In this video Eagle Dynamics' Senior Producer Matt Wagner very kindly takes the role on of my instructor for a more detailed startup in the upcoming DCS F/A-18C. From around 33 minutes in Matt answers a host of questions from viewers on the F/A-18C and DCS in general if you wish to skip to the Q&A, however at several points during startup Matt provides some very interesting insights on the DCS F18 and its development process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFzsxH4-fe8&feature=em-uploademail

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9 (VX-9) is located in NAS China Lake and is nicknamed The Vampires. VX-9 has approximately 61 officers, 290 enlisted personnel, and 25 aircraft including: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, F/A-18C/D Hornet, UH-1Y Venom, AH-1W Super Cobra and AH-1Z Viper. Additionally, VX-9 performs operational test on the EA-6B Prowler and AV-8B Harrier II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu2AHXrtEvQ&feature=em-uploademail

For me, the most fun and difficult thing you can do in the DCS: F/A-18C Hornet is a CASE I landing. Like most skill-based things in life, it takes lots and lots of practice. Here are my uncut, unedited, raw CQ traps (4) this weekend. Yes, these can be pretty long. Certainly not “OK” or even “FAIR”, they do though provide a little look at the process.

Basic notes:

1- Enter 5 nm diameter orbit over the boat at 2,000 ft at 250 kts using BARO hold and ATC.
2- Set TCN to the boat and set boat TCN course line to heading.
3- Set up the jet: hook down, displays, heat, radalt to HUD, anti-skid off, hook bypass carrier, and radalt gauge to 370 ft.
4- Break the 2,000 ft deck when abeam and behind the boat and approach the boat from the starboard side. Pass the boat at 350 kts / 800 ft.
5- When at most 1.5 nm ahead of the boat (closer if you are more seasoned), break into the pattern.
6- Gear down and flaps to full when below 250 kts.
7- Level off on the downwind at 1.2 to 1.3 nm abeam the boat’s course line.
8- Establish 8.1 on-speed AoA at 600 ft. Power and trim.
9- Once the boat’s round down on the stern is visible, roll into the groove with 30 degrees of bank in gradual decent (100-200 ft/min) for the first 90 degrees of turn.
10- Roll out on groove and adjust height with power to keep IFLOS ball centered. Combat recovery 8 seconds in the groove or 12-16 seconds for standard groove time.

Anyone doing a straight in during VFR conditions should hang their head in shame 😊

DCS: F/A-18C Hornet Texture Template, Now Available

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/texture_templates/fa-18c_lot20_template/

For those texture artists out there that wish to get a head start creating your own Hornet skins, the template is now available!

An important aspect of the Persian Gulf is its traffic of super tankers coming to and from. For the new Persian Gulf Map, we have added this new static object that is built into the map. These are in addition to cargo ships and various types of pleasure craft. Just like cars, truck, buses, and trains for the ground, we also want to create a more “lived in” look for the sea parts of the map.

Also in today’s images, we see an example of one of the highly-factious skins; in this case, Israel. We fully realize this is not a realistic skin, but we also have many customers from various countries that do not operate the Hornet, but still wish to fly their Hornets in their countries liveries.

https://www.facebook.com/eagle.dynamics/posts/10160488871570341

DCS: F/A-18C Hornet and Persian Gulf Map for DCS World Update
As we rapidly approach the release of the Hornet and Persian Gulf map this month, we are now pleased to announce the exact release dates. We will first release the Persian Gulf Map for DCS World on 23 May 2018 and then DCS: F/A-18C Hornet on 30 May 2018! We will release both this month as promised.

In order to meet your expectations for the Hornet early access release, we decided to move the Hornet release to shortly after the Persian Gulf Map release. Items we still need to complete are:

• Completed radar-directed AA Gun, AIM-9, and AIM-7 symbology
  
• AUTO bombing mode
  
• Radar contacts on the Electronic Warfare (EW) Page
  
• The Moving Map

We believe these are all vital for a great early access release.
Please also note that the Pre-Purchase discounts for the Hornet and Persian Gulf map will soon be ending with the release of the early access versions. Act now for a significant discount:

• DCS: F/A-18C Hornet: $20 off now
  
• Persian Gulf Map for DCS World: $10 off now

In the meantime, we have a beautiful, new DCS: F/A-18C Hornet video!

https://youtu.be/I3fm4HwVdE8

DCS: F/A-18C Hornet Academic Videos
As we draw closer to the Hornet early access release this month, we also have a number of new Hornet academic videos to help you prepare!

https://youtu.be/s99SLERYdsc

https://youtu.be/R1BTgGYij5o

https://youtu.be/TynTz75sSzk

https://www.facebook.com/eagle.dynamics/posts/10160481215920341

Welcome to DCS World VX-23!

VX-23 is an aircraft test squadron that conducts research, testing and evaluation of fixed wing tactical aircraft and UAV's. VX-23 provides aircraft, pilots, maintenance services, safety oversights and facility support for these operations. Their main mission is flying qualities and performance evaluations, shipboard suitability, propulsion system testing, tactical aircraft mission systems testing, ordnance compatibility and ballistics efforts, reliability and maintainability assessments, flight fidelity simulation and flight control software development.

VX-23 is located at NAS Patuxent River.

https://www.facebook.com/eagle.dynamics/posts/10160478295820341

With the addition of Spain, we now have the following forces represented for our Hornet (real and fictitious):
1- United States Navy
2- United States Marine Corps
3- Finland
4- Switzerland
5- Kuwait
6- Australia
7- Canada
8- Spain
9- Russia
10- United Kingdom
11- Israel
12- Ukraine

This is the greatest number of forces and skins we have ever released for an early access product.

Oh Canada!

Today we are also happy to show off several Canadian skins for DCS: F/A-18C Hornet! For the early access, they will include 409 and 425 Squadrons and a couple show skins.

https://www.facebook.com/eagle.dynamics/posts/10160474864505341

Although not F/A-18Cs, but rather upgraded F/A-18As, we wanted to bring Aussie Hornet skins to our DCS World Hornet. For the early access release, we will include both 75 and 77 squadrons. Happy flying to our friends down under!

https://www.facebook.com/eagle.dynamics/posts/10160473939765341