DCS A-10C --> First Impressions

[Humvee28]

Hi there!

 

Yesterday i recieved my ordered Copy of DCS A-10C, and after some hours of reading and testing, i would like to share my first Impressions :

 

After installing, i had my first Contact with the Flight Manual.

 

I´ve expected a big one, but 706 Pages...whoa. Studying this will take some time.

From now on, i have to look for a Solution to bring this Monster on Paper in the first Place.

I´m a Person who need something like that in Bookform on the Table, with a Cup of Coffee. Reading such a big Document on a PC makes me sick. :D

 

After some reading, i fired up the Programm and started with my first Training, and i have to say : IMPRESSIVE!

I´m totally overwhelmed by the huge amount of Systems and Switches, and the high Level of Detail inside the Plane, but in a positive Way.

I´m a Fan of Sims, and this one is absolutely Top Notch for me.

 

I´ve used the rest of the Day to train the Startup, and had alot of Fun.

Today i´ve done my first Start and some Manouvers (Training 2), and the Feeling is awesome.

 

DCS runs very good on my "older" Rig (Q9650@4Ghz, HD5870 1GB, 8GB RAM), and finally i´ve got something to do for my TrackIR5.

The Input Device is a Thrustmaster Flightstick X, but i will swap it against a HOTAS System in the Future.

For ArmA Planes and Helis you can use the Stick without Problems, but for a Sim like this it´s a Pain in the ***.

 

All in all after this little amount of Time with DCS : I love it, and i´m ready for a long time of learning, failing, and mastering. :joystick:

 

Greets

 

Marc

[Kalahari]

Welcome,its a long term sim. Been playing it 9 months nd I'm still learning something new everyday. Enjoy nd good hunting!

[tintifaxl]

I tackled it this way: got the sim, printed the quickstart guide, mapped the HOTAS commands to my HOTAS (no Warthog at that time), read the quickstart guide about weapon deployment and got right into the quick mission starting to blow stuff up.

 

After that came the training missions (sans startup) and reading the manual as needed.

 

Startup procedure came last but now I don't want to miss it ever again.

[msalama]

In the beginning I first read the manual from cover to cover, and then just started flying with a checklist - I always do 100% manual startups & shutdowns. As far as proficiency goes I'd rate myself as OK by now, meaning I can operate the beast and its systems on a basic level, but there's still SO much to learn as regards the specifics! Meaning I'll probably have to read the damn thing again pretty soon now that I've half a clue of what I'm doing :D

 

Anyway, welcome to the Warthog Humvee. This sim indeed is a gift that keeps on giving :)

[Humvee28]

Thanks for the Replies and the Welcome. Nice to hear how other Members getting started.:)

 

Today my Girlfriend will print out the Manual at Work (Doublesided and Colored with Laserprinter, yay!), and then i will study the Manual first.

I want to build up a good Knowledge about the Plane before i´m going further (Navigation and Landing Training has screwed my Head up while following the Advices. :D )

 

Also i will build up a new Desk today, with an Armrest on the Left for the planned TM Warthog.

While i´m talking about this : Could please somebody with a TM Warthog measure out the Throttle Unit Lengh and Width in Centimeters for me?

I have looked after it on the Net, but i couldn´t find anything. Thanks in Advance for this! :)

[Cali]

What a nice girlfriend, but she may not be your girlfriend for long...

[Depth]

Also i will build up a new Desk today, with an Armrest on the Left for the planned TM Warthog.

While i´m talking about this : Could please somebody with a TM Warthog measure out the Throttle Unit Lengh and Width in Centimeters for me?

Yup

 

Throttle: 27.5cm long by 15cm wide. There is a small section on the front and back with holes for screws about 1.7cm each, so the actual length of the quadrant itself is 24cm

 

Stick: Base plate measures 27 by 23cm :)

 

Edit: Screw holes on both stick and throttle looks to be 6mm in diameter but I can't tell for sure without a slide caliper.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Depth

[Conure]

Stick with it :) The sim is fantastic and has taken up thousands of mine - none of which are wasted given how much you learn about aviation in general :)

[EvilBivol-1]

It can be a lot to handle, even in the Training missions. If you find yourself getting stuck, I would recommend, like some others already have, to simply to back to the Quickstart manual. Of course it won't teach you all of the in-depth detail of the systems, but it will give you enough information to fly and shoot stuff, have some simple fun - which is sometimes what you need to take a break from all the brain work.

[badger66]

The detail in this sim is truely amazing ..... quite heavy at times but worth sticking with .

 

I know everytime I learn something new in the sim , it makes me happy . If I had another arm , I would clap myself on the back !!!

 

Great sim , even for an old geezer like me .

[DrD]

The detail in this sim is truely amazing ..... quite heavy at times but worth sticking with .

 

I know everytime I learn something new in the sim , it makes me happy . If I had another arm , I would clap myself on the back !!!

 

Great sim , even for an old geezer like me .

 

The manual is good and I find it an enjoyable read. There's alot left out though on basic tactics etc. If you have or can find a manual from Falcon 4 there's alot of good stuff there on this. Also at SIMHQ last time I looked (a long time ago).

 

Call me crazy but I downloaded the game last week, got my HOTAS Monday, but have not yet played other than to run through a startup. Part of the reason is I'm waiting for a TIR 5 but also because I approach sims like this like I used to approach women, a long, slow courtship to build up anticipation!! Like women though when I actually play I find I know alot less than I thought I did.

 

Anyway my courtship consists of reading the manual cover to cover (twice) and checking out these boards. When I'm bored at work at a meeting I go through the HOTAS commands in my head and if I can't remember one I sneak a peek at my phone (got the manual on it as well as other places.)

 

Oh and the other reason I've not played yet is I'm still going through Skyrim.

 

So I'm not sure that I'm qualified to welcome you!

[Humvee28]

What a nice girlfriend, but she may not be your girlfriend for long...

 

Haha, good Point Cali. But we´re together for nearly six Years now, and she knows my Hobbys. No Problem. :D Manual is printed out BTW.

 

Yup

 

Throttle: 27.5cm long by 15cm wide. There is a small section on the front and back with holes for screws about 1.7cm each, so the actual length of the quadrant itself is 24cm

 

Stick: Base plate measures 27 by 23cm :)

 

Edit: Screw holes on both stick and throttle looks to be 6mm in diameter but I can't tell for sure without a slide caliper.

 

TY for taking the Time, and the detailed Measurement. Everything is ready for the System, i have only to safe the Money now.

 

Stick with it :) The sim is fantastic and has taken up thousands of mine - none of which are wasted given how much you learn about aviation in general :)

 

nothing more to say. :)

 

It can be a lot to handle, even in the Training missions. If you find yourself getting stuck, I would recommend, like some others already have, to simply to back to the Quickstart manual. Of course it won't teach you all of the in-depth detail of the systems, but it will give you enough information to fly and shoot stuff, have some simple fun - which is sometimes what you need to take a break from all the brain work.

 

Since the Manual is ready to read now, i´ll stick with it first. Call me a Psycho, but i don´t want to fly into Warzones before i feel a little bit more safe in the Hog related to the Controls, so learning comes first. For Relaxing between i use the ArmA A-10 now. :D

[FreeFall]

Could please somebody with a TM Warthog measure out the Throttle Unit Lengh and Width in Centimeters for me?

I have looked after it on the Net, but i couldn´t find anything. Thanks in Advance for this! :)

 

For further info (I know you have been told the basics by other forum members), see attached pdf-files

HotasWarthog_Stick_Plate.pdf

HotasWarthog_Throttle_Plate.pdf

Edited April 17, 2012 by FreeFall

[Humvee28]

Thanks for the Sheets. Very useful!

[Longbow116]

Thanks for the Replies and the Welcome. Nice to hear how other Members getting started.:)

 

Today my Girlfriend will print out the Manual at Work (Doublesided and Colored with Laserprinter, yay!), and then i will study the Manual first.

I want to build up a good Knowledge about the Plane before i´m going further (Navigation and Landing Training has screwed my Head up while following the Advices. :D )

 

Also i will build up a new Desk today, with an Armrest on the Left for the planned TM Warthog.

While i´m talking about this : Could please somebody with a TM Warthog measure out the Throttle Unit Lengh and Width in Centimeters for me?

I have looked after it on the Net, but i couldn´t find anything. Thanks in Advance for this! :)

 

Hi, that's a good idea to build a Desk! Pls post some shot's would like to see it and rebuild :))):music_whistling:

[WildBillKelsoe]

Welcome aboard HMMW :D

 

it's so far, the best iteration in the DCS franchise. Take your time, go slow, print the manual, have a cup'o'joe, and just practice practice, practice.. Pop into this thread if you have any questions, we'll deliver.

[Humvee28]

Hi, that's a good idea to build a Desk! Pls post some shot's would like to see it and rebuild :))):music_whistling:

 

The Desktop will be very simple. Nothing Exclusive. A Custom made Deskplate, with a longer left Side and some Bars under it, screwed into the Walls.

The Place where my Computer stands looks like a small Tunnel, and there would be no Place for a regular Desk.

But i will make Photos as soon as i´m back into my Company to make it. :)

 

Welcome aboard HMMW :D

 

it's so far, the best iteration in the DCS franchise. Take your time, go slow, print the manual, have a cup'o'joe, and just practice practice, practice.. Pop into this thread if you have any questions, we'll deliver.

 

Thanks for the Welcome Mate. :) Yes, things are growing up slowly and getting more natural every Day, and thats a lot of Fun for me.

Yesterday i´ve live-fired my first LGB´s, IAM´s and Mavs in Traing Missions, and learned more about Trimming to compensate the Weight loss. :D

Now i have to train with the CM´s and to look how the Mission Editor works. I would like to build up a little Training Fire Range for myself.

[Humvee28]

After being a virtual Pilot for some more Time now, one more Impression :

 

HOTAS Warthog is setted as a MUST, atleast for me. I can´t imagine how nice it must be to use the most Functions without putting your Eyes and Hands away from Stick, Throttle and Monitor.

Have you ever seen a Warthog Pilot in the Air, with a Keyboard on his Knees, and searching for the right Strokes, while flying over and past the Targets? :megalol:

 

But hey, i can steer the Crosshair of the TGP and the MAV´s now with my Stick. A small Improvement, but even this small thinggy feels great!

[Humvee28]

Recon Training : Advice?

 

Hi there!

 

I´m in Training on the Missions "Weapons Training" and "Shooting Range" for a couple of Days now.

 

It helped me a lot to get more and more Routine in following Points:

 

- Weapon Setup on the Ground & in the Air (Profiles, Situation adaption)

 

- Communication with JTAC and Wingman

 

- Usage of TGP (Slave to WP and/or JTAC Coords, Area Recon, Pointing Targets, Slave to Mav etc.)

 

- Weapon and Mode Selection, related to given Targets.

 

- Firing and evasive Manouvers afterwards.

 

- Checking the Limits of the Hog under serveral Circumstances (Speed, Load etc.)

 

 

But at one Point, i´m running into a little bit of Trouble : Getting visual Contact on Targets without electro-optical help. Does anyone has a good Advice or Tutorial how to do that in a right and effective Way?

 

I don´t have bad Eyes, but finding Trucks in a Wooden or Urban Terrain from higher Altitude seems like a lucky Game for me. Maybe someone got another good Mission to train my Skills in that? Any help would be very appreciated. :)

[Yellonet]

After being a virtual Pilot for some more Time now, one more Impression :

 

HOTAS Warthog is setted as a MUST, atleast for me. I can´t imagine how nice it must be to use the most Functions without putting your Eyes and Hands away from Stick, Throttle and Monitor.

Have you ever seen a Warthog Pilot in the Air, with a Keyboard on his Knees, and searching for the right Strokes, while flying over and past the Targets? :megalol:

 

But hey, i can steer the Crosshair of the TGP and the MAV´s now with my Stick. A small Improvement, but even this small thinggy feels great!

I bought the WH just a few days ago, together with pedals and it really is much easier to manage the functions with the HOTAS, in part perhaps because memorizing what the different buttons and switches do is a lot simpler than remembering certain keyboard combinations.

Overall the feeling of flying is much better and the sim is just more fun with a proper HOTAS :)

[badger66]

Yep , my piggy bank is almost full ..... HOTAS !!!

[Humvee28]

Yep , my piggy bank is almost full ..... HOTAS !!!

 

I´ve started to save Money too. 1 / 3 done. :)

[112th_Rossi]

Humvee:

 

With regard to finding targets via TGP, it takes a lot of practice. But my advise would be:

 

1. Keep the area of interested on your right, between 60 and 120 degrees.

2. Keep a nice altitude, around 8k to 10k feet.

3. Set your autopilot to ALT

4. Start a wide clockwise circle around the target, about 5 to 7 miles radius

5. Engage autopilot and then zoom in on the TGP MFCD display.

6. Start looking.

 

This way I find I dont have to concentrate too much on flying. But be carefull you dont wander into any threats.

[Humvee28]

Sounds really good. Thanks for the Advice Rossi.

[Longbow116]

Humvee:

 

With regard to finding targets via TGP, it takes a lot of practice. But my advise would be:

 

1. Keep the area of interested on your right, between 60 and 120 degrees.

2. Keep a nice altitude, around 8k to 10k feet.

3. Set your autopilot to ALT

4. Start a wide clockwise circle around the target, about 5 to 7 miles radius

5. Engage autopilot and then zoom in on the TGP MFCD display.

6. Start looking.

 

This way I find I dont have to concentrate too much on flying. But be carefull you dont wander into any threats.

 

Exactly my procedure :)