Facepalm x 1000

[Jinja]

Okay I'm big enough to admit this one....

 

Have tried refuelling on only about 5-8 occasions (since it's never a requirement in SP campaigns).

 

 

Initially I always end up with the KC suddenly diving out of the sky (or worse) as the boom misses the refuelling port and smacks of my fuselage. Nod and agree with everyone on the forums on how hard this is....

 

Then I read some post by some wise sage who recommended 'walking' the Warthog throttles to hugely increase effectiveness of speed control. Now I'm much better on the throttles, but I STILL end up with the KC in flames... DAMN this is hard.

 

So yesterday I'm not refuelling... I'm on one of those interminable ingress waypoints on the Shore campaign, so am killing time perusing the cockpit... oops, realise I forgot to arm my seat.... check... hey, what's this big lever just fore of the seat-arm switch.... zoom-in.... 'RCVR'..... hmmmm..... 'open'........ ahuh....... 'close'.....

 

 

So to ALL those who still can't refuel, please, I consider myself to be a completely gifted and adept bending-robot, so it can happen to the best of us! ;)

 

...in my defense, I thought the refuelling cover was some hinged flap that was pushed open by the boom as it 'mates'.

 

Arrgghh!

[sobek]

If you think it would help, i've been thinking about giving people a few tips on AAR in MP. If anybody is interested, shoot me a pm.

[Jinja]

Thx for the offer Sobek, but the very next attempt I got 'Contact, taking fuel', so I'm happy!

 

Personally, I don't know if AAR training would lend itself naturally to a real-time MP session, most likely a Youtube video would be perfect ror rewatch value.

 

For me, what was absolute key to my nailing of AAR was watching the replay of my failed attempts. I quickly realised my relative altitude was wrong (too low) when I could see how the boom could not mate cleanly. As soon as I spotted this, the very next attempt went off without a hitch.

 

Oh yeah, by the way, love your sig (coming from the software world). Every time there's a new thread about delays and updates, you should just put post that and lock the thread!

[sobek]

For me, what was absolute key to my nailing of AAR was watching the replay of my failed attempts. I quickly realised my relative altitude was wrong (too low) when I could see how the boom could not mate cleanly. As soon as I spotted this, the very next attempt went off without a hitch.

 

Well my idea was in part that participants would be able to observe me and identify possible problems in their own procedures and also have feedback from me on what i think they could improve upon. However, it was just an offer, if somebody does not feel that it could benefit them, that is fine with me. Also, i can't claim to do it 'perfectly right' either. :)

 

Oh yeah, by the way, love your sig (coming from the software world). Every time there's a new thread about delays and updates, you should just put post that and lock the thread!

 

Much to my surprise, lately the feedback is rather mature. :)

 

Don't confuse me with a moderator, though, i have only user privileges on the forum.

[Jinja]

Yes, it has been mature of late. The 'beast' has feasted, over-eaten and is now sleeping it off. But just wait till you announce DCS:F-XX...

[Kaiza]

Hey Jinj- something u may/maynot know (something I missed on my first go), if you prem disconnect you have to press the NWS button to cycle the system otherwise you cant make a successive contact (light will cycle from disconnect to ready).

[Nu-NRG]

That happened to me, but i was aware of that lever. It was sooooooooooooo nice. Soooooooo smooth. Sooooooooooo perfect. Until about 3 minutes behind the tanker while the boom operator kept the boom away from me. I figured ... *facepalm*:joystick:

[Frostiken]

I don't know how helpful a video of AAR would be. Except for missing the blindingly obvious (like the OP :D), all there is to it is get in position, match the speed, get a good approach so the stupid boom operator doesn't smack into your side like he does sometimes, and that's it.

 

That doesn't help those of us who oscillate wildly or have problems with speed control, since it'd just be a video of someone having no problem with flying straight :(

[hassata]

I was watching Jetstream (awesome documentary re Canadian Hornet drivers), and one of the instructors told the student to walk the throttles. I asked on the boards, and one of the crew chiefs posted that it refers to incrementally moving one throttle then the other, which helps newbies make delicate adjustments to thrust. Tried it that night in DCS, and all of a sudden, I'm flying better! Wot-a-sim.

[Jinja]

yup on the tip/reward indexometer, that one scored highly

[FlyingBrick]

During my first attempt at refueling I thought the port was located behind the canopy. Doh!

 

I've spent the morning getting beat up by that dang boom, I think it almost knocked me out once! My vision got dark for a few seconds. LOL

 

I finally managed to somehow knock the wing off the tanker, I didn't see any chutes. :(

 

Great sim, I'm loving it!

[Ptroinks]

I'm working on a kind of aerial refueling tutorial with tips and advise on what to do/not to do, and what you actually need to learn about the practical aspects of refueling. Don't know when I'll have it ready, though... I had so many facepalms when I learned how to do it (I'm still far from perfect) that I want to help other pilots get through it as pain free as possible.

Edited May 23, 2011 by Ptroinks

[Speed]

In my experience, you need either an extremely precise stick or a curve if you want to refuel. When I first started trying refueling in DCS, I had an X-52 and no curve- and it was literally impossible to make small enough adjustments with the stick. I added a curve and could then refuel, but it was still really hard.

 

After I got the X-65, however, when I wanna refuel, I just set the stick to its lowest sensitivity level, and the stick control is EASY. Throttle control is still fairly hard, but the X-65 throttle responds in smaller steps than the X-52 throttle could. Refueling is MUCH easier!

[zamboni]

I had a couple of times forgetting to hit the NWS button after disconnecting trying to figure why it wouldn't reconnect....doh. Tonight I decided to try refueling again....it has been a couple of months since I had tried refueling, and the best I could refuel had tons of disconnects.

 

For some reason tonight things clicked. Only tried it once and I was able to get a full tank with only one disconnect. My previous times trying was with the tanker at 10K and it was traveling at 240 on the HUD. This time I was refueling at 15K and speed was about 210 on the hud. Dunno why but I was able to keep speed constant and had no problems keeping it hooked up.

 

Did a video of the attempt. It may be helpful to someone out there :) I did a split screen showing my HUD on the right side and on the left an exterior shot of the boom and plane so you can get an idea on just where the boom is in relation to what it looks like in the HUD. After connecting I just concentrate on the spot where the boom comes out of the flying arm.

 

 

For reference, here is the last time I tried refueling...

 

Click on the inline vid above to see the full size version... 720p for teh win!

[Jinja]

Hey Jinj- something u may/maynot know (something I missed on my first go), if you prem disconnect you have to press the NWS button to cycle the system otherwise you cant make a successive contact (light will cycle from disconnect to ready).

 

Didn't know that either! Thx for that.

 

 

And GREAT video Zamboni, love the split-screen too.

[sam777777]

Yes, it has been mature of late. The 'beast' has feasted, over-eaten and is now sleeping it off. But just wait till you announce DCS:F-XX...

 

why did you replace 18 with XX? ;)

[159th_Viper]

why did you replace 18 with XX? ;)

 

Oh so then you have not heard yet?

 

Apparently the Hornet's wings are detachable..........sort of throws a massive monkey-wrench into the whole 'U.S. Fixed Wing' and 'Next DCS Aeroplane' speculation and discussions.

 

Back to the drawing board........