Flyboy

I’m gong to try it hopefully in next couple days. I sent it to Luck as he is developing a quick mission generator I’m helping him test so it might be useful in his project also.

Sorry to hear this

For those on a budget and want to fly helos

I can definitely help you get started with DCS and have helped several people from the ground up. I recently put together this starter info document for someone I know nearby. I'm sure it will expand and change over time but it's a place to start. Home Flight Sims Getting Started This covers most of the basics but I’m sure I probably left something out. It will at least get you started and thinking of the direction to go. However, to save yourself a lot of headaches I recommend before any purchase just check with us to make sure you are not going down a wrong path (one example is not to buy DCS or IL2 off of Steam). But I’m confident we can have you up and running quickly. Hardware and Setup Computer - I recommend if you can to visit Micro Center. I have really been impressed with their service, and if you buy the extra warranty it is nice to be able to go in and have them fix or replace whatever is broken. Especially helpful if you aren’t necessarily computer/tech savvy. www.microcenter.com - For the computer itself get the best gaming computer you can afford. I personally really like MSI and have used gaming laptops for years because of my travel. However, you can save money and be able to upgrade your system easier if you stick with a desktop. - Fast processor (CPU). I have always stuck with Intel but AMD is an option. Mine is an i9. - Fast and best graphics card (GPU). Mine currently is a NVidia 4080, but I believe the current version is in the 50’s series. - At least 64 GB RAM. More (128?) is always better. Mine is 64 currently. - I strongly recommend a large gaming hardrive. Yes, you might be able to get by with less, but sims take up a lot of storage and seems to grow larger as time goes. I have 4 TB. Internet - For online gaming this should be fast with low ping rates (below 100 but below 50 is best). I live rural so a few years back went with T-Mobile hotspot where I can get about 400-500 Mbs download with pings around 30. Satellite internet won’t work because of the high ping rates. VR Headset - I have a Pimax Crystal light, but others are using the Quest 3. There are a few others out there but these are the most popular. Quest 3 is cheaper but from what I have heard is a super pain in the butt not only for setup but occasionally wanting to go off and do it’s own thing (updates or whatever). The Pimax is the king I think right now for visual clarity and field of view, etc though will cost more. They are just coming out with the Dream Air I believe which is supposed to be really good. Plenty of youtube videos out there reviewing vr headsets for flight sims. pimax.com Flight Controls - Most of us have the Thrustmaster Warthog setup. The real advantage to this when you are starting out is that it is super easy for me to help setup your initial button configuration. As I say at the beginning, it is a place to start but later you can map your system anyway you want. Since I won’t be sitting next to you and only talking online, I have to describe verbally everything, and if we have the same setup it is easy for me to say something like, “Remember your gear button is the one just aft of your throttle,” etc. I also strongly recommend the Thrustmaster Pendular pedals. https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/hotas-warthog-flight-stick/ https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/hotas-warthog-dual-throttle/ https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/tpr-thrustmaster-pendular-rudder/ (You can also find these on Amazon, and I believe you can get at Micro Center) - There are other good controllers out there also. Some really like WinWing, and the Moza controls are supposed to be good (Moza does a lot of racing sim stuff also). - Stick extensions (no, not Viagra!). This is highly recommended because the longer the flight stick the more finesse of control you can have. warthog-extensions-by-sahaj.com - Force Feedback. I bought the Moza AB9 a few months back and love it. Once you get it tuned in it provides a lot of feel and feeback on the stick. I can feel it rumble when I lower gear or use speedbrakes, and it will start to shake when I get close to stall. Lots of adjustments and tuning options and it reads the aero data right from your sim so it knows what the current AOA and other factors from your sim. - Button boxes and other button options. You will quickly run out of places on your stick and throttle to map buttons. Yes, you can use your mouse to select switches, but it is sometimes difficult to do in VR and when flying. Here’s the ones I have: https://simracing4u.myonline.store/a-65607345/usb-button-boxes-for-sim-racing-and-flight-simulators/pc-usb-button-box-29-functions-for-dcs-il2-microsoft-2020-flight-sim-x-plane11-and-prepa3d/#description (I love this button box and it was priced reasonably) https://www.thrustmaster.com/en-us/products/mfd-cougar-pack/ (these work ok, but not as well as I had hoped for in VR, but they are extra buttons I can program) Sim Chair - This is optional but recommended. Of course you can build your own, but having a prebuilt one makes setup easier. Dan bought his at Micro Center and I got a Volair (volairsim.com). There are other ones out there on the market also, but if you prefer to have a center mounted stick like I prefer make sure it supports that. - Buttkicker. Some have this and recommend but I don’t have it yet: thebuttkicker.com Software Flight Sims - DCS (Digital Combat Simulator). DO NOT BUY THE STEAM VERSION! This is very important because if you do you can’t switch back and forth between Steam and non Steam. Get and buy direct: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/ This is the sim most of us fly jets (and some WW2) on and is highly realistic. It is the one featured in the video of my setup with the VR and F-5. The actual setup is best done while we are online together and talking on Discord. This way I can take you step by step through the process while looking at my own setup and talking you through things. The game download is free and you get the Caucasus map and a couple free planes, but they make their money when you buy other aircraft and maps. They usually have good sales once a quarter or so, which is the time to buy what you can. Here is my recommended list of maps/planes to start in order: o F-5E. Full fidelity (clickable cockpit where most all the switches work with mouse control or you can map it to your buttons) and a great first trainer aircraft. Similar to the T-38 it is the best one to get you started in basic setup, formation, BFM (Basic Fighter Maneuvers) and ACM (Air Combat Maneuvers). I start most people here. o Syria Map. Very popular map often used. o Flaming Cliffs package. If you buy the whole thing you get a lot of non fidelity (non clickable) aircraft. These are basic setups in your buttons but very fun to fly. I love flying the A-10A, Su-25, Su-33, F-15C from this package. o Mig-21. Great OPFOR aircraft and chance to experience something completely different. o F-4E. This is also a greatly modelled aircraft, full fidelity, and you can have AI or human in backseat. o UH-1H Huey. If you’re into helicopters this is a fun aircraft and good to learn. I had no idea what VRS was until a retired Navy Captain who flew them in Desert Storm helped me online where I got into his helo right seat and he showed me how to fly it. o L-39. Tandem seat trainer, light attack aircraft. I have used this for teaching basic and instrument flying, formation, etc. by sitting in their backseat and able to take control at anytime. Even has a hood I can activate for the pilot up front. o For WW2, the easiest to fly is the Bf-109. I also have the P-51, Spitfire and F4U Corsair though they are much more difficult for engine management. o Other maps in order: Sinai, Persian Gulf, Marianas, Germany. There are others also but not used as much for me at this time. o There are a lot of other aircraft you can get so it depends on what you want to do. I have the F-16, F-14, F-18 and many others, but I have mostly stuck to earlier coldwar aircraft like the F-5, F-4 and Mig-21. Not as much automation and you really have to learn how to fly and maintain SA. - IL2. This sim has both WW1 and WW2. I don’t care so much about the WW2 in this sim but fly WW1 (Flying Circus) quite a bit. Got Dan into this recently also and he is loving it. They are having a big sale right now so if you are at all interested I would buy this right away. You can get all four volumes at one time for only $75 https://il2-series.com/en/store/item/circus-deluxe/ - MSFS (Microsoft Flight Sim). I have the 2020 version but I have heard they worked out the bugs of the newer 2024 version and it is good. I don’t fly it much anymore but occasionally is a good one for guests to showcase flying around different areas/cities for some sightseeing. Other Software - Discord. This is the main place we meet and join up in a group chat room. You can get this free. My Discord ID is flyboy25 with my displayed name/handle JG1_Flyboy so you can find me and send a friend request then I can invite you to join the channels we use. You need to start thinking of a callsign. Mine is Flyboy, Dan is Dino. Then we have Driver, Hawg and Muffin also from ABX. Others are Patriot (my cousin in Utah), Moxy, Mouce, Vonrd, etc. Recommend callsign with one or two syllables max. - XRNeckSafer. This helps with checking six. Instead of having to completely wreck your neck by twisting all the way around, you can customize it so, say when you look just past your shoulder it “shifts” a bit faster so you can see directly behind you. We can set this up later. - VoiceAttack. This software lets you use voice commands for anything you want. Some guys will use it for basic aircraft commands such as saying “Gear Up” to raise gear, but I like to keep stuff like that in physical buttons I manipulate. I will use it however for things I would normally use my voice for, such as requesting a “Bogey Dope” over the radio or talking to Jester (my back seat AI WSO in the F-4). voiceattack.com - SRS. This is the addon program that connects to DCS radios and makes them realistic. Anyone on the same UHF frequency for instance, can hear/talk to each other. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO1sr5rEY5E - TacView. I really should use this more for debriefing, but it shows your basic tracks and flight in 3D for analyzing your flight and where you can discuss what went right/wrong. www.tacview.net/product/about/en/ Training Videos These will help get you started and give an idea of things. F-5: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3kOAM2N1YJdjop7QMK9T0hjSMg8u_WDS Mig-21: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3kOAM2N1YJclSbSie2UF0NPnUAkX-bJU The Ops Center. Great channel by ex AF fighter instructor. Below is the different series in order. Formation Flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lsxDAAQ1vo&list=PLd5Qdmhmp3Y6ltDJ8GUzSoTJFFwT01_-M Formation to BFM: The Extended Trail Exercise: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5Qdmhmp3Y4IjS7i7skN938cp0MkwfaF Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5Qdmhmp3Y5-SDJjOzuUqV3m3mmuieTQ Air Combat Maneuvers (ACM) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5Qdmhmp3Y6ePAmWQ4_eG596CE645sCF Flyboy Server I do a lot of mission building for DCS and have my own server. Here is a link to my server information: https://forum.jg1.org/topic/17036-flyboy-server-information/

Multi Training Caucasus map updated to 2.208. Big changes were fixes to air refueling tankers (they now work) and updated RealRadar and EWR scripts to provide better and more realistic radar data.

I updated the player's guide above and will be home this week so hoping to test this Wed night.

My TeamOps YK2 mission is getting very close. I've ported the TeamScore script over to it, added aircraft, zones, templates, triggers, etc and it's about ready to be tested. Still to be worked out and added are special missions which will take some time. Attached is an overview map picture and a Player's Guide. There's a lot to the campaign so recommend you look through it. After testing I will open it up for general testing and play so everyone can get a feel for the map and the rules. I won't be home until Tue morning but should start testing online next week hopefully. TeamOps Syria YK2 Players Guide.txt

flyboy25, “JG1_Flyboy” https://discord.gg/xGqXfvT7j

Friday prob wont work. Send me a discord PM and we can talk more.

What I would prefer is to meet on JG1 Discord when we are doing a testing session where you can join in and fly with us. I should be there sometime after 2100 ET this Friday.

Hi and thanks for your interest. I’m keeping my scripts in house for now but if you’d like to meet and check out my TeamScore script and help test that would be great.

My TeamScore script is coming along quite well but I've experienced a bit of "mission creep," meaning as I get one thing done I think of cool new features to add. The lastest has been to add "special units" that are limited but very useful in tactical ways (see the description below). As we have been testing I realized I also needed to update my RealRadar and Early Warning Radar scripts also. Here are summaries of the changes/new features. TeamScore/RealRadar Update with a major realism pass on air detection. Default DCS detection unrealistically reveals too much for Tac Commander and JTAC positions and is especially frustrating for helo drivers who are trying to terrain mask and use low altitude stealth to accomplish missions. These scripts work in harmony to produce a more realistic gameplay. RealRadar now does all of this: · Uses a coalition radar network model instead of global spotting. · Applies per-radar max detection range by unit type (now configured in km, with nm reference doc). · Uses AGL-based terrain masking with line-of-sight checks and a low-altitude clutter floor. · Supports era-style networking with dataLinkLevel: 0 = Pre-1976: Only GCI radars feed air picture 1 = 1976-1990: + battery-level integration (selected systems) 2 = 1991-2000: + tactical networking 3 = 2001+: + full network integration for configured systems · Supports AWACS as a separate long-range detection layer. · Applies aircraft size/RCS multipliers so larger aircraft are generally easier to detect. · Includes debug logging to track why contacts appear/disappear. · Future plan is to integrate even more realistic radar behavior/limitations such as aircraft using airspeed and notching to defeat radar. Early Warning Radar script tie-in: · This is the script that gives individual customizable bogey dope messages · There is no hard-coded API handshake; integration is by live world state. · If the EWR script spawns/controls valid radar units, RealRadar uses those units automatically. · If those radars are destroyed, RealRadar stops using them as network contributors. · Net effect: both scripts stay synchronized through actual unit alive/dead status in-mission. TeamScore Brief Player Guide: Special Units Special units are intended to let helicopter and utility players shape the whole battlefield, not just transport cargo. Most likely will need to work with a Tac Commander who can monitor and move the units into position. There are limited number of these units in inventory, so when they are gone they are gone (at least for that mission day) All special units are set to Excellent and most other ground units are set to Average intelligence. What this does is allows special units to "see" the average units further away than they can see the special units. So here's how it works: Each special unit has a range (e.g. the scout range is 2.0 nm). When the unit is within that range it will put a map marker on groups within it's range even though it can't yet "see" the unit on the map. As the special unit gets closer, it will eventually "see" the enemy unit on the map but the enemy with average ability cannot yet see the special unit unless it gets closer (around 1.0 nm or less). Scout: · Best for forward recon and map intelligence. Another use would be to patrol around your base or other areas to look for enemy special units. · Use to build target picture before strikers commit. · 2.0 nm range. Can auto mark (with map markers) up to 30 targets · Extract after mission for additional value and to preserve assets. JTAC: · Best for CAS support and target marking/smoke. · 2.5 nm range. After doing a scan in position, can choose a target to put smoke on. 10 smoke targets per sortie. · Deploy near likely fight areas, then coordinate attack flights onto marked targets. · Strong force multiplier when paired with low-level ingress packages. Special Forces Team: · Best for high-value sabotage (radars/logistics nodes/zone disruption). · Use to blind enemy radar coverage and open safe corridors for friendly aircraft. · Ideal before major air push or deep strike. · 3.0 nm range. Stop in place to "scan for targets" (30 seconds) then choose a target to sabotage. 60 second countdown after selection (if they move then it is aborted and they lose a "charge." If they succeed, target is destroyed. Varying chance of being caught, have casualties or getting wiped out. Spy: · Best for covert intel and behind-lines disruption. · Lower-signature tool for persistent pressure where direct assault is risky. · Combine with SF/JTAC to chain intel -> disruption -> strike. · Spy has three uses: 1. 3.5 nm range to look for targets, mark and observe 2. If close to enemy base, after scanning can choose to sabotage base supply level. Can choose to disrupt 1, 2 or 3 supply points but with each one it becomes riskier (spy can be caught/killed). If successful, the base loses 1 or more supply points and loses support for the associated template spawn group (meaning those groups will be despawned from the map as they are no longer supported from the new current supply level). 3. Spy can "embed" in place. This permanently consumes the spy but acts similar to a radar unit with a 5 nm radius. Air targets will be seen live time on the map by Tac Commander and JTAC positions, and ground units who move through this area will be marked (map markers) similar to recon, including being updated each 2 nm the unit moves. This embedded position continues for 60 minutes before disappearing, after which any markers on the map will remain an additional 30 min. Players who transport Special Units into the field will get credit and stats for unit successes. The player (or another player) can extract these units back to home home base and receive credit for their extraction (credit only if the special units actually accomplished something first). These units can be returned to inventory to heal and recharge their abilities. Tactical pattern that works well: 1. Insert Scout/Spy to map threats. 2. Insert SF to remove key radar/SAM enablers. 3. Push JTAC-supported CAS into the gap. 4. Extract teams to preserve capability and score.

Was having a lot of issues lately with my performance so I did some checking using Claude AI and it came up with this, which I used and it seems to be working a lot better so far. I also attached the pdf version of this. DCS VR Performance Optimization Guide For High-End Systems with Pimax VR 1. ParkControl Setup (Fix Core Parking) Download ParkControl from https://bitsum.com/parkcontrol/ Install and open ParkControl Go to Settings → Experimental Enable "Always Show Bitsum Highest Performance" Return to main screen Select "Bitsum Highest Performance" from the power plan dropdown Verify it shows 32/32 cores (or your full core count) with Parking: Off 100% 2. Process Lasso Setup (CPU Priority Management) Download Process Lasso from https://bitsum.com/processlasso/ Install and open Process Lasso Set the following process priorities: Process CPU Priority I/O Priority DCS.exe High High PiService.exe Above Normal Normal pi_server.exe Above Normal Normal Moza (FFB software) Above Normal Normal PiPlayService.exe Normal Normal Right-click each process → Set Priority → Choose level Select "Always" to make it persistent 3. NVIDIA Control Panel Open NVIDIA Control Panel Go to Manage 3D Settings → Program Settings Add DCS.exe if not listed Set these options: Power Management Mode: Prefer Maximum Performance Low Latency Mode: Ultra Threaded Optimization: On Optionally add Pimax runtime processes with same Power Management setting 4. OpenXR Toolkit Settings Setting Value Upscaling Off (use DCS DLSS instead) Override Resolution Off Fixed Foveated Rendering Medium Turbo Mode On Motion Reprojection Auto Frame Rate Throttling Off FOV Override Off Note: Don't stack upscalers. Use either DCS DLSS or OpenXR NIS/FSR, not both. 5. DCS Graphics Settings Setting Value Textures High Terrain Textures High Visibility Range Medium Heat Blur Off Shadows Default Secondary Shadows Off Water High MSAA Off DLSS Quality or Balanced Depth of Field Off Lens Effects Off Motion Blur Off SSAO Off SSLR Off Clutter/Grass 1000 Trees Visibility High Preload Radius 150000+ Chimney Smoke 0 Anisotropic Filtering 16x VR Tab: Pixel Density: 1.0 Bloom: Off 6. Pimax Software Control FOV through Pimax Play/PiTool (Normal/Large), not OpenXR Toolkit Set refresh rate based on what your system can maintain (90Hz recommended) Let Pimax handle resolution natively Key Principles Core Parking - Intel hybrid CPUs (12th-14th gen) park E-cores by default, hurting DCS Single Upscaler - Use DLSS in DCS OR NIS in OpenXR Toolkit, never both DCS is CPU-bound - Many stutters are main thread, not GPU FFR is free performance - Pimax wide FOV makes peripheral quality loss invisible Restart after changes - Especially after ParkControl and Process Lasso setup Troubleshooting Still stuttering? Lower Visibility Range to Low, Shadows to Flat Blurry image? Increase DLSS to Quality, or switch to OpenXR NIS at 85% Terrain pop-in? Increase Preload Radius Low GPU usage? CPU bottleneck - normal for DCS, priority settings help OpenXR Toolkit Settings Category Setting Value Upscaling Mode Off (using DCS DLSS) Alternative NIS at 80%, Sharpness 75% Image Adjustments Override Resolution Off Resolution Per Eye Off FOV Override Off Performance Fixed Foveated Rendering Medium FFR Pattern Ring Turbo Mode On Motion Motion Reprojection Auto Frame Rate Throttling Off Misc World Scale 100% (default) Post-Processing Off Pimax Play Settings Category Setting Value Display Refresh Rate 90Hz Field of View Normal (or Large if stable) Resolution Native (don't downsample) Render Quality 1.0 Smoothing Smart Smoothing Off (let OpenXR handle it) Compulsive Smoothing Off Compatibility Compatible with Parallel Projection Off (unless needed for specific game) Hidden Area Mask On Backlight Backlight 80-100% (preference) Runtime OpenXR Runtime Set Pimax as default OpenXR runtime Important Notes Refresh Rate: 90Hz is the sweet spot for DCS - achievable on high-end hardware 72Hz if struggling to maintain 90 (smoother than missing frames at 90) Don't use 120Hz for DCS - too demanding FOV Options: Normal - Best performance/quality balance Large - More immersion, ~10-15% performance hit Potato - Only if desperate for FPS Smart Smoothing vs OpenXR Motion Reprojection: Use one, not both OpenXR Toolkit's Motion Reprojection generally works better Turn off Pimax's Smart Smoothing when using OpenXR Toolkit Parallel Projection: Leave Off for DCS (not needed) Only enable for games with broken stereo rendering Hidden Area Mask: Keep On - gives free performance by not rendering pixels you can't see Quick Reference Pimax Play: 90Hz / Normal FOV / Render 1.0 / Smart Smoothing Off / HAM On OpenXR Toolkit: Upscaling Off / FFR Medium / Turbo On / Motion Repro Auto Hardware tested: Intel i9-14900HX, RTX 40 series, 64GB RAM, Pimax VR DCS VR Performance Optimization Guide.pdf

Patriot helped me setup Visual Studio Code and it’s helped me tremendously in creating script. In addition to ChatGPT the other day he helped me setup my Claude (Anthropic) account so now you can see in the pic the script in the middle, ChatGPT on the left and Claude on the right. They can both see the code and all the files in my project so I have them evaluate each others suggestions and work.

At the time Patriot and I were also flying RB3 in Jasta 9. I got out of it also for many years until a friend introduced me to VR flying which changed everything for me.