The art of MMMM: Mentally Managing Multiple Modules.

[Dangerzone]

I fear I've gotten to a point of module saturation. I look at the F4. See the fun others are having with it, and just go "I don't think I have the mental capacity to learn more, and remember all the new stuff- plus retain what I already fly", even though I want to. I already have multiple airframes that I purchased and never really learned including the A10II, F16 and F15.  (Ducks for cover to avoid  thewell deserved incoming 'how could you?!?')

Helicopters aren't quite as bad, as normally most at least seem more simplistic, but when it comes to new fighters it seems when I try and learn new modules, I start getting messed up between the new ones, and the ones I already fly, and then have to go back and relearn the old ones - in which case I quickly seem to forget the new stuff.

I guess IRL that's why pilots aren't active on multiple airframes of different generations simultaneously and maybe I'm expecting too much of my aging brain. 

I fly almost every helicopter. When it comes to planes, the only ones I feel I can do well in would be the FA18 and the AV8B. The F14 I don't mind with a RIO, but it's very rare I have one, so I rarely fly it except to enjoy traps on the carrier. The A10II, the F16, the F15 criminally almost remain always in the hanger, maybe getting pulled out once in a blue moon for a non-combat joyflight. I don't actually use them much at all because I am finding it too difficult to remember all the intricacies of the different weapon systems. 

So my question for those who maintain flying many modules is - how do you manage it? Do you actually remember and maintain all of them? Or do you just move from one to the next, and forget existing ones, and then relearn when the 'circle' comes around? Or am I not the only one that struggles and you find it difficult as well? 

Honestly - if it wasn't for my mental capacity, I would probably own all fixed wing aircraft, but I'm getting hesitant now about getting aircraft that I think is just going to sit in the hanger and not get fully used. It used to be that I loved learning more modules. Now it seems more like a choir.  It probably doesn't help that I'm mentally exhausted in the evenings and weekends due to my work being so mentally demanding, but even so - I'd love to know if there are little tricks that people use that have similar challenges like me. 

[Hiob]

I honestly just don’t overthink it and don’t pressure myself to know everything in depth. Some modules (helicopters, same!) I know more, some I know almost nothing until I feel the sudden urge to fly it and study it more. For some aircraft (F-16, F-14….) even after a long break, everything comes back after 5 min in the cockpit. Others, you could wake me from a drunk stupor and I could coldstart them (Hip). Some don’t get to me right from the beginning, but on second look, I‘m madly in love and want to know everything (Mirage F1)….

Most of my modules I fly rarely and am rather incompetent in - but I still love them and am happy to sit in the cockpit from time to time.

The Phantom will probably be like the F1 - not necessarily love on first sight (even though steampunk is exactly my cup of tea), but I can already see, why and where it will grow on me - just not yet when.

[MadMonty]

Hey Dangerzone!

This is a great topic and finally someone is writing about the problem that many people probably have. There are so many wonderful modules and yes, I too am tempted to buy most of them. This also leads to the fact that I have modules that I am relatively familiar with, some that I have tried out and others that are covered in a thick layer of dust.

Balancing my job and family, I manage to play DCS two evenings a week, so this limit is an additional challenge. In the end, I take a module and fly it for a few weeks until I feel like playing another one. With some modules, it's easy for me to switch because I've familiarised myself with the aircraft (A10II, F18, AH64, F86, BF109, Huey). But to be honest, I can't remember more than these 6. As a result, switching to an F16 or KA50 always takes time to refresh my knowledge. I'm currently learning the F4, just as I learnt the F15E. But the latter has been completely forgotten again because there is no content to play (too few missions / campaigns). The F4 brings a lot of this with it, so I'm trying to add it to my shortlist of permanent aircraft. My problem is that three other favourite aircraft are coming sooner or later - the A6, Tornado and Eurofighter. I have no idea how I'm going to manage that.

I also have the F14, MI8, Hind, MiG15 and MiG21 slumbering in the basement of the modules I've bought and hardly ever flown. I'm really hoping to retire, but that will take a few more years, then I'll have more time and will probably be able to memorise less. I guess I'll have to resign myself to my role as DCS-Patreon and lousy inventory manager.

[Lace]

I went from having very specific hardware for each module to a more generic setup.  I used to swap out throttles and stick/base combos depending on what I was flying, and tried to match the real HOTAS configurations as closely as possible.  Since the number of modules is ever increasing, I decided a while back to move to a more generic setup, and try to map controls to the same physical button, even if it means it is not completely accurate with respect to the real aircraft.  I found that I was finding it harder to mentally adapt each time I changed aircraft, not to mention the additional cost and setup time.  I feel that the generic setup, while not as realistic, is a worthwhile compromise.

It is sad that because of our desires for ultimate realism and fidelity in the modules, it makes it harder to enjoy as many aircraft as possible.  In some cases I made the conscious decision to never bother learning them (mostly complex 2-seat aircraft) as I know I will not be able to dedicate the time to store them in my memory (Apache and Tomcat two such examples).  I can only fit so many penguins on the iceberg.

There is a lot of commonality between aircraft - start procedures follow the same basic pattern, the weapons are shared across many platforms.  The basics of navigation and radios are the same, but with the modern HOTAS systems, there are enough non-intuitive differences to mean I need to take a little time pre-flight to remind myself of the exact flows, and tend to use the same self-made training mission to achieve currency.

I also tend to binge on one module for a while, so I'm not chopping and changing every sortie, but normally fly them for several weeks before I decide to swap.

The Viper is hardwired, and I can pick that one up after a long break no problem. Same with the Gazelle.  I dip into the Harrier (and every time wonder why I don't fly it more), A-10 and Hornet every so often, and definitely require a refresher on those.  Currently I'm spending most of my time in the F-4 which I'm finding surprisingly accessible.  Jester seems helpful here, and my familiarity with the F-5 seems to have helped a lot with the start-up and manual bombing.

[Vakarian]

"Virtual career" started with just MiG-21 and A-10. One from lingering national pride and other just for the brrrrrrt.

Even then, MiG started to feel neglected and I only flew A-10. Then comes Harrier where I've spent 1-2 years of continuous flying. Afterwards I just started buying anything I even remotely liked. Figured I'll try it and if I find it really nice I'll fly it more regularly. If not then I still have some cool aircraft in my virtual museum and I can jump in at any time I want.

As I've joined a group, I've tended to focus more on 1-2 aircraft whilst having 15+ in the hangars, waiting for the better days. I've never regret any aircraft I've purchased even if I've flown it for maybe 10 hours at the most. Main thing is, I support the devs, keep them funded through the limited way I'm able to fund them and hope that in the future there will be many more cool and awesome aircraft to try out.

It took F-4 to come out just so I can get MiG-21 out of the hangar again and give it a twirl so after 6 years of owning it I can chalk that I've made it to the 2 hours of flying it hahahaha.

Edited May 27, 2024 by Vakarian
Formatting

[falcon_120]

For sure its not an easy task to stay proficient in a lot of modules, specially if you are not a content creator or young person with 4/5 hours a day to dedicate to flying. In my case, i'm a father and a worker with less than 1H/1,5 hours per week to play, and some very sporadic 2-4 hour session on a weekend, that's my situation now but when i was younger and didn't have kids i flew a lot longer, which helped to learn some of the modules. Currently i would say i can fly with great proficiency the F18/F16/A10/KA50, and i'm able to fly ok to a lesser extent the AV8/F15E/F14 and now the F4. I do own many other modules, but i'm not interested so much in those and i have not invested enough time on them. So now to your point, how do i cope with all those?

HOTAS Standardization

Although it took a while at first, i've managed to create HOTAS profiles where most used functions are the same buttons or switches on my HOTAS (Virpil CM3+Winwing F16EX+VKB SEM) for all modules. Generic things like Gear, flaps, airbrake, lights on/off, jettison button, Autopilot, NVG, are exactly the same buttons in all modules.

For things that are combat related, i've also managed some very great standardization which helps a lot, for example, countermeasures and Jammer its the same button in all planes*, cage/uncage is the same, Radar elevation changes its the same button, Radar related commands like Bar/Azimuth changes are the same or very similar. I change between Radar/IR/Guns like in the F18 using the Weapon selector on my thumb in the joystick, so for me calling guns or IR missiles is the same in all modules even though in the real airplanes the selector could be on the throttle (i'm way passed that ultra realism consideration, i have a complaint mailbox at my door in case someone wants to criticize XD).

Some very handy items i've also standardize in my HOTAS setup for your consideration:

• Same button for calling the A2G master mode,
• same button for markpoints in F18/F16/AV8B/F15E,
• same button for weapon designation in F18/AV8,
• same buttons for Waypoint up/down function in most jets.

*The only time i change a specific button is when its very relevant to a specific plane, for example the CMS switch in the F16/A10 is the only one assigned to the CMS switch in my joystick, but because in both aircraft works like that and i'm very used to that from my falcon BMS days. For the rest of planes, the chaff/flares dispenser is in my thumb on the throttle. 

Pre-flight

When starting a flight i always bring up the controls page in the option menu and go quickly through the main buttons in my HOTAS to quickly remember how it was setup. 

COLD start

As of today i can cold start by heart the F18/F16/F15e/A10/AV8B for the rest i used the autostart button. Every now and then i try to learn a new cold start procedure but its hard these days.

What to fly

I normally have 'urges' for a specific thing at a time , for example some period i really fancy helicopters, some times i do like 4th gen fighters or in some cases more cold war planes. When i fly one type for some time is also a bit easier cause a lot of functions are similar between helicopter, 4th gen fighters,etc... For example i do not need to think a lot on how to create waypoints between the Av8/F15E/F18 cause the process is really similar.

Edited May 27, 2024 by falcon_120

[Hiob]

3 hours ago, Lace said:

 I decided a while back to move to a more generic setup, and try to map controls to the same physical button, even if it means it is not completely accurate with respect to the real aircraft.  I found that I was finding it harder to mentally adapt each time I changed aircraft, not to mention the additional cost and setup time.  I feel that the generic setup, while not as realistic, is a worthwhile compromise.

It is sad that because of our desires for ultimate realism and fidelity in the modules, it makes it harder to enjoy as many aircraft as possible.

This! This helps a lot. Even though I don't think it necessarily takes away realism.

But binding all primary and secondary flight surfaces, including speed brakes and trim, throttle, gear, master arm, AA/AG mode, dogfight mode, missile override and also common used UI-elements like zoom and view center etc... helps a lot to manage different aircraft. 

Apart from that I find it easier to simply use the clickable cockpit for lesser used operations. Cockpit layout is rather logical (most of the time) and similar (across western or eastern aircraft)

That isn't the end of all problems of course, but it cuts them roughly in half.

[Hiob]

Oh and something else that helped me was getting better at flying in general (remember I always talk about the level I am - however bad or good it is)...

like realizing that AoA is important in landing not a specific speed, or to properly trim instead of holding the stick, "trim for speed, power for altitude", being ahead of the aircraft and not behind it, how to estimate a proper glideslope, start early, move slowly.... etc.

When I start to mess up, it is usually because I am sloppy with one of the above or when I try to figure out how to use a certain weapon "on the fly".....

[Rudel_chw]

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

So my question for those who maintain flying many modules is - how do you manage it?

 

Guess the question then is not for me, I'm 66 years old and my only way of coping is to fly the same aircraft exclusively for several months at a time ... I might test other aircrafts during that period, but my serious flying is with just one. For the last 6 months it has been the Viggen, but since last week I'm moving on to the F-4E

 

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

Do you actually remember and maintain all of them?

 

No, when I return to a prior aircraft, like was the case for the Viggen, which I had already flown when it was released, I'm forced to re-learn it.

 

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

Or do you just move from one to the next, and forget existing ones, and then relearn when the 'circle' comes around?

 

Yes, I forget existing ones and then re-learn, but the re-learning is easier than the first time because I already have a HOTAS profile and I have the notes that I wrote for the type the first time around.

 

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

Or am I not the only one that struggles and you find it difficult as well? 

 

You are not the only one  it is truly difficult to remember all the nuances of an aircraft that I've not flown in a long while.

 

7 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

 It probably doesn't help that I'm mentally exhausted in the evenings and weekends due to my work being so mentally demanding, but even so - I'd love to know if there are little tricks that people use that have similar challenges like me. 

 

My only trick is to properly document my HOTAS programming, for example I've just managed to use a single button to both take each F-4 throttle out of its Off position and keep the Ignition button pressed at the same time  .... and write my own procedures: that is the official ones but with my notes added onto it. I'm not bothered by this, as I truly enjoy the study aspect of DCS and writing notes helps me to commit them to memory.

 

Eduardo

 

[Beirut]

12 hours ago, Dangerzone said:

So my question for those who maintain flying many modules is - how do you manage it?

 

By only doing what's fun. For example, I have never, not once, done a cold start in any module. It's not fun to me. But I do learn to drop LGBs in all the planes and blow big holes in things. That is fun for me.

 

And I'm just here for the fun of it. 

[Tom Kazansky]

Forgetting about some details of a module after a while is not only a disadvantage.

e.g. I came back to the A-10C more than three times, and I always had to learn some procedures, systems and methods again.

But every time it was worth it and the Hog felt even better and better, so I'm looking forward to coming back to my favourite modules after having had enough fun with the newer ones.

[Beirut]

4 minutes ago, Tom Kazansky said:

Forgetting about some details of a module after a while is not only a disadvantage.

e.g. I came back to the A-10C more than three times, and I always had to learn some procedures, systems and methods again.

But every time it was worth it and the Hog felt even better and better, so I'm looking forward to coming back to my favourite modules after having had enough fun with the newer ones.

 

+1

 

The A-10C is so complicated and so good I always feel like I have to relearn it. So it always feels like I have a new plane to fly around.

[Ghost79]

Great topic!

 

For me, i mainly fly allied WW2 aircraft.  Therefore its not so much of a challenge to remember systems and it's fairly easy to switch between aircraft.

Other than the WW2 planes I regularly fly the Viggen and occasionally the F86 Sabre.  I have dabbled with a couple of more modern jets with the M2000 and the harrier, but these are complex (especially the harrier).  Though due to their complexity i rarely fly them and are just used to play with things like laser guided bombs and BVR.

 

Going forwards i wont be getting many more jets (F100 and/or F104), i can't manage/remember all those systems.  But will still invest in warbirds.

[SharpeXB]

I stick with a just a few modules and learn them thoroughly. When everything is all muscle memory it’s easier to come back to them after a while. Over 12 years playing DCS the only modern aircraft I use regularly are the A-10C, M-2000, F/A-18C and AH-64. That’s enough to get everything out of this sim IMO  I don’t feel the need to fly every module nor do I have the time. 

[AhSoul]

Something that helps me are kneeboards

I made myself a diagram of my HOTAS in Google Docs and for each module I put on the diagram what each button does. I save this into the kneeboard for the module and I can then view this when flying a module I haven't been in for a while to refresh.

Many modules have nice kneeboards others have made with checklists for using the sensors and weapons that you can refer to during flight.

[Rifter]

On 5/27/2024 at 9:04 AM, Dangerzone said:

I guess IRL that's why pilots aren't active on multiple airframes of different generations simultaneously and maybe I'm expecting too much of my aging brain.

Although there are usually no limitations for the number of type ratings a pilot can hold, there are strict limitations for commercial pilots concerning the number of different aircraft types they are allowed to fly as part of their commercial pilot activities. Aviation regulators around the world believe that a commercial pilot who would fly many different types of aircraft would no longer be able to safely handle the different emergency procedures (regardless of the age of his brain ).

Edited July 2, 2024 by Rifter

[Exorcet]

Training is important in DCS for the same reasons that it is important in real life. Don't be afraid to go back into learning mode when you have to. Use existing training tools or make your own with the ME or some notes. It's perfectly reasonable to go through a refresher course when going from one module to another, even if you have a lot of experience. Also remember that if you've learned something before, relearning will probably be faster than learning from the beginning.

[Ebphoto]

On 5/27/2024 at 3:04 AM, Dangerzone said:

I fear I've gotten to a point of module saturation. I look at the F4. See the fun others are having with it, and just go "I don't think I have the mental capacity to learn more, and remember all the new stuff- plus retain what I already fly", even though I want to. I already have multiple airframes that I purchased and never really learned including the A10II, F16 and F15.  (Ducks for cover to avoid  thewell deserved incoming 'how could you?!?')

Helicopters aren't quite as bad, as normally most at least seem more simplistic, but when it comes to new fighters it seems when I try and learn new modules, I start getting messed up between the new ones, and the ones I already fly, and then have to go back and relearn the old ones - in which case I quickly seem to forget the new stuff.

I guess IRL that's why pilots aren't active on multiple airframes of different generations simultaneously and maybe I'm expecting too much of my aging brain. 

I fly almost every helicopter. When it comes to planes, the only ones I feel I can do well in would be the FA18 and the AV8B. The F14 I don't mind with a RIO, but it's very rare I have one, so I rarely fly it except to enjoy traps on the carrier. The A10II, the F16, the F15 criminally almost remain always in the hanger, maybe getting pulled out once in a blue moon for a non-combat joyflight. I don't actually use them much at all because I am finding it too difficult to remember all the intricacies of the different weapon systems. 

So my question for those who maintain flying many modules is - how do you manage it? Do you actually remember and maintain all of them? Or do you just move from one to the next, and forget existing ones, and then relearn when the 'circle' comes around? Or am I not the only one that struggles and you find it difficult as well? 

Honestly - if it wasn't for my mental capacity, I would probably own all fixed wing aircraft, but I'm getting hesitant now about getting aircraft that I think is just going to sit in the hanger and not get fully used. It used to be that I loved learning more modules. Now it seems more like a choir.  It probably doesn't help that I'm mentally exhausted in the evenings and weekends due to my work being so mentally demanding, but even so - I'd love to know if there are little tricks that people use that have similar challenges like me. 

I think the big question you need to ask yourself is what makes you happy? If flying and getting really good at one or two modules is the answer then just focus on that. For me, it’s to have fun and not make this hobby into a virtual job or make it stressful. I don’t worry about being a master at these aircraft or worry about my kill ratio. I fly to enjoy myself, relax a little and maybe learn a few things here and there while flying them. I have enough stress in real life and I’m not looking to re-live my military years or keep a log book of how many hours per airframe I fly. I know there are people out there that like that sort of thing and thats great for them, just not for me. I don’t want to feel like I’m back in the service or be part of a squadron etc.. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt! I love being able to just hop in different airframes and helicopters and fly  them in various maps or fly with a friend or two online and practice formation flight or fly a mission or two. I don’t worry if I forget how to do something because I’ll look it up later and go from there. So it just boils down to what makes you happy and what you’re looking to do or get out of the game. Also, don’t forget about using checklist. We use them in real life for a reason, because you can’t remember Everything. So make some up if you can’t find one you need. I have made so many over the years now I can usually copy and paste things in them now and then change the keybind or whatever is different.I also have gotten into making content for YouTube so I try to fly as many different airframes as I can and if I can spread some knowledge while doing so, all the better, but thats not my main focus. So it really boils down to what do you want to do in the game and what makes you happy. I mean if your not enjoying yourself or your getting stressed out over this then your probably doing something wrong. In the big scheme of things this is just a hobby and it is just a game that is meant to give you enjoyment, in my opinion. I hope that helps you a little.