Best way to learn the aircraft?

[Jimd0586]

First off, everyone has been very helpful on here. I have received a lot of help thus far, so thank you to the community. I have a couple threads going about various topics.

 

So I have DCS World and F/A-18C. It's a complicated aircraft and I have spent most of my time thus far flying the trainer P-51D instead as it is far less complicated. It (PP-51D) will probably be the next module I buy because it is much easier to fly.

 

Now there are a ton of youtube videos out there teaching the ins and outs of the Hornet. But how would a more experienced player teach a greenhorn? There is startup/takeoff, flying, landing, carrier ops, re-fueling, sensors, weapons, dogfighting. How do I best go about learning, and in what order, these things. The P-51D is fairly straight forward: Start her up and learn how she handles. But the computers and sensors and instruments on the Hornet are daunting.

 

Suggestions on the order to learn and any specific videos/online guides?? I did find one titled DCSF/A-18 No Nonsense Beginner's Tutorial - Startup, Basic Air Weapons, & Landing on YouTube that is pretty good. Just curious what you all thought.

 

And is joining a clan or squadron worth while? It looks fun.

 

 

[ruddy122]

Look at Chuck’s Guide

 

He explains what the DCS Hornet can do

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ruddy122]

Yeah Chuck’s Guide has a lot of info but his guides are better than the manual

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BuzzU]

Learn to start up, shut down, fly, take off and land before even thinking about the weapons.

[randomTOTEN]

In the aviation world, we have a sort of 'order of importance' for doing things in the airplane. It's distilled into a sort of memory aid to remind us what's most important, and what should be done first.

 

"Aviate, Navigate, Communicate, Manage Systems"

 

1. Aviate: Learn to fly first. This is simple, but lots of people crash doing things other than learn to actually fly the airplane. You'll see a lot of players that can shoot a bunch of weapons but don't know how to takeoff and land. Takeoff. Landing. Turns. Climbs. Descents. Airspeed Changes. Configuration Changes (Gear/Flaps/Speedbrake). TRIMMING.:megalol: Learn the Flight Controls=FCS for the Hornet. Learn how an airfield Circuit works. Learn how to read the standby instruments. Learn how to fly bombing, rocket, and gun attacks (the "attack" pattern).

2. Navigate: Learn how to know where you are, how to get where you're going. Don't be a loaf staring at a screen. GPS, TACAN, ADF, INS, HUD, HSI, Moving Map. Compass and clock. Visual Flight. Airport/Airbase/Carrier operations. Ground Radar, Air Radar. I'd even add Radar Warning Receiver as a navigation aid.

3. Communicate: Learn how to send and receive information. Air Traffic Control, AWACS/EWR. JTAC. Flight communication, IFF, Datalink, MIDS. This is somewhat simplified but will be incredibly helpful in your flying.

4. Manage systems: All that button pushing stuff. Basically everything else. I suggesting learning weapons and sensors/ systems one at a time.

[Jimd0586]

Thanks all!

[imacken]

First off, everyone has been very helpful on here. I have received a lot of help thus far, so thank you to the community. I have a couple threads going about various topics.

 

So I have DCS World and F/A-18C. It's a complicated aircraft and I have spent most of my time thus far flying the trainer P-51D instead as it is far less complicated. It (PP-51D) will probably be the next module I buy because it is much easier to fly.

 

Now there are a ton of youtube videos out there teaching the ins and outs of the Hornet. But how would a more experienced player teach a greenhorn? There is startup/takeoff, flying, landing, carrier ops, re-fueling, sensors, weapons, dogfighting. How do I best go about learning, and in what order, these things. The P-51D is fairly straight forward: Start her up and learn how she handles. But the computers and sensors and instruments on the Hornet are daunting.

 

Suggestions on the order to learn and any specific videos/online guides?? I did find one titled DCSF/A-18 No Nonsense Beginner's Tutorial - Startup, Basic Air Weapons, & Landing on YouTube that is pretty good. Just curious what you all thought.

 

And is joining a clan or squadron worth while? It looks fun.

 

 

There is a whole bunch of excellent Training Missions built in to DCS. They are invaluable for anyone learning the Hornet.

[BuzzU]

 

There is a whole bunch of excellent Training Missions built in to DCS. They are invaluable for anyone learning the Hornet.

 

True, but they can also get a noob into the weapons too fast.

[imacken]

 

True, but they can also get a noob into the weapons too fast.

 

Maybe, but the first 10 have nothing to do with weapons. If the noob follows the structure, then he is taken through startup, taxi, navigation, landing, etc. etc. long before any weapons.

[BuzzU]

As long as he stays with those and learns them well before going to the weapons missions. It doesn't take long to do the training missions.

[imacken]

Depends on how often you run each of them! When I was learning, I would pause, take things in, do each step, then do them over again, sometimes several times so that each nuance would sink in.

[BuzzU]

You must learn fast. I spent two weeks landing on the boat before I was happy enough with landing to move on.

[Ziptie]

And is joining a clan or squadron worth while? It looks fun.

 

I will only comment on this, as many others have chimed in regarding the rest of your original post.

 

 

Yes, I think joining a Discord server that has a good group of people (which can be tricky to find sometimes) is incredibly beneficial. Some have a 'training' section, where documents and discussion are posted. Being able to "be flying" and asking questions to another member who knows that aircraft inside and out is incredibly beneficial, in my opinion.

 

Many people, myself included, have taught people things while both flying - having live comms, and even being able to stream what you are doing to get feedback / guidance on topics/issues.

 

 

This is a good section to find some groups: https://forums.eagle.ru/forum/dcs-wo...ron-recruiting

 

I know of a couple good opportunities (Discord servers) that you might be interested in - feel free to PM me and I will send them over if you are interested.

 

Once you get up to speed and confident, I know of a really great and unique server like no other out there where you (and others) can experience what DCS should and can be.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

[Jimd0586]

 

I will only comment on this, as many others have chimed in regarding the rest of your original post.

 

 

Yes, I think joining a Discord server that has a good group of people (which can be tricky to find sometimes) is incredibly beneficial. Some have a 'training' section, where documents and discussion are posted. Being able to "be flying" and asking questions to another member who knows that aircraft inside and out is incredibly beneficial, in my opinion.

 

Many people, myself included, have taught people things while both flying - having live comms, and even being able to stream what you are doing to get feedback / guidance on topics/issues.

 

 

This is a good section to find some groups: https://forums.eagle.ru/forum/dcs-wo...ron-recruiting

 

I know of a couple good opportunities (Discord servers) that you might be interested in - feel free to PM me and I will send them over if you are interested.

 

Once you get up to speed and confident, I know of a really great and unique server like no other out there where you (and others) can experience what DCS should and can be.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

 

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, and thank you Ziptie. It is amazing how this community is so behind this game. I can tell from the posting that it is taken seriously but with a enough fun as to not be a burden. I think I will work on flying the P-51D trainer to continue getting good at landings and takeoffs, then move to the Super Hornet instructional courses in the game. In a week or two I will reach out to you Ziptie!

 

- Jim

[BuzzU]

Just for your info. Learning to land the Mustang will help you with landing most planes. The Hornet landing on the carrier is not one of them.

[Ziptie]

 

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, and thank you Ziptie. It is amazing how this community is so behind this game. I can tell from the posting that it is taken seriously but with a enough fun as to not be a burden. I think I will work on flying the P-51D trainer to continue getting good at landings and takeoffs, then move to the Hornet instructional courses in the game. In a week or two I will reach out to you Ziptie!

 

- Jim

 

Sounds great sir, and I think you are making the correct steps in the learning process. Have fun, enjoy the learning curve and stay motivated to continue learning - it pays off for things outside of DCS even.

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

[Steel Jaw]

I know of a really great and unique server like no other out there where you (and others) can experience what DCS should and can be.

 

Those are find to find on the public servers, where is it please brother?

[Ziptie]

 

Those are find to find on the public servers, where is it please brother?

 

https://discord.gg/hYXTK5Jg

 

Have a look at the rules, mission overview and chain of command sections upon joining server. We have an op going tomorrow, starting at 1800z (1000 pacific). Mix of UK and US pilots. A truly dynamic server like none other.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ziptie

[CBStu]

I would like to add a bit about self learning. I have my DCS set up on my PC so the bar across the bottom of the screen is not covered by DCS. I did this because my buttons for the web browser and my file folders are easy to get to. I often pause DCS and go to either a file I have saved, or to Chuck's guide, or to Youtube videos. This way I can access info, switch back to DCS un-pause and compare what I am doing to what I should be doing. I also make a lot of use of 'L SHIFT-R' to restart a flight. Whether I was shot down or just screwed up on my own, doing a restart is a quick easy way to try again.

[Fri13]

Before anything, I would recommend to study the aircraft cockpit layout. So where is what, how they are grouped and organized. What is labeled and so on.

 

So you will know eyes shut that "ECM function switch is located at...." or "Radio frequency knob is at....".

 

That as well means one needs to be familiar with the labels as "ECM", MIDS", IFF", "RWR" etc.

 

Then comes lots of button pushing learning, like start-up procedure that in what order and why something is done. So you can learn later while flying etc to solve problems or check proper instruments and so on.

 

When you know your way in cockpit, you know how to start, stop etc. You need to learn how to read a map and navigate etc.

 

Flying is easy, 5 year old can do that just fine. They do have first little problems in concentration for staying controlled flight but in minutes they know how to even land properly as long they know how to get landing gear down....

 

But all that button pushing and systems functions is the hard part, most difficult is how to do it with others.