New to DCS, Flight in VR on FA-18

[SoundtrackTJ]

Hi All:

 

A few months back I started on my goal to fly a military aircraft in virtual reality. I started with no software and no hardware. I researched a game called Digital Combat Simulator, and decided on the F/A-18C Hornet for an aircraft.

 

It's been a long road and quite the journey! I'm thinking of starting a youTube channel to discuss the entire process, to encourage other potential pilots and help them get started as well.

 

At this point however I do have a couple questions about my VR setup:

 

1. My FPS are pretty much locked at 40, although they occasionally bump up to the 50s/60s for the most part it's locked at 40. If I look at the cockpit or sky (like at 2:05 in the video linked below) it will hit 80. Is this about normal for my hardware? From what I've read it seems to be the case, but it's strange to me that I almost never drop below 40 and it will seem to "lock" at 40 for long stretches of time.

 

2. Does the temperature look ok? Can I try to crank/overclock my GPU for better performance? Currently overclocked to 1900 mhz (from 1600) on the memory.

 

Full PC specs:

Ryzen 9 3900

rtx 2070 super ultra

32 gigs DDR4 3600

Oculus Rift S

 

 

Steps taken so far:

 

1. Researching and building a worthy PC

2. Deciding on hardware peripherals (HOTAS, pedals, VR headset)

3. Installing Windows 10, DCS, and other software components

4. Configuration and mapping of hardware peripherals to flight controls

5. Understanding how to make VR work in the most optimized way

6. Learning to fly the aircraft!

 

I’m still working through steps 5 and 6 and future steps will include:

- Recording directly from my PC (no more phone videos!)

- Learning all the computer systems of the F/A-18

- Landing without fatality

 

Looking forward to the community engagement!

 

- SoundtrackTJ

 

 

Link to First Flight video:

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by SoundtrackTJ

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

Yes capped 40fps is normal for a Rift S headset with ASW on. It´s a system which provides better perfomance, calculating unless the system offers 80fps, you keep a minimum of 40.

 

Most likely you would need another software to record the VR flights AND look good. Otherwise it´s going to be a mirrored, distorted image of your left eye VR rendering.

 

If you want to land and survive, learn how to fly the Hornet AoA- On Speed

[SoundtrackTJ]

Yes capped 40fps is normal for a Rift S headset with ASW on. It´s a system which provides better perfomance, calculating unless the system offers 80fps, you keep a minimum of 40.

 

Most likely you would need another software to record the VR flights AND look good. Otherwise it´s going to be a mirrored, distorted image of your left eye VR rendering.

 

If you want to land and survive, learn how to fly the Hornet AoA- On Speed

 

 

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I plan on doing a lot of practicing AoA- On Speed. I'm also going to research some good recording software as I progress.

 

With regards to the ASW, should I play around with disabling that perhaps?

[streakeagle]

It sounds like you are off to a decent start. Good hardware and a very good choice for a first aircraft. I find the Hornet is as simple to operate and fly as the older aircraft like the F-86 and F-5, while having all the complexity and capability of the best aircraft with carrier operations as an added bonus. Enjoy the ride! Whenever a good sale comes up, grab Flaming Cliffs 3. Since the flight models were made as realistic as the regular ED modules, it is a great deal to get so many aircraft that are so much fun to fly.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

Thanks for the reply! Yes, I plan on doing a lot of practicing AoA- On Speed. I'm also going to research some good recording software as I progress.

 

With regards to the ASW, should I play around with disabling that perhaps?

Oculus Tray Tool shorcuts for ASW are

LCtrl + NumPad 1, 2, 3 and 4.

So once aboard your Hornet, just press the different bindings to test the 4 modes. Allow a couple of seconds for the setting to apply.

[SoundtrackTJ]

Oculus Tray Tool shorcuts for ASW are

LCtrl + NumPad 1, 2, 3 and 4.

So once aboard your Hornet, just press the different bindings to test the 4 modes. Allow a couple of seconds for the setting to apply.

 

Thanks was just reading about this in the main riftS thread. Will have a go at it!

[Steel Jaw]

5. Understanding how to make VR work in the most optimized way

 

 

I a new Rift user and would appreciate hearing what you have discovered so far.

[Lange_666]

I a new Rift user and would appreciate hearing what you have discovered so far.

So the fund raising did go well?