F/A-18C learning curve

Hi,

I'm wondering if there is a learning progress list for the F/A-18C. That is, there are several subsystems, weapons, operations, etc. It is difficult to learn all them at the same time, so one must practice step by step until you master the plane.

Maybe the guide made by Chuck can be a reference, but is there any other suggestion?

Many thanks!

I'd suggest reading the manual and watching Matt Wagner's (Wags) and Redkite's youtube videos. Wags explains most new systems as they were added in DCS and Redkite goes through some systems and procedures step by step.

Wags has done a great series of videos on Youtube, that should provide at least a starting point for your mastery of the Hornet.

The first video in the series is at

Good luck and stay safe

The question is, what do you want to do with the Hornet? What type of mission do you prefer?

Air to air? Air to ground? What type of AG mission?

I would start with learning the basics. Cockpit, take-off, landing (incl. CV), AA-refueling.

Then just what you are most interessted in and build up from there. Even the real pilots don't learn everything at once. It's just too much.

But we have the advantage to choose. ;)

'learn to be a pilot then learn to be a warrior'

most people think AG is where to start. but get a good grip on systems one at a time. do the tutorials too.

First start with basic things; take off and land, pattern, carrier ops, mid-air refuel. Then move to unguided weapons. After that laserguided weapons, after that GPS/INS guided weapons, in conjunction with the TGP. After that Air to Air and radar/EW/datalink usage. Finally countertactics like missile evasion, use of chaff/flare, notching, and all that.

One "section" at a time.

 

most people think AG is where to start.

Not necessarily. Most typical military fighter training programs always start with basic systems, general handling (aircraft handling, takeoff and landing, etc) and then do A/A BEFORE A/G. A/A is where you really learn to max perform the jet and really learn to fly it away from the ground where you might kill yourself. Then A/G is introduced once a student has passed the A/A basics phase (BFM, ACM). A/G requires very precise aircraft control and precision to achieve weapons delivery accuracy. Well, at least before GPS weapons made pilots lazy, but that's a whole other subject for another time.

Funny story.... I recall we had an F-15C pilot transition over to our community, which was mostly A/G focused. In the F-15C community, there was a longtime running joke that they could not even say the word "bomb" lest they would be fined. The closest they could come would be to literally use the term "The B word". That's how little this guy knew about A/G weapons employment when he showed up. Three months after he arrived, he won the Top Gun of the Quarter award for overall best A/G pilot. Someone asked him in the bar how the F*^k did he get so good at A/G so quickly. His reply was - "A/G is easy, you're just BFMing a point on the ground that's not moving." TFS. ;)

If you already have a drivers licence for cars, remember how you started doing this.

Get a good teacher (tutorials) and then when they let you go on your own, practise as often as you can.

And it is not a bad idea to to do the training lesson again from time to time.

I've just spent an hour or so on Bankler's awesome Case 1 training mission and although I am consistently only scoring in the 40s, at least I can get down safely. Well, sort of. :)

It's the final 180 degree turn that appears to be stumping me, with the rates of descent, particularly after the 90, not being what they should. I need better throttle control methinks.

"Learning to fly the Falcon [Hornet] is just your ticket to the dance" - Pete 'Boomer' Bonanni.

I've just spent an hour or so on Bankler's awesome Case 1 training mission and although I am consistently only scoring in the 40s, at least I can get down safely. Well, sort of. :)

 

It's the final 180 degree turn that appears to be stumping me, with the rates of descent, particularly after the 90, not being what they should. I need better throttle control methinks.

Remember to increase speed slightly going into the turn and decrease it slightly coming out of it. Yes, good throttle control is mandatory.

It's the final 180 degree turn that appears to be stumping me, with the rates of descent, particularly after the 90, not being what they should. I need better throttle control methinks.

All ya need ....

Thanks guys.

Practice, practice, practice and then when i've done that....yet more practice. :)

Thank you for all the advices!

It would appear that practising the right things will make perfect.

I got a 63/75, my best ever, and it was so much easier to follow the ball down to the 3-wire from the right height at the wake.

Many thanks @Lex Talionis. Your video was spot on and after only about an hour of practising the on-speed base leg turn, I think I'm finally getting there. If I keep on practising, a 75 might even be doable. :)

75 is perfectly doable, even with less then ideal approach. :)

Tip: always practice landings. In most missions you are going to train, your plane will already start in the sky. Look for the nearest airport and land, especially before you start flying online. It is every horrible thing that we see. People demand the most perfect simulator in the world but cannot find the patience to taxi their planes to the runway or land their planes. As the colleague said before, train a lot. Use and abuse your mission editor. Create several missions, one for each thing you want to learn, even if it is to go around and discover the limits of your fighter. But after all that, land.

.... so happy it helped!

All ya need ....

That guy? Total android. Not even human. The whole thing is probably CGI.

Real people can't do things like that! :joystick::pilotfly:

Seriously, I wish you'd do a couple more. Lots of theory, which is wonderful and extremely helpful (I've got copious notes), but it's like Nuke School. Once you have the theory down you're half done.

Another video with the practical side of things would be great. A track file would be better, so we can see what it's supposed to look like, and can work on the muscle memory without ironing in bad habits.

Tip: always practice landings. In most missions you are going to train, your plane will already start in the sky. Look for the nearest airport and land, especially before you start flying online. It is every horrible thing that we see. People demand the most perfect simulator in the world but cannot find the patience to taxi their planes to the runway or land their planes. As the colleague said before, train a lot. Use and abuse your mission editor. Create several missions, one for each thing you want to learn, even if it is to go around and discover the limits of your fighter. But after all that, land.

Absolutely . I try to make 2 or 3 landings in every flight , often at different airfields so i can maintain currency in navigation as well .

Absolutely . I try to make 2 or 3 landings in every flight , often at different airfields so i can maintain currency in navigation as well .

90% of my time is spent gear down (or about to be down) flying around runways and ships. Heck, once I'm down I taxi to the farthest corner of the field and park with my wheels on the line.

Still feel like a derp when I roll out long or short, or high, or low, or look like I'm three beers past my limit on a taxiway...then one time I land on the centerline, roll out like a pro, and park like someone who knows what they're doing.

Brief moments of awe surrounded on all sides by inadequacy.

Any time I start to feel too good about myself I have an aircraft in my do-everything multi training mission on the CV downwind. Always, always, always short and left. I know, the runway is crabbing sideways at 45.6 feet per second, but I haven't found the trick to adjust for that in the groove.

<edit>

I have two ships lined up at 1.2 miles port of the carrier, one abeam of the stern and another 3/4 mile aft so I have reference points. Nice to know I hit those points well, still can't cross the threshold without the LSOs diving for cover.

</edit>

That guy? Total android. Not even human. The whole thing is probably CGI.

 

 

Real people can't do things like that! :joystick::pilotfly:

 

 

Seriously, I wish you'd do a couple more. Lots of theory, which is wonderful and extremely helpful (I've got copious notes), but it's like Nuke School. Once you have the theory down you're half done.

 

 

 

Another video with the practical side of things would be great. A track file would be better, so we can see what it's supposed to look like, and can work on the muscle memory without ironing in bad habits.

Ha.

Ya, now that the flight model has *stabilized* a bit, I plan on making more this summer. As you said, putting it all together from a more complete, practical, "that pilot sh!t" perspective.

Ha.

Ya, now that the flight model has *stabilized* a bit, I plan on making more this summer. As you said, putting it all together from a more complete, practical, "that pilot sh!t" perspective.

That's good to hear Lex. Looking forward to it. Thanks for passing on your experience. :thumbup:

Ha.

Ya, now that the flight model has *stabilized* a bit, I plan on making more this summer. As you said, putting it all together from a more complete, practical, "that pilot sh!t" perspective.

That would be SO awesome! Thank you so much! I'm sure everyone appreciates the time people like you and G B and Mover give us.

Looking forward to it!

I agree with everybody Lex. Your videos got me landing much more consistent.

I'll watch anything you make and probably watch it multiple times.

Thanks.