All Set And Ready to Go

[CrackerJack]

Every one at one point was new to A-10C and faced a steep learning curve which is where I'm at now. I'm aware of the Wiki and that there are many YouTube videos and other materials available. I however always like to hear from those who have been through the process. If you were starting out with A-10C again from zero what you would do that you didn't do the first time around??

[xaoslaad]

Learn things that will keep you on target and alive. Learn to use the TAD properly. That is one area I am weakest and it is profoundly useful and I still haven't sat down and given it proper attention. Mind the CDU as well. I'm more confident with that, but you'll want to learn it well. Understand the countermeasure systems as well. I was sorely lacking here and didn't even realize it until recently. It has suddenly become much more effective.

 

Don't jump to guns/rockets/bombs/missiles, even though they're naturally the most fun.

[GripenNG]

I really can´t say I regret anything in my learning process. But I do have to say I´m quite proud of myself since I´ve been trying to follow the real world training syllabus.

 

I studied the cockpit for a couple of days until I could start up the Hawg flawless. Then onto Taxi-training for a day or two - and later on to Take-Off & EFATO.

 

You see where I´m getting at? I really learned to fly and operate the A-10C as it should be operated IRL. And it took me about 6-12 months before I got into pure tactical training. I know not many people have this much patience, since they seem to want to blow things up on the first day in cockpit. But if you truly want the most out of the A-10C - you should have patience!

 

There is A LOT of charts and documents to your aid out there. Take your time and find them, study them - and fly according them! I really can recommend the 476th vFG documentation available on their website. :)

 

EDIT: I can attach my IQT, MQT and WS syllabus later on this evening.

Edited December 18, 2013 by GripenNG

[Kid18120]

Quick 2c. drop here from a rather new Hog pilot here :)

 

As also suggested by GripenNG i would really suggest to learn to FLY the aircraft before hopping into the weapons and more advanced systems.

 

It may get boring at some point (it did for me after a while of startup/taxi/takeoff/landing/flameout) you can always strap a couple of Mk82s and bomb something with the relatively easy to use CCIP mode.

 

So, coming to the point, i'd really suggest to go trough something like:

 

- Cockpit familiarization // Know what is where, at least for basic systems

- Startup procedure // Starting with the tutorials, then trying different procedures as your knowledge grows

- Taxi & TakeOff procedure // Basically learn to safely travel around the airbase and takeoff without breaking anything and keeping the plane steady on it's TO run

- Landing procedure // Worth trying with different loads (starting with empty all the way up to full load, just in case)

 

Once you feel and are confident with these, it may be time to start learning the TGP (imo your most valuable tool along with JTAC) and then going trough the CCRP/CCIP/CCIP CR modes for different type of munitions (CBU, GBU, AGMs, and so on).

 

 

S!

[ZaltysZ]

If you were starting out with A-10C again from zero what you would do that you didn't do the first time around??

 

I would wait until beta is over :smartass: I started with A10C while it was still in beta, and quite a bit changed since then. Some stuff was relearned a few times.

[CrackerJack]

GripenNG I'd like to spend the time and do it right. If you are able to share your IQT and MQT I'd appreciate it.

[Gloom Demon]

If I had to do it all over again, I'd stick to the Su-25T, girls and booze :-)

[MTFDarkEagle]

My view:

 

It would depend on the background knowledge.

If you don't have anyknowledge/experience with flight in general, learn the principles of flight first, experience them.

Get systems knowledge (both general and specific).

THEN jump into combat.

 

But my tip first and foremost.. learn to fly WITHOUT the TGP!

If at a later point you need to spot something QUICKLY, you will be able to, where as if you learned combat just on the TGP you won't. IIRC, real A-10 student pilots only get to fly with the TGP at a later stage in their training.

[Blooze]

Click HERE for some of the best tutorial videos I have seen.

[docfu]

Haven't learned the A-10C yet because I'm enjoying the SU-25T a little too much. That said, the biggest advice I can give to you is get ready to spend a few hours going through all of the controls and deleting anything not relevant to the actual aircraft.

 

This may sound a little bit odd, but I spent way too much time using the key controls "as-is" instead of finding an optimal solution and stock DCS has a lot of stuff you don't actually need hardwired to the keyboard. I am not sure what you are using but since I have a HOTAS, pedals and TrackIR I was able to eliminate almost 30% of the key settings(including all camera control/padlock control keys.)

 

Once you get rid of what you don't need and understand the rest of the basic keys for operating DCS itself, then you can actually begin to focus on learning the individual aircraft better. I am not sure when I will begin learning the warthog myself, but I know once I've got DCS itself down that learning the HOG will be much more enjoyable.

[howie87]

I recommend learning in this order:

 

1) Principals of flight

2) Cockpit and essential systems familiarisation

3) Startup procedures

4) Ground handling

5) Takeoff

6) Trimming the airplane to maintain a heading, speed and altitude.

7) Landing (using your trimming skills!)

8) Circuits (takeoff, crosswind, downwind, base, final, go arounds and emergency procedures).

9) TAD navigation + EGI+ HARS backup mode

10) DSMS

11) Gun employment + PAC

12) Rockets + AIM-9

13) Dumb bombs (CCIP + CCRP)

14) ILS and TACAN navigation (IFR)

15) TGP employment

16) Guided weapons (laser + INS/GPS)

17) Mavericks

18) Countermeasures

19) Radios

20) AAR

21) Advanced CDU functions

[Jona33]

If you find yourself getting bored, take a break or use the gun. It'll give you a bit of light relief when the CDU gets too boring.

[kk0425]

I would learn basic flight principals first and how to maneuver the A-10 so you can jink and evade fire effectively. Navigation and managing mark points, TOT, fuel management, etc are probably the most important things you can learn. Basically all the stuff I found boring since it usually ends up being the most important, and now I'm very glad I spent the time to learn it. While the most fun for me, it doesn't take much to use a smart weapon.

[GripenNG]

Okey here it comes (sorry a bit delayed).

 

A comprehensive flight training document based upon a real world flight training syllabus, but modified to fit a simulation community. This is the first official document I´ve made for the DCS community - so please give me feedback on the mather if you belive I should elaborate something, any feedback is great, as long as you don´t make me cry! ;)

 

Now happy flying, and hope this document helps someone in their DCS learning experience. :)

FT10C Stages.pdf

[JetlinerX]

I know you said you wanted to avoid videos, but I pride myself in making our tutorials as easy, and insanely detailed as possible. I've highlighted every single switch, and nob you will need with explanations. The playlist is in my signature, so if you want to check them out, I feel like they are very easy to follow for new-commers which is what Rettick and I were going for. :)

[CrackerJack]

Thanks JetlinerX. I did come across your videos and I have them book marked. I'm going to some book study first and then move on to Startup and your video. Cheers!

[Wrecking Crew]

If I had to do it all over again, I'd stick to the Su-25T, girls and booze :-)

 

Pitiue -- Russian jets.

 

Russian girls and Russian vodka, well, 2 outta three works for meee.

 

LOL

 

 

CrackerJack -- go for the multiplayer aspect. Check out the Hollo Pointe server -- it is fairly quiet with a variety of missions -- mostly for the A-10. Lot's of room to fly around and get familiar with your jet.

 

 

WC

[PFunk1606688187]

I say become very very familiar with the flight instruments. Don't be a HUD whore. The HUD is not technically rated as a primary flight instrument. You are supposed to be able to fly blind by the "steam gauges".

 

Become extremely comfortable with the whole cockpit. Never stop reading and rereading sections of the manual until you've run out of things you don't understand or don't remember. What you can't find in the manual read the forums for. Lots of great old threads if you use search.

 

Focus primarily on flying the aircraft to start. The avionics take time but you absolutely cannot utilize them well without being able to fly the aircraft so well that it can exist as second nature underneath your active use of those systems. Fly the pattern until you never pop a nose wheel or screw up a landing.

 

By now I can land the A-10 from almost any situation using some basic rules of flight and the AOA indicator.

 

If you understand how to fly the airframe then you will be infinitely better at executing attacks and using the systems on the fly.

 

Oh, and don't be a HUD whore. I think I said that already.

[Sabre-TLA]

When you are ready you can try our Flight Qualification campaigns to test what you have learned!

 

See signature for links.

[dumgrunt]

Learn the HOTAS properly from the start.

 

Once you can take off land fly a course etc, get up to a bit of altitude and give the airframe a good bashing, learn what you can and can't do to old girl, with various payloads.

 

Oh and before you start yanking the stick around, famil yourself with the emergency procedures checklist, so you know what to do when you rip a wing off, or get a flame out.