Where have you been all my life!!!

[Mr_Burns]

Sorry I know there are too many of these threads but damn, I am adding another.

I buy most modules just to support this sim, maybe not an aircraft I would fly but maybe the next one is, I dont buy modules I have zero interest in flying though (WW2 and some other niche ones).

I bought F-16 day one but at the time I was focusing on F-18 so flew a bit and that was it.

Last week I thought I would give it a go and started the training missions, what a beauty! The training missions are very good, what i didnt like about the F-16 when I first bought it was the hard to read MFDs on the main screen but with the Thrustmaster panels and export displays it is perfect, some aircraft (A-10 and F-18) the main screen displays are usable so I would have to force myself to look at the external MFDs, with the -16 it is only usable with the external displays IMO.

Please note, I said my opinion and although I have VR it makes me sick so I only fly Track-IR.

I love the fact that the F-16 runs through the MFDs, eg, where is the switch to turn the TGP on....no its on the MFD select TGP.....

Probably a really bone post for you F-16 jockeys but I have owned this module what, 5 years (dont remember when it first came out but i was day one) and for now, the F-18 is gone, this is awesome and now I am going to build a simpit!! 

[Arktos]

I pre-ordered and played at launch and I still feel the same way you do. I upgraded my VR headset (HP Reverb 2) just to have better resolution on the MFDs. It's tough to beat the feeling of taxiing this thing. Glad to hear you like it so much, keeps the population alive!

[Furiz]

Nice to hear,

yeah F-16 is really nice toy to have, I still have so much fun with it and I fly it almost daily. I have Hornet too and I love carrier, both jets are great to fly but I tend to lean a bit more to Viper. I love its intuitive and user friendly systems and ease of use.

[modsat]

I'm just getting back into DCS. I never really got into it because the resolution on my old HTV VIVE was just not enough. The cockpit was unreadable. I recently got a Pimax Crystal and omg it's night and day. The F-16 is really drawing me in here. I used to fly Falcon a lot, and although I did appreciate the F18 the lack of my sweet viper was also a major part of why I stopped playing DCS. Between the crystal and the viper I'm totally sold on DSC again! Brings me back to my Falcon4 AF days   and the MFD's are crystal clear (no pun intended). I have now bought the TM TQS and am waiting for the WinWing 16EX FSSM to get back in stock. It's all about the Viper from here! 

Edited April 5, 2024 by modsat

[DimSim]

I was thinking of making a similar post... bought F16 years ago on pre-order, hadn't flown it until a some weeks ago. Had been flying F-18, A-10, AV-8B.

Initially thought learning the new aircraft was going to be real difficult with heavy text based MFDs and that weird DED panel.

Turns out I was wrong. I think this may be the easiest plane to fly and fight in (think ground attack, not win dog fights).  Everything pretty much makes sense, with quick and low error access to everything needed. I even like the way each mode retains its last configuration, so AG -> AA -> AG shows what you need without re-configuring.

The biggest challenge is landing softly. After slamming planes down on a carrier, it did at first seem like the under carriage was made of glass. Now I'm starting to land gently, think air-force, not navy!

Great plane.

[RyanR]

The F-16 is such a great example of good UI/UX. The avionics are super deep, but it's easier to focus on learning them, and you can keep your eyes out of the cockpit. I bought the A-10 recently. Soooo many switches.

It works so well in DCS, too. Clickable cockpits make it easy to get into things. I started with the original Falcon on an Atari ST in 1988. I was enamored with the F-16 from then on. Tried Falcon 4 AF, like 15-20 years ago. Too many key bindings to remember... and the view system didn't work well without head tracking. I mostly was prop/warbird simming.

I'm enjoying (and sometimes not enjoying.....) that everything is a learning experience. Even BFM and trimming the jet is a totally different animal from WWII and early jets. It's like starting over completely. 

-Ryan

 

[RyanR]

On 4/4/2024 at 9:32 PM, modsat said:

 I have now bought the TM TQS and am waiting for the WinWing 16EX FSSM to get back in stock. It's all about the Viper from here! 

 

What are you using for rudders? My TM rudder pedals need replaced. My other sim hardware is VKB..... but their rudders don't have brakes.....

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

I think the thrustmaster TPR are probably the closest to real F-16 pedals that we as consumers have access to.

[DimSim]

6 hours ago, RyanR said:

What are you using for rudders? My TM rudder pedals need replaced. My other sim hardware is VKB..... but their rudders don't have brakes.....

I just the VKB rudder pedals. I just configured them to produce a button press of 'full left' and 'full right' for differential braking and use joystick paddle (Virple stick) as analog wheel brake.  While the digital brakes are not as good as analog, they really do work well enough for WW2 planes and modern jets when needed.

[RyanR]

21 hours ago, DimSim said:

I just the VKB rudder pedals. I just configured them to produce a button press of 'full left' and 'full right' for differential braking and use joystick paddle (Virple stick) as analog wheel brake.  While the digital brakes are not as good as analog, they really do work well enough for WW2 planes and modern jets when needed.

 

I really want to like the idea of the VKB rudders. I just can't let go of having toe brakes. If I had another axis to control pressure, I'd probably do the VKB rudders in a heartbeat. I like their products a lot.

-Ryan

 

[DimSim]

1 hour ago, RyanR said:

 

I really want to like the idea of the VKB rudders. I just can't let go of having toe brakes. If I had another axis to control pressure, I'd probably do the VKB rudders in a heartbeat. I like their products a lot.

-Ryan

 

There are about 3 different ways to emulate toe brakes with the VKB pedals. I find my method adequate and simple.  I think the most common way is with VKBs software and a single modifier button on another device. Then you can switch between analog rudder and analog differential brake behavior with that modifier. But each to their own, if the full independent analog rudder & brake is critical, that is the one major down side of this device. Otherwise, they feel great for choppers, which was my main purpose, and to fit easily under a shared work desk.

[modsat]

On 4/6/2024 at 6:22 PM, RyanR said:

What are you using for rudders? My TM rudder pedals need replaced. My other sim hardware is VKB..... but their rudders don't have brakes.....

I use the MFG Crosswind V2 (BF109). They are great and very high quality and have toe brakes. Not sure I would go for that exact model today though. But I have only good things to say of the MFG products.

Regarding toe brakes I personally think it's somewhat overrated and a bit of a double edged sword. At least in my experience. It's hard slamming the brakes without giving rudder input, and it's hard to slam both brakes exactly at the same time. The result is that my jet often jerks either left or right when I hit the brakes hard. I have to ease into it to control it. On the positive side it's easier to correct when you can apply different brake pressure on each tire. I tend to use brake pressure more than rudder input to correct heading under braking than. But like I said, I do not feel like it contributes a whole lot to my experience.

[unlikely_spider]

29 minutes ago, modsat said:

It's hard slamming the brakes without giving rudder input, and it's hard to slam both brakes exactly at the same time. The result is that my jet often jerks either left or right when I hit the brakes hard. I have to ease into it to control it.

Just like in real planes

[modsat]

1 hour ago, unlikely_spider said:

Just like in real planes

I suppose so . Don't get me wrong. I have not disconnected my pedals. But trying to land her heavy on a short runway I'm not exactly celebrating the toe brakes 

[MAXsenna]

I think the thrustmaster TPR are probably the closest to real F-16 pedals that we as consumers have access to.

Not really. The real F-16 pedals are "force sensing", and pivot a like a bicycle steering wheel. Aaand the Slaws looks way better.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[RyanR]

On 4/7/2024 at 7:17 PM, modsat said:

I use the MFG Crosswind V2 (BF109). They are great and very high quality and have toe brakes. Not sure I would go for that exact model today though. But I have only good things to say of the MFG products.

Regarding toe brakes I personally think it's somewhat overrated and a bit of a double edged sword. At least in my experience. It's hard slamming the brakes without giving rudder input, and it's hard to slam both brakes exactly at the same time. The result is that my jet often jerks either left or right when I hit the brakes hard. I have to ease into it to control it. On the positive side it's easier to correct when you can apply different brake pressure on each tire. I tend to use brake pressure more than rudder input to correct heading under braking than. But like I said, I do not feel like it contributes a whole lot to my experience.

 

I shall check these out. I've also got a VKB KG12 (clone of a 109/190 grip) from IL-2. That's sitting on the shelf since I caught the DCS bug a month ago! I got pretty good with toe brakes coming from the tail draggers.

In DCS, toe brakes are a gawd-send with the F-86. The NWS is slow to react on takeoff.... so I'm guilty of the occasional nudge on the brakes to straighten her out.

Definitely don't use rudders a heck of a lot in the F-16.

-Ryan

[modsat]

@RyanR the pedals are definitely good, and the toe brakes work like a charm. I never thought about touching the brakes to keep heading on takeoff. I will try it. Persoanlly I find NWS too twitchy at takeoff, so I usually turn off NWS before burning.

I gotta be honest, I don't really use the rudder at all. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to be using it. When using the rudder the HUD drifts and I feel like there is no precision. I feel like its always easier to roll just a little bit to correct course. Even on final approach I feel like rudder is not helping me line up, it mostly makes it worse. Any tips?