New to Flight Sim ask for some guidance.

[SteelStone]

Hey fellas,

 

I'm extremely, extremely  new to flight sims and had some questions on how to get started.

 

1. I happen to have the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog A-10C joystick and throttle which I purchase around 5 to 6 years ago but never used it. Do I purchase rudder pedals to go with my HOTAS and if yes, which high quality brand to go with?

 

2. What are the best visual components to use for flying DCS planes that allows me to look around without using my keyboad to do so? VR glasses or something else? My screen is a BenQ screen.

 

3. I heard on a youtube video that some DCS planes that you purchase are not high in quality. There are only a few in high quality. If this is true, which aircraft mods are high in quality to purchase?

 

4. I'm use to racing games with "force feedback" from the steering wheel. Does DCS allow the flight joysticks to get force feedback?

 

Thanks for any help

 

[TLTeo]

Welcome to DCS!

 

1. Thrustmaster, VKB, Virpil, MFG off the top of my head all offer high end rudder pedals.

2. Either TrackIR (which is a little IR camera thingy that follows your head movement) or as you said VR. VR requires a more powerful computer but is more immersive

3. I'm not sure why you are asking this in the Hornet section, since I kind of assumed you had that module already (which is excellent). It's not so much a question of quality (although some modules are less complete and a bit more controversial and debated than others), but of the extent to which their systems are modelled. Aircraft from Flaming Cliffs 3 (the F-15C, A-10A, Su-27, Mig-29 and Su-25) all have barebones systems modelling and no clickable cockpits, but their flight models are as realistic as any in DCS, and they are still fun to fly.

4. Yes, with the caveat that no company builds new force feedback joysticks because of patent issues. If you want a FFB stick you'll need to get a used Microsoft Sidewinder.

 

Feel free to ask more questions, I'll be happy to help

Edited February 9, 2021 by TLTeo

[SteelStone]

35 minutes ago, TLTeo said:

Welcome to DCS!

 

1. Thrustmaster, VKB, Virpil, MFG off the top of my head all offer high end rudder pedals.

2. Either TrackIR (which is a little IR camera thingy that follows your head movement) or as you said VR. VR requires a more powerful computer but is more immersive

3. I'm not sure why you are asking this in the Hornet section, since I kind of assumed you had that module already (which is excellent). It's not so much a question of quality (although some modules are less complete and a bit more controversial and debated than others), but of the extent to which their systems are modelled. Aircraft from Flaming Cliffs 3 (the F-15C, A-10A, Su-27, Mig-29 and Su-25) all have barebones systems modelling and no clickable cockpits, but their flight models are as realistic as any in DCS, and they are still fun to fly.

4. Yes, with the caveat that no company builds new force feedback joysticks because of patent issues. If you want a FFB stick you'll need to get a used Microsoft Sidewinder.

 

Feel free to ask more questions, I'll be happy to help

 

TLTeo,

 

Thanks for the helpful reply....

 

...

[Foka]

Easiest way to know which module is high fidelity is price - ~15-20 are low fidelity. High fidelity are usually way over $50.

(Exception is Flamming Cliffs 3 package - it has several low fidelity planes).

[Burt]

This is one of the best discord’s to get started. People are very nice and are welling train... there’s real pilots in there too. 
 

https://discord.gg/tacticaldcs

[SteelStone]

Awesome, thanks for the help fellas.

 

Btw I see there are 3rd party aircrafts that can be purchase. Are these 3rd party aircrafts only available to purchase off the DCS webpage or do we, the buyer, have to go to the 3rd party main website page to purchase their aircrafts for the game?

 

 

Edited February 10, 2021 by SteelStone

[feefifofum]

Welcome!

 

All content can be purchased through the DCS E-shop. Some third parties also operate independent storefronts as well, and offer incentives to purchase from them directly (Heatblur, for example, gave away T-shirts with their internal F-14 preorder.)

[CobraKhan]

The F/A-18C arguably is the most complete that DCS offers.  It is among the most versatile platforms as well; it can be used for a ground attack, it can be used for SEAD missions, it can be used for air to air.  It can be launched and recovered by an aircraft carrier, or takeoff and land upon airfields.  It has the reputation of being the easiest to fly, it is fly by wire, it is supersonic and yet also has a relatively slow stall speed and recoverable, the landing gear is designed for a carrier so you basically crash land it without a whole lot of finesse…

[Munkwolf]

I can't add much to the excellent replies already posted, except a little bit about #4 with force feedback.. No good options for FF joysticks due to patent issues as TLTeo mentioned, but you may find bass shaker / butt kicker stuff to be a decent substitute.

 

I recently bought a cheap 100w amp and a couple of the 50w Dayton bass shakers, and it added more to the DCS experience than I thought it would. I'm using it with the Sim Shaker for Aviators software:

https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/147495-official-simshaker-for-aviators/

 

All the effects really add up. A thunk when the cockpit closes or when gear extends/retracts. High frequency vibrations when the APU is running. A rumble from the engines at higher throttle. Similar electric motor vibration as the APU when the flaps are extending/retracting. Then the shake from firing cannons.. or a hard landing. Imo it's cooler than a FF feeback joystick would be.

 

I've been seriously hooked on DCS the past couple of months, after years of being focused on iRacing. Modern options like VR + hotas + bass shakers.. it's an amazing time for flight sims.

[Retbxdet3]

......Good day ! I've have the DCS F-14 and Supercarrier, I recently was able to get the cursor to work to scroll in the cockpit after getting no help from DCS. I know downloaded the beta version and I can scroll with the mouse in the cockpit HOWEVER, now there is no cursor visible to access any function keys in the cockpit but I can scroll. Any suggestions ? There has to be an answer to this issue that DCS can't give apparently , thank you 

[feefifofum]

Lalt + C will transition between the cockpit cursor for interacting with the cockpit, and mouselook.

 

If you have mouselook enabled while using TrackIR or VR, you effectively disable your cockpit cursor with no visual indication, which sounds like what may be happening to you.