SD-10 in Dogfight mode

[Flogger23m]

How do we launch the SD-10 while in Dogfight mode? Following this tutorial, and can use the SD-10 at long range just fine. PL-5 and guns in Dogfight mode I have working. But I must be missing a step, as when I get a lock in Dogfight mode with only SD-10s on, and they seem to be selected, I cannot launch them.

Any suggestions on what I am likely missing?

Edit: Left MFCD, left side of the panel 3rd button down. Click it twice. Now it works well.

Edited July 3, 2024 by Flogger23m

[Alex Hound]

You may launch them as maddogs. No need to lock target, just launch when you see the target in front of you.

I had not testing it for a long time, but as I remember you may switch to a/a mode from dogfight mode and launch. They will find the target that close in a front of you. 
 

Edit: found that you've already managed this

Edited July 3, 2024 by Alex Hound

[Dr_Pavelheer]

You can press one of the HOTAS buttons, S8, to switch between weapon types.

I prefer not launch SD-10 mad dog, with radar cueing you have wider launch envelope and they become really nasty WVR weapons

[Napillo]

I just press 'D' on the keyboard, and use it that way. I'm sure you could bind that to something. Just look out for which one is selected, as when you switch modes, it seems to prefer the leftmost pylon, which could leave you with two missiles on the right and none on the left, so your aircraft would be unbalanced (could be useful if you are in a right hand turn?) Use the NWS button to switch the active pylon.

[Flogger23m]

6 hours ago, Dr_Pavelheer said:

You can press one of the HOTAS buttons, S8, to switch between weapon types.

I prefer not launch SD-10 mad dog, with radar cueing you have wider launch envelope and they become really nasty WVR weapons

 

Should I search for S8 and in the key binding settings? I will probably want to bind "S8" to my stick or throttle. Had to google nose wheel steering because it was named something atypical.

When I switch to Dogfight mode, I can lock onto something quickly and they maneuver more like R-73s than an AIM-120. When I see the lock symobolgy on the HUD does that mean it is cueing? I'm finding the SD-10s overall to be quite excellent.

With the PL-5 in Dogfight mode I often get locks onto a target (HUD puts a box on a plane), but the seeker occasionally seems to track another plane. If I press the unlock button, it appears to unlock the target being tracked by radar but the PL-5 seeker will still remain tracking whatever it is locked onto. So lets say I have a plane in front of me I want to launch at, the PL-5 may be tracking something far off up and to the right that is at an extreme angle. I cannot seem to figure out how to force it to track the plane directly in front of me even if the radar seems to be tracking it.

 

Overall, I am quite liking this. I prefer the F-16, but this isn't a bad compliment to it. If they can manage to add in later blocks with HMD that would be really nice.

[tekwoj]

Yes, if you search S8 it should take you to the correct bind, normally buttons Sx are stick, Tx are throttle.

PL-5 is an IR missile, it will track whatever is hottest in front of it. Not sure if the IRCCM implementation in DCS allows anything more advanced.

Do you uncage the PL-5 when you use it (T2 Press bind)?

[Napillo]

1 hour ago, tekwoj said:

PL-5 is an IR missile, it will track whatever is hottest in front of it.

It should be slaved to the radar at first without a lock, but once launched it will try to keep that IR lock. 

[Flogger23m]

1 hour ago, tekwoj said:

Yes, if you search S8 it should take you to the correct bind, normally buttons Sx are stick, Tx are throttle.

PL-5 is an IR missile, it will track whatever is hottest in front of it. Not sure if the IRCCM implementation in DCS allows anything more advanced.

Do you uncage the PL-5 when you use it (T2 Press bind)?

 

I am not sure if I am uncaging it, but it does launch and track fine. Just that it does not seem to slave to the radar locked target all the time. Other times it seems to work very much like the F-15C's dogfight mode, where the lock slaves the AIM-9 to the target.

Only quirk I really don't like for air to air is that you need to load the cannon, and finding a good button on my HOTAS to bind it to. Aside from using the button in the MFCD, is a way to bind the gun loading? I have it bound to the MFCD button but if I switch pages then that function won't load the gun.

 

Edited July 3, 2024 by Flogger23m

[tekwoj]

11 minutes ago, Napillo said:

It should be slaved to the radar at first without a lock, but once launched it will try to keep that IR lock. 

It might try, but if it's not implemented properly it might swap to whatever just like it goes for the flares even tough it really shouldn't.

5 minutes ago, Flogger23m said:

 

I am not sure if I am uncaging it, but it does launch and track fine. Just that it does not seem to slave to the radar locked target all the time. Other times it seems to work very much like the F-15C's dogfight mode, where the lock slaves the AIM-9 to the target.

Only quirk I really don't like for air to air is that you need to load the cannon, and finding a good button on my HOTAS to bind it to. Otherwise it works quite like an F-16 without an HMD. A bit slower, but the SD-10 seems to be better than the AIM-120.

 

Uncaging the seeker will let it track the target locked by the radar at angles further away from your nose. Best way to test it - set up a mission with a target, st up the binds, test locking at different angles.