Scratching the A-6 Intruder Itch

[Devil 505]

If anyone of you is looking for a fix until Heatblur brings our Intruder home to DCS, MSFS just released one this past week.  Now this is no HB Intruder quality by any means, but it is a blast to fly in VR and really scratches that itch if anyone of you grew up with Flight of the Intruder like I did, or even better grew up around the old girl like me.  This has a simple startup procedure, and the textures are not bad.  You can save a custom view in the BN seat and the exterior looks really good.  Wings fold, ladders come down, and it is Carrier capable.  Unfortunately, I cannot bring myself to use the MSFS carrier after DCS.  It is beyond frustrating to me and does not even come close a DCS experience. This module is a step above any free mod for sure and absolutely provides the feeling of being behind the stick as if you were in the movie.  I actually highly recommend it if you want to get a feel for where things are in the cockpit (even though you cannot manipulate 98% of it) and a taste of what to expect in DCS.   

I put a video together this morning, nothing crazy, showing the experience in VR with the PIMAX.  Yes, I was a nerd and put the Flight of the Intruder music in there because I could not wait.  I fully expect someone to beat me to it when Heatblur releases theirs.  Hope this provides a small band aid until we see the Old Girl arrive in DCS.

 

[Devil 505]

Forgot to hit record tonight, but flying this old girl over Vietnam at night in VR is like no other experience.  Absolutely on edge for Heatblurs high fidelity Intruder and the future Vietnam map.  I just flew the Phantom as well tonight on DCS and damn!!!!! Nothing beats VR with DCS.  You will never go back to the flat screen.  The immersion level and night flying specifically are a completely different experience.  I will try to get another video up of the A-6 at dawn rolling into the night.  

HB, any teasers of the A-6 would be awesome, but I assume right now we have a better chance of Biden finishing a complete sentence since the old girl is so far out. Really appreciate everything you do for this community.  There are 3 aircraft I grew up with and 4 I have always wanted in a sim since the Janes and Fleet Defender days.  You have provided 2, the Tomcat and Phantom, and the third is inbound at some point, the Intruder.  The 4th, no one has even mentioned yet and that is F-105.  I really hope to see you guys get this one given your background with this era of aircraft!

[=DROOPY=]

@Devil 505Just out of curiosity, what are you using for your controllers? I tried to map my TM Warthog to the Brand X flight sim, but I have a difficult time getting things to operate as smoothly as they do in DCS. Thanks for sharing the Intruder. Seen it, thought about it, but wanted to wait until I had conducted some research on it.

[Oldcrow Jr. 62]

I'd love to see the A6, the A7, and at some point the AH-1. Even better would love to see an AC47, and an AC-119G or K in the game. An OV-10 and a A4 Skyhawk would be nice...

But let's hope that Heatblur has made tremendous gains on the A6, and is closer than we'd ever believe, but again that's just hoping.

105 would be nice,

[Devil 505]

16 hours ago, =DROOPY= said:

Just out of curiosity, what are you using for your controllers? I tried to map my TM Warthog to the Brand X flight sim, but I have a difficult time getting things to operate as smoothly as they do in DCS. Thanks for sharing the Intruder. Seen it, thought about it, but wanted to wait until I had conducted some research on it.

I have been using the Thrustmaster HOTAS.  MSFS key binds are massive headache to bind to be honest.  The starter switch binds are twitchy. For example, in DCS you bind the starter switch and hold it down, it cranks and starts.  In MSFS you hold it down and it's like it is flipping the switch back and forth.  I have to this dance with starter switch for engines 1 and 2 on the intruder where I click it a couple times then hold it to start each engine.  The easy thing about MSFS is you are only really binding the gears, flaps, trim, and starter switches.  Since it is the same for all aircraft, I usually do not bind anything else other than custom views.  DCS world by far has the easiest and best way to identify and bind keys.  As with DCS, I try my best to manipulate everything in cockpit in MSFS, but it is almost impossible.  I only fly in VR.    

I am about to shoot a video on my set up which I will hopefully get knocked out this weekend.  I have had several requests for one since I have been posting my flights with the OH-6A mod.  Let me know if I need to go into further detail on MSFS key binds.  I have literally spent hours trying to find the best setup to use for every aircraft.  

[=DROOPY=]

@Devil 505  Thanks for the reply. If you could share your method of binding MSFS to the Warthog, that would be fantastic, and I'll immediately subscribe to your content.

Like you, I'm strictly VR, I tried to bind 'Brand X' the same as my DCS, for ease of use, but the switch I bind for raising/lowering gear, does as you say... it rapidly flips back and forth, and before I realize it, I've blasted past 300kts, and the gear is still flapping in the wind....

Tiresome and aggravating to say the least.

I want to use X for the ATC realism option, (BeyondATC, Say Intentions) but I'm unable until I can get these  issues squared away. 

If I can get that behind me, I'll definitely get the Intruder... 

But likewise, I can't wait until I can roll in with 24 Mk82 'Snakes' in the HB Intruder.

'Warheads On Foreheads'  

[Devil 505]

4 hours ago, =DROOPY= said:

Like you, I'm strictly VR, I tried to bind 'Brand X' the same as my DCS, for ease of use, but the switch I bind for raising/lowering gear, does as you say... it rapidly flips back and forth, and before I realize it, I've blasted past 300kts, and the gear is still flapping in the wind

So the button I have bound for the gear in MSFS is the red thumb switch on the ThrustMaster throttle.  I have the raise/lower gear bound to the back pull on that button.  The flaps are bound to the flap button on the throttle.  I usually bind them as increment up and down.  I bound the starter switch on the throttle to the index finger trackball depress, and the second starter to the red pinky button on the throttle.  That is literally about it for the throttle on MSFS.  Then the stick I have the trim bound to the thumb hat and I believe that is it.  The rest I am usually able to accomplish with the mouse in VR.  I am uploading my controls video to YouTube now and will attack a link to this thread when it's done uploading. 

[Devil 505]

5 hours ago, =DROOPY= said:

Thanks for the reply. If you could share your method of binding MSFS to the Warthog, that would be fantastic, and I'll immediately subscribe to your content

So here is that video for you as well.  Hit me up if you have any more questions.  It took a while to get to this set up.  Not exactly cheap, but next to working out and real aviation, DCS is my biggest hobby.   

 

[=DROOPY=]

I'll check it out in the coming day's! Thanks so much! 

[skunk160]

On 7/4/2024 at 12:57 AM, Devil 505 said:

Forgot to hit record tonight, but flying this old girl over Vietnam at night in VR is like no other experience.  Absolutely on edge for Heatblurs high fidelity Intruder and the future Vietnam map.  I just flew the Phantom as well tonight on DCS and damn!!!!! Nothing beats VR with DCS.  You will never go back to the flat screen.  The immersion level and night flying specifically are a completely different experience.  I will try to get another video up of the A-6 at dawn rolling into the night.  

HB, any teasers of the A-6 would be awesome, but I assume right now we have a better chance of Biden finishing a complete sentence since the old girl is so far out. Really appreciate everything you do for this community.  There are 3 aircraft I grew up with and 4 I have always wanted in a sim since the Janes and Fleet Defender days.  You have provided 2, the Tomcat and Phantom, and the third is inbound at some point, the Intruder.  The 4th, no one has even mentioned yet and that is F-105.  I really hope to see you guys get this one given your background with this era of aircraft!

Have you made any MSFS Flight of the Intruder flight plans, to share? 

[Devil 505]

On 8/1/2024 at 11:30 AM, skunk160 said:

Have you made any MSFS Flight of the Intruder flight plans, to share? 

Sorry for the delayed response, been on travel with the company for 2 weeks all over the place.  To be honest, I have never saved any flight plans.  What I typically do is look up where the A-6 flew out of during Vietnam and place a cold start at that Airfield.  I am not a fan of the carriers in MSFS at all.  Every time I give them a second and third chance, it never works out for me.  I have also purchased the payware supercarrier with high expectations and just could not do it.  After flying DCS carriers and then trying MSFS, its like the first time you saw a playboy and then got introduced to penthouse, there was no going back to playboy after that.  

Below is a screen shot (this was quick grab for you, I have done more research than just Wiki) of where the Marine A-6 Intruders were stationed out of during the war.  There is some good stuff out there on missions they flew where you can loosely put a flight plan together off of that, but it takes a little research time.  If I ever save any, I will share them for sure.  I was just out at a flight museum in Florida (Valiant Air Command, Valiant Air Command | 6600 Tico Rd, Titusville, FL, USA) and it had by far the best Vietnam section I have ever seen at a museum.  They have a ton of stuff there.  I highly suggest it to anyone.  I am going to do a separate thread on it later.  Hope the below helps with where to fly in MSFS.  I absolutely cannot wait for Heatblur to get the Intruder to us.  It will be another massive dream come true for this guy to fly that in VR at the fidelity Heatblur and ED bring to the table.  When the Vietnam map hits the scene, this community is going to go wild.