A-10A stuck on grass - why?

[cfrag]

As far as I know, the A-10A is supposed to be operable on rough roads and damaged airfields. However, it seems it currently drive even on grass - it gets stuck and can no longer move if you move onto the grass next to the runway. To re-produce the issue, simply create a playable A-Hog on Slot 1 in Batumi, and drive it the 10 meters into the grass, then come to a full stop. No matter what, you can't get it to move again.

 

Is that a bug or will this also happen to a real-world hog? I would have thought that it's undercarriage and thick wheels would prevent it from sinking into the ground and get stuck that easily...?

[Ironhand]

The ground in DCS world varies. In places you can use it successfully. In other areas you can’t. In the real world, of course, the same is true.

 

The following is a video I made after selecting a random field on the map—IIRC, A-10 is the 2nd aircraft. Some [aircraft] handle it better than others:

 

https://youtu.be/UANy9VOlYCw

Edited February 28, 2021 by Ironhand

[Bailey]

Remember, you are driving a vehicle that is 7.5 times heavier than a Toyota Prius, but about the same footprint. Estimates are rough, but think about it. It sure made me laugh for a bit

[cfrag]

1 hour ago, Bailey said:

Remember, you are driving a vehicle that is 7.5 times heavier than a Toyota Prius, but about the same footprint. Estimates are rough, but think about it. It sure made me laugh for a bit

 

Understood. Then again, methinks the Hog should be able to roll on grass and dirt. Neither -A, -C nor C II can at the moment in DCS. I made a quick unscientific test with some modules and found out that the Hornet, Harrier, Falcon and Flanker can all drive on grass (as can the Herc - what a fine module that is), while most others can't (even some that should, like the Viggen) . The Flanker especially is much heavier than the Hog, so if it's merely a weight/tire size issue it shouldn't be able to. It seems to me like something that could be looked into - A-10 can operate from FARP in RL, and I've seen reports of them operating from improvised (non-concrete) runways. When I land at a FARP in DCS, the A-10 gets stuck in grass, but a Hornet doesn't (I've tried - landing the Hog on a road is possible and interestingly more difficult than putting down the Bug). 

 

I hope they tweak this capability as it clearly exists for some planes

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by cfrag

[Ironhand]

1 hour ago, cfrag said:

...It seems to me like something that could be looked into...

One can always ask. FC3, however, is more or less at the end of its life. So I wouldn’t expect too much other than fixing a significant bug that might pop up.

[draconus]

Afaik RL military aircraft don't land on a random meadow but on a hardened/prepared grass or dirt fields, which we don't have in modern DCS maps. Roads work very well but need precision. In DCS all aircraft can land and drive off-road if you keep the speed. It's easier if you're lighter. Just don't stop in the full grass.

Edited March 1, 2021 by draconus

[cfrag]

On 3/1/2021 at 11:48 AM, draconus said:

Afaik RL military aircraft don't land on a random meadow but on a hardened/prepared grass or dirt fields, which we don't have in modern DCS maps. Roads work very well but need precision. In DCS all aircraft can land and drive off-road if you keep the speed. It's easier if you're lighter. Just don't stop in the full grass.

 

Agreed - and that's mostly fine with me - except that some planes can do this in DCS, and it really allows me to make some interesting (read: fun) missions: I created one where you are to land on a road, taxi to FARP, re-arm and refuel and take off again. That works well with the Hornet, but the same mission doesn't work with the A-10 (neither A, nor C nor C II), which is a bummer since I'd love to add more variety to the mission (works well with the Harrier too).

 

Perhaps a compromise could be arrived at: skip the terrain check when within some sensible range of a FARP where we simply assume the terrain is prepared for aircraft? 

[3WA]

This is why the Ground needs to be looked at, after being neglected for SOOO long.

[StevanJ]

3 hours ago, cfrag said:

Agreed - and that's mostly fine with me - except that some planes can do this in DCS, and it really allows me to make some interesting (read: fun) missions: I created one where you are to land on a road, taxi to FARP, re-arm and refuel and take off again. That works well with the Hornet, but the same mission doesn't work with the A-10 (neither A, nor C nor C II), which is a bummer since I'd love to add more variety to the mission (works well with the Harrier too).

 

Perhaps a compromise could be arrived at: skip the terrain check when within some sensible range of a FARP where we simply assume the terrain is prepared for aircraft? 

While it has an abilitity to lift off from an unpaved runway, there is no realistic or semi-realistic moment where it can taxi through grass.
The same even applies to the FA18, the FA18 is your compromise.

 

3 hours ago, 3WA said:

This is why the Ground needs to be looked at, after being neglected for SOOO long.

The ground is fine.

If you feel like something isnt represented very well in game, all you need to do is bring a picture or video to back you up on subject, and argue that it should be in game.
You wont ever find a video or picture of an A10C operating in grass, unless its an RC Model.

You might and probably will find pictures of many differing aircraft stuck in grass.

[cfrag]

1 minute ago, StevanJ said:

While it has an abilitity to lift off from an unpaved runway, there is no realistic or semi-realistic moment where it can taxi through grass.

 

I understand - and realism is to me not the only/overriding factor to decide about a feature. There are no real-life labels nor all-knowing self-tuning radios, unlimited ammo nor fuel; yet they all exist in DCS as a optional good compromises for playability, to make the game more accessible and enjoyable. I'm asking for a tweak to make mission design easier and broaden the breadth of possible missions. Sure, if the mission editor gave us ground tiles (to create makeshift airfields) that can be taxied upon, I'd be all for that. A simpler, and - agreed, less realistic - approach for mission designers is to allow planes to taxi on the ground when close to a FARP, implying that the ground close to a FARP was prepared to taxi upon. It will only be used by people who want to use it (like labels, unlimited ammo etc), an optional feature.

 

But perhaps I should post that in the ME Feature Request forum, not A-10A specific pages.

 

[StevanJ]

4 minutes ago, cfrag said:

 

I understand - and realism is to me not the only/overriding factor to decide about a feature. There are no real-life labels nor all-knowing self-tuning radios, unlimited ammo nor fuel; yet they all exist in DCS as a optional good compromises for playability, to make the game more accessible and enjoyable. I'm asking for a tweak to make mission design easier and broaden the breadth of possible missions. Sure, if the mission editor gave us ground tiles (to create makeshift airfields) that can be taxied upon, I'd be all for that. A simpler, and - agreed, less realistic - approach for mission designers is to allow planes to taxi on the ground when close to a FARP, implying that the ground close to a FARP was prepared to taxi upon. It will only be used by people who want to use it (like labels, unlimited ammo etc), an optional feature.

 

But perhaps I should post that in the ME Feature Request forum, not A-10A specific pages.

 

Any feature that makes light work of a heavy feature is welcomed, especially if it helps new players get into the action quicker.

Your request might be a welcome one, you should definitely add it to the ME Feature request, make sure you add plenty of pictures of road bases and videos to back up your request.
Alot of people are on your side with regards to the FARP, thats why we had an invisible FARP added to the ME.

[Csgo GE oh yeah]

The wheels of the A-10 are not driven like they are on a ground vehicle. 
So if one wheel even slightly gets buried it's game over because you're just pushing it further in the mud,  where as driven wheels can dig themselves out easier. 
I hope that makes sense somewhat, if not someone needs to translate my crappy english into something more eloquent 

Edited March 8, 2021 by Csgo GE oh yeah

[Ironhand]

10 minutes ago, Csgo GE oh yeah said:

The wheels of the A-10 are not driven like they are on a ground vehicle. 
So if one wheel even slightly gets buried it's game over because you're just pushing it further in the mud,  where as driven wheels can dig themselves out easier. 
I hope that makes sense somewhat, if not someone needs to translate my crappy english into something more eloquent 

 

 

Your English is fine and what you say makes perfect sense.

[rrohde]

This is my go-to photo that shows this F-15 being stuck as well. You can see that that's a big deal in RL as well. :)

 

[Csgo GE oh yeah]

Yep you'd need to put quite some throttle to get out of that, might not be so good for the gear. The plane pitching forward also doesn't help at all 
@Ironhand "flankertraining" right ? , best quality tutorials from waayyyy back 


 

Edited March 8, 2021 by Csgo GE oh yeah