Combat Flight Sim (DCS, IL-2, RoF, CAP2, and a bit of WT)

Seriously considering getting it, apparently the F-14 was designed for idiots like me. It is nearly impossible to stall out without some one jet washing you into compressor failure. And the Rio position functions sound and have looked fun in the video's ive seen.

 

Overall, there are other planes I would rather fly then the F-14. However the RIO functions makes it very interesting and it would be alot of fun to do with someone else.

 

Spoiler: DCS: F-16C Block 50 Announcement

As mentioned in our yearly wrap up, one of our biggest projects for this year is the legendary F-16C Fighting Falcon, also called the Viper. In parallel with the Hornet, we already have a sub-team working on the Viper that includes programmers who have completed their Hornet tasks. Much of their focus is currently on the flight model, Flight Control System (FLCS), cockpit and the external model. Using much of what we learned with the Hornet, progress has been good, and is in no way slowing down Hornet completion.


As we pour the concrete, we can start to pass along some of our plans. Please remember they are plans, not timeline promises.

Our Viper will be an F-16C with the Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) upgrade. We feel this to be the most versatile version of the F-16 with capabilities for SEAD, precision attack, close air support, anti-ship, and of course air-to-air. We will be taking great care though to develop a very accurate simulation of the F-16C Block 50 operated by the United States Air Force and Air National Guard circa 2007.
Core systems of our F-16C include:

• F-110-GE-129 turbofan engine
• AN/APG-68(V)5 multi-mode radar
• AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receiver
• AN/ALQ-131/184 ECM pods
• CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program) update
• ALE-47 countermeasure system

This will be a massive project, so we will separate it into two phases: Phase 1 Early Access release and then Phase 2 Product Sustainment.
Phase 1 Early Access Release:

• Color Multifunction Display (CMFD) symbology, Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) format, and Head-up Display (HUD) symbology
• Digitally TACAN and Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI)
• BDU-33, BDU-50LD/HD, Mk-82LDGP, Mk-82AIR, Mk-84LDGP, BLU-109/B, CBU-87 CEM, and CBU-97 SFW unguided bombs
• 2.75” rockets LAU-68 and LAU-131
• Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)
• AIM-9L/M/P/X Sidewinder
• AIM-120B/C AMRAAM
• M61A1 20mm cannon

Phase 2 Product Sustainment:

• Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS)
• Link 16 Data Link
• AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick
• AGM-88C HARM
• AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS)
• Sniper XR Advanced Targeting Pod
• GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24A/B laser-guided bombs
• BRU-57/A Smart Rack
• CBU-103 CEM and CBU-105 SFW Inertially Aided Munitions (IAM)
• GBU-31/A, GBU-32, and GBU-38/B JDAM
• AGM-154/A and /B JSOW
• AGM-158/A JASSM
• Integration of the JHMCS with the HARM Targeting System (HTS), Link 16, and AIFF
• ALE-50 towed decoy

As this project accelerates, we will be providing updates to keep you abreast of our progress to this much awaited addition to DCS World.

 

Spoiler: IL-2: Tank Crew

Hello everybody,

Before we return to telling about the Battle of Bodenplatte and Flying Circus in our DDs, today we'd like to tell you more about Tank Crew. The most important thing is that we prepare the next big update that will include two new tanks, M4A2 "Sherman" and Panzerkampfwagen III Ausführung M, that were used in Kursk area and the map of the southern part of the Kursk salient made for joint ground and air warfare. But of course, we work not only on the new content.

The main areas of the Tank Crew development at this moment are:

1. Improving the damage and armor-projectile interaction model both for the player controlled tanks we're making for Tank Crew and the other objects. Several consequent updates for the sim we released this month contained most part of this work, but this was only a part and we continue. Ricochet modeling will be improved and 'simple', non-player controllable, vehicles will get even more detailed armor (which will be noticeable especially when you attack them from the air). We're beginning the work on the detailed systems of the player controllable tanks (fuel, electric, transmission, cooling, etc.) which will allow for more variable and realistic damage of Tank Crew vehicles. We also plan to make them repairable in the field.

2. Developing and expanding the tank and tank platoon commander functionality. The basic commander functionality is done - a commander can give all the orders we planned for this stage of development in relation to the current position, target, firing, maneuvering and some additional commands that make the playing experience more diverse. A commander will be able to give orders to other players in his tank in multiplayer and to AI crewmen alike. It looks like the commander role will be the most interesting one.

3. Developing AI for crew members. Again, the basic functionality is done and now detailed tanks controlled by AI can follow the orders that can be specified in a mission like the simple AI vehicles always did. This means that detailed tanks can be fully used in a mission scenario. Now we begin the work on implementing the functionality that will make possible for a player to give orders to crewmen of his tank and other tanks in his platoon. We hope to have this functionality mostly done by the end of Spring and release it into Tank Crew Early Access.

4. Developing the scenario campaigns which should carry out the main idea of the project - let you experience not the fictional gladiator-like balanced tank duels, but the tank warfare of July 1943 with its balance of power and technical characteristics of the armored vehicles involved. Moreover, we'll try to show the historical events since the scenarios will be based on the tour of duty of the units that participated in these events. Later we'll tell you more about these scenarios.

All this - detailed, true to history tank models including interiors with crews, the historical map with variable detail level, buildings with detailed damage modeling, realistic movement kinematics, improved tank damage modeling, detailed weaponry, all important crew roles, especially the commander one, acting as a part of a tank platoon, history-based and educational scenario campaigns telling about the major event of WWII, ability to control one tank with several people in multiplayer - all this combined should give you the new experience and impression you can't get anywhere else.

To make this DD less dry, our studio and our partners Digital Forms prepared several WIP screenshots for you that show what will be released in the next big update
.
The map of the southern part of the Kursk salient you'll see in the game. The zone containing detailed buildings developed for tank warfare and scenario campaigns in the historical events of Clash of Prokhorovka project is marked inside (106x106 km, the detailed zone is 19х23 km):










KV-1S crew:












PzKpfw III Ausf.M impact shot demonstrating the improved damage modeling with certain parts detaching:


M4A2 "Sherman" interior renders:












PzKpfw III Ausf.M interior renders:

 

but muh F-4....

 

I also finally got to fly my F-15C with the pedals, HOTAS and Oculus. It was nice. I didn't remember how the radar functions so I had to try and peek all the time and ended up just doing casual flying and then spending the rest of the evening re-reading the section about radars.

My 7-year old son tried it too, he said it was a little bit scary as he flew past a highway with lots of traffic below.

Though, BVR is not as rewarding to me as it could be after a couple dozen times of shooting down a pair of Su-27's. I like seeing my enemy and seeing him get torn to bits! Should get one of the older planes with less BVR action.

 

We have a new announcement that the OH-58D Kiowa is in development for DCS by Polychop Simulations. They also teased the upcoming Syrian map in the F-16C introduction video that can be seen a couple posts above this one.




Here is an update on everything currently available in DCS or have been announced.

Currently available (some are in beta):

A-10C
Flaming Cliffs 3 (A-10A, F-15C, Su-25, MiG-29, Su-27, Su-33 and J-11)
Ka-50
L-39C and ZA
F-5E
F-86F
MiG-15bis
Yak-52
Mi-8MTV2
UH-1H
F/A-18C
F-16C
Bf-109 K-4
Fw 190 A-8
Fw 190 D-9
P-51D
Spitfire L.F.Mk. IX
AV-8BN
MiG-19P
Mirage 2000C
F-14A and B
AJS37 Viggen
C-101 EB and CC
SA-342M Gazelle
Christen Eagle II
MiG-21Bis
I-16
SU-25T (Free)
TF-51D (Free)



Available maps:

Caucasus (Free)
Nevada Test and Training Range
Normandy
Persian Gulf



Potentialy Upcoming Modules (There is no guarantee that all of these will actually be released):

Mi-24P
AH-1S
F-4E
JF-17
P-47D
Mosquito FB Mk VI
Me 262
A-29B
F-15E
MiG-23MLA
OH-58D Kiowa
F4U-1D
F-8J
Supercarrier



Upcoming Maps:

Syria
Afganistan
South Atlantic (Falklands)
Unknown new free map
Unknown new WW2 map

 

DCS is having their usual autumn sale. Most things are 50% off



IL-2 seems to be having a sale right now aswell.

Spoiler: IL-2 Dev Blog

Hello!

We continue our movement toward the release of Battle of Bodenplatte, but even near the finish line we still find opportunities to improve the entire project. This time we found a way to implement a significant optimization to part of the graphics engine that is responsible for displaying the clouds. In addition to a significant increase in FPS on existing cloud settings, this allowed us to add an additional setting for the cloud quality called "Extreme". This option is named so because it combines somewhat increased performance with a significant reduction of the “boiling” clouds effect which appears when looking sideways from the direction of movement. We have also significantly increased the clarity of cloud shapes and boundaries. Our clouds always looked nice in the high settings, but with the addition of this new option, their visual quality and realism have significantly increased. However, it is better to see an example:





Work on the Tank Crew project is still in full swing, and new additions can be expected in the coming months. First, at the end of October, the project acquires its main gameplay component- two Scripted Campaigns based on historical events of the Battle of Prokhorovka. Second, our next update will include new command functionality for the tank and tank the platoon commander. Third, before the end of the year, we expect our partners from DigitalForms to complete two new armored vehicles - the Soviet self-propelled artillery SU-122 and the German medium tank Panzerkampfwagen V "Panther". The 3-dimensional model of the Panther exterior is in a high degree of readiness whereas the SU-122 has already been completed and work is underway on texturing the interior and creating its crew animations:

 

The DCS autumn sale ends tomorrow (4th November). I picked up the L-39: Kursant Campaing, M-2000C Red Flag Campaign and the Persian Gulf terrain.

I highly recommend picking up Flaming Cliffs 3. It's a great entry point into DCS and it's only 25 USD at the moment. It will be back at 50 USD once the sale is over but even then its so good that its worth it.