Gaming Digital Combat Simulator Thread

[ex-orbinaut]

That sale crept up quickly . Been very busy and have not noticed how time has passed. Anyway, a bit of time tomorrow, so one F-86 has just been downloaded in preparation. 10 bucks off ain't bad, and if there's that flash sale then I will add the Black Shark, too. It has always interested me...

Community test flight details noted above, I will be trying it "real", after a scan of the manual, of course!

The news! They are many and overwhelming! [DCS September Newsletter]

Quite a bit to look forward to, then. That there is going to be a Jug D is awesome (love it).

Colombian Air Force Jug on display at Bogota El Dorado Intl, taken today. Too cool.

---------- Post added at 09:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------

Hmm.

A bit of a disappointing manual for the F-86, but at least a link in it takes you to ED Forums where this post on a thread provides the real Flight Manual for the type, among others, kindly posted by a drPhibes, complete with performance data section. Seventh heaven, we can test the simulator model against what it was really capable of.

 

[Urwumpe]

A bit of a disappointing manual for the F-86, but at least a link in it takes you to ED Forums where this post on a thread provides the real Flight Manual for the type, among others, kindly posted by a drPhibes, complete with performance data section. Seventh heaven, we can test the simulator model against what it was really capable of.

Yeah, that manual is extremely good - and works. thanks to it, I managed to talk to the tower for asking for permission to start. :lol:

 

[Fabri91]

Well, it is the first properly fast jet made to DCS standards.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, it is the first properly fast jet made to DCS standards.

Thats true And it is fast :thumbup: At least compared to a Su-25 or A-10C.

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Yeah, that manual is extremely good - and works. thanks to it, I managed to talk to the tower for asking for permission to start. :lol:

And it is quite delightful to read. Some "ancient" HOTAS philosophy evident, notes, cautions and warnings all over the text, and hordes of graphs. I was amused by this age old caution to protect from themselves some of the monkeys that end up in cockpits when emergency requirements (civil or military!) dictate. :lol:

But shucks! I am running out of time today. Got through section I, and printed II and III as a rudimentary POH. Only managed to "sit in the cockpit" for familiarization, connect the GPU and chuckle at the working push to test lights. It is really well done!

Off topic:

This SW Virus tail-dragger was parked on the platform at Manta the other day. I had to laugh thinking that anyone here who might manage to get the Dora airborne and back on the ground in one piece could probably leap into this and operate it with much aplomb! Looks such a lot of fun.

Darn, I have to dash now.

 

[Urwumpe]

I thought about buying the manual as paperback from lulu.com ... but 33 Euro is a bit of a price tag to consider there, thats more than I paid for the module. The only advantage that I see is, that its less effort that printing the 280 page manual myself.

---------- Post added at 06:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:38 PM ----------

Epiphany... the nosewheel does not move even slightly as fast as you can move the rudder pedals. Expect slow reaction and all works out great.

Just had another great training flight from cold start... the radio gear is a bit strange, I don't get a communication menu in-flight. The F-86 is fast... if you don't watch your joystick inputs you easily exceed the 7 g limit and its really easy to make this one turn at 6 g.

I think as next training, I will try hunting a bear...

 

[Fabri91]

Stop trying to find excuses and get that goddamn Dora in the air.

 

[Urwumpe]

Stop trying to find excuses and get that goddamn Dora in the air.

Ever saw a Dora with a nosewheel? :lol:

---------- Post added at 09:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 PM ----------

Ok, making missions with the F-86F requires some new ideas... the minimum frequency of the radio set is 225 MHz AM...

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Ever saw a Dora with a nosewheel? :lol:

It would certainly look a bit "mamby-pamby".

Anyway...

A much enjoyed first flight! So glad they made this one for DCS. I think I mentioned before how much I admire this kite, I don't know how many times in the past its shape has flowed out of a marker in my hand onto the whiteboard as an example of an "everything looking right" aircraft. The preparation for the flight was somewhat longer than for others. Even then, I managed to burn out the windings on the starter-generator on the first start attempt. I forgot the second press of "Home", and by the time I remembered, wondering why there was no positive light off, the damage was already done. The start itself was successful, but no load or volts on the meters afterwards, even after a gen reset. That was expensive!

Take two. Success this time. Ran the checks, tested and reset the flight controls system to normal. I am still marvelling at how well this has all been done, and yes, you can pull the breakers (what a baboon I am! :lol. From the equipment and instrument panels I determined this to be an F-86F-35 model, no LE slats, and printed out the Take Off and Landing Distance graphs accordingly. For 14,200 Lb, no external stores, the data for the conditions came out as around;

TO (full flaps)
Ground Run: 1,850 ft Obstacle Clearance: 2,900 ft Take Off Speed: 117 KIAS

Landing (full flaps)
Obstacle Clearance: 2,800 ft Ground Roll: 2,500 ft VAPP: 140 KIAS

Epiphany... the nosewheel does not move even slightly as fast as you can move the rudder pedals. Expect slow reaction and all works out great.

Thanks for the NWS warning! During the take off I only used NWS up the 50 KIAS, as per the manual, after which rudder authority was good enough. It came unstuck nicely at the schedule IAS (the calculated take off distance appeared to be about right, too, judging by the fixed distance markers), and, agreed, it was immediately apparent that it was a joy to fly.

I took it from Batumi to Kobuleti at 5,000 ft, and set up a rather high pattern (remembering the flame out experience of the F-15C, just in case). Looking back over that swept wing is wonderful!

Speed brakes cause a slight pitch up, but nothing like when you put those flaps down (frantic holding of stick forward and re-trim ensued)! Strangely, I did not have any problem reducing speed to flap extension velocity. And then, something between 72% - 75% power, in landing configuration, gave me the desired VAPP of 140 KIAS with a 500 fpm descent.

Some noticeable ground effect after the flare (a bit of a long power off hold off, which was my lack of familiarity with the beast), but dabbing the right wheel down slightly resulted in a greaser from hell. The manual says use the whole runway for deceleration, so I did. I refrained from using the NWS until the very end, just to clear the runway. In no wind conditions, at least, NWS did not seem necessary for the ground roll out.

Glad I got this flight in today. It will be a week before I am near my computer again.

Anyway, that's my F-86 flight report over and done with. My comment; Yay! again for DCS!

Just had another great training flight from cold start... the radio gear is a bit strange, I don't get a communication menu in-flight.

Had the same problem with the UHF radio; ie. I could not get a response from it. Tried all the preset frequencies, and held the mic TX switch while the chap talked. Nothing. Any ideas there? :shrug: (I was sort of hoping that the add on might have given provision for the band's reception at the bases, really).

I think as next training, I will try hunting a bear...

You'll be popular with Ted Nugent! :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

OK, flying upside down with the Sabre does not result in much problems... fuel flow ceases, engine goes out, RPM drop, but once you return back to heads up attitude, all goes back to normal and engine returns to cruise RPM.

Bear hunting was too successful... like too often when I do this with guns, I rammed a Tu-95 when pulling up after a diving attack. At least, I scored this kill... and the self-kill.

 

[Fabri91]

Will be released on the 18th of September!

 

[Richy]

... while still far away, the Hornet will be a Day 1 purchase.

dito

I'm in the mood of a session the coming saturday. Anyone up to join me?
Wishes for the map? Just an airport with all the new fancy toys to try some new maneuvers (formation flight, aerobatics, etc), a new CAS map with a lot of targets, or the default weapons training mission?

 

[Urwumpe]

dito

I'm in the mood of a session the coming saturday. Anyone up to join me?
Wishes for the map? Just an airport with all the new fancy toys to try some new maneuvers (formation flight, aerobatics, etc), a new CAS map with a lot of targets, or the default weapons training mission?

I will join, fixed the network issues on sunday. Problem had been the network drivers here, I have one of the dreaded Qualcomm Bigfoot Killer E2200 chips.

As my wishes for the map, I am not sure if the F-86F is already ready for some multiplayer session, but I like it. I could create a single player mission for the F-86F here to be used as base for a multiplayer map with the Mustang and F-86F, if you like, the ground units would be just a bit unrealistic...

Also, I noticed that you should read the DCS forum sometimes:

6. Overstress/Over-G (possible above 300 knots) can cause accumulating structural deformation of the wings. This can lead to uncontrolled rolling and pitching action. If we obtain confirmed data on breaking wings on a Sabre, we'll add this feature in a patch.

7. A number of nasty surprises are present when flying at maximum airspeed: negative pitching moment, uncommanded roll, inability to maintain a sustained roll (especially when G loaded). To actively maneuver at maximum airspeeds, make sure you have a safe altitude margin, utilize the speed brake, climb to bleed off excess airspeed, and reduce engine power.

 

[astrosammy]

An Airport with all the new AND old toys? Will join on Saturday, to see how good it works with LTE.

 

[Quick_Nick]

 

[Hielor]

"World's most heavily armed and armored close air support aircraft" -- bit of an exaggeration/ western-centric thinking, that, considering that the later models of the Su-25 win on both counts...

Nice video anyway, thanks

 

[Urwumpe]

"World's most heavily armed and armored close air support aircraft" -- bit of an exaggeration/ western-centric thinking, that, considering that the later models of the Su-25 win on both counts...

Nice video anyway, thanks

sure? The TM isn't really that impressive.... maximal 5000 kg external weapon load compared to 7260 kg for the A-10... and no avenger ... and nearly 700 kg/m^2 wingload at full take off mass.

 

[Hielor]

sure? The TM isn't really that impressive.... maximal 5000 kg external weapon load compared to 7260 kg for the A-10... and no avenger ... and nearly 700 kg/m^2 wingload at full take off mass.

16x Vikhrs vs 6x Mavericks

 

[Urwumpe]

16x Vikhrs vs 6x Mavericks

I'd rather take the Mavericks... twice the range, bigger warhead and fire & forget. Also, it isn't that sensitive to crosswind.

Against lightly defended trucks, artillery or APCs, the Vikhr would be better compared to the AGM-65, because there you don't need a 300mm 57kg HEAT warhead, while the 130mm 12 kg tandem shaped charge warhead of the Vikhr is great - but against such targets, the A-10 gun is much better suited.

The only real advantage I see for the Su-39 is the real SEAD capability, that is something that the A-10C will never get or need.

 

[Richy]

An Airport with all the new AND old toys? Will join on Saturday, to see how good it works with LTE.

Ok then, I'll create a simple mission with ALL the DCS toys. But only for flight training, no ground targets then (but probably off-shore target: rigs or carriers to try to land or takeoff from).

I'm not able to host a TeamSpeakserver, but I could offer to host a skype conference call, if we'd like to talk to, instead of type each other, if this is wished too.