DCS F/A-18C

[jomni]

There's "less" to configure with a clickable cockpit as you can leave some commands unmapped. I tend to look around and see what functions the real-life HOTAS has and map as close as possible.

So basically, flight, weapons, targeting, countermeasures go to HOTAS.

[JudgeDredd]

This might be a general DCS question as opposed to the F/A-18

When I select the comms and contact ATC, the selections are all black. I can request startup, but I won't hear anything. I can request taxi - but I won't hear anything. Eventually when I get to the runway edge and request take off, I'll get a response...but the reason I ask this is because I was at the wrong end of the runway (is there generally a runway take off direction? I always thought it was opposite to landing).

I'll admit here and now I'm not fully able to work the comms system - not knowing how to set channel. I was watching a vid about it last night, but I still wasn't able to do it.

At what point are you able to set comms and contact the tower? The startup procedure has the comms setup a few steps in but you've already started your startup procedure - so what's the point in contacting the tower to ask them to allow you to start up?

O0

[Toonces]

You usually both take off and land into the wind, so they'll share the same runway direction if there is only one runway.  If there are more than one runway, sometimes one will be for takeoff and one landing, but either way you'll want to avoid a tailwind.

Not sure on the engine start ATC thingy.  I don't think I ever had to contact a tower to get permission to start engines.  However, if that's something you do in DCS, you should have the ability to use the radios once you get electrical power on the airplane; either through an auxiliary power unit (APU) or an external power source like an electrical cart.  I'm not sure which the Hornet uses.  But once you have electricity you can dial up the right frequency and do whatever you have to do comms-wise.  I haven't played DCS in years so I don't know how all this is modeled in game.

[Jarhead0331]

You usually both take off and land into the wind, so they'll share the same runway direction if there is only one runway.  If there are more than one runway, sometimes one will be for takeoff and one landing, but either way you'll want to avoid a tailwind.

Not sure on the engine start ATC thingy.  I don't think I ever had to contact a tower to get permission to start engines.  However, if that's something you do in DCS, you should have the ability to use the radios once you get electrical power on the airplane; either through an auxiliary power unit (APU) or an external power source like an electrical cart.  I'm not sure which the Hornet uses.  But once you have electricity you can dial up the right frequency and do whatever you have to do comms-wise.  I haven't played DCS in years so I don't know how all this is modeled in game.

I get so turned on listening to a real military aviator talk.

[JudgeDredd]

You usually both take off and land into the wind, so they'll share the same runway direction if there is only one runway.  If there are more than one runway, sometimes one will be for takeoff and one landing, but either way you'll want to avoid a tailwind.

Not sure on the engine start ATC thingy.  I don't think I ever had to contact a tower to get permission to start engines.  However, if that's something you do in DCS, you should have the ability to use the radios once you get electrical power on the airplane; either through an auxiliary power unit (APU) or an external power source like an electrical cart.  I'm not sure which the Hornet uses.  But once you have electricity you can dial up the right frequency and do whatever you have to do comms-wise.  I haven't played DCS in years so I don't know how all this is modeled in game.

Thanks. That's what I thought (take off and landing) but I'm sure Nellis directed me to take off from 03R last night - and that is the one which has the ILS cone but at the other end (21L). It's possible they suggested 03L - but either way it was 03 which is against the landing direction.

You don't have to contact tower for startup etc - but it's available as an option under ATC menu. In order to taxi to the correct runway (assigned by ATC), I should request taxi - so I just wanted to check when I can contact. You mentioned APU and ground power (which is available in DCS) which are both options...though the APU is several steps (4?) into startup...so I wondered if that was too late.

I'll go through some comms stuff to see what I can come up with.

Thanks for the reply.

What did/do you fly?

[Toonces]

I flew the laziest airplane in the U.S. Navy.

It's quite possible to land opposite the ILS, it's called a back course localizer approach.  Check this:  http://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to-fly/systems/how-to-fly-a-localizer-back-course-approach/

But you shouldn't be taking off or landing with the wind.  You probably know this, but doing either with the wind behind you increases your ground speed, and consequently your takeoff/landing distance which is never a good thing. 

If your takeoff speed is 170kt, with a 20kt headwind you're actually moving 150kt over ground when you rotate; conversely with a tailwind you're moving 190kt at rotate.  So you're just eating up extra runway that you might need if you have some reason to abort your takeoff run; a flat tire, bird strike, engine malfunction, etc.

[JudgeDredd]

Cool. Thanks  O0

What was the laziest airplane in the navy?  ??? You can tell me. I was in the army and signed the official secrets act and everything  ;D

[bob48]

^P3 Orion?

[Toonces]

[bob48]

We used to have a friend who flew Nimrods, and he had some interesting stories to tell about that aircraft.

[JudgeDredd]

Sweet.

Why is it called the laziest aircraft?

[Toonces]

I don't want to derail Jarhead's excellent thread.  We'll find somewhere else to tell war stories.

On topic, how well are the carrier ops modeled?  How has the F/A-18 release impacted online play?

[Yskonyn]

JD, unless you have 'Easy Communications' enabled in the options, you will have to mind the radios to be able to communicate with other stations.
Not only do you need to have the correct frequency dialed in, but also need to use the proper radio to send.

The fwd slash key brings up the comms menu by default, but I still haven't figured out which means of comms this is because most of the time my inputs don't do anything here. Save for the ground crew menu, so I suspect its either the intercom, maintenance or yelling voice (if canopy open) being simulated here.

For contacting the tower you will need to either use the VHF or UHF comms switch.

UHF usually works on emergency power (battery only) already.

Re: carrier ops
The carrier has a working deck, as in several aircraft can maneuver, be launched and be recovered at the same time. I am not sure if the lifts work yet, but I am pretty certain it was a planned feature.
There are four wires, all modelled, so realistic bolters can happen.
The 'ball' indicator works.
I don't know what else you would want to know?

As for the MP; there is no real inpact yet as the module is in open beta and misses a lot of functionality still. Radar is not finished. No AMRAAMs yet, etc.

[Toonces]

Well, things like if the pitching and rolling of the deck is simulated, the ball (which you answered), LSO comms, things like that.

[WYBaugh]

Toonces, were you ever stationed at NAS JAX?