Classic British Flight Sim

Ha ha - that made me really laugh!

Paul, that MiG-21bis is likely to be considerably more difficult to learn and operate than both the A-10C and Hip!

I find the A-10C a bit tedious, to be honest. Sure, it can be fun to fly, but wading through all the MFD functions in combat leaves me a bit wanting. It's simple enough procedure, but too much button-pushing for me. That's why I like the Su-25s and wish they had one to full DCS standard, rather than simply Flaming Cliffs type operation. I actually prefer flying the new A-10A in FC3 than the A-10C, for the same reason - no MFD button pushing

As for the Hip, I found that the easiest of the three helicopters to fly. I had a hell of a wild trip on my first training mission flight, when the thing jumped off the ground well before it was supposed to and my joystick was only just within reach, on the far edge of my desk. It was incredible that I managed to keep control and complete the mission successfully, landing in a field a km or so from the airfield. That was a panic - but great fun and satisfaction.

The Black Shark "Deployment" campaign was fun - but they made one or two things dependant on the model working perfectly, which of course it doesn't, and that can make things frustrating. For example, in one of the later missions, you have to fly over some very high mountain peaks to reach the target area, and you have to pay very close attention to your systems (especially temperatures). Every time I flew that part of the mission, I got systems warnings that didn't make sense, or didn't go away when I took the appropriate action. Always a different problem, too, so not consistent.
Then, when I finally made it to the IP, the rearming screen came up in front of me, blocking my view and I couldn't get rid of it, meaning the two enemy Hind gunships had an easy time shooting me down.

So it's a mixed bag due to these bugs, but when (if) they get it right it will be superb. The Su-25 campaigns are great fun, too, with some very nice scenarios, and always a challenge.

It's years since I flew any of the fighters, though - not much interest in air to air combat.

Video of the moving map in the Gazelle cockpit - posted yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heoMcZY ... e=youtu.be

It's nowhere near release yet, though - apparently getting a complete retexturing now.

J0hn wrote:Ha ha - that made me really laugh!

Paul, that MiG-21bis is likely to be considerably more difficult to learn and operate than both the A-10C and Hip!

Well, I was thinking along the lines of the A-10C's MFDs and all that - the various modes etc.

The Fw-190D has been released as a beta module for $39.99 (full release price will be $49.99).

Not one for me, though - it'll be the first module I won't buy. Bring on the Hawk and Sabre - and some tasty RAF repaints!

I'm not interested in the FW190 either although the P-51, which I flew yestedray for the first time, is great. UK classics of the prop variety will be awesome in an appropriate theatre of operations.

Congrats - was that the P-51D or the free tandem-seat one?

My first flight was very enjoyable - spent most of it screaming through the valleys at silly low altitudes (got some snaps of flying below the streetlights!). I really couldn't understand the people who were complaining that it was too difficult to fly.

Wonder if you did the same as me? Just started the sim to try out the start-up tutorial mission and ended up being unable to resist a quick spin? It's the best way, because you don't really know what you're doing, which makes it all the more fun.

I ended up running out of fuel and gliding (which it does amazingly well) down to a field landing.









This landing didn't go so well, though...



At least my ghost didn't look too crisp!

LOL, that's hilarious

I started from the 'hot start' option and did as careful a take-off as i could. I tore around the airfield for a while doing steep turns, loops and low passes, just to see how she handles. Pretty amazing. This was the free one.

Tonight though, I'm going to get the Huey. I've watched a few Youtube videos of it and i love it. The sound is amazing and the handling looks a real challenge. Will be interesting to feel accurately modelled heli physics in a sim. The problem with me and helis in a sim is that I never really know what to do with them once flying. They don't go very fast nor very high and it's not like you'd choose a heli for a NAV exercise either. I wish they would model sling loads in the sim. That would be an interesting thing to try out. I guess the whole shooting thing is also a new dimension to it. I've not really used DCS much for shooting or bombing.

Good luck with the UH-1H!

Seriously, it's a real swine to control on take-off. I get it right most times (i.e. without destroying it) but am usually all over the place with it. Landing can be a bit hit & miss, too (pun intended!). Once you have the thing in the air, though, it's very easy to control whilst flight a flying plan or just doing some low-level flying. Just be careful, though - I tried following a riverbed under the height of the banks, tried to go under a bridge when there wasn't enough space for the rotors, with a predictable result.

Good fun, if a little frustrating at times. My fave is the Black Shark and I have hundreds of hours in both campaigns and online clocked up. I like the Hip, too, but I've not tried either Huey or Hip in combat as yet.

It's also good for multi-monitor support, as you've probably gathered. If you use two monitors and have issues setting them up, let me know. I did some tutorials for it and still have the diagrams and so-on that I used.

This is how I see Black Shark:



Oh and btw, there are quite a few repaints for the Huey about, including some British ones

Here are the links to a couple of the paints:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/346886/

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/346885/

Also, a new announcement on the Sabre:

Now F-86F module ready for 98% of the planned level for the beta version. Taking into account other influencing factors on the terms of readiness, release of the game will be around July 15-25.

John

Thanks for the paints link

I quickly had to unlearn the 'bad habits' of FSX heli flying. It takes alot more discpline to fly this properly, but boy, it was fun. I only crashed on two of my three landings T/O is interesting...i love the rudder correction you need to apply. I whipped up and down the runway a few times and did three landings. I'll spend some more time 'learning' tonight.

I love your two monitor setup. Unfortunately I have a 30 inch (monitor) and don't have any more desk space for another.

As much as I thought I would, I have not missed P3D since I tried DCS. I guess it's the novelty factor, but until they add Nevada and their new terrain engine, I can sure see the sandbox becoming a bit tedious after a while, particularly if one tends to stick to non-combat type flying. I guess I'll have to give up my pacifist stance and start shooting like the rest of the world seems to be doing these days!

Glad you like it. On your pacifist tendencies, well I have spent many more hour hours in the ten years I've owned ED stuff flying navigation exercises, sightseeing and touring and just practising and learning stuff than I have in combat missions - by a long chalk.

Like this one:

http://youtu.be/TKELPisLQ1U