I just have two small wishes...

[Eldur]

While the work for getting the A out finally, I'll just throw in two things that I'd love to see for also the B, which are things that are coming to my mind ever so often as someone who actually does use the Cat for A/G quite often.

 

First item would be pretty simple: When doing the startup, could we have an option in the Jester wheel to make him actually skip the ASH and do a full alignment instead? The INS precision with ASH is massively deteriorated compared to a full align and I always want to have the option to do a full one anyway. Again, an option. Would make CCIPing easier as the thing will be more precise, but it costs time.

 

Second item has been requested already ages ago, but hasn't been done by HB, "because it wasn't used IRL". I want to be able to dump those massively over-draggy (which is ED's building site here, and that being the main reason for the wish) racks, especially those on the stub pylons and the ones used for Zunis or TALDs. As those can drag the thing down to A-10 level speeds, it would be absolutely reasonable if we could jettison them, especially since there's a switch for that in the back pit, that just hadn't been wired IRL since it was not used - as the loadouts haven't been used that it would be useful for, which we - though - do have in DCS as they have been tested and cleared, but just not being taken to service by the Navy. So basically, if we do have something that wasn't used IRL, but would have been possible, I do want all of it, including the wiring of the rack jettison switch, so we can actually use those loadouts and get rid of the massively overdone drag afterwards at least.

 

Just hoping for to get this considered...

[sublime]

WAIT

You mean jester doesnt do full alignment?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!!??! WTF!?!?!

can I add a wish

can we just get our damned ai a6s. PLEASE GOD. (its a step to us flying them. and theyre really hand in hand with f14s. I mean... they were like the perfect combo. )

if I get a big wish, can i beg you guys to do the F4 phantom? before someone says 'thats being made' its been on 'permanent hold' (why not say cancelled?!) for years

[sublime]

Ill add if theyre gonna add 'zone 6' to the A i.e. allowing players to use the infamous circuit breaker trick, i think its really silly to not allow pylon removal.

I guarantee pylon removal happened more than incidents of pilots breaking all the rules and doing a 'zone 6' by overriding some circuits

 

other small wishes

fix the oxygen thingy in the B real pilots are saying is off

***** Fix the throttle gauge. Please. Its INSANELY noticeable once you see what a b models looked like***

the original looks like an old school gauge from the 40s or 50s. the B gauge looks like a casio watch numbers etc.

[IronMike]

We'll take a look, Eldur, but no promise.

[Northstar98]

WAIT

You mean jester doesnt do full alignment?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!!??! WTF!?!?!

 

No, only if there's already an alignment stored (either if it's selected in the mission editor, or if the aircraft has been shutdown and hasn't changed heading), if there isn't he does a full alignment.

 

can we just get our damned ai a6s. PLEASE GOD. (its a step to us flying them. and theyre really hand in hand with f14s. I mean... they were like the perfect combo.

 

I'm sure it'll come soon enough after the A is released.

 

if I get a big wish, can i beg you guys to do the F4 phantom? before someone says 'thats being made' its been on 'permanent hold' (why not say cancelled?!) for years

 

The F-4E Phantom was being done by ED and it's not a carrier capable variant (unlike the F-4B/C/J/S/N/K).

 

[Mr. Big.Biggs]

With the currently available maps, carrier capability(at least the option of) seems like a No brainer if not a must but I know the drill, everyone has their thing and such.

[sublime]

 

No, only if there's already an alignment stored (either if it's selected in the mission editor, or if the aircraft has been shutdown and hasn't changed heading), if there isn't he does a full alignment.

 

 

 

I'm sure it'll come soon enough after the A is released.

 

 

 

The F-4E Phantom was being done by ED and it's not a carrier capable variant (unlike the F-4B/C/J/S/N/K).

 

well was. the F4 isnt being done. I was happy with an E. my father was a wso in Ds. Naval down the road woulda been nice and thats why I wish HB would do it. as it is Id seriously wager money with someone that there will not be an F4 in DCS thats flyable.. ever, unless its a mod. They 'announced the module' almost 5 years ago now! Same with the Ah1J indeed about 3-4 years ago I think part of the problem was Razbam named like 15 projects all at once they were going to do. it was exciting but even then was like 'how are they.. '

none happened

[Golo]

Yea what I would not give for Heatblurs carrier capable F-4. Come on Heatblur, its a two seater (pilot/rio), two engine, carrier capable, state of the art (for its time) radar, with longest range BVR missiles (for its time), ring any bells?

So many similarities with F-14 you can use the tools invented for F-14, like jester, multicrew implementation, radar/avionic systems... it should be no brainer to develop, please.

 

Well anyway this wasnt ment to be a wishlist, I agree with OP about ASH/full alignment option for jester.

[sublime]

i still am not even on the grief stage of accepting reality. all this time I thoought I was sitting my bum ass for all that time so jester could... not even get a fine alignment?!

do you know how many goddamn times Ive listened to the first 6 songs of the soundtrack as flip tape always causes me a crash!? and Im getting a partial align!"?!?!!??!

you guys should have made a minigame that looks like a really cheap streetfighter (like roblox level) and you can just beat the crap out of a jester rag doll.

[Northstar98]

i still am not even on the grief stage of accepting reality. all this time I thoought I was sitting my bum ass for all that time so jester could... not even get a fine alignment?!

do you know how many goddamn times Ive listened to the first 6 songs of the soundtrack as flip tape always causes me a crash!? and Im getting a partial align!"?!?!!??!

you guys should have made a minigame that looks like a really cheap streetfighter (like roblox level) and you can just beat the crap out of a jester rag doll.

 

I've already told you, if you don't have an alignment stored, jester will do a full alignment, you can definitely get him to do one via the menu a short time after you start both engines if you get Jester to perform an unassisted start.

 

This is also there in the F-14 pilot cold start tutorial...

 

If you haven't checked 'stored alignment' in the mission editor, or have had an aircraft with a full alignment, shut it down and then moved it, the stored alignment won't/shouldn't be available, and jester will default to doing a full fine alignment, unless you choose otherwise with the jester menu.

[draconus]

@OP: If it wasn't wired than no - it's not as simple as click a weapon onto the rail. Jester full allignment should be an option though.

 

@sublime: So you even didn't know what allignment you got and suddenly it's a hell of a problem... smh.

[sublime]

 

I've already told you, if you don't have an alignment stored, jester will do a full alignment, you can definitely get him to do one via the menu a short time after you start both engines if you get Jester to perform an unassisted start.

 

This is also there in the F-14 pilot cold start tutorial...

 

If you haven't checked 'stored alignment' in the mission editor, or have had an aircraft with a full alignment, shut it down and then moved it, the stored alignment won't/shouldn't be available, and jester will default to doing a full fine alignment, unless you choose otherwise with the jester menu.

 

I know how to do a cold start. its been 18 months since i did the tutorial, gimme a break willl ya"?? I didnt see you 'already tell me dude' sorry

yes Ive seen 'fine alignment' on the menu, but IME telling jester to do ANYTHING during startup fcks him up, AND I assumed that if I didnt specify and was simply patiently waiting the startup alignment would go as fine as possible.

So if you do a regular cold start its a fine alignment then? or do I have to specify?

2nd beyond the incidents you mention also if youre flying DCE or some other stuff the carrier will turn into the wind and this *Will* minorly fck up alignment, the solution is to wait until the carriers no longer turning

**if the alignment is stored, i.e. from the carrier, ***what level alignment are we getting? any idea ? *

[Northstar98]

 

I know how to do a cold start. its been 18 months since i did the tutorial, gimme a break willl ya"?? I didnt see you 'already tell me dude' sorry

yes Ive seen 'fine alignment' on the menu, but IME telling jester to do ANYTHING during startup fcks him up, AND I assumed that if I didnt specify and was simply patiently waiting the startup alignment would go as fine as possible.

So if you do a regular cold start its a fine alignment then? or do I have to specify?

2nd beyond the incidents you mention also if youre flying DCE or some other stuff the carrier will turn into the wind and this *Will* minorly fck up alignment, the solution is to wait until the carriers no longer turning

**if the alignment is stored, i.e. from the carrier, ***what level alignment are we getting? any idea ? *

 

Okay, let's say you make a new mission and place an F-14; if you look at the window on the right, you'll see some tabs for waypoint, loadout, waypoint properties, failures, radio presets etc. On the one on the furthest right (3 dots) there is one called 'additional properties for aircraft'

 

Under that tab there's a checkbox for INS Alignment Stored, by default the box isn't ticked, which means when you Cold Start the aircraft Jester will be forced to do a normal alignment, and by default he does a fine alignment (unless instructed to do otherwise) - you can see this by using the HSD in TID repeat mode. But, what happens is that a short while after both engines are up and running, jester will start the INS alignment (whether stored or not, on the ground or on the deck) at which point if you open the jester menu, you'll see options for what alignment to do. However, if you don't tell him to do anything, then by default he does a fine alignment.

 

If the stored alignment box in the ME is ticked, the alignment is stored, and ASH will appear on the TID while the INS is aligning, and the aircraft will perform a stored heading alignment instead of a full alignment. Another way to get a stored alignment, is if you have an aircraft that already has its INS aligned (either by doing a full Cold Start or a mission that starts with the aircraft hot) and then shut the aircraft down; so long as the aircraft hasn't changed heading, the INS will remember the alignment it had stored from the last time it had one (all you have to do is give it coordinates, either manually if you're on the ground or via the CAINS/WPT datalink, which jester will do by himself).

 

And yes, the aircraft needs to be kept on the same heading while performing an alignment. If the aircraft is shut down, parked and the ship changes heading, then when the INS alignment is performed, the alignment that's stored won't be valid and a normal CV alignment will need to take place (again, by default Jester does a fine alignment, unless you tell him not to). This also provides a workaround to bypass the stored alignment; if you start the aircraft up, and then turn the aircraft on the ground, stop, and apply the parking brake, then start the INS alignment, the stored alignment will be invalid and jester will be forced to perform a normal alignment which he will do automatically (again, unless you tell him otherwise he will default to a full alignment). I have tested this in the current stable build; I had an alignment stored from the mission editor, I performed a cold start but before jester had started the INS alignment, I taxied and turned the aircraft, stopped and put the parking brake on; jester then started aligning the INS - ASH never appeared and jester performed a full, fine alignment, taking the full amount of time, without any intervention from me. So yes a stored alignment is only valid if the aircraft's heading is the same from when it last had a full alignment.

 

TL;DR Jester automatically does a full INS alignment by default. He only doesn't if either instructed to via the jester menu (while jester is setting up the INS or during the alignment) or if a stored alignment is present (either by the mission editor tickbox; or if the aircraft is fully aligned, shut down and then is started back up again (so long as the heading hasn't changed, if the heading has changed then a normal alignment will be required)).

[The_Tau]

So if ASH is activated, how one does full alignment with human RIO?

[Golo]

So if ASH is activated, how one does full alignment with human RIO?

 

Human RIO can manualy deselect ASH on CAP and do full alignment.

[Eldur]

 

Human RIO can manualy deselect ASH on CAP and do full alignment.

 

Which is what I'd like to see as an option in the Jester menu. Because the full alignment without ASH certainly is more precise which is most noticable when dropping bombs in CCIP / Cpt/P. It's always a tad off with ASH. Why there is the difference, I don't know. But well, when I do a stored heading alignment in the Viper, it also just goes down to 10 instead of 6.

[sublime]

 

Okay, let's say you make a new mission and place an F-14; if you look at the window on the right, you'll see some tabs for waypoint, loadout, waypoint properties, failures, radio presets etc. On the one on the furthest right (3 dots) there is one called 'additional properties for aircraft'

 

Under that tab there's a checkbox for INS Alignment Stored, by default the box isn't ticked, which means when you Cold Start the aircraft Jester will be forced to do a normal alignment, and by default he does a fine alignment (unless instructed to do otherwise) - you can see this by using the HSD in TID repeat mode. But, what happens is that a short while after both engines are up and running, jester will start the INS alignment (whether stored or not, on the ground or on the deck) at which point if you open the jester menu, you'll see options for what alignment to do. However, if you don't tell him to do anything, then by default he does a fine alignment.

 

If the stored alignment box in the ME is ticked, the alignment is stored, and ASH will appear on the TID while the INS is aligning, and the aircraft will perform a stored heading alignment instead of a full alignment. Another way to get a stored alignment, is if you have an aircraft that already has its INS aligned (either by doing a full Cold Start or a mission that starts with the aircraft hot) and then shut the aircraft down; so long as the aircraft hasn't changed heading, the INS will remember the alignment it had stored from the last time it had one (all you have to do is give it coordinates, either manually if you're on the ground or via the CAINS/WPT datalink, which jester will do by himself).

 

And yes, the aircraft needs to be kept on the same heading while performing an alignment. If the aircraft is shut down, parked and the ship changes heading, then when the INS alignment is performed, the alignment that's stored won't be valid and a normal CV alignment will need to take place (again, by default Jester does a fine alignment, unless you tell him not to). This also provides a workaround to bypass the stored alignment; if you start the aircraft up, and then turn the aircraft on the ground, stop, and apply the parking brake, then start the INS alignment, the stored alignment will be invalid and jester will be forced to perform a normal alignment which he will do automatically (again, unless you tell him otherwise he will default to a full alignment). I have tested this in the current stable build; I had an alignment stored from the mission editor, I performed a cold start but before jester had started the INS alignment, I taxied and turned the aircraft, stopped and put the parking brake on; jester then started aligning the INS - ASH never appeared and jester performed a full, fine alignment, taking the full amount of time, without any intervention from me. So yes a stored alignment is only valid if the aircraft's heading is the same from when it last had a full alignment.

 

TL;DR Jester automatically does a full INS alignment by default. He only doesn't if either instructed to via the jester menu (while jester is setting up the INS or during the alignment) or if a stored alignment is present (either by the mission editor tickbox; or if the aircraft is fully aligned, shut down and then is started back up again (so long as the heading hasn't changed, if the heading has changed then a normal alignment will be required)).

 

first- thx for detailed response brother

ok .. yea Im familiar with the stored alignment box with the carrier, and I know how to set it up as well as RIO .

So ground starts - They cant store data? I ask because what seems to regularly confuse me is the once in awhile I go MP and take off on land i hit 'own a/c' and the 'stored info' (not what its labelled) light under it lights up making me think 'oh this is already set up' but then I look at the TID and long and lat are 0's ... lol

I can tell you that for sure on a carrier, fly the f14 on stable or unstable and if you start up and the carrier turns youre WPs will be off by a few miles. it wont be major but its enough to ruin say a LGB run.

I like the explanation thanks, though i knew most of what you said I always like having procedure verified. if I could get you to myself for 2 hours id drive you insane with rio questions about minor ass details. for example in SP I noticed that jesters link 4 switch is always off! I turn it on.

One thing I dont get - what would be the advantage or reasoning to NOT take a stored alignment and use a new one? Because if the carrier ever was gonna turn in the wind Id just chill for a few minutes and start her up. the stored alignment button seemed to make a normal fine alignment and also more quickly as its stored... So Im asking in what situation would I deliberately want to move my F14 so Jester cannot use the CAINS/WYPT alignment thing?

[sublime]

 

Human RIO can manualy deselect ASH on CAP and do full alignment.

 

so youre saying that barrel button thing where you select waypoints to input etc? jesus christ I need to relearn some basics. What does it say? im gonna look at chucks guide and stuff again, but... Idk ill post again if I see it quickly. if you dont feel like explaining its cool too

EDIT: ok so im looking at chucks. I got the pic of all the diff sides of the CAP barrel. I dont see any buttons that look like theyd be related, can you either point me to something that adresses this or try to briefly (or at length if you like lol) explain? See Ive learned to ignore the CAP except the nav stuff. the BIT is tests AFAIK, and the datalink I thought was mostly not usable in game along with the entire part of the barrel with messages for (Telex?).. so forgive me..

[Northstar98]

 

So ground starts - They cant store data? I ask because what seems to regularly confuse me is the once in awhile I go MP and take off on land i hit 'own a/c' and the 'stored info' (not what its labelled) light under it lights up making me think 'oh this is already set up' but then I look at the TID and long and lat are 0's ... lol

 

If you start cold, and the aircraft hasn't been used, you can do a stored alignment, but only so long as the "INS Alignment Stored" checkbox in the mission editor is checked, if it isn't then it won't be available. This I think can only be set by the mission editor.

 

I can tell you that for sure on a carrier, fly the f14 on stable or unstable and if you start up and the carrier turns youre WPs will be off by a few miles. it wont be major but its enough to ruin say a LGB run.

 

Yes, though it's important to note that the stored alignment only stores heading (AFAIK), so the RIO (whether that be a human player or not) will still have to input coordinates manually (if on the ground) or use the CAINS/WPT datalink if on a carrier.

 

If you had an alignment stored and the carrier turns before the alignment is started, the stored alignment will be invalid and the RIO will have to perform a normal alignment. If the alignment is started, then the carrier turns before the alignment is complete (i.e before the nav mode selector to the top-left of the TID is placed into 'NAV') then the waypoints will be way off - which is to be expected.

 

I like the explanation thanks, though i knew most of what you said I always like having procedure verified.

 

That's alright :) I think it's better to provide the explanation just in case.

 

if I could get you to myself for 2 hours id drive you insane with rio questions about minor ass details. for example in SP I noticed that jesters link 4 switch is always off! I turn it on.

 

Weird, I'll test this and then I'll post my results, if that's the case then it's a bug (I know that Jester also never seems to set his SAI, Oxygen, nor does he reset his altimeter, at least on the ground and in the current stable build.

 

One thing I dont get - what would be the advantage or reasoning to NOT take a stored alignment and use a new one? Because if the carrier ever was gonna turn in the wind Id just chill for a few minutes and start her up. the stored alignment button seemed to make a normal fine alignment and also more quickly as its stored... So Im asking in what situation would I deliberately want to move my F14 so Jester cannot use the CAINS/WYPT alignment thing?

 

If the OP is correct, and the stored alignment is degraded compared to a normal fine alignment, then doing a normal fine alignment will give you a better aligned INS. I suggested turning the aircraft before the INS alignment has started will invalidate the stored alignment and will force a normal one. This was a workaround as I couldn't see immediately see a way to perform a normal alignment if I have an alignment stored (by default if you have an alignment stored, it performs a stored alignment when the NAV mode selector is placed into GND or CV (whichever applicable)), but if there's something on the CAP that can make the INS do a normal alignment instead of a stored one, you won't need to do this to get a normal alignment if you have one stored.

 

The only advantage of a stored alignment AFAIK is purely the fact that it's a lot quicker than a normal fine alignment.

 

And if you turn the aircraft, before Jester has started aligning the INS (whether by punching in coordinates or using the CAINS/WPT, whichever applicable), Jester will hold off until the aircraft is stopped with the parking brake on (I don't think the INS will align if the parking brake isn't set).

[Golo]

 

so youre saying that barrel button thing where you select waypoints to input etc? jesus christ I need to relearn some basics. What does it say? im gonna look at chucks guide and stuff again, but... Idk ill post again if I see it quickly. if you dont feel like explaining its cool too

EDIT: ok so im looking at chucks. I got the pic of all the diff sides of the CAP barrel. I dont see any buttons that look like theyd be related, can you either point me to something that adresses this or try to briefly (or at length if you like lol) explain? See Ive learned to ignore the CAP except the nav stuff. the BIT is tests AFAIK, and the datalink I thought was mostly not usable in game along with the entire part of the barrel with messages for (Telex?).. so forgive me..

 

Here you go.

[Northstar98]

 

Here you go.

 

Awesome, so you don't have to do what I said and turn the aircraft before the INS starts aligning, it can be manually deselected. Though now I wonder if the option remains selected even if I turn the aircraft (which would probably mess the alignment up, and I'll have my waypoints god knows in which direction).

[sublime]

ty

so you select stored alignment again so its unlit and bang?

[Northstar98]

Yes, once you start the INS alignment, and have an alignment stored, the button next to "Stored HDG Align" will be lit (so long as a stored alignment is available), pressing the button again to deselect it (light goes out) will use a normal alignment instead.

 

Note: it seems that if you have an INS alignment stored, and you deselect "Stored HDG Align" on the CAP, you can't turn it back on again, presumably it clears the stored INS alignment when you do this - so you are forced to do a normal alignment. I wonder what Spiceman has to say about it.

[draconus]

I suggest reading HB's manual:

http://www.heatblur.se/F-14Manual/ge...ding-alignment

which says SHA is almost as good as normal fine alignment. Also the fine alignment can be left running even after completion to get even greater accuracy.

SHA can be deselected and selected again and will be used but without the SHA letters shown.

Edited November 17, 2020 by draconus

[Northstar98]

I suggest reading HB's manual:

http://www.heatblur.se/F-14Manual/ge...ding-alignment

which says SHA is almost as good as normal fine alignment. Also the fine alignment can be left running even after completion to get even greater accuracy.

SHA can be deselected and selected again and will be used but without the SHA letters shown.

 

Ahh, okay, cheers. I was just going off of what I could see, but yes if in doubt check the manual.