Ask The Pilot

[harvyk]

Personally I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than do ATC for fun.

I have to admit, I often wondered what sort of person would want to do ATC for fun for a bunch of simmers who may or may not actually know how to fly / land (in a sim).

 

[NM]

You wouldn't like the ATC aspects of DCS. There isn't any. Simultaneous use of any runway for take and landing, in both directions, is the norm. Whilst some of the players are quite deadly, most are somewhat restricted in their flying ability. They're okay once they get airborne, but there's no guarantee they'll be successful at getting off the runway. And many never have to worry about landing, as they'll be shot down before that becomes an issue.

What aircraft type do you "fly" in DCS? What choices are available?

 

[jb747]

What aircraft type do you "fly" in DCS? What choices are available?

The list is quite long, and most can be found here:

Planes

www.digitalcombatsimulator.com

The game itself is free, and it comes with a trainer version of the P51 Mustang and the Su25. After that it’s a rabbit hole, though there are regular sales and bundles. The aircraft are complex enough that you need to pick one and then stay with it for quite some time. The flight models are surprisingly accurate. The better modules are completely modelled. Every button works. Really modern aircraft (F35, etc) aren’t modelled as they’re security restricted, so it’s all the state of play about 20 years ago. Any aircraft can be trialled for two weeks for free.

I own the Spitfire, A-4, F-5, F-16, F-18, Mirage 2000. These are high fidelity modules. I also have a low fidelity package called FC3, which has F15C, Su27/33, Mig29. At the moment I’m working on the F16. The manual for the game version of that one aircraft is hundreds of pages.

Chuck's Guides

chucksguides.com

There’s a lot of stuff on YouTube, but this is the biggest site:

https://www.youtube.com/@GrowlingSidewinder

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Jb747, I read on google, that its indeed the word I was thinking of.
But only on some planes.

 

[jb747]

For Jb747, I read on google, that its indeed the word I was thinking of.
But only on some planes.

As far as I know, it’s a word used by all of the FBW Airbus aircraft. 319,320, 330, 340, 350 and 380. It doesn’t always announce it though.

 

[747sp]

Overnight,for us , there has been flooding at Frankfurt Airport. I was wondering how deep the water has to be before taxiing, takeoff and landing becomes too hard.

Flood waters surround plane at Frankfurt airport

The German city was hit by severe thunderstorms and heavy rain causing travel disruption.

www.bbc.com

 

[justinbrett]

Really modern aircraft (F35, etc) aren’t modelled as they’re security restricted, so it’s all the state of play about 20 years ago.

The RAAF do actually use Prepar3d for F-35 training (given it's also made by Lockheed Martin) - not the actual sim but they have some setups in the squadron offices as part task trainers. I think their version is supplied direct from LM so is not publicly available, but even still I'm guessing wouldn't be classified.

How much do the aircraft cost on DCS? I've got some of the PMDG Boeings on MSFS2020 & P3D, they're not cheap - around US$150-200 each including the sub variants.

Then you have all the airport scenery add ons, airrac data subscriptions (Navigraph) - it's an expensive hobby.

 

[jb747]

Overnight,for us , there has been flooding at Frankfurt Airport. I was wondering how deep the water has to be before taxiing, takeoff and landing becomes too hard.

1/8th of an inch!

 

[jb747]

The RAAF do actually use Prepar3d for F-35 training (given it's also made by Lockheed Martin) - not the actual sim but they have some setups in the squadron offices as part task trainers. I think their version is supplied direct from LM so is not publicly available, but even still I'm guessing wouldn't be classified.

It could well be classified. It's well known that there are a couple of other sims out there, that are not available to the public.

How much do the aircraft cost on DCS? I've got some of the PMDG Boeings on MSFS2020 & P3D, they're not cheap - around US$150-200 each including the sub variants.

Then you have all the airport scenery add ons, airrac data subscriptions (Navigraph) - it's an expensive hobby.

Aircraft vary in price. The FC3 pack comes with about six aircraft (not super highly modeled, but often used as the basis for external add ons). It was $50-60. There are discounts and sales though. Holiday seasons there's often 50% off. And the Growling Sidewinder site often has 10% discount codes, with can be added to any other discounts. The game comes with the Caucasus map, though there are quite a few others.

The prices are all here ($US) Planes
Click on buy, and it shows the price. The trials are very useful too, as they are the complete module. First time buyers can get a 50% across the board. This is especially useful when there's a sale on, as the discounts can be on top of each other...but sadly only works once.

The first jet I downloaded was the A-4. It's a fully fledged module, but is free.

Flying on the servers is free, though I do chip in a bit to GS's server. There is no pressure to do so though.

The computer was built specifically for this game (I use Macs for everything else). Any half decent gaming machine will do though. I'll look at a new GPU at some point, though the hand me down 2080Ti is okay at the moment, even if it's running at 100%.

 

[justinbrett]

It could well be classified. It's well known that there are a couple of other sims out there, that are not available to the public.

Just guessing based on where it was in the squadron building - it wasn't in a particularly secure area. Just to clarify, it is P3D they run, just a different version / special add on.

What's the F/A-18C like on DCS?

 

[jb747]

What's the F/A-18C like on DCS?

Haven't tried it. I think it's in the same league as the F16 as far as the accuracy is concerned. Interesting how you see different tactics from the various players depending upon their aircraft. The F18s tend to hang around low, especially in the valleys. If they come up high they aren't hard to kill.

Oh, and this is a plug for a friend's book. Arrived in the mail this morning.

 

[NM]

How well is the A4 modeled?

Does DCS have the option for carrier operations?

Have you made any F18 kills (or other adversary) with the A4?

 

[jb747]

How well is the A4 modeled?

Very well, especially as it’s not done by a company but is a collaborative effort. And it’s free.

Does DCS have the option for carrier operations?

Yes, though I haven’t looked at them.

Have you made any F18 kills (or other adversary) with the A4?

I haven’t tried though you could on a stand alone mission. The big servers restrict aircraft and weapons to the era they’re portraying. The A-4 can be used on the cold war server, and I’ve had a couple of Mig kills there. I prefer the F-5 for that server though. A Vietnam war map is supposedly coming, and the A7, A6, F8, F100, and F4 are all being worked on.

Today’s tally was an F15 Strike Eagle, an F18, and two F16s. Sadly I was killed three times too.

 

[straitman]

Is that "Dave Bandicoot"? Or someone else?

Sorry it took a while to get an answer. The owner is Jim Dean.

 

[Saab34]

Are there basic landing rules around if you are still floating past the touchdown zones, you conduct a go around? Or if you have a long runway it does not matter?

I was watching this floating video.

 

[mt63]

QF1 in 1947 was a 4 day trip. Does anyone know of crewing requirements ? Some legs sound like an ordeal, never mind the whole thing.
The insert does not show the whole trip being Darwin-Singapore(overnight)-Calcutta-Karachi-Cairo(overnight)-Tripoli-London.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Are there basic landing rules around if you are still floating past the touchdown zones, you conduct a go around? Or if you have a long runway it does not matter?

Basic landing rules being company policy then yes, there are "rules". Our SOP is to nominate the latest point of touchdown being the first third of the runway. Outside that, and you go around.

While it might seem like runway length may not matter (34L at SYD), all of our stopping solution and brake settings are predicated on landing within the touchdown zone or first third of the runway whichever is greater.

As an example, we went to HTI yesterday, and they have simple markings where the touch down "zone" is only 300m long. The landing distance available is 1700m. This puts the first third of the runway at a bit over 550m. Because this was outside the markings we nominated that if we weren't down by taxiway B we would initiate a go around.

On a dry runway, you might be able to pull it off with maximum manual braking. But to try and do the same stunt on a wet runway and you'll be lucky not to overrun.

 

[Saab34]

AV we appreciate the detail you go into to help us understand things, thanks

 

[jb747]

If I recall correctly, QF's quick access recorders used to automatically report landings beyond 2,000'. You worked out, and briefed, a 'last point of touchdown', which was easy enough with the electronic performance manuals (ipad and laptops). That could actually be beyond 2,000' in the case of long runways. The target in larger aircraft was roughly 1,200'-1,500'. Ex navy aimed at the 3 wire.

 

[Saab34]

So what happens if you decide to continue the float and land say beyond an acceptable point? Do you get an email from the training department or something? Warning letter from HR?