Despite some good videos on using the Litening targeting pod with laser-guided bombs, there still seems to be some confusion. Here is a simple checklist:
1- Master Arm to ARM. 2- Master Mode to AG. 3- Select an LGB (LG82, LG83, or LG84) from the SMS page. 4- Set LGB MODE to AUTO (PB 5). Will show as CCIP until Target Point is set. 5- Set LGB MFUZ to OFF (PB 4). 6- Set LGB EFUZ to INST (PB 3). 7- Set LGB CODE to 1688 (or any valid code that matches the pod code) (PB 1 and then UFC) 8- FLIR switch on SNSR panel to ON. 9- LTD/R switch on SNSR panel to ARM. 10- Display FLIR on DDI/MPCD (FLIR at PB 6 on TAC page). 11- Sensor Control Switch (SCS) in direction of the display with FLIR. For example: if FLIR is on the right DDI, press SCS right. TDC assignment indicated by diamond in top/right corner. 12- Slew FLIR crosshair over target using TDC slew [, . / ;]. 13- Designate FLIR pointing location as Target Point by pressing [ENTER] or depress TDC switch. Attack mode switches from CCIP to AUTO with ASL and Target Point on HUD. 14- Enable (box) TRIG (PB 11) on FLIR page. 15- Ensure FLIR UFC CODE matches LGB CODE. 16- Conduct standard LGB AUTO attack. Line up velocity vector with ASL and hold down weapon release button [RALT + Spacebar] shortly before bomb fall line passes through the velocity vector. 17- At 15 seconds before Time To Impact (TTI), press and hold trigger button [Spacebar] to fire the laser. In general, conduct attack between 20-25k at no less than 350kts.
It's March 1944, the beginning of the end. The Reich has become a fortress without a roof. The large formations of Allied four motors have become daily visitors. Come, join the German Luftwaffe in these dire times. Jump into one of JG26's Messerschmitt Bf-109-s and find out what it’s like to attack the "fat cats" head-on, or to take off in a hail of bullets from the attacking Mustangs. Watch the Allied forces land on the beaches of Normandy and support the retreating Wehrmacht. Let all the details immerse you in this semi-historical campaign and make you feel like a young Jagdflieger fighting a lost battle, where, like 1944, survival is the most you can hope for.
Key Features:
12 semi-historical missions focusing on JG26 from March to July 1944
A detailed background story, mission contexts and checklists
Detailed briefings and briefing images, including separate PDF mission files
Unique kneeboard graphics for each mission
Over 250 specially recorded voice-over messages and radio broadcasts
Historically accurate custom skins
A wide array of missions including free hunt, intercept, bomber escort and ground attack
Launch of the ED Miles! On 1st August 2019 at 0900, we launched the new ED Miles rewards system!
ED Miles are similar in many ways to airline miles and can be earned/awarded and used as follows:
Regardless if a product has just been released, is already on sale or in pre-purchase, you will always earn ED Miles on the price you paid for the purchase. For each purchase, you will earn 10% of the Purchase Price in ED Miles. As an example: if you purchase something for USD 29.99 you will be awarded 2990 ED Miles worth USD 2.99 on the DCS World e-Shop.
You can use ED Miles to purchase any product participating in the program, regardless if they are just released, already on sale, or as a pre-purchase!
There is no limit on the number of ED Miles you can use for a purchase. If you have enough ED Miles, you can even pay for an entire product just using ED Miles.
ED Miles earned are valid for three calendar years from the time of your last DCS World e-Shop purchase.
Note that ED Miles cannot be redeemed for cash or any other conversion, and a list of 3rd parties participating in the program will be provided at launch.
DCS World Open Beta Update This week we launched a big update that included some great improvements to the Hornet in particular:
The initial release of the AA/ANQ-28 Litening Targeting Pod (WIP). Other modes like air-to-air mode, INR tracking, additional HUD symbology, and slave to target point, and other functions will be added later in early access.
Marking a target on the SA page with PLID is now shown correctly on the radar page.
Sharing PLID info in Multiplayer is displayed correctly to and from donors.
STEP data now matches radar data for a selected target.
Fixed SA page STEP marker does not pass through all displayed contacts.
SA page EXPAND option added.
Fixed JDAM TOO mode not setting correctly for WPTs loaded as TOO MSN 1 or TOO MSN 2.
Fixed radar showing target as hostile even if DL and NTCR are turned off.
MSI donor HAFU not displayed on RADAR page is fixed.
Fixed a crash that could happen when trying to restart AUTO at the end of a WP route.
Fixed disabling AUTO in mid-route could break AUTO sequence.
TDC movement now shuts off STEP.
Radar altimeter is now set correctly at zero before Hornet start-up.
Huge updated the Hornet Guide.
Fixed CTD when setting bomb interval.
After this Open Beta, the next big system to add will be the AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missile.
In the previous video we looked at the basic features of the Litening targeting pod on the Hornet and how to use it to designate targets for GPS-guided weapons. In this video we’ll look at how to use the pod to direct laser-guided bombs, laser Mavericks, and how to use the Laser Spot Search (LSS) mode to locate an off-board laser designation (single player and multiplayer).
Other elements will be coming to the pod like HUD symbology, INR and snowplow modes, slaving options, additional reticles, AA mode, and more.
This is a first look at the Litening pod for the Hornet! It’s still early days, and this is very much work-in-progress. As an introduction video, this is provided to help you understand some of the basics and how to use it to set TOO targets for INS/GPS-guided weapons. In videos coming soon, I will delve into using the pod with laser-guided bombs, laser Mavericks, Laser Spot Search (LSS) mode, and setting target points for AUTO unguided bomb attacks.
Other elements will be coming to the pod like HUD symbology, INR and snow plow modes, additional reticles, AA mode, and more.
Fixed incorrect behavior of aircraft AI on the carrier deck if you give control to AI (takeoff from parking).
PAI : AV-8B AI will landing to deck vertically, not as conventional aircraft.
DCS: F/A-18C
The initial release of the AA/ANQ-28 Litening Targeting Pod (WIP). Other modes like air-to-air mode, INR tracking, additional HUD symbology, and slave to target point, and other functions will be added later in early access.
Marking a target on the SA page with PLID now is shown correctly on the radar page.
Sharing PLID info in Multiplayer displayed correctly to and from donors.
STEP data now matches Radar Data for a selected target.
SA page STEP marker doesn't pass through all displayed contacts - fixed
SA page EXPAND option added
JDAM TOO mode does not respect WPTs loaded as TOO MSN 1 or TOO MSN 2 - fixed
Radar shows target as hostile even if DL and NTCR are turned off - fixed
MSI: donor HAFU not displayed on RADAR page - fixed
Fixed a crash that could happen when trying to restart AUTO at the end of a WP route.
Fixed disabling AUTO in mid-route could break AUTO sequence.
TDC movement now shuts off STEP.
Radar altimeter is now set correctly at zero before Hornet start-up.
Updated the Hornet Guide.
Fixed CTD when setting bomb interval.
After this Open Beta, the next big system to add will be the AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missile.
DCS: Bf-109K-4
Fixed the MW50 gauge animation.
Ammunition counters are now pre-set.
Ammunition counter dials now work with assigned axis.
DCS F-5E
Fixed odd yawing behavior over 300 knots.
DCS A-10C
A-10C LWS could not see other aircraft lasers from more than 3-4 km; this has been increased to 10 km.
TPOD Slave bug fix (Known issue it will not track moving vehicles locked by the DMT).
Kneeboard update: Target points 1 to 4 display (WiP).
DCS M-2000c by RAZBAM
Disabled keyboard input file bug fix.
MAGIC Select/Visor Down bug fix.
MAGIC Select improved.
Specific HUD page for POL.
POL behaviour fixed.
DCS C-101 by AvioDev
Added pitch trim indicator light operation (it was previously working trim light test only, now the light illuminates also when trimming, via normal or emergency trimming, front and rear cockpit). (C-101EB and C-101CC).
Added functionality of ADI DH light to both front and rear cockpit (it illuminates now when a/c altitude is below decision height).
GA light in rear cockpit ADI illuminates now as well (previously only front cockpit GA light was operative).
Partially fixed multicrew sync for canopies.
Campaigns
FA-18C Aggressors BFM Campaign by Maple Flag: Corrected Tanker speeds, altitudes, radios and TACANs. Updated documents to add tanker info.
DCS BS2 Republic: Minor changes in 05 mission
P-51D High Stakes Campaign: 10th - targets moved to clearings, 9-th - oil tanks replaced.
First, Chuck has completed another big update to his Hornet Guide. Those of you familiar with his guides know they are a must when you are learning the Hornet. Some of the Revision he has completed are shown here:
As well, frooglesim has release a great video on On Speed Angle of Attack. He doesnt normally do DCS World tutorial videos, but when he does they are very well done and detailed:
As most of you have probably already discovered, this week we released the first cinematic trailer for the Viper. Cato did a fantastic job as always, and the trailer brings across the just how fun this aircraft will be. Flying the DCS: F-16C Viper is great on a 2D monitor, but it really shines in VR.
In August I will start the Viper academic videos, with the first being a cockpit tour (like what I did for the Hornet). After that will come navigation and then takeoff / VFR pattern landing.
Much of the work is centered on tuning the flight model and FLCS, programing the Stores Manager System (SMS), and initial weapons. “Viper Team” is making fast progress and it is coming together at the fastest rate I have ever seen a module develop. On the art side, most of the focus is now on the landing gear (animations and texturing), and after that he will overhaul the external textures (we have a placeholder currently).
In addition to open source documents and Subject Mater Experts (SMEs), another very helpful resource is visiting Viper squadrons to talk with pilots and get seat time in the real simulators. I was earlier at Luke AFB, but it was largely a bust due to Lockheed Martin. However, this week I was down at the 192nd FW in Tucson with T-Day and I got over an hour in a Block 42 simulator. While not Block 50 and using a different OFP than our planned Viper, there was a huge amount of commonality. There were many “light bulb moments” in understanding the operation and how to properly fly the Viper. It is a very, very different bird than flying the Hornet, and it took me a bit to stop trying to fly it like a Hornet (particularly how you land it). Fun fact: When T-Day was flying our Viper in VR, he fractured the metal attachment between the stick and the base due to the amount of force he is used to applying. The force sensitive stick took awhile to get used to (much greater pounds of force per G than I expected), but it was very much like the Realsimulator FSSB base. It is also an incredibly easy aircraft to get up and running. Assuming the ground crew set up the cockpit, it’s a much, much easier aircraft to cold start than the A-10C and Hornet.
It was also an ideal time for me to be down at the 162nd FW because a buddy of mine, “Frodo”, graduated the F-16 Basic School (B-School) and I was able to attend his gradation ceremony. Frodo is also a big DCS fan and it’s great to see that some of the products I worked on over the years perhaps played a small part in his great accomplishment (he also won the AA and AG awards for his class).
DCS: F-16C Viper Trailer The official Viper reveal trailer is here! Created by our video producer “GlowingAmraam”, the video highlights the beautiful lines, performance, and capabilities that will make the Viper a must-have module for DCS World. Thank you for the tremendous support and we hope you enjoy it!
The Viper pre-order is also available on Steam for 20% off:
The F-16C is a single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter that was developed in the 1970s. More than 4,500 units were manufactured and are operated today by 26 countries where the aircraft performs numerous missions that include air superiority, close air support, precision bombing, air defense suppression, reconnaissance and more. Few other aircraft can match its versatility, maneuverability, firepower, and huge production numbers.
Nicknamed the Viper by its pilots, the F-16 was designed with a reclined seating position for high G tolerance and a single-piece bubble canopy for exceptional visibility and comfort. Its lightweight and powerful F-110-GE-129 engines provide a greater than 1:1 thrust ratio. Housed in the nose of the Viper is a multifunction APG-68(V)5 radar. The aircraft can also be equipped with multiple sensors such as the LITENING targeting pod and HARM Targeting System (HTS).
The Viper is armed for air-to-air combat with Sidewinders, AMRAAMs, and an internal 20mm 6-barrel Gatling gun. It can also be loaded with a wide range of air-to-ground weapons that include general-purpose bombs, rockets, canister munition, Mavericks, laser- and GPS-guided bombs, and more. The F-16 provides endless gameplay in DCS World!
Last Days of the DCS 2019 Summer Bonus Sale! Lasting until 0900 GMT on 1 August 2019, we will have our Summer 2019 bonus point sale! During this period, you can use bonus points to purchase up to 50% of the price on all Eagle Dynamics modules released. For example: if a product is priced at USD 29.99 and you have enough bonus points then you can use them for up to a maximum value of USD 14.99, the remainder would need to be paid for as usual. (Heatblur Simulations and Magnitude 3 LLC are not participating in the sale.)
Existing Bonus points will expire on 1 June 2020. Bonus points cannot be exchanged for ED Miles or cash.
On 1 August 2019 at 0900, we will launch the new ED Miles rewards system! ED Miles are similar in many ways to airline miles and can be earned/awarded and used as follows:
Regardless if a product has just been released, is already on sale or in pre-purchase, you will always earn ED Miles on the price you paid for the purchase. For each purchase, you will earn 10% of the Purchase Price in ED Miles. As an example: if you purchase something for USD 29.99 you will be awarded 2990 ED Miles worth USD 2.99 on the DCS World e-Shop.
You can use ED Miles to purchase any product participating in the program, regardless if they are just released, already on sale, or as a pre-purchase!
There is no limit on the number of ED Miles you can use for a purchase. If you have enough ED Miles, you can even pay for an entire product just using ED Miles.
ED Miles earned are valid for three calendar years from the time of your last DCS World e-Shop purchase.
Note that ED Miles cannot be redeemed for cash or any other conversion, and a list of 3rd parties participating in the program will be provided at launch.
Fight for Honor Charity Tournament Announcement Eagle Dynamics SA, in association with DCS World Events, Thrustmaster, and Folds of Honor, presents the "Fight for Honor 2019" Digital Combat Simulator World Dogfighting Tournament. Pick any aircraft and dogfight for a chance to win Eagle Dynamics DCS World modules, Thrustmaster gear, and the chance to fly and learn from real world combat aviators in DCS.
The Fight for Honor tournament will be a single-elimination 1v1 tournament having combatants fly against each other in best 2 out of 3 matches taking place on the Georgian Caucasus map in DCS World.
Participants will be allowed to use any aircraft of their choosing that is available in DCS World.
Opening day rounds will take place on September 7th and 8th.
Many of the matches that take place during the Fights for Honor tournament will be live-streamed. These live streams are open for anyone to watch even if they're not a tournament participant. If you wish to watch these matches live, make sure to bookmark DCS World Events on Twitch and Youtube prior to tournament go live.
“Aviation is proof that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible.” (Eddie Rickenbacker)
Probably the the most anticipated new feature of the Hornet is the targeting pod. As mentioned earlier, we will start with the Litening pod due to it being used by the USMC and similar to what we already created for the A-10C (hardly a cut-and-paste though). Attached is an image of it in action.
It is important to understand that this is neither an ATFLIR or Litening pod ala A-10C. It is a Litening pod that uses standardized Hornet Mission Computer (MC) data export.
Most of the core AG functions are in the game and working, with the big ones still being worked on being the setting a Target Point via the TGP (critical for AUTO and TOO mode attacks) and, AREA vs POINT tracking . After the initial release, we will continue to flesh out the pod to include AA mode, control pages, and additional functions/symbols.
Our engineer assigned to the pod is working very, very hard on this and we are pushing to release it as soon as possible.
DCS 2019 Summer Bonus Sale! Starting at 0900 GMT on 18 July 2019 and lasting until 0900 GMT on 1 August 2019, we will have our Summer 2019 bonus point sale! During this period, you can use bonus points to purchase up to 50% of the price on all Eagle Dynamics modules released. For example: if a product is priced at USD 29.99 and you have enough bonus points then you can use them for up to a maximum value of USD 14.99, the remainder would need to be paid for as usual. (Heatblur Simulations and Magnitude 3 LLC are not participating in the sale.) Existing Bonus points will expire on 1 June 2020. Bonus points cannot be exchanged for ED Miles or cash.
On 1 August 2019 at 0900, we will launch the new ED Miles rewards system! ED Miles are similar in many ways to airline miles and can be earned/awarded and used as follows:
Regardless if a product has just been released, is already on sale or in pre-purchase, you will always earn ED Miles on the price you paid for the purchase. For each purchase, you will earn 10% of the Purchase Price in ED Miles. As an example: if you purchase something for USD 29.99 you will be awarded 2990 ED Miles worth USD 2.99 on the DCS World e-Shop.
You can use ED Miles to purchase any product participating in the program, regardless if they are just released, already on sale, or as a pre-purchase!
There is no limit on the number of ED Miles you can use for a purchase. If you have enough ED Miles, you can even pay for an entire product just using ED Miles.
ED Miles earned are valid for three calendar years from the time of your last DCS World e-Shop purchase.
Note that ED Miles cannot be redeemed for cash or any other conversion, and a list of 3rd parties participating in the program will be provided at launch.
F/A-18C Aggressors BFM Campaign by Maple Flag The F/A-18C Aggressors BFM Campaign is now available from our e-Shop
The FA-18C Aggressors BFM campaign puts you in the cockpit of an FA-18C Hornet, as a new Aggressor pilot with VFC-12 the "Fighting Omars" on loan to the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base. Based on real-world procedures, you will fly as Red Air against Blue Air Forces. Upon arrival, you will fly a familiarization flight around the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). Then you will face a series of challenging Basic Fighter Maneuver (BFM) missions against similar and dis-similar aircraft.
Your opponents include the F-4E, F-5E, F-14A, F-15C, F-15E, F-16C, F/A-18C, M-2000C, MiG-29G, CF-188, MiG-21 and Su-27.
Additionally, there are 12 single player practice missions with in-air starts so you can perfect your BFM tactics, techniques and procedures.
There are over 1000 voice-overs and over 45 pages of briefing material including the RED FLAG Spins, Red Forces In Flight Guide, Maps, Diagrams, Custom Knee-boards and Mission Data cards.
You will need DCS 2.5, the DCS: FA-18C Hornet module and the DCS: NEVADA Test and Training Range Map Module for this campaign.
Eagle Dynamics at Flying Legends 2019
Last weekend part of our staff participated in the most iconic 2nd World War aviation flight show at Duxford, UK. Hosted by our sister company, The Fighter Collection, it’s an amazing show that you should definitely put on your bucket list!
This not only gave us the opportunity to see many iconic fighters, fighter-bombers, bombers and other airworthy warbirds, it also gave us the chance to get valuable research information that is not available in any book or archive.
We were also able to record cockpit sounds from the P-51D Mustang at take-off and through different flight regimes. We also had the opportunity to talk at great length with Erich Brunotte, a german fighter ace with 33 confirmed kills, that helped shed some light on the German warbirds. Getting such valuable feedback from the vanishing number warbird pilots is of great value to DCS World.
Should you plan to attend Flying Legends 2020, give us a shout on our forums and we would be more than happy to have a chat with you. See you at Duxford!
DCS World Open Beta Update This week the DCS World Open Beta was updated to version 2.5.5.33552. Highlights of this update include: DCS World
Reduced chatty “tally bandit” calls.
Corrected coalition cargo script.
Realigned yellow boxes for training missions.
Corrected Linebacker, Avenger, and Igla SAM systems.
F/A-18C
HUD TD box now shows a hemisphere over it when both ownship and donor classify a contact as friendly.
Extending the landing gear after a belly landing will no longer cause an explosion.
Fixed loss of Gun after firing off all Mavericks.
Zuni Rockets no longer pause after every 4 rockets.
Hydra Rockets no longer stop firing after 4 rockets.
PLID & STEP functions have been added to the SA Page - Currently WIP.
INTERVAL BOMBING in AUTO & CCIP modes has been fixed.
Removed wing unfold function from auto start sequence.
Pilot kneeboard is now functional.
Corrected NVG graphic artifacts.
Most of the development work is concentrated on the Litening targeting pod, air-to-ground radar, AGM-84D Harpoon, AGM-62 Walleye I and II, fleshing out the data link / SA page, improving MSI for LTWS mode, dynamic launch zones for INS/GPS-guided weapons like JDAM/JSOW/SLAM/SLAM-ER, Pre-Briefed mode for HARM, and Aircraft / Mission Planner Cards.
Fw 190 A-8
Adjusted gun sight glass tint.
Increase/Decrease RPM Mouse Tips in wrong place was removed.
Control stick connectors and lamp intensity animation added.
Clock connectors and animation corrected.
Added animation for the CB covers.
AV-8B Night Attack
CTD when entering a new waypoint bug fix.
INS Stuck on invalid steerpoint bug fix.
EHSD not clearing after un-designating a target bug fix.
EHSD does not display range to waypoint bug fix.
EHSD Waypoint numbering corrected when using SEQ bug fix.