Flying Style

[Kaptn]

I accidentally posted this in the Lock On forums if a dev could be so nice to remove the thread - sorry about that!

 

Anyways,

I have been flying DCS Dark Shark for about a month now and this is my first post.

 

I'd just like to take this chance to thank the devs for this phenomonal simulation. I have always been a enthusiast and have been flying in sims since Janes F-15 and Longbow, F-18, ETC..

 

Thanks guys.

 

I have been playing through the campaigns and am extremely used to the aircraft now. When I started I was reading all the great posts on these forums and had gotten some great start points as a base.

 

Since then I have slowly become comfotable with my own flying style. One thing I noticed is that I never use auto hover anymore. As a matter of fact it slows me down getting on target. I was just curious if other people out there have a similar experience? When I hover on my own everything is accurate, when I use auto hover I pitch up and down and end up fighting the controls.

 

As for flying low and bobbing up and down the terrain I owe a lot to my Saitek X-52 setup - thanks again everyone on these forums - it was a great choice.

 

Anyways - it would be great to here about different peoples flying styles. After a few replies maybe I can think of some other things to post regarding fly style.

 

Cheers!

[Spartan1-1]

Same-same. I use autohover only to get a new beer or some other admin function. I try to adapt to the threat at hand. In the campaign i usually fly high and avoid low level threats. This also gives a much greater survivability rate against MANPADs and/or wire guided missles. I find the threats in the campaigns to be realistic to what a Ka-50 pilot would experience in RW. On the servers it usually becomes a hide and seek game. Usually between me and the Patriot missles or SA-13's :huh:

[Kaptn]

"Admin Function" hahaha.

 

How high do you fly? Whenever I have flown too high, like 800 feet or so, my world turns real nasty and I find myself slamming the cyclic and flying as fast as my thresh hold is set and heading to the ground. It is the only place I feel safe.

 

While flying at tree top level i have been pretty successful in avoiding threats.

 

You have really gained my interest here.

[leafer]

I'd love to fly nap of the earth but that is just not gonna happen for a while so I drill around from angel 1 to 10000. But seriously, I don't fly it, it flies me. :D

[Kaptn]

Hi Leafer.

 

Well, when I first got the sim I was using a Logitech joy stick with the run of the mill throttle toggle. Im not sure if the controls are the problem for you or if its frame rate.

 

I read on peoples preferences for Hota / stick setups and the X-52 from Saitek just made the night and day difference for me. Im actually debating buying rudder pedals.

Nap of the earth works best for me. The fact there is no radar makes me a bit uneasy - I first flew with labels on but now I dont so I never know whats enroute.

 

At the moment I am working on my evade maneuvering.

[leafer]

Just got the sim as well, thanks to Viper. I'm using keyboard at the moment but all that will change soon. Hopefully. And Viper, you got a surprise coming your way (free) if all goes well. ;)

 

Oh.

 

Kaptn, this sim is full of surprises. Have you tried flying in freezing weather? :D I'm one of those people who doesn't read manual and didn't listen to EKRAN. I do now. :D

Edited May 30, 2009 by leafer

[Kaptn]

I did - that nice helicopter reminded me to put on the anti-ice :-)

 

It's kind of like having our own car from knight rider.

 

I just got done flying a mission from the Georgian 1 campaign. I took out most my targets and was heading in to light up some trucks with my cannon - SAM was sitting out of sight in a canyon to the left.

 

This is why I dont understand how people get away with flying at high altitude - it would have smoked me. I was low enough were I made it passed the canyon opening in time - I was around 200 knots - no idea how it lit me up so fast. Anyways, I popped flares, headed to the left - up the mountain and popped up and smoked him with my cannon. God I love this sim.

 

I havent played MP yet - how is it?

[159th_Viper]

Just got the sim as well, thanks to Viper. I'm using keyboard at the moment but all that will change soon. Hopefully. And Viper, you got a surprise coming your way (free) if all goes well. ;).......

 

Don't say that - you'll embarass me :D

 

Jk: Leafer - you're a Veteran, M8. Just glance at your join-date.....1994! 'Twas just plain wrong that your Kamov's requisition papers got misplaced - all I did was to have a quiet talk with the Quartermaster (so it involved Squealing and a Pair of Pliers.....sue me....).

In any event - back on topic: I use to treat the Kamov with kid gloves, until our AHW FI Zorrin, over a shot of YPV in the 'Flanker, told me to "Treat her Rough/Push the envelope - You'll be surprised how much the Lady can take and still enjoy it" or words to that effect......and I have never looked back.

 

It really made a difference. Fly the Kamov - Do not let the Kamov Fly you.....after all, what is the worst that can happen ;)

[ObvilionLost]

My flying style in DCS is similar to what real MI-24 pilot would do. My helicopter is never a stationary target, and I always engage enemies at high speeds :) Hover tactics never worked for me, 60% of the time I get shot down when hovering.

Edited May 30, 2009 by ObvilionLost

[Kaptn]

OblivionLost, it sounds like you are utilizing the other way I need to learn to engage.

 

I have always thought of attack helicopters as a "weapons platform", however, I also know there is a time and place for a hover tactic and a true attack tactic. I need to learn the blitz attack. I have done so a few times and only succcesful once. I need to take out those aa guns first. Or learn to weave through the tracers.

[wickedpenguin]

I havent played MP yet - how is it?

 

It's great. When you do play online, use that datalink! It's one of the coolest features of this sim and this helo.

 

When you hop on a server, make sure that you communicate with your fellow players and get yourself a datalink slot. For instance, ask, "Which datalink slots are free on which frequency?" You'll have people reply, "I'm slot [1/2/3/4] on [default freq(127.5)/some other freq]."

 

When you're playing cooperatively, feeding each other targets via datalink, it really feels like you're a working flight. You're all just a roving band of helo-thugs, looking to beat somebody up. :thumbup:

 

I actually have the datalink keys mapped to my "G" keys on my G15 keyboard. G13/G14/G15 are the Vehicle/SAM/Other Target buttons. G16/G17 are wingman #2 and Send All, respectively. G18 is Memory/Transmit.

Edited May 30, 2009 by wickedpenguin

[Kaptn]

Wickedprnguin - thanks for the heads up on the MP strategy. I use the datalink all the time with my AI wingman, but after reading your post I know I need to learn about the frequencys, still so much to learn.

 

I definitely want my chops to be up to speed when playing with other people.

 

Thanks for the G15 tip also, I use the same keyboard.

[Ricky 103]

I have had BS for 6 weeks and i havent had it online yet as i would like to learn all the controls first. I have got the hang of flying it but i cant hover no matter what i do so i have to use canons and rockets as i cant stay still long to lock the vickrs and but doing this i get my a$$ shot off all the time.

 

but what a sim the best iv ever played well done DCS

[Spartan1-1]

Like I said it all depends on the threats encountered. If theyre predominantly MANPADs or AA ill stay confortably high (and fast) at 300 to 500 meters. This usually gives me a small buffer zone to detect and counter enemy fires. This is while cruising. Once I near the engagement area ill take one of two courses of action. Ill either maintain high and fast and probe the area in my first run on the target. Ill be able to get a good sight picture of the area, all active threats, and targets. I like the altitude b/c it also gives me the option to evade using an immelman like maneuver. Turning 180 degs quickly while dumping altitude, masking, and building speed. Or if I know the area is real hot (as we all enjoy making them in the editor) ill creep in low flying from cover to cover scanning the area vigorously.

[wickedpenguin]

I have had BS for 6 weeks and i havent had it online yet as i would like to learn all the controls first. I have got the hang of flying it but i cant hover no matter what i do so i have to use canons and rockets as i cant stay still long to lock the vickrs and but doing this i get my a$$ shot off all the time.

 

but what a sim the best iv ever played well done DCS

 

Learn to Trim. Once I got the hang of how the Trim function works in BS, it's easy to hover.

 

You can't be screaming along at 280kph and just flick on AutoHover. You need to ease into it, bleeding airspeed by easing off the collective and slowly pulling the nose up. Practice it often enough and you'll be able to do it without losing or gaining altitude. As you slow down, keep retrimming the helicopter. Once you're near a hover, you may need to add in some more collective so you don't sink. And just keep trimming until you're in that hover. It takes patience and practice, and is the first thing a real life helicopter pilot learns to do.

[ObvilionLost]

OblivionLost, it sounds like you are utilizing the other way I need to learn to engage.

 

I have always thought of attack helicopters as a "weapons platform", however, I also know there is a time and place for a hover tactic and a true attack tactic. I need to learn the blitz attack. I have done so a few times and only succcesful once. I need to take out those aa guns first. Or learn to weave through the tracers.

 

It takes practice, and this tactic is very useful. Once you loose your Shkval you have to get close and personal to engaged the enemy...

[Like A Wasp But With Guns]

With all this blitz attacking, don't you find it difficult to lock on targets with the Vikhr and all that?

 

I find it so much easier to shine the laser of death on enemies and then 'explode them', as Tom Clancy would put it, whilst hovering.

 

Is that something to do with an old-fashioned mouse and joystick set-up, or am I just the world's most incompetent pilot?

[159th_Viper]

Utilize your Stand-Off Weapons (Vikhrs) to sanitize the HZ and if the situation dictates, engagement at close range with the Cannon/Rockets. The situation will dictate your Engagement Parameters. What you do not want to do is go Head to Head with a ZSU or the like, thinking you can Tango your way clear of the imminent sheet of metal about to appear...........!

 

That said - also important to keep moving, even when engaging from RMAX. That Vikhr launch is spotted a mile away, and if you're sitting there all pretty lining up targets then you're going to get clubbed, especially in a Multiplayer environment.

 

Thing with being the Hunter is that if you're not careful you can turn into the Hunted pretty quickly, especially in the Slow-Mover.......Keeping this in mind during an engagement will pretty much keep you out of trouble most of the time :D

[Kaptn]

Ricky - Trim is extremely important, I trim constantly. Matter of fact, while enroute to a target, if it is a long way to the next wp I trim her up and I can literally get up, go to the kitchen and grab a beer. Be at a safe altitude of course... But yea - i'll come back and she'll still be flying a straight line.

 

I find it very surprising they did not outfit this heli with a radar system. Production costs maybe?

 

I mean, I know it is already a very effective weapon, but wow, if it had the Havoc's radar system it would just be incredibly deadly. I can see the economics of it though, radar cost lots of $$$ i'm sure.

[leafer]

I've been a fan of Eagle D since the original Flanker. I'm the kind of member who never really was of any use to the community -- then one day, the Falcon fanboys started showing up. :D

 

Yup. I was handling it like it has toothpick landing gear. Found out a few days ago the Ka gear can take some beating. But nothing is worst than forgetting how to fire the Vikhr after a ten minute flight to target. lol

 

But this morning I slowed to a hover then shot and killed four tanks. That was absolute bliss. :D

Edited May 31, 2009 by leafer

[Bulletstop]

The way I fly depends on the terrain and the mission. I do prefer the stand off but when I have to go in hot, I go in hot.

My standard procedure is to recon and then once I find all the threats I engage long range then go in for canon runs.

I find I enjoy using the terrain to mask my movements, but on occasion I have been surprised by a man pad or unmounted gun. I can truthfully say those times get exciting real quick.

I trully can not even think being high with no cover, it makes chills run down my spine thinking about being naked with no where to run and nothing to hide behind.,lol.

Bullet

[fox_111]

Depending on the expected threats, I will fly as close to the ground as possible. But I do enjoy going high to lunch missils at Rmax.

 

I tend to be a cautious pilot. Exploring new erea methodically and slow. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

 

When I'm confident enough that there is no threats, I can get cocket and fly agressively close to my target. My Ka-50 now become a wasp and I buz the target furisouly, hitting them with closes and precises shots.

 

Like the default mission. I know it so well, I kill everything in one pass. 1 missils for the SA9 team (shooting the car) 1 missil for the AAA emplacement, cannon for the BTRs and fuel truck, then 2 batchs of rockets for the catushia lunchers and cannon for the rest.

 

Top time is 40 seconds.