Feedback Thread - Phantom Patch 17-04-2025

[IronMike]

Dear all,

we hope that spring is shaping up nicely for you. We are proud to present to you the latest patch, and the most outstanding feature of course is that JESTER 2.0 is now open to modding! We cannot wait to see what the community will do with this feature, but we are sure that you will both surprise us and blow our minds - as the creativity of this community always has. The "how-to" you can best read up on here: https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/dcs/modding/overview.html

The other two big items of this patch are an indepth audio overhaul, improving particularly the J-79 sounds further, and a complete overhaul of the "pneudralics", that is both hydraulics and pneumatics systems. For more detail please check the changelog below. We hope you enjoy these changes and also notice some performance improvements. Beyond that of course we added quality of life improvements and bugfixes, which you can also see in the changelog below.

As always we would kindly like to ask you for your feedback and thank you for your continued input and support! 

Lastly, we would like to remind you: the Heatblur Triumvirate Pack Sale is still ongoing until April 21st. You can grab the pack or the single modules for a reduced price on our store, the ED E-shop and on steam. The Triumvirate Pack also offers a special edition including our beloved t-shirts. If you have not yet, go check it out here:

https://store.heatblur.com/pages/triumvirate

 

Your Heatblur Team

 

 

DCS: F-4E Phantom II by Heatblur Simulations

• NEW FEATURE: Added support for user made Jester mods, added checkbox for mission designers (see manual modding chapter for details)
   
• Audio Overhaul:
  • Reintroduce major J79 Audio overhaul
  • Adjusted distinct J79 howl trigger ranges
  • Revamped several major sound samples
  • Improved code driving sound sample playback in various situations (e.g. flyby).
     
• Systems: Complete overhaul of pneudraulics system:
  • Overhauled the entire Hydraulics system, allowing for more flexible timestep and performance improvements.
  • Improved CPU performance without reducing simulation fidelity.
  • Improved flow restrictors and actuators simulation for better stability.
  • Improved component connection order ensuring proper flow.
  • Improved time to stabilize pressure along the entire circuit
  • Improved pressure distribution and energy for the entire hydraulic system.
     
• Systems: Added landing gear small door smoothing for more animation fidelity.
• Systems: Fixed Bombing Tool computing delta altitude wrong for DT (Dive Toss)
• Systems: Added Bombing Tool show “!” (no solution) if drag coefficient is beyond max (9.99)
   
• Avionics: Magnetic Compass overhaul for better accuracy.
• JESTER: Added inhibition of Jester Radar callouts shortly after takeoff.
• UI: Moved JTAC menu to the bottom of comms menu to avoid hiding the dash 4
• UI: Improved mouseover hint for toggle mirrors
   
• Radar: Adjusted symbology (incr. ACQ height, decr. wings length, incr. EL width) to be more accurate to the real DSCG screen.
• Weapons: Fixed AGM-12C (Bullpup) not working on CN (chinese) clients
• Weapons: Added SAMP-250 Chute Retarded Bombs HD
• Art: Fixed minor issues with WSO ball textures. 
• Audio: Fixed engine windmilling rattling sounds not being audible, even with heavy wind.
• Initialization: The aural tone knobs initialize to LOW on cold start
   
• Inputs: Added pitch feel trim neutral position smoothing settable from the special option menu
• Inputs: Increased pitch feel trim dampening (reduces stick oscillations)
• Inputs: Added keybinds for radar altimeter (test button, low altitude warning knob)
• Inputs: Added missing keybinds for TACAN panels (Inc/Dec/Next, axes)
• Inputs: Added AXIS bind for HUD shutter
• Inputs: Fixed the Inc/Dec command misbehaviour in some knobs (e.g. IFF code rollers)
   
• Missions: Added new BFM mission by Sedlo
• Missions: Reduced file size for training missions
• Missions: training missions:
  • Lesson 01b: Corrected checklist page triggers
  • Lesson 01b Task 5: Replaced checklist page 2: now reads "Left Boost Pump" and "to be continued with step 13"
  • Lesson 01b Task 5: Replaced checklist page 3: now reads "continued from step 12"
• Missions: Updated FROG-7 mini-campaign 
• Localization: Updated Chinese localization
• Updated in-game manual

Edited April 17 by IronMike

[Bumblefox]

Heatblur team, Excellent update as always. Loving the Phantom. I see we got keybinds for the Radar Altimeter, will binds for the standby ADI cage/uncage and trim be forthcoming at some point?

[IronMike]

28 minutes ago, Bumblefox said:

Heatblur team, Excellent update as always. Loving the Phantom. I see we got keybinds for the Radar Altimeter, will binds for the standby ADI cage/uncage and trim be forthcoming at some point?

Thank you for your kind words. And definitely something we can look into.

Edited April 17 by IronMike

[Bumblefox]

Feedback wise, since today's patch, have noticed Jester is flipping out about cabin pressure loss right after an air start. Possible the Emergency Release Cockpit Pressure valve is starting open on airstart?

[Czar66]

Jester doesn't seem to be turning on the INS from cold start.

[Typhonus2]

I too am having problems with Jester announcing cabin pressure loss after an air start. If you go to the WSO seat, and check the pressure on the rear left side panels, the pressure has leaked away. I've had some luck binding the pressure seal and other keys and reversing it. But other times he'll announce it and there is no loss of pressure. I suspect a bug. And it only seems to happen on air starts.

[IronMike]

Thank you for the reports.

For the alignment you can hop into the backseat and align yourself, and Jester will eventually catch up, we are investigating.

Likewise for the cabin pressure. Our sincere apologies. 

[dochiq]

Since the update, I have unusually high CPU loads in the F-4, sometimes to the point that the CPU seems to be the limiting factor.

I've never had that before in any plane in any scenario (7800X3D, 5080, VR).

Edited April 18 by dochiq

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

The changes to pitch trim damping are definitely an improvement. Now I need further testing to see if I need to make a new bespoke Rhino profile, as my "3rd gen fixed wing" profile has a fair bit of damping applied to it already. Time will tell if I need to simply get used it it again myself, or if a new profile will help...

Jester yelled I was "out of my god darned mind" while taking off at Frankfurt 
And he yelled: "we lost cabin pressure!" while descending from a 37k MSL cruise over Germany (not an air start but a hot ramp start). I haven't heard that one before...

Edited April 18 by Raven (Elysian Angel)
added clarification

[Thorn(RAP)]

Seems like the iconic J79 singing engine sound when spooling up is gone with this new update,  is this by design or have i stumbled onto a bug..?
Also Jester is not asking for primary synchronize with INS alignment.

[HB_Painter]

Hello everyone,

unfortunately Jester had a few too many beers on the launch party for the CW Germany map and thus startup has a little bug atm whilst aligning as some of you already reported. We already fixed that bug internally this morning and it will be fixed at the next Hotfix/Patch whatever comes first. For now you can either align the plane manually yourself or rely on hotstarts.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

[Turbonix]

yes, i have the "Jester not starting alignment from coldstart" issue too.

thanks for the quick reply anyways  @HB_Painter

and at least it gets me to learn how to start manual alignment from the backseat.
Thanks again for the interactive manual HB 

Edited April 18 by Turbonix

[Melt-Down]

8 minutes ago, Turbonix said:

yes, i have the "Jester not starting alignment from coldstart" issue too.

thanks fot the quick reply anyways  @HB_Painter

and at least gets me to learn how to start manual alignment from the backseat.
Thanks again for the interactive manual HB 

Same here and sadly, Jester is not bug for my landings comment  

[Talisman_VR]

Hi Folks,

Please could some kind person explain what the new special options 'stick neutral position smoothing period' option is all about. 

I am afraid I do not understand the how, when, why of this feature or the potential positive or negative impact. 

Also, I use a force feedback joystick and would like to understand if this new feature is for non FFB sticks or just FFB sticks or any and all joysticks regardless. 

Moreover, is this feature something that creates more realism or is it some sort of crutch to provide general assistance for us PC sim pilots?

Any information to help understanding regarding this new feature would be gratefully received.  

Thanks in anticipation.

Happy landings,

Talisman

[Zabuzard]

14 minutes ago, Talisman_VR said:

Please could some kind person explain what the new special options 'stick neutral position smoothing period' option is all about. 

The neutral position of the stick in the Phantom is automatically moved around by the aircraft depending on G-force, airspeed (and indirectly also through trim).

This setting affects the time period over which these changes are applied to your stick. So for example when you pull hard on your stick you will have a sudden G-spike, causing the bobweights to increase their weight and as consequence push your stick hard forward to counter (and vice versa with the bellows when you increase airspeed). The setting smooths out this counterforce over the time period you configure.

So instead of being instant, the forces applied by the plane on your stick are smoothed out over a time period which you can select. This makes it easier for you to react to it and is mostly meant for people without FFB stick. Especially for the people who had trouble with the trim system, as this will as consequence also smooth out the trimming.

With a FFB stick your hands should be able to hold the stick neutral at the position you want, regardless of the plane creating dynamic forces pushing the stick around in your hand - as your hands naturally counteract the dynamic forces as you hold the stick in place (provided the forces arent too big). Without FFB that is not really possible and players always have to counteract by giving explicit input. So this setting makes that easier to handle.

Edited April 18 by Zabuzard

[Talisman_VR]

6 minutes ago, Zabuzard said:

The neutral position of the stick in the Phantom is automatically moved around by the aircraft depending on G-force, airspeed (and indirectly also through trim).

This setting affects the time period over which these changes are applied to your stick. So for example when you pull hard on your stick you will have a sudden G-spike, causing the bobweights to increase their weight and as consequence pull your stick hard aft to counter. The setting smooths out this counterforce over the time period you configure.

So instead of being instant, the forces applied by the plane on your stick are smoothed out over a time period which you can select. This makes it easier for you to react to it and is mostly meant for people without FFB stick. Especially for the people who had trouble with the trim system, as this will as consequence also smooth out the trimming.

Many thanks Zabuzard.  Very helpful.  

Happy landings,

Talisman

[Czar66]

Happy to see the INS stuff being fixed on the next patch/hotfix, but hey, it made me learn a few things on the back seat including the INS.

One thing that still a bit weird is the input on the Jester UI. Sometimes it only wants the mouse input while ignoring completely the Track IR, other times it accepts both. That happens with both mouse and Track IR boxes selected, of course.

You guys keeps that flame alive. Keep rocking. Phabulous module.

[IronMike]

6 hours ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

Jester yelled I was "out of my god darned mind" while taking off at Frankfurt 
And he yelled: "we lost cabin pressure!" while descending from a 37k MSL cruise over Germany (not an air start but a hot ramp start). I haven't heard that one before...

Likely a "new map issue", meaning that the runway is recognized not as such or as a taxiway. He gives you a hard time if you do taxiway take offs, so my guess is on that. It is also possible that this is not a bug, but that the actual runway to be used is shorter than the full length of the tarmac (some runways have that), in which case that should be clear from the markings. sometimes end and start of runways are considered still taxiway, or iirc the term is DER (departure end of runway), but don't quote me on it. so you would have to taxi forward to be past the actual threshold.

If you want, you can report it to Ugra, that would help. Thank you! 

Edited April 18 by IronMike

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

26 minutes ago, IronMike said:

If you want, you can report it to Ugra, that would help. Thank you!

Sure, I can do that!  

I actually tried to prevent issues by making sure I passed the zebra marks before opening the throttles. But hey, at least Jester loved my landing ("almost as beautiful as Meg Ryan") so that's still half points! 

[IronMike]

4 minutes ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

Sure, I can do that!  

I actually tried to prevent issues by making sure I passed the zebra marks before opening the throttles. But hey, at least Jester loved my landing ("almost as beautiful as Meg Ryan") so that's still half points! 

Man, it feels like half a lifetime ago we recorded these lines, and it warms my heart to see that they are still going strong with you guys.  

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

7 minutes ago, IronMike said:

it warms my heart to see that they are still going strong with you guys.  

I am well aware not everyone is a fan of Jester's banter, but I for one love it! He regularly brings a smile to my face, still! Jester brings life to the module in a way no other DCS AI copilot does 

[Bumblefox]

3 hours ago, Czar66 said:

Happy to see the INS stuff being fixed on the next patch/hotfix, but hey, it made me learn a few things on the back seat including the INS.

One thing that still a bit weird is the input on the Jester UI. Sometimes it only wants the mouse input while ignoring completely the Track IR, other times it accepts both. That happens with both mouse and Track IR boxes selected, of course.

You guys keeps that flame alive. Keep rocking. Phabulous module.

How much manual action was required for the align? all the way to aligned/ready/switch to nav, or will jester finish if you start?

[Czar66]

9 minutes ago, Bumblefox said:

How much manual action was required for the align? all the way to aligned/ready/switch to nav, or will jester finish if you start?

Full. Up to knob to 'Nav. Don't forget to set 'TGT1' on the Nav computer, before setting the knob to 'Align'. Shown on 1

...Plus turn on the RWR yourself, where before Jester would turn it on automatically after his INS alignment procedure.

This picture on the manual, also included into the default kneeboard, helps:

If the mission have 'stored heading' set, the switch for HDG MEM will be on the right position to stored heading alignment by default.

Just need to check for the align green light for the intended alignment method you want and you're all set.

https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/systems/nav_com/ins.html

Edited April 18 by Czar66

[bephanten]

Could you make a video or a white paper like ed does about the pneudraulics changes? It would make the text more meaningful. 

[ickey50]

Kudos on the sound, fellas.
NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A PHANTOM!!!