F-16 or F-18

[kdawg]

Hey Guys -

 

Thoughts on which jet would be better to start with? Guessing the F-18 is further along as far as feature list?

 

Thanks,

Kevin

[Cskelly]

Can't go wrong with either. At the moment the F-16 is my airframe of choice although I have been flying the A10c (Enemy within campaign). All that being said you may get more bang for buck since you can do carrier ops with F/A-18. Just my two cents.:)

[Oceandar]

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=260658

[RampantCoyote]

This is the F-16 forum, so of course those of us haunting it are predisposed to have a serious interest in the Viper.

 

My Hornet has been gathering dust since the F-16 came out. However, that's not a slight against the Hornet, simply a matter of how much I love the F-16, even in its current state in DCS. However, I'm definitely anxious to see more weapons and systems become available and working as they should be on the A2G front.

 

Right now, I'd say if you don't already know the answer *for you*, then you should probably go with the more complete Hornet. Otherwise, you would have bought the F-16 already. :) Anyway, six months from now, it will probably be a different story, or at least a more challenging one.

 

Get what appeals to you, and have fun learning and flying

[kdawg]

Thanks Guys, appreciate the feedback. I'm going with the Viper first and will see how it goes. :-)

[Mikeck]

If you’ve made your choice, then this is moot; but I would recommend the f-18. I fly both but the F-18 is just further down the development road. Things generally work the way they are supposed to so less bad habits learned. For me, it’s frustrating when something isn’t working and I don’t know if I’m doing it wrong, it’s a big or just an incomplete feature

 

Secondly and more importantly, yeah...dropping CBU-97’s is a blast and you can’t beat the damage to armored groups, but the F-16 is very weapons limited right now. LGBs, iron dumb bombs, rockets and cluster bombs. That’s it. The F-18 has the dumb and cluster bombs (no cbu-97) and rockets....but also IR and Laser mavericks, HARMs, Harpoons, JDAMs, JSOWs and the Walleye. Just makes it more versatile and allows for SEAD, anti-shipping and Poor weather precision bombing missions. Frankly, I also like that the F-18 carries the Aim-7. I enjoy playing scenarios occurring 1989-1992 and prefer not to take up a viper carrying only Aim-9s (AIM-7 also good for shooting when friendlies are down range and a mad-dog Aim-120 might lock on)

[Pooter03]

I have both, but I'd recommend the Hornet first. There are more features implemented, and carrier ops give you a lot more things to master. More bang for your buck.

[oldmanflan]

I went to the Viper for 100% of my game play for the first 3 weeks after it was launched. However, I found myself going back to the Hornet more and more and now find myself never usually touching the Viper.

 

However, I am one that truly prefers Carrier Ops, just about every time I play. So that is a major factor for me.

[Deano87]

The only reason I reach for the Hornet these days is if I need to throw a HARM at something. I can't see me flying the Hornet much once the Viper gets Harms/ HTS and Mavericks. Then I'll be a happy camper.

 

All of the above is not surprising though. F4 was the first really serious combat sim I played and my brother spent a few years flying the F-16 so its really what I've been waiting for tbh. But everything everybody has said is true, currently the F-18 is just a more capable jet.

 

Nowhere near as pretty as the Viper tho.:thumbup:

[p1t1o]

I cannot belive there will be many self-respecting DCS pilots who will not, eventually at least, own both of these without regret.

 

Letss say you love the F16, so you get the F16 module.

 

How long are you going to let the F18 module sit around before you try it out? How many sales will go by? Im guessing not many :lol:

 

 

What Im saying is, the question is moot, buy the first one your mouse reaches.

[Cytarabine]

This is entirely moot given you have made a purchase, and while it is heretical on the Viper forum I would go Hornet first;

 

- weapons variety - the Hornet will always have more variety of weapons owing to the fact it has to perform all of the fighter/strike roles for the carrier air group, while the Viper in USAF/ANG service is in cooperation with other specialised airframes (so no SLAM-ER, Harpoon, sea mines, Walleye for the Viper)

- carrier ops - with the supercarrier coming carrier ops look set to be more detailed than land based ops currently

- more complete - the Hornet feels more down the road to completion (both still have huge gaps though)

- discounts are a long time off for the Viper

 

So in conclusion - buy both, get Hornet first.

[Lace]

I cannot belive there will be many self-respecting DCS pilots who will not, eventually at least, own both of these without regret.

 

This is a good point, but I have many modules which have seen very little use, not because they are poorly executed or are aircraft I do not have an affinity for, but just because the time investment required to get the most from each module is huge, and I simply do not have the time.

 

Buy them to support the devs by all means, but unless you have a lot of spare time, then short of a quick blast now and then you are unlikely to be getting the best of out the aircraft or systems.

 

I have made the deliberate decision to stay away from two-seat aircraft for instance as I don't play MP and don't want to have to learn two roles. After I bought the Spitfire I decided no more WWII stuff. I don't have the Hornet because I knew I wouldn't be able to dedicate the time to learn it properly once the Viper came out (although the Hornet and Supercarrier bundle seems like too good an offer to miss!).

 

ED and their various 3rd parties are producing modules faster than some of us can master them!

[GPatricks]

Just got the Hornet on sale (bought it 1st so I could get the carrier pre-release at 50%), had the Viper since Day 1 but wanted to have a carrier capable plane also..

[Schmidtfire]

Why only F-16 or F/A-18? JF-17 is a complete module. State of the art systems w. data cartridge.

Long range Sensor Fuzed weapons, anti radiation, anti-ship, MIL missiles, air-ground radar etc. not a US fighter but avionics are simple to operate and has a ”west flavour”. The other two aircrafts has a ton of history and panache, but from capability standpoint the JF-17 is very much a contender, especially if you want a full multirole experience now.

[Orr89]

Why only F-16 or F/A-18? JF-17 is a complete module. State of the art systems w. data cartridge.

Long range Sensor Fuzed weapons, anti radiation, anti-ship, MIL missiles, air-ground radar etc. not a US fighter but avionics are simple to operate and has a ”west flavour”. The other two aircrafts has a ton of history and panache, but from capability standpoint the JF-17 is very much a contender, especially if you want a full multirole experience now.

 

Sorry but no, F16 or F18 that is all :)

[GPatricks]

Just ran the carrier landing training mission without having a clue how to fly the F/A-18 and trapped (#1, so not perfect) the 1st time. Even had to pause to find the flaps switch, other than that she flew like a dream down to the deck. Now I get to learn everything else, but I can see how the carrier addition is very cool to have...

[nightfalcon]

Unless you are a fan of F-16, get the F-18. Its more versatile and more capable than viper in every way. It can do carrier ops and have much better variety of ordinance. Now that viper is not getting JSOW, JASSM it lost its standoff capability. Lau-88 launcher was also removed so only 2 Mavericks max. It also has no Anti-Ship capability.

 

Edit: Sorry JSOW is still planned. I was looking at old post were it was removed from the list.

Edited January 23, 2020 by nightfalcon

[Deano87]

Lau-88 launcher was also removed so only 2 Mavericks max.

 

I’m gonna need to see the source on that. It’s been shown in multiple videos and press screenshots of the jet.

[nightfalcon]

I’m gonna need to see the source on that. It’s been shown in multiple videos and press screenshots of the jet.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3916377&postcount=18

 

Its also not on the planned list. Correct me if I'm wrong. I hope I'm because I want Lau-88

[Vitor_Hugo]

Unless you are a fan of F-16

 

Exactly

I know the F18 has carrier ops and more payload etc etc but I get the F16

I just love the F16 and it's really good to fly. So choose the model you connect more with it

 

 

 

Edit: Sorry JSOW is still planned. I was looking at old post were it was removed from the list.

 

Is this post still correct? With Phase 1 Early Access and Phase 2 Product Sustainment

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=241132

 

.

[Deano87]

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3916377&postcount=18

 

Its also not on the planned list. Correct me if I'm wrong. I hope I'm because I want Lau-88

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3920366&postcount=21

[VpR81]

I own both and would definately recommend the Hornet. As many ppl stated, the Viper is far behind the Hornet in developement and has less variety in ordonance + the Hornet provides naval ops/anti ship capability (at least in theory, as the AGM-84 is still WIP). Also there won´t be any discounts on the Viper in the nearby future while the Hornet is on a 25% discount right now i think, so you would get way more for your money. Both will be fantastic jets once completed, but the Hornet is definately closer to that stage. So get the Hornet first and the Viper later...

[BlacleyCole]

Are you a airhead or squid? You like hard decks or carrier landings.