Couple things I want to mention First, you crank the right engine first. This is very important. Provided hydraulic pressure to you brakes system and powers the proper generator first. It took much longer for the gen to come up when you started the left engine first. For the INS, just no. Bad way to do it and will bite you in the ass when ED does finish the INS simulation. Just put her in GND, box STD HDG and wait 90 seconds, thats it. in that time you do all of your admin stuff like HMD alignment and radar presets. With a fully optimized startup the Hornet goes from cold and dark to ready to taxi in 2.5 mins. That includes rearming, just got to time it right. For rearming change the admonition to SAPHEI 21:25 don't ever do that. You will have to realign the HMD... just use the RECEE event mark switch on the stick to toggle the HMD on and off. 22:17 SCS aft twice here will swap to SA from HSI 23:48 this is all incorrect. Image is pointing to the wrong switch, should be the small grooved hat on the bottom left side of the stick. Forward-Sparrow, Right-AMRAAM, Depress-Sidewinder, Aft-GUN What you have it pointed to is the SCS, which definitely needs to be on that top hat. 24:25 and the most import one is on the DATA page. The hit age out needs to be at lest 8 as it is currently affecting the deletion of trackfiles which is incorrect. 27:53 HSI on LDDI here is a waste, use the AZ/EL at least 28:53 you can see the offset TD boxes, effect of not aligning the HMD
Thanks for a thoughtful reply. I wasn't intending to do an official by-the-book, rather a zero->action. so I don't doubt there will be differences in the exact control setups you mention. I own every module, so a large part of (trying) to memorize my controls to muscle memory comes from copying from module to module - where possible - which inevitably means it will differ from real world. You also mentioned things I can learn from, the Recce event was a new one to me, even though I haven't lost HMD alignment using the dial, its good and quick to know. I could have made the video twice as long and covered more on the radar usage, perhaps a future video I'll dedicate to this topic - you have given much to add in such a video. Thanks again
Thank you for all the time and effort that you have put into making this informative and up-to-date tutorial showing us how to get the F/A-18C ready for air to air combat.
I'm currently working on a 2023 update, there's been a few minor (one not-so-minor) changes that impact things. Hopefully be ready to go in a day or so!
Thanks for this tutorial! I just started learning how to actually fight in the F18 (after spending weeks learning to land on the carrier) and this was very concise and clear instructional video. Just a FYI, there is a quick INS alignment mode that takes 90 seconds. On your HSI page, during the CV or GND alignment, press on STD HDG (Standard Heading) and it will align the INS in 90 seconds. In real life, it uses a known heading (plane must be placed at specific spots and headings) to align the INS. In DCS I think it works anywhere.
Great video. I have been flying the F-18 for quite sometime and am a bit lazy with setting up the various systems. Your tutorial made a lot of sense and will adopt your approach to mission setup. Thanks very much and I look forward to more.
I love watching people walk through this game because I don't know if I'll ever have 1000 hours to learn how to fly a jet that I'll never actually fly (doesn't mean I don't want to!). Thanks.
Just got my first gaming pc and x56 to learn f18..to be honest its the hardest thing I've played 😪 I've still not been able to bind my x56..but thanks for this video..its helped alot.. Thank you
Thanks man, it's nice to have you joining. The best way to view getting something like the F18 (and most other modules), is like buying a whole new game. I used to fly with the x56 HOTAS, it's got plenty of buttons and axis to bind. If you do find yourself short of any switches, check out my video where I show how to double the controls for any module. Let us know if there's any questions you have, either F18 specific, or DCS generally, that you can't easily find an answer for - because if you're asking, then i'm sure there's others too, and I'd be happy to make a video in response to that.
Watched four of your videos now and am very impressed with content and delivery; you are in my opinion ranking with the best I have watched thus far. I realise people want different levels of immersion and maybe the order you turn the engines on doesn’t matter in a game. However you are the first you tuber I have seen turning on left then right engine. I did see a vid that explained why right then left but can’t recall why. Could you maybe comment as to why you fire up left then right as opposed to right then left? 🙏 and great content and delivery. I am sure if you keep pushing out similar content, your numbers will just grow n grow. Thanks.
Thanks for a detailed comment, and lots of encouragement within. I do risk disappointing you with my answer, because the only reason I started the left first, is I didn't notice any tangible difference either way... But I could be wrong. You've reminded me want to go test this, so I'm going now, stopwatch in hand, to see if it makes any difference as far as DCS goes. I'll report back
Question. Do you need to set up your nav and radios like this EVERY time you start a session? Or will they save to the server once set? That to me is super intimidating...
Hi thanks for your feedback. I haven't yet done one for the F16 Viper (and I also would like to do an updated one for the F18, as they've updated things a little, which made aligning the HMD really important now). Both of these are in my to-do list, as I'm on course to come back to video editing in the coming days.
How is it that your ASE dot is working? Mine floats about all over the hud and my shoot cue never shows up because of it! its been reported more times than I can count! is there a fix or somehting I don't know about? Amazing video btw!
Is the decimal point GPS coordinates something newer than 8 months? Or is the waypoint coordinates less accurate than weapons coordinates? Meaning today we enter another set of GPS coordinates after the decimal. I've only been using the jets a few months and things seem to change drastically by the month, lol. It is very confusing ;)
It depends on the ordenance. ;-) In the new age, they all want to have small bombs but, they have to be delivered "smack on target". In the old days of megton nukes, you can forget the last few digids....
When I used to fly a lot of PvP combat missions, I saw this all the time. I actually felt bad, coz I saw so many players come in, get shot down, either once, sometimes twice, and then leave with nada. I felt like they learn nothing and become frustrated, and were easy kills for those of us who were the top 4-5 who dominate the leaderboard. Many people say practicing Vs AI is useless, but I maintain if someone can fight against a Veteran/Ace level AI flight of 2, in an aircraft that's of similar generation and abilities, and if the player can beat the enemy 2ship the majority of the time, then they WILL stand a good chance online. Obviously knowing and understanding the basics of radar, RWR and how to use it, together with any datalink etc is crucial. Within most bigger servers is usually found a small minority of players, who get the vast majority of the kills (80/20 rule). Some of these guys may be pro's with a lot of hours, and are not easy to get, especially if they play together on Comms, instead of doing Rambo stuff. There's no easy solution, unless ED ever decides to allow optional ranked servers, and employ some kinda trueskill rating system for ranked servers, and then allow server admins to set server skill limitations for said trueskill ranked games, allowing people to compete in an environment more suitable. Big idea that, would be of benefit to players at both ends of the spectrum!
Fuel tutorial mentioned half way through for F18 ruclips.net/video/RqA_cjpiq5Y/видео.html
Couple things I want to mention
First, you crank the right engine first. This is very important. Provided hydraulic pressure to you brakes system and powers the proper generator first. It took much longer for the gen to come up when you started the left engine first.
For the INS, just no.
Bad way to do it and will bite you in the ass when ED does finish the INS simulation.
Just put her in GND, box STD HDG and wait 90 seconds, thats it. in that time you do all of your admin stuff like HMD alignment and radar presets.
With a fully optimized startup the Hornet goes from cold and dark to ready to taxi in 2.5 mins. That includes rearming, just got to time it right.
For rearming change the admonition to SAPHEI
21:25 don't ever do that. You will have to realign the HMD... just use the RECEE event mark switch on the stick to toggle the HMD on and off.
22:17 SCS aft twice here will swap to SA from HSI
23:48 this is all incorrect. Image is pointing to the wrong switch, should be the small grooved hat on the bottom left side of the stick. Forward-Sparrow, Right-AMRAAM, Depress-Sidewinder, Aft-GUN
What you have it pointed to is the SCS, which definitely needs to be on that top hat.
24:25 and the most import one is on the DATA page. The hit age out needs to be at lest 8 as it is currently affecting the deletion of trackfiles which is incorrect.
27:53 HSI on LDDI here is a waste, use the AZ/EL at least
28:53 you can see the offset TD boxes, effect of not aligning the HMD
ratiod this mans entire tutorial +1
Thanks for a thoughtful reply. I wasn't intending to do an official by-the-book, rather a zero->action. so I don't doubt there will be differences in the exact control setups you mention. I own every module, so a large part of (trying) to memorize my controls to muscle memory comes from copying from module to module - where possible - which inevitably means it will differ from real world. You also mentioned things I can learn from, the Recce event was a new one to me, even though I haven't lost HMD alignment using the dial, its good and quick to know. I could have made the video twice as long and covered more on the radar usage, perhaps a future video I'll dedicate to this topic - you have given much to add in such a video. Thanks again
I look forward to seeing your version.
@@doifeellucky Already on it.
@@mobius7089 report back when complete. I'd love to study it!
Thank you for all the time and effort that you have put into making this informative and up-to-date tutorial showing us how to get the F/A-18C ready for air to air combat.
Thanks! Needed a refresher after a very long break from DCS. It's NOT like riding a bicycle when you get back in the saddle.
I'm currently working on a 2023 update, there's been a few minor (one not-so-minor) changes that impact things. Hopefully be ready to go in a day or so!
Thanks a lot, being new to DCS it's really satisfying to have such a comprehensive tutorial
You're very welcome!
This is the best no nonsense F18 video I have seen. Well done! VERY useful!
I just got dcs with a hornet, a viper, and that new apache 😎....without this vid I would be lost, thank you sir 👍👍👍
Glad I could help
Thanks for this tutorial! I just started learning how to actually fight in the F18 (after spending weeks learning to land on the carrier) and this was very concise and clear instructional video. Just a FYI, there is a quick INS alignment mode that takes 90 seconds. On your HSI page, during the CV or GND alignment, press on STD HDG (Standard Heading) and it will align the INS in 90 seconds. In real life, it uses a known heading (plane must be placed at specific spots and headings) to align the INS. In DCS I think it works anywhere.
Outstanding, haven't played DCS in 18 months or so, last time we were using stored hdg, looking forward to giving this a try.
you skipped the HMD alignment. Very important.
Addressing this in upcoming video today =) thanks for your comment
Great video. I have been flying the F-18 for quite sometime and am a bit lazy with setting up the various systems. Your tutorial made a lot of sense and will adopt your approach to mission setup. Thanks very much and I look forward to more.
Great breadth. Comprehensive. Thank you.
I love watching people walk through this game because I don't know if I'll ever have 1000 hours to learn how to fly a jet that I'll never actually fly (doesn't mean I don't want to!). Thanks.
This was great. What an awesome one stop shop video. Thank you
Just got my first gaming pc and x56 to learn f18..to be honest its the hardest thing I've played 😪 I've still not been able to bind my x56..but thanks for this video..its helped alot.. Thank you
Thanks man, it's nice to have you joining. The best way to view getting something like the F18 (and most other modules), is like buying a whole new game. I used to fly with the x56 HOTAS, it's got plenty of buttons and axis to bind. If you do find yourself short of any switches, check out my video where I show how to double the controls for any module. Let us know if there's any questions you have, either F18 specific, or DCS generally, that you can't easily find an answer for - because if you're asking, then i'm sure there's others too, and I'd be happy to make a video in response to that.
So this is what I'm looking for in a tutorial except for the fact that I'm going to have to watch this frame by frame to follow along
Great video mate very helpful. subbed
Thanks for the sub!
Just what I need! Thanks!
Before getting in the battle space you would generally fence in which includes turning tacan and lights off among the emitters config
Watched four of your videos now and am very impressed with content and delivery; you are in my opinion ranking with the best I have watched thus far. I realise people want different levels of immersion and maybe the order you turn the engines on doesn’t matter in a game. However you are the first you tuber I have seen turning on left then right engine. I did see a vid that explained why right then left but can’t recall why. Could you maybe comment as to why you fire up left then right as opposed to right then left? 🙏 and great content and delivery. I am sure if you keep pushing out similar content, your numbers will just grow n grow. Thanks.
Thanks for a detailed comment, and lots of encouragement within. I do risk disappointing you with my answer, because the only reason I started the left first, is I didn't notice any tangible difference either way... But I could be wrong. You've reminded me want to go test this, so I'm going now, stopwatch in hand, to see if it makes any difference as far as DCS goes. I'll report back
Noticed that when you pressed the fcs reset you need to have the fcs page open to check if all the x's have been removed from the flight channels
Question. Do you need to set up your nav and radios like this EVERY time you start a session? Or will they save to the server once set?
That to me is super intimidating...
Great video!!! Have you done one on the F16 Sir, i don't seem to be able to find one.....
Hi thanks for your feedback. I haven't yet done one for the F16 Viper (and I also would like to do an updated one for the F18, as they've updated things a little, which made aligning the HMD really important now).
Both of these are in my to-do list, as I'm on course to come back to video editing in the coming days.
Lovely. You took off with the nws on which is not standard.
How is it that your ASE dot is working? Mine floats about all over the hud and my shoot cue never shows up because of it! its been reported more times than I can count! is there a fix or somehting I don't know about? Amazing video btw!
I must be missing something. I still cannot get proper IFF to work. Every aircraft shows up yellow and ambiguous.
In real life, Bitchin' Betty will say, "Mode 4 reply. Mode 4 reply."
FCS Bit (the thing with holding the y key) is not needed (for sim quick start)
Is the decimal point GPS coordinates something newer than 8 months? Or is the waypoint coordinates less accurate than weapons coordinates? Meaning today we enter another set of GPS coordinates after the decimal. I've only been using the jets a few months and things seem to change drastically by the month, lol. It is very confusing ;)
It depends on the ordenance. ;-)
In the new age, they all want to have small bombs but, they have to be delivered "smack on target".
In the old days of megton nukes, you can forget the last few digids....
if u made an excel/notepad checklist i would be amazed
I cant turn on the apu for some reason
Leave the runway, get shot down 5 minutes later, run through another 45 minute starting procedure
When I used to fly a lot of PvP combat missions, I saw this all the time. I actually felt bad, coz I saw so many players come in, get shot down, either once, sometimes twice, and then leave with nada. I felt like they learn nothing and become frustrated, and were easy kills for those of us who were the top 4-5 who dominate the leaderboard.
Many people say practicing Vs AI is useless, but I maintain if someone can fight against a Veteran/Ace level AI flight of 2, in an aircraft that's of similar generation and abilities, and if the player can beat the enemy 2ship the majority of the time, then they WILL stand a good chance online. Obviously knowing and understanding the basics of radar, RWR and how to use it, together with any datalink etc is crucial.
Within most bigger servers is usually found a small minority of players, who get the vast majority of the kills (80/20 rule). Some of these guys may be pro's with a lot of hours, and are not easy to get, especially if they play together on Comms, instead of doing Rambo stuff.
There's no easy solution, unless ED ever decides to allow optional ranked servers, and employ some kinda trueskill rating system for ranked servers, and then allow server admins to set server skill limitations for said trueskill ranked games, allowing people to compete in an environment more suitable.
Big idea that, would be of benefit to players at both ends of the spectrum!
This is great but never have and never will play PVP.
huh