Questionable AIM-54

[Nervenklaus]

Here is an interesting clip

about the F-14 BVR made by a real RIO of F-14 - Ward Carroll. He mentioned that Fox3 usually fired at 40NMs from the target and the hit will be scored about 28NMs. This number 28 should varies depends on the relative speed and the planes altitude and etc. But in DCS I can only get the impact at about 20-21NMs when fire at 40NMs. There is no way to even get it close to 28. My only guessing is that the speed of AIM-54 in this game is too slow or Ward's memory does not service very well.

Edited Wednesday at 10:52 PM by Nervenklaus

[Dragon1-1]

Are both you cranking after launch? Also, what's the bandit doing? Carroll could be referring to some scenario that they practiced, and this would not necessarily mean the aircraft are flying straight ahead at each other. The standard procedure after launching AIM-54s is to crank, considerably reducing closure. Speeds and altitudes also matter, the Phoenix works best up high, and if you're supersonic when launching it, you'll give it a boost.

Honestly, I'm not sure if talking about ranges like that even makes sense. He might have had some canned scenario to work with (try Speed and Angels campaign, could even be the one Reflected reproduced there), but in combat, BVR timelines will vary based on a number of factors. You could possibly make your first launch at 100NM in some situations, though it'd likely be more of a posturing shot than something you'll expect to hit.

[captain_dalan]

Way too many variables. You need specific launch conditions for both aircraft AND their timelines to even begin using it as a performance benchmark.