. I'm about a million hours logged away from taking it near multiplayer so not worried about any clash with that!

[shagrat]

yeah its hard always checkig the instruments and flying, combat and so on. Yeah Right thats hard work and you need multi-tasking-skills. The Tomcat is not a TOY

Yeah, and the sim pilot has the additional "kick" from not feeling any movement, no peripheral vision, degraded resolution when viewing instruments, fiddling with a mouse (like you are an amputee with just one finger and thumb left) all adding to the workload, so he is even much more cool than a "simple" real life Tomcat driver.

[Eaglewings]

Cheers, i'll take a look later. I'm about a million hours logged away from taking it near multiplayer so not worried about any clash with that!

Here is the link.

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3303911/

[umkhunto]

The two situations where I find reading the analog speed dial difficult are when trying to maintain corner speed, or when trying to maintain speed in a sustained turn. Even then the only reason I find it difficult is the resolution; with the FOV I need to fly the numbers are incredibly small and fuzzy.

For me maintaining corner speed is simple in the Tomcat. I know it's 325KIAS. So I know the needle must be between 300-400, about 3 needle widths. That's worked for me so far.

[Delta59R]

This probably doesn't help much but interestingly I think I found a digital readout for the indicated air speed on the HSD, just flip the mode switch down and you will see it just left of the stick.

[bonesvf103]

Me: Why don't we have the SparrowHawk HUD in the F-14B?

Heatblur: the sparrowhawk upgrade that some tomcats received didn’t come until quite late, the B we model had the same hud as the AThat being said, if we ever do a D model we would include the sparrow hawk hud there!

 

 

Me:Maybe you can do a late f14b add-on or update?

Heatblur: Wouldn’t say never but probably not, might as well do the D in that case. The models and their upgrades were very mixed up, Not at all as clear cut as most people expect .

 

 

v6,

boNes

[jcbak]

No, no! It's impossible to fly without airspeed on the HUD, just like it is impossible to drive across town without Google Maps on your iPhone!

 

The Spitfire has airspeed on the HUD right? That's how the RAF won the Battle of Britain... ;)

 

 

LOL...Exactly! I think I'm just too old. :smilewink:

[Delta59R]

For me maintaining corner speed is simple in the Tomcat. I know it's 325KIAS. So I know the needle must be between 300-400, about 3 needle widths. That's worked for me so far.

I'm confused by you statement, isn't the dial set up in mach as in .6 , .5, .4 etc? So 325kn = ~ mach.5. I notice keeping it between mach .6 and .4 is the sweet spot. Also what do you mean by "3 needle widths"?

[Top Jockey]

Why do you want the speed in the HUD? Why is it so important to you?

Honestly, I need the speed only for informational purpose from time to time.

 

And I think everyone is refering to the F-18 because people are coming from her, are used to all her comfort and thought they could now fly that cool plane from Top Gun in the same way.

It is just simply not... The F-14 is a granny. A real cool one, but still a granny. F14D - Super Tomcat is what you are looking for, but that has not anymore much to do with a "real" F-14...

 

Wait for the A version (which was used for more then 80%(?) in RL) and then whining will really start...

 

Why ?? Because he feels the need... the need for SPEED !! :D

 

He (probably) "wanted" the speed in the HUD, for the same reason many other simmers think they want it:

They were used to that since the first flight sims they met and tried, and also they didn't know that much about the F-14 before buying the module.

 

Likewise, if in the future an F-4 Phantom II module does come out, probably some more people expecting the "speed in the HUD", will be in for a ride again. :lol:

 

So, obviously what he was expecting was, something like the already mentioned SparrowHawk HUD from the F-14D ... which for me, certainly would not be as appealing as the old HUDs and symbols logic presented in the F-14A and B.

 

In my impression, these old HUD symbology design and logic, are what composes part of the soul of the F-14 Tomcat.

For "modern" HUDs there's the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-22 already to chose from.

 

So, personally I don't "feel the need for the speed".

I feel that:

- once every weapon system gets too automated;

- auto-lock for eveything;

- just point & shoot left and right... the sims / aircrafts start loosing their appeal.

[Dino Might]

I've flown the engines off the F5 prior to release of the Cat, so I feel that the HUD is just fine, especially when you set declutter on.

 

I don't see the need for airspeed and alt in the HUD for formation flying. I still use flat screen trackIR, and it's no issue matching speed.

[shagrat]

I'm confused by you statement, isn't the dial set up in mach as in .6 , .5, .4 etc? So 325kn = ~ mach.5. I notice keeping it between mach .6 and .4 is the sweet spot. Also what do you mean by "3 needle widths"?

Mach is a variable scale that accounts for pressure height. The Mach dial moves depending on altitude. the inner dial (between the two needles) corresponds to IAS.

So cornerspeed should be about/below 0.6 Mach....

[Delta59R]

Mach is a variable scale that accounts for pressure height. The Mach dial moves depending on altitude. the inner dial (between the two needles) corresponds to IAS.

So cornerspeed should be about/below 0.6 Mach....

 

Yes Agreed

[rrohde]

;3849024']The sarcasm is strong with this one.

 

Well, judging by how many question- and exclamation marks were used in the thread title might require at least a little sarcasm... seriously. ;)

[rrohde]

I'm confused by you statement, isn't the dial set up in mach as in .6 , .5, .4 etc? So 325kn = ~ mach.5. I notice keeping it between mach .6 and .4 is the sweet spot. Also what do you mean by "3 needle widths"?

 

So why not look at the inner ring that displays knots? I find that easier than looking at the outer Mach ring.

 

Edited March 20, 2019 by rrohde

[Shimmergloom667]

So why not look at the inner ring that displays knots? I find that easier than looking at the outer Mach ring.

 

Come on, that is really too easy! ;)

[shagrat]

So why not look at the inner ring that displays knots? I find that easier than looking at the outer Mach ring.

 

Because your cornerspeed in KIAS @ 10,000 ft is different, than @ 30,000 ft, while the Mach number is always 0.6 M... at least that's my reason. On landing approach the IAS is better as you are below 5,000 ft most of the time and the pressure variance isn't that much of an issue, especially when adjusting to QFE.

[lunaticfringe]

Speed is important when your are flying in formation (rpm also), refueling, landing (aoa also), dive bombing.

Anyway everyone has different thoughts. Consequenlty i am having difficulties because of blurry fonts and its location in the cockpit despite i have trackir. and i will be happy if it's done

 

If you're looking for speed while flying formation, whether with a flight lead or a tanker, or during landing once configured, there are more fundamental issues at play than a lack of knots on the HUD.

 

Just sayin'.

[Lt.Seahawk]

I really don't see a problem with reading the airspeed from the gauge instead of a HUD. Older airframes were just like that and once you are used to it you will keep it in your periphery whenever you fly. Reading through some of the threads here makes me think that some people were unaware of what they've actually bought themselves into.

Edited March 20, 2019 by Lt.Seahawk

[kengou]

Regarding the airspeed gauge, how come the whole thing rotates (e.g. when slowing down to landing speeds)? When and why? I also notice the needle 'bugs' you can set on the outsides move too but seem to get misaligned with the numbers? What's going on there?

[Oldfox]

Sorry about hijacking the thread a bit, but about the HUD I have a probably ultra stupid question:

 

Why is the 0° pitch never at the right place? I know we can trim the pitch lader with a knob, but why would this be not aligned by default? INU gyro drift? Bad calibration when starting a mission directly in flight?

Thanks!

[Delta59R]

So why not look at the inner ring that displays knots? I find that easier than looking at the outer Mach ring.

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhh ok ok got it, thanks, Well the Mach number is a bit bigger, I use VR and the res is not so great, so the bigger mach numbers are easier to glance at in a dogfight and I would say more relevant as it factors in alt/pres

EDIT: rethinking it the KIAS is more important bc of lift.

Edited March 20, 2019 by Delta59R

[Victory205]

@Oldfox. I don't know. Maybe it was to put the reference in the middle of the windscreen. There was no combining glass, the symbology was projected on the windscreen itself.

 

Wasn't designed for primary flight information far better than anything else at the time. That rapidly changed. Took forever for the USN to upgrade it. Too busy spending money on ships that we really didn't need.

[shagrat]

Regarding the airspeed gauge, how come the whole thing rotates (e.g. when slowing down to landing speeds)? When and why? I also notice the needle 'bugs' you can set on the outsides move too but seem to get misaligned with the numbers? What's going on there?

Sorry, but that would be part of a "Fundamentals of Jet flight" thread.

so just some pointers as introduction:

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indicated_airspeed

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mach_number