*** Official DCS World Thread ***

Th
Mr_Sukebe said:
It's worth going to have a good read around things if you're dropping flares.

The basics are:
- The 120 is a Fox 3, radar guided missile. This means that the aircraft radar normally provides guidance to the missile until 10 seconds before the missile is due to hit the target, at which point the missile goes "pitbull" and turns on it's own radar to track the target
- As the missile is radar guided, flares will have no effect. You should/could be using chaff. Don't drop 1 though. A stick of 10 in a sequence is typically more effective
- The 120, like any A2A missile is fired using it's internal rocket motor. Be aware that they only burn for a few seconds, which accelerates the missile to mach 3 for the 120. Post that burn, the missile is "coasting", and therefore decelerating. You can burn off the energy of the missile (i.e. it's speed) by making the missile make changes to it's course
- Be aware of the range of missiles. The 120 is "approx" 20 miles. However, if you're chasing a target, it's far less and if the target is coming directly towards you, clearly that increases. If firing a missile, being high and fast helps. The other way around, if you're at low level as the target, air density increases, which adds drag and slows missiles even more
- A2A missiles typically try to plot an "intercept" course for their target. As such, they'll be trying to fly to a point in front of your aircraft
- Good defensive tactics includes "notching" (worth looking that up). In rough terms, if you're flying towards the enemy, turn left, meaning that the missile will turn in that direction, then make a hard 180 degree turn. Chances are that the missile won't have the energy to come after you. Notching doesn't need to be just in the horizontal plane. IMO, it's also good to use the vertical plane aswell.
- Radar guided missiles are dependant upon the radar being able to see you. If you're low level, you can use cover (hills) to hide behind, which will break a radar lock
- The F14, F15, F16 and F18 all have bother Range Whilst Scan and Track Whilst Scan mode. In Range Whilst Scan, when a missile is launched, your radar warning receiver will let you know. However, if a player is feeling more sneaky (and good ones will), they'll use TWS. For that mode, you do NOT get a warning when the missile is launched. Instead, you'll get an RWR warning when the missile goes "pitbull", meaning that you've got just 10 seconds to evade. Unsurprisingly, it's a LOT more dangerous.

Once you think that you understand the above, go set yourself up a mission using the editor such that you can keep practising being shot at evading missiles
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Thats a great post, thanks!!

My scenario

Im on mission 3 or 4 of Su27 flaming cliffs campaign. I take off to intercept 2 f16s. I go BVR and select longest range missile the 27ER radar guided.

They are jamming me with ecm so it ends up in shorter range which by that time they launch a 120 i think. What should i be doing at this point? Looking at missile labels to see how close or use RWR? Changing course and evade on the defensive like you said about letting missile run out of steam....

Thing is im always on the defensive, how am i to get a shot off as they keep launching missiles with which i managed to avoid 3 missiles but then get hit.

Tried same mission 7 times and still same, am i supposed to take all they got and dodge all missiles before i can fire?

I always drop chaff/flare auto dispense, i know chaff are radar guided and flare are for IR guided.

I used to play all the old sims like janes and microprose gunship, f15, f117a.

Not a noob but a noob at DCS bigtime im struggling abit.

Anybody on here got any vids i can look at?


Anybody with any help please chime in, i love this game but i just need some pointing in right direction please
 
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Ok thanks nice!!
Although im still struggling even with the advice and notching, if i notch do i need to hold that position for atleast 2-5 seconds before i make another notch?

HOTAS info please

I been looking at a Logitech/Saitek x56 HOTAS however i do have a CH pro throttle and Microsoft force feedback 2 joystick. They both work ok but would like to have some opinions please

Thanks everyone
 
Josey Wales said:
Ok thanks nice!!
Although im still struggling even with the advice and notching, if i notch do i need to hold that position for atleast 2-5 seconds before i make another notch?

HOTAS info please

I been looking at a Logitech/Saitek x56 HOTAS however i do have a CH pro throttle and Microsoft force feedback 2 joystick. They both work ok but would like to have some opinions please

Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
For DCS having more buttons helps a lot. I have MSFFB 2 - great stick and fine for WW2 stuff but if you want to fly some full fidelity jets having more buttons is good idea.

I had X52 has my first full hotas - screen was a bit iffy but everything worked okay and programming functions was v. useful.
 
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Josey Wales said:
Ok thanks nice!!
Although im still struggling even with the advice and notching, if i notch do i need to hold that position for atleast 2-5 seconds before i make another notch?

HOTAS info please

I been looking at a Logitech/Saitek x56 HOTAS however i do have a CH pro throttle and Microsoft force feedback 2 joystick. They both work ok but would like to have some opinions please

Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
I have owned the previous iteration X-55, first unit was faulty out of the box and was returned, the second unit worked ok for a couple of years before developing faults, it is an ok device, got a decent amount of functions for a cheap price, best of luck
 
Josey,
The MS FFB joystick is still considered to be a good bit of kit.
My thoughts would be to start with replacing your throttle. Go take a scan at the Virpil throttle.
 
Fyi virpil gear is now going to be more expensive. There will be VAT and duties to pay on top of the retail price on the website. You'll also need to wait for customs to clear your package(s) for entry. Thanks for that, brexit.
 
Josey Wales said:
So the Saitek is not as reliable? These Virpil last alongtime? What do you have?
Click to expand...

Nothing is ever 100% unreliable (well maybe some old Austin Rovers). However, the Saitek gear appear to have far more trouble than most.

My first HOTAS is a CH setup, i.e. Fighterstick, Throttle and Pedals. They're now retired and awaiting my son.
Also have a Speedlink Airrow, which my son uses. That's basically a copy of a VKB unit.
I'm running a TM F18 grip and a virpil T50 base, mk1 throttle and MFG crosswinds
 
Josey Wales said:
So the Saitek is not as reliable? These Virpil last alongtime? What do you have?
Click to expand...

Virpil stuff should last almost indefinitely, it’s well built and all uses contactless hall sensors.

No experience with Saitek, but I would say the middle ground is something like the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS.

If the budget extends to it though you really couldn’t go too far wrong with Virpil or VKB, both make some seriously nice products.
 
Starting out I would suggest a Saitek x45 from ebay.

Got mine recently for next to nothing, and after 20 years of cheaper sticks, it is such an improvement (with slight modification).

Nate
 
Josey Wales said:
Th
Im on mission 3 or 4 of Su27 flaming cliffs campaign. I take off to intercept 2 f16s. I go BVR and select longest range missile the 27ER radar guided.

They are jamming me with ecm so it ends up in shorter range which by that time they launch a 120 i think. What should i be doing at this point? Looking at missile labels to see how close or use RWR? Changing course and evade on the defensive like you said about letting missile run out of steam....

Thing is im always on the defensive, how am i to get a shot off as they keep launching missiles with which i managed to avoid 3 missiles but then get hit.

Tried same mission 7 times and still same, am i supposed to take all they got and dodge all missiles before i can fire?

I always drop chaff/flare auto dispense, i know chaff are radar guided and flare are for IR guided.

I used to play all the old sims like janes and microprose gunship, f15, f117a.

Not a noob but a noob at DCS bigtime im struggling abit.

Anybody on here got any vids i can look at?


Anybody with any help please chime in, i love this game but i just need some pointing in right direction please
Click to expand...
You have two options. Realistic - turn off your radar to disappear from their RWRs, turn on the IRST (IR search and track exclusive to Russian 4 gen fighters iirc), go low and perpendicular to the F-16s' radars to lose them, use your spatial awareness or AWACS datalink to circle around them and stealth kill both. And yes, DCS AI are not omniscient:

Less realistic, but quicker and more gun-ho - merge head on. Lock onto one target with your ER missile. Assume aim120 launch at 40km and start snaking side to side but keep within your missile gimbal limits to keep lock. Keep low (below 2000m alt) to keep their manoeuvring missiles to the denser air. Air speed around mach 0.9 and around 5g on initial snaking turns, up to 7g on the final turns. Once in range, fire off your ERs (2 or 3 at one target) while in the mid transition of the snaking maneuverer. The aim120 missiles are are much more advanced, but the AI are stingy and you will often get one of them with ER and take the other to visual range. Online (and RL) this tactic does not work as human pilots spam the 120s and then turn around.
Josey Wales said:
been looking at a Logitech/Saitek x56 HOTAS however i do have a CH pro throttle and Microsoft force feedback 2 joystick. They both work ok but would like to have some opinions please
Click to expand...
I have the same identical setup plus CH pro pedals and imo it has only 2 downsides - jittery CH throttle axis and lack of dual throttles (useful for the Harrier which I love). THere is no shortage of buttons if you assign your CH throttle pinky button as a "shift" in DCS control settings, doubling your already plentiful 5 hats + ministick + 10 buttons to 10 hats and 20 buttons.

Jittery CH throttle axis is solved by a $25 plug and play contactless sensor mod (no soldering, cutting, grinding etc needed, 5 mins to install) see https://forums.eagle.ru/topic/214485-ch-products-upgrades/. I have that in my CH throttle and my love for the Harrier is the only reason why I am kinda waiting for VKB to release their new throttle (Virpil throttle is meh on aesthetics for me :)) If you have no need for the split throttle, the CH + MSFFB is all you ever need (want is another matter).
 
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Hello DCS experts...

I discovered the free fly a little late, but I’ve been trying to grab a few moments here and there to try it out on the G2.

I’ve barely scratched the surface but I like the look of both the Syria map (Caucasus seems to look a little visually poor by comparison) and the JF-17 as a modern fighter that doesn’t look impossible to learn.

Im sorely tempted to pick up both the above during the sale, but just wondered if any veterans could give their opinion as to whether that’s a good route to start... I think it will be a challenge to learn to the required depth with very young children stuck at home but from the brief half hour or so with the JF-17 it looks like it could be achievable.

The one thing putting me off a little is that I quite like the idea of a campaign, and I see there is a really good looking campaign for the hornet but nothing for the JF. Is that an issue or is it easy to find/create plenty of mission content regardless of aircraft? I haven’t had time to dive into the depths of the mission system or find user created content yet, but obviously up against a ticking clock for the end of the sale.

Oh and anyone using simshaker with sound module - do you have any issue with the JF-17 not playing engine effect? Everything else works...
 
The JF17 is one of the few aircraft that I don't have. Never really appealed. The F18 is my preferred airframe and what I'd steer pretty much anyone towards.
It gets a LOT of online use, can handle itself and has a massive range of weaponry that it can employ.
It's also capable of carrier operations and is fairly simple to fly (I did say fly, NOT use all the weapons).

So the F18 gets my vote, just take your time learning it. There's no rush to learn all of it's systems, just focus on the basics first and build up from there.
 
Cheers, I’ll try to have a proper toy around with the F18 when I can. I know you use SSA - any chance you could give the JF a quick fling around while it’s free and see if the engine rumble is working for you?

I do like the modern design of the JF-17 though - I’m a child of Airbus after all! I’m really hankering after the eurofighter they showed off recently, that would pretty much be a dream for me so half tempted to hold off until that release...
 
Just taken a quick look at the JeFF. SSA is working fine.
Did you re-install SSA following the DCS install? It needs to be done afterwards to allow it to install the appropriate hooks.
 
Zeeflyboy said:
I’ve barely scratched the surface but I like the look of both the Syria map (Caucasus seems to look a little visually poor by comparison) and the JF-17 as a modern fighter that doesn’t look impossible to learn.

Im sorely tempted to pick up both the above during the sale, but just wondered if any veterans could give their opinion as to whether that’s a good route to start...

The one thing putting me off a little is that I quite like the idea of a campaign, and I see there is a really good looking campaign for the hornet but nothing for the JF. Is that an issue or is it easy to find/create plenty of mission content regardless of aircraft?
Click to expand...
Two pieces of advice: do not overlook the FC3 pack of simplified aircraft. Their physics, sensors and weapons are still at the same level as the full fat modules, but they are much easier to pick up and come back to. As the real life pilots say "FC3 is for times when I want to fly and not work" :) There is a very nice scripted campaign for the FC3's F-15C - "F-15C: The Georgian War".

Secondly, I would go for the F-18 plus not the Syria map, but the Persian Gulf map - as this combo is about to get an ambitious Ace Combat like DLC campaign that does not require deep knowledge of the systems. In fact, the experience should be about FC3 level of complexity but in a fully modelled F-18C. The Persian Gulf map is also better optimised for your VR when compared to Syria.




 
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