[VR] Anyone else finds the canopy bow fantastically vis. obstructive?

[eFirehawk]

Hi everyone,

A little light-hearted question that I've been thinking about these days... given the lack of dynamic campaign and poor AI, especially for ground units with terminator aimbots, I decided to enjoy DCS by doing similar, just flight related tasks in all modules that I own ( little to no combat ) - as VR just gave a completely new life to it. This way I haven't been burnt out and always keep learning something new.

Although my main jet is the F-15E ( taking about 80% of my flight time, and the Jeff the remaining 20% ), one of the challenges I set for myself is to become 'reliable' in air refueling in all modules that I own ( SU-33, A-10, F-14 15 16 18, JF-17, M-2000 and F1 ), and how I feel regarding the known difficult planes to do AAR in. Nearly all of them became a piece of cake by now, even the Harrier. The A-10 still gives me some trouble due to weird visibility, but I'm getting the hang of it.

The F-14 however, has been giving me some grief and I wanted to know if anyone else feels the same. In VR, the canopy bow seems to be very inconveniently placed in a way that perfectly blocks me from having a decent view of the refuel pod and engines of the tanker. If I do the refueling looking mostly to the side, I sometimes drift off and disconnect from the probe by moving too far horizontally. Basically in order to achieve a perfect refuel session I have to keep absolutely extreme focus, bobbing my head around the canopy to see stuff. It can't be that it feels like second nature in other jets but just in this one I feel tired after just a few minutes.

There are some unorthodox solutions that I've used but I don't believe they are realistic, such as going low to the point that the refuel pod is completely above the canopy - this makes refuel very easy as long as I'm aware that I'm edging the lowest possible position that the drogue can go.

What are your thoughts on this? HB's Tomcat cockpit is modeled to perfection, so could this be an issue of my VR head position? Or are there accounts of real pilots commenting on this too?

 

[Draken35]

For comparison 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

5 hours ago, eFirehawk said:

In VR, the canopy bow seems to be very inconveniently placed

Yes it is, but even then I still find the F-14 the easiest aircraft in DCS to do aerial refuelling with. Moving the seat down can help, but I personally just leave it at my default position and lean forward instead - that works quite well  

[RustBelt]

Look at almost any picture of a pilot flying an F-14 and they’re hunched forward. 

[bonesvf103]

I also hunch forward and just rely on the sight picture and I plug every time.

v6,

boNes

[MAXsenna]

Which tanker?

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[eFirehawk]

Thanks guys. So far the conclusion then is:

Keep hunched forward and yes, it is a thing they do in the real jet too apparently.

@MAXsenna KC-135 MPRS

[RustBelt]

Yea, the F-16’s canopy was a big deal for a reason.

[2circle]

Lowering the seat substantially helps a lot.  As does approaching the basket from well below and to the left of it and then making a very slight move up and right as you close on it in the endgame.   Unlike in the Hornet when you can get directly behind the basket and just fly straight into it.  Good luck!

[SkateZilla]

That's part of being in the 70s/80s Navy...