Community A-4E-C v2.3 (May 2025)

[Gianky]

Ok, thank you, Ross.

[SomethingAncient]

I can't get differential braking to work. The jet always steers right or stops, and is unable to steer left, despite me visually confirming the left brake pedal (and only the left brake pedal) is pressed when the associated button is pressed (I use a controller) and releases properly when not pressed. So... unless I need a merry-go-round, it's useless. Any ideas on why? To be clear, I've only tested this on carriers so far, but since I want to do carrier ops, that's what I need working.

Any ideas?

[Gianky]

Using differential braking is tricky, especially in the tight spaces of a carrier: if you press the brake and the wheel steers too much in any direction (say, more than 20 degrees), the wheel will tend to stay in this position. You'll need power and space to "force" it in the other direction, usually not by a single prolonged pressure of the brake in the direction you want to go, but by repeatedly pumping the brake while applying power; the amount of power and timing and force of the pumping action is something for which you'll have to get a feel by trials and errors, but in a little while, you should be able to handle it in any condition.

As a general rule, never apply too much and prolonged pressure on the brake when you want to turn, always do that by repeatedly and lightly pressing the pedal: tip-tip-tip-tap!

[Calabrone]

Oh yeah!

[SomethingAncient]

Thanks for the explanation and advice Gianky, I'll try that. I honestly had no idea what was going on and didn't realize the simulation part of this game can be that thorough. Too bad the joystick buttons on my controller aren't as responsive as actual pedals. :)

[MAXsenna]

2 hours ago, SomethingAncient said:

Thanks for the explanation and advice Gianky, I'll try that. I honestly had no idea what was going on and didn't realize the simulation part of this game can be that thorough. Too bad the joystick buttons on my controller aren't as responsive as actual pedals.

To add to what Gianky wrote. 

The A-4E-C has the BEST controls indicator overlay. It's totally unmatched and goes well beyond any other module in DCS, paid or free. ED and all other 3rd parties should learn from this. 

Anyway, bring it up with RCtrl+Enter, and it will show you the position of the nose wheel, and you can act accordingly.  

[HawkEXO]

Are you guys having any issues with the A4 falling through terrain on spawn?  I have a mission out of Hama in Syria and when i spawn a cold dark client A4 it falls under the terrain into the netherworld. 

[toan]

Hi All, just one screeshnot where 2 A-4E-C prepare for recovery on the USS Saratoga (CV-60), a Forrestal repaint by 77StevenV, using the static deck templates by Naelius, the superb HH-60H "Pedro" helo by Kinkkujuustovoileipä, , and thanks to the Rescue Helo script by the unique MOOSE team Superb Mods, indeed Many thanks to All of them for these amazing naval extensions to DCS and to all the contributors to this excellent A-4E-C  Fly low....

Edited April 12, 2022 by toan

[Gianky]

Wonderful! I see there's a Ranger, too, in the User files section of the website: now we only need an Independence.... Any volunteer?

 

[toan]

Hi Gianky, just ask for it ! and there it is, fresh from the paint shop... download it from here : https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3321769/ Fly low...

[Gianky]

Woot!!!!

If only having modules were that easy!

Thank you Toan!

[SomethingAncient]

Using ctrl + enter I have determined the jet just likes to turn right immediately and lock itself in such a way that the Theodore Roosevelt doesn't have enough room to straighten the gear out (at least, not from two of the starting positions that I always seem to get, regardless of how I go into the json in the mission file and try to force the starting position).

Maybe with proper rudder pedals with brakes it works better, but with a controller it doesn't. I get that NWS was removed to be realistic, but the Navy would reject it if it was this unwieldy on the deck IRL. Doesn't help that the brakes don't seem to actually apply until they're pressed about 80% of the way down, so there's only 20% of the range that can effectively steer it. Again, if it works well with rudder pedals then great, but I get the feeling the real thing wasn't this likely to go off the deck of a non-super carrier. There's a mod of an even smaller carrier (Majestic class) I wanted to try, that IRL the Australians used with A-4s, and there's no way, even with pedals, this module's handling would have been acceptably safe to use.

For the record, I have managed to use the TR to launch the A-4 a few times, but that seemed to be due to the luck of the draw (the nose wheel not immediately locking right) instead of any actual skill.

That's just my opinion, and maybe I'm wrong and they had deck hands steer it for them (or they used a later version with NWS), but this is frustrating. I'm super happy the module is free, but for naval use, it seems to require the purchase of pedals with brakes, something that I can't afford. I'd grab the F-18 or AV-8B module before I'd grab rudder pedals because I know I can steer and use those with a controller so that's just the more financially responsible thing to do.

I'm just hoping for better braking at this point. Sorry if this comes across as a bit of a rant, but I want to use the best version of this mod to do carrier stuff and I just can't without spending more money than the F-18 module. Being on a tight budget doesn't help, in all fairness.

[Calabrone]

Something ancient I have the pedal board and can use the two pedals to brake, as well as direct the rudder and I can guarantee you that maneuvering on the deck of an aircraft carrier is frustrating, bordering on totally pissed off. In reality the A4 was positioned on the ramp by the bridge crew using a tow bar. So don't pay attention to it and avoid the aircraft carrier. On the ground you should have no problem. Hi.

[Gianky]

Hi SomethingAncient.

As Calabrone pointed out, on the ship US Navy pilots had the deck crew using a tiller bar to steer the nosewheel, if they ever got stuck. From what the manual says, wind on the deck could make taxiing harder, especially with the E model.

«While taxiing with appreciable wind over the deck, pilots should avoid attempst to turn large angles to the relative wind or to the jet blast of another aircraft. [...] Under high wind conditions, directional control is sometimes difficult».

I don't know if this is simulated in DCS, but usually mission designers put the carrier in a headwind, to help take off and landing operations, as in real life. So, this might render taxiing harder on the ship.

As for tapping the brakes, I took that from the manual, too: «if the nosewheel cocks, add throttle to 70 to 80 percent and use rapid intermittent brake to bounce the nose strut, while moving slowly forward. This should decrease the weight on the nosewheel long enough for it to swivel in the desired direction».

I'm using rudder pedals with brake axes, just like Calabrone, I'm guessing that it makes the whole procedure easier, but, honestly, if I were you, I'd think about buying them, you're not gonna use them for the Skyhawk only, but for everything, they'll make your flying more realistic and better (especially if you have WWII modules or helicopters). You don't really need anything fancy, I'm using TM rudder pedals, they're not that expensive (around a hundred bucks), and I think you can use even racing pedals, they might not be ideal, but the simulator doesn't really know they're car pedals and not aircraft pedals!

 

 

[One Eyed Ross]

I have fallen off the deck a few times, as a result of the nose wheel castering...but that's just the way it goes.  If the Forrestal had a deck crew with a tiller bar...but then again, if frogs had wings.  Even with the whole falling off the deck thing, I love the A-4.

[Gianky]

@plusnine maybe you guys could code into the module an F-10 option to call for the ground crew and put the nosewheel straight? That would save historical accuracy for the module and help people who's having trouble in taxiing the airplane, especially on the carrier.

EDIT: doesn't have to make a plane captain appear out of thin air and steer the wheel, of course, it just has to be a message exchange, after which the nosewheel is automagically reset straight.

Edited April 18, 2022 by Gianky

[F1GHTS-ON]

On 4/17/2022 at 9:31 PM, Calabrone said:

Something ancient I have the pedal board and can use the two pedals to brake, as well as direct the rudder and I can guarantee you that maneuvering on the deck of an aircraft carrier is frustrating, bordering on totally pissed off. In reality the A4 was positioned on the ramp by the bridge crew using a tow bar. So don't pay attention to it and avoid the aircraft carrier. On the ground you should have no problem. Hi.

Whilst I salute the attention to detail and the huge efforts by the Skyhawk developers, I can't afford rudder pedals and thus really struggle with this aircraft now with no NWS. In fact the module  is unplayable for me on a carrier as a consequence which is such a shame

[Calabrone]

11 hours ago, F1GHTS-ON said:

Anche se saluto l'attenzione ai dettagli e gli enormi sforzi degli sviluppatori Skyhawk, non posso permettermi i pedali del timone e quindi ho davvero difficoltà con questo aereo ora senza NWS. In effetti, il modulo non è riproducibile per me su un supporto di conseguenza, il che è un vero peccato

Sorry my friend but you are not the only one. I too can't afford another SSD larger than the one I have and I understand you very well. So many good things.

[Reccelow]

I'm in the same boat (pun?), not getting rudder pedals and there is no way I can taxi around the carrier deck.  Try going back to Beta ver 2.01, I'm using it and it seems to be mostly the same but still retains NWS. 

This is not a criticism of the mod, just my own abilities. The A4 is so well done and addictive, I've been getting a few Skyhawk books on kindle to read about the real world pilots flying this machine.  Such as:

Tailhooker

Our Lives on the Line

Dead Men Flying

Rampant Raider

and just in the middle of Triple Sticks.

 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by Reccelow
spelling

[Gianky]

Thank you, RecceLow, I was just wondering about any good book about Skyhawk pilots experiences, I glanced at the ones in your list, they seem pretty good!

[One Eyed Ross]

You can always turn on simple steering....that way it is easier.  I don't have it checked, but some people seem to like it.

 

[JNelson]

On 4/19/2022 at 6:01 PM, Reccelow said:

I'm in the same boat (pun?), not getting rudder pedals and there is no way I can taxi around the carrier deck.  Try going back to Beta ver 2.01, I'm using it and it seems to be mostly the same but still retains NWS. 

This is not a criticism of the mod, just my own abilities. The A4 is so well done and addictive, I've been getting a few Skyhawk books on kindle to read about the real world pilots flying this machine.  Such as:

Tailhooker

Our Lives on the Line

Dead Men Flying

Rampant Raider

and just in the middle of Triple Sticks.

 

 

 

There were quite a few changes if you look at the changelog. You could use simple steering special option as One Eyed Ross suggested.

[Reccelow]

Thanks. Had tried that too, practiced a lot. No dice for carrier ops, once the nosewheel gets cocked I'm done. Tried all the bouncing methods, etc but my controls don't cut it for that.  Really need pedals and toebrakes.

And I really don't want to keep restarting the missions or do cat starts in the ME anymore so the beta is fine. Gives me the "feel" of the A-4 with most things working and no issues maneuvering around my crowded decks.

[Baco]

On 4/21/2022 at 4:16 PM, JNelson said:

There were quite a few changes if you look at the changelog. You could use simple steering special option as One Eyed Ross suggested.

I hope you don't take it the wrong way, and as a senior officer in my virtual squad I need to point it out: 

It is  still not good enough. In real life there are deck crew and tow bars, plenty of videos showing deck crew moving A4s on deck, never the pilot from the elevator.

I respect you guys a lot, but in my eyes you just make it more difficult than in real life for "realism sake" and you end up with more difficulty than needed. It might be realistic to you, it kills immersion for me and lots of pilots out there. It hinders carrier operations in multiplayer.

Anyways the Mod si brilliant in all regards and its the main Mount of my naval squadron. Thank you for so much!

 

 

[JeffreyC]

I think a great compromise for overall realism would be for steering to be as it is now, with a separate "NWS/Towbar" bindable as well. When it is not used stand along steering with differential breaking applies, but when it is held the more precise and direct control takes over for such situation as when the plane would not be guiding itself.