Black Shark Den welcomes rotorheads!

[BaD CrC]

 

If you are a DCS Chopper Pilot looking for a place to develop and share your flying and combat skills, you should definitively check out Black Shark Den, the largest rotary wing ONLY squadron for DCS in the North America and European regions.

 

We are offering the most structured training for helicopters, based on the US Army ATM (Aircrew Training Manuals) and are actually proud of having several active helicopter pilots both military and civilian in our instructors rank who provided their best insights. We have also talented mission designers, modders and scripters who are providing most of what is badly missing in DCS for helicopters operations to our missions.

 

Each region (EU and US) is structured in platform based platoons with specific training and roles:

Our missions are designed with helicopters operations first. We are not flying fixed wing. None. (unless we are having events with other friendly fixed wing squadrons :)).

If you are still not convinced, come and say hi on our BSD Discord channel. You are always welcome.

 

 

Edited October 18 by BaD CrC

[Astralnut]

Not knowing where to contact BSD, I tried to enroll and never got the email activation. My login handle is the same as here Astralnut.

[BaD CrC]

For those like Astralnut who are (now were) wondering who to contact, you can PM me or just go to the website or Discord server, following the links provided in the first post.

Thanks!

[BaD CrC]

Quick update. Our Mi-24 platoons (EU and US) are now fully operational, staffed with newly qualified instructors and open to new pilots. If you are looking to fly with IRL helicopter pilots (sorry not IRL Mi24 ones though). the Den is the place you are looking for.

[BaD CrC]

Hi guys,

Quick update on the AH-64D module at BSD.

We are currently building the AH-64D platoon with the support of several Apache IRL pilots and instructors (US and EU) that are already flying at BSD. Because of the versatility of this platform and its popularity among the DCS community, there will actually be 2 (two) AH-64D platoons: one ATTK oriented and one CAV oriented (both basically have the same range of tasks, but with a different  order of priority.

We are proud of being the most respected helicopter only squadron in this community (you will never fly FW with us) and as such, we are intending to keep deserving those high expectations from our current and future members as well as from the other DCS squadrons.
As such:

- the AH-64D platoons will not be open to recruitment at module release until we are getting a fully staffed and structured organization around this new chopper. This means sufficient amount of IPs for the training of new comers, a clearly defined training program and a reasonable amount of missions accessible to this platform; this can take from 3 to  6 weeks  depending on the complexity of the platform. We are already managing though a waiting list (filling up already) for the new members willing to join when the platoon opens so we can manage the first come first served in the fairest way possible.

- there is no "gunner only" or "front seat only" position available as we are starting to see. The two positions available in the AH-64D (just like the Mi-24) are equally critical to the success of a combat mission and as such, all crew members are expected to follow the same training and show the same level of proficiency with the said helicopter no matter the position. 

- Just like for the other helicopters, we will be expecting from you a minimum skill level to join the AH-64 platoons (cold startup, flying straight and level, hover, radio coms). So use the time you have until the platoon opens to familiarize yourself with your chopper. BSD does not have the resources to take on board someone with zero experience in DCS RW.

Finally, BSD is mostly a community of people with family and jobs. We don't have un realistic expectations of having you guys flying 3 times a week including weekends (but you can if you want!). We are expecting to see you flying at least once a month and having a regular presence on the Discord server so we know you are always here and keen to learn and have fun flying combat missions together. Our structure is here to make sure you always have a good channel of communication with your platoon leaders and easy access to qualified instructors. 

 

See you soon on BSD!

[Mike Force Team]

Hello.  Are you accepting new members for your squadron organization?  I have a KA-50, the MI-24, and eventually the Apache when it is available.

[BaD CrC]

Hello Mike. Mi-24 platoon is still open. Check out our platoon availability on our website. We are preparing the deployment of the AH-64D platoon with the support of actual AH pilots IRL. We know what it takes to fly DCS helicopters and not rushing to follow the hype so we have a serious structure and training program before we are starting to take people on board.

[Mike Force Team]

I attempted to create an account at https://www.blacksharkden.com.  After verifying the account in separate email, I am not able to sign in.  From your end, do you see that I created an account.  Thanks for the assist.

[BaD CrC]

Yes. No worry. Activation are made manually. You should be good now.

[Mike Force Team]

Thank you for the update and support.  I have a question on a different subject.  When I play, I am using a corded gaming headphone.  The headphone and microphone work properly.  When I am talking to others, they tell me to "increase the gain" for the volume.  Even with the volume set at 100% and the microphone directly in front of my mouth, they claim they are not able to hear.  Any suggestions on how I can resolve this?

[BaD CrC]

Quick update. All the AH-64 waiting list has now been cleared after months of intense recruitment and evaluation for our instructors. The new platoons AH-64 EU and US as well as the OH-64 ones (Reconnaissance) should be much quicker to join now.

[BaD CrC]

Hello Rotorheads.

 

We are looking for some very special breed of helicopter pilots these days. Not the pew-pew ones but the ones enjoying tactical landings in tight LZ, dropping troops under enemy fire, sling loading heavy loads, navigating with a tight time constraints, extracting commandos from the top of a building, in other words, UH pilots and more specifically Mi-8 ones. If you, like me, are enjoying this marvelous DCS helicopter module and have a good grip on it, please have a go with Black Shark Den. All links in the Sig (Discord and website). 

See you soon!

[BaD CrC]

Update June 2023.

The launch of our dedicated public server Helo World has been a huge success. You might want to check it out by the way, so you ll get a taste of BSD experience.

Anyhow, with the new flight model for the Gaz, there has been a new interest in this awesome whirly bird on the US side of the squadron and we would love to kick this platoon again. If you are interested, jump in our Discord server or check out our website.

Edited June 20, 2023 by BaD CrC

[fargo007]

Thanks to the new updates from Polychop, BSD's US/Canada SA342 Gazelle platoon is open again.  

We fly all variants of the gazelle across the entire menu of mission roles it can occupy.  

Recon, Light Attack, Escort, COIN, Anti-Armor, FAC(A), Calling in Artillery, and using the helicopter and everything it's capable of doing. 

If you can fly this helicopter with a decent degree of skill and racing around in the chicken leg and working with others in a PvE environment that leans into milsim is your thing, come on out. 

[fargo007]

Renewing the Sa342 Gazelle call here. Both US and EU platoons are now OPEN.

 

 

 

We are getting it done with all variants of the Gazelle big time, so come check us out. 

 

[LuseKofte]

Hi I am from Norway. And fly chopppers exclusively in DCS. I fly them all , meaning it take a lot of flying to maintain muzzle memories on the most advanced choppers. 
I can do the pilot task in AH 64 and let George handle the hellfires. I abandoned the idea learning front seat procedures. It just too much. KA 50 I flown many years together with Huey, mi8 and Gazelle. And spent a lot of time in the Mi 24 since it came  plan to do a lot with the chinook when it arrive  

I know there are still a lot to learn in all those modules. I fly offline and are YT / tutorial trained with a lot of try and error learning. 
I am fond of transport missions in the mi 8 and Huey.  
I own my own company and travel a lot so I got periods I can not fly. But also got periods I can fly a lot. 
I do fly randomly with some friends in great battles 

[BaD CrC]

 

[BaD CrC]

Fresh News June 2024

Quick update on the intro of the Kiowa at BlackSharkDen. Of course we are now working on the ATM for our newly created platoons flying the 58 and are hoping to welcome newcomers in a couple of weeks. The structure for this new chopper is already built and our IPs are checking the relevance of each task in the ATM. Ah, for those of you who are wondering about the CH-47, yes, ATM and platoons structure is in place, we have IPs ready to go. Now we need the module... 

On the dedicated servers side, our 4 servers, including our public one, Helo World, are going strong. Helo World is one of the best Rotary Wings only public server available in the community and we cannot encourage you enough to check out the community dedicated thread!

Finally, we created on our discord server a new APAC (Asia Pacific) group to help those with availabilities that do not fit "normal" hours for our NORAM and EMEA companies fly together.

As usual, if you are not familiar with BlackSharkDen, we are the largest and most respected squadron in the DCS community operating exclusively helicopters (no fixed wing) in a cooperative environment (no PvP). Check our www.blacksharkden.com or join our Discord server.

 

Edited June 15 by BaD CrC

[fargo007]

BSD now has both CH-47F "GRIZZLY" platoons listed as open.