How do you "balance" other modules with the Tomcat?

[captain_dalan]

To the OP:
First, a big disclaimer, i only do A-A. 
Second, in MP i generally have one main mount and fly other planes just in simplified scenarios, like say dogfighting, aerobatics, basic around the boat ops

That being said:
I am of the mind that inferior planes, make for better pilots. As a result i usually fly the F-14A. So when i jump into the F-14B (as i did last weekend) or the F-18, i'm like.....whoa, you guys fly this? And complain you have it hard? And then i'm like "look ma', no hands!" Like seriously, if you can fly a Spitfire, or an Alpha Turkey, everything else is, well.....easy. Cheat mode. Just before that last MP session last weekend, i was flying the Zone 5 campaign. And i was feeling especially proud of how the hop went. I was managing burner extremely conservatively to conserve fuel, i never pulled more then 6g's and i ended up splashing 3 F-16's while my wingmen and the other section scored another 4 F-5's. And this was in a 3 V UNK, as we lost one to the SAM's on our way in. I'm just used to flying with restrictions now. Pull to hard and your radar/ins brakes. Above angels 20, your engines are loud......and you fall out of the sky. And then i hop in the F-14B and the F-18C for the MP session (i was forced, the server didn't have F-14A slots) and i'm like, you guys launch in mil? You can climb to 35kft without burner. You kick the throttle and your plane just accelerates? (for the Hornet) you guys have all that info on your HUD? You don't need rudder to stay coordinated or flip a wing in a hard break? Man this is lazy flying! 

Now i if we need into systems management, yeah, i can see the issues. Stores management, sensor management and sheer ordnance options related to modern planes like the Viper and the Bug is intimidating. I can only guess it is so with the A-10 as well. I've dealt with it by staying away from it, but that isn't really a solution. The only plane i was half-proficient in A-G was in the Harrier, but that plane changed so much in the last couple of years, i no longer have that wither. And time is sparse, so i can't requal that easy or quickly. For guys with limited time on their hands like me, i guess, more then 2 planes to be fully proficient in (systems wise) is hard to accomplish. But just flying the thing and A-A? Learn the hardest and everything else will be easy in comparison!  

[Jayhawk1971]

My point was more that it's hard to come back to the Tomcat with the same proficiency as a "FBW-cripple", which I found extensive exposure to the Viper/ Hornet leads to. 

Especially the Viper basically flies itself, the only real flying challenge seems to be a stiff crosswind on final. Well, that, and the same ground handling characteristics as a Robin Reliant . 

 

[stuart666]

Its all down to preference. Ill be honest, ive got pretty much zero interesting more modern jets. Ive bought the F16 and F18 and I just dont fly them. The FBW input makes them very boring, and I cant say I enjoy remembering the MFD multple functions. Yeah, I did that in the harrier, but the compensation was it was highly interesting to fly, I suffered through the MFD's for the experience.. Lawn darts and Hornets, I just cant enjoy.

Right now, I fly the WW2 warbirds, the Mig21 and the F14 and I dont see it changing. In fact, perverse though I am, I prefer the F14A more. I think the B if anything has almost too much power in a dogfight. With the A, you just put in burner or mill power and try not to fly like a tool. Much easier. Even starting the Tomcat is a doddle. As they said on the Tomcatcast, its easy to fly, but hard to master. I like aircraft like that.

I do agree though, it punishes you for not flying it for a long while. Particularly in the Carrier pattern. OTOH, the recent changes (welcome though they are) havent exactly made it easier.

[Top Jockey]

2 hours ago, stuart666 said:

Its all down to preference. Ill be honest, ive got pretty much zero interesting more modern jets. Ive bought the F16 and F18 and I just dont fly them. The FBW input makes them very boring, and I cant say I enjoy remembering the MFD multple functions. Yeah, I did that in the harrier, but the compensation was it was highly interesting to fly, I suffered through the MFD's for the experience.. Lawn darts and Hornets, I just cant enjoy.

Right now, I fly the WW2 warbirds, the Mig21 and the F14 and I dont see it changing. In fact, perverse though I am, I prefer the F14A more. I think the B if anything has almost too much power in a dogfight. With the A, you just put in burner or mill power and try not to fly like a tool. Much easier. Even starting the Tomcat is a doddle. As they said on the Tomcatcast, its easy to fly, but hard to master. I like aircraft like that.

I do agree though, it punishes you for not flying it for a long while. Particularly in the Carrier pattern. OTOH, the recent changes (welcome though they are) havent exactly made it easier.

 

Interesting observation, but I cannot completely grasp its meaning...

As with the TF-30 engines, the Tomcat always was considered underpowered.

 

Perhaps you mean, you do prefer the added difficulty and peculiarities of dogfighting in an inferior Thrust / Weight ratio airframe ?

 

[Nealius]

I'm pretty much ADHD with my modules, bouncing around the WW2 stuff (which are all quite similar) to the Hornet, Viper, Tomcat, even the old FC3 jets and occasional helos. I find that once you get 60+ hours invested in a module, it's easier to jump back and forth with ease. The only times I have a longer adjustment period are:

-Helos, as I have to get back into the "staying ahead of the aircraft" mentality

-Traps in the Tomcat, for much the same reason as the helos

Edited November 28, 2021 by Nealius

[Arew]

I have most modern jets but I pretty much only fly the F-14B.  As much as I would enjoy a better HUD or HMD, I just don't really enjoy flying most other planes nearly as much. 

[stuart666]

On 11/28/2021 at 12:16 PM, Top Jockey said:

 

Interesting observation, but I cannot completely grasp its meaning...

As with the TF-30 engines, the Tomcat always was considered underpowered.

 

Perhaps you mean, you do prefer the added difficulty and peculiarities of dogfighting in an inferior Thrust / Weight ratio airframe ?

 

In a dogfight, I find myself continually pulling the engine back to mil or less in a B. You are accelerating out of the best turn speed very easily. In the A, you do that a lot less. Yes, you have to do energy management a lot better, but at least when you are not packing lots of Phoenix, it just seems easier to manage. Maybe its just me. That said, there is no doubt that the A accelerates like a scalded cat at low altitude, and that is quite useful on the dogfight server.