Need a briefing on the status of things re the F-14

[Redwing_204]

I'm returning to the F-14 after more than a year away flying other aircraft, and it would be really helpful to have a quick summary on the status of things - what works, what's bugged, etc?  I'm aware of Heatblur's announcement of October 25, 2023 (https://store.heatblur.com/blogs/news/dcs-f-14-development-update-aim-54-phoenix-improvements-overhaul).  

More specifically, here are some things I'm observing as I return:

• I'm having no luck with the phoenix missiles (C or A).  I'm firing at above 30,000 feet often at or near Mach 1 at the time of launch, at targets typically about 35 nm - 40 nm out, who are usually at an altitude of 10 - 20,000 feet.  I have had zero success with a phoenix kill in TWS.  I'm bafffled - I would have thought that I was well within launch parameters.  Any thoughts on this would be gratefully received.
• With a TWS launch of the phoenix, I have noticed that the phoenixes are not showing their terminal status any longer, specifically, the blinking pattern that would activate in the last 10 seconds of flight denoting that the missile had gone active.  Is that blinking status still a thing, or was it deprecated?  If it is still a thing, what am I doing wrong? - why is that state not being achieved by the missile?
• Phoenixes are working well for me in STT mode and ACM mode, inside 20 miles.  So I'm using these missiles like glorified AIM-120s right now.

That's it for the moment.  I'd be grateful for any thoughts on the current state of the F-14 generally, and specifically, any thoughts on the phoenix missiles and my remarks above.

Thanks in advance for your interest.

Cheers, 

Redwing 

 

[iantron]

DLSS can make it difficult to see the blinking active status of the Phoenix.

[Redwing_204]

Good to know.  I’m running DLSS.  Thanks for that tip.  

[RustBelt]

You want to ask ED not Heatblur. Missile in the air is their domain, not HB. 
 

Good Luck at that BTW.

[The_Tau]

22 hours ago, Redwing_204 said:

• I'm having no luck with the phoenix missiles (C or A).  I'm firing at above 30,000 feet often at or near Mach 1 at the time of launch, at targets typically about 35 nm - 40 nm out, who are usually at an altitude of 10 - 20,000 feet.  I have had zero success with a phoenix kill in TWS.  I'm bafffled - I would have thought that I was well within launch parameters.  Any thoughts on this would be gratefully received.

54 in general have huge problems due to missile fattnes with targets below 20k feet, doesnt matter the launch conditions which imo could be done better. I always try to climb to 40k ft at least. It does make a difference. To deal with low flying targets I am afraid you have to close in and use ACM modes. 

 

22 hours ago, Redwing_204 said:

• Phoenixes are working well for me in STT mode and ACM mode, inside 20 miles.  So I'm using these missiles like glorified AIM-120s right now.

Yep they work pretty well like that, I stick with STT when targets are less than 30nm. TWS is just unreliable. For high flying targets you can disable MLC  in RIO seat which should help with notching targets. Note key word "high flying" though

[speed-of-heat]

there is a bug that is fixed internally , hopefully, it will be in tomorrows patch 

[Redwing_204]

Thank you both for your feedback - very helpful.  This is exactly what I was looking for.  Much appreciated.