DCS AV-8B Harrier VTOL Tutorial

A quick guide to how to perform VTOL take offs and landings
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Kneeboard:
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Training mission (DCS 1.5.8):
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Tutorial playlist:
• DCS AV-8B NA Harrier T...
Livery used in video:
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[@lincolnjia1707]

Your voice is able to calm down any emergency situation, nice tutorial man!

[@djpcradock]

Great tutorial. The developers should pay you to have this included in the actual game.

[@rehil123]

well done thanks for all of your hard work on these and Merry Christmas and best in new year

[@DaveVoyles]

This was the best Harrier tutorial I’ve seen yet!

[@madbain79]

thank you for these easy to follow tutorials, being ADD i find them easy to understand and follow. again thank you

[@mackan072]

Oooh, you included the mission file this time Great work, as always!

[@seagav8923]

very well done! very clear, concise and easy to follow. Thank you!!

[@MrPhantom453]

Great stuff again. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@flyingdutchman700]

Outstanding tutorial, specialy on such a complex aircraft to operate

[@goldensparrow1187]

Thanks for the tutorials and links.....they're a great help.

Wow awesome tutorial! Thank you sir!

[@davidelliott8364]

Hi there @RedKite. I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for not just this video but the entire collection of your work. I have not watched every single video but the number I have are all of the same, clear, practical instruction. The production value of the video is good which only enhances being able to grasp what is being said. I do not know if others have mentioned this, I imagine they have, but I sought out your videos when trying to follow the DCS training for the Harrier. I do not wish to mean but the DCS videos lack a certain something. I think that something is too much emphasis on a 'military' style (as if you are a pilot supposedly being taught) as opposed to a 'human being' style which your videos give. Whatever the differences, I am very grateful to you. Like everyone that flies, or in my case, crashes, a lot, in DCS, they have spent a significant sum of money. For the training to not hit the mark is not great, to say the least. With your videos guidance, whilst I will never be Douglas Bader (perhaps I could have been chosen a better example there 😳) I can at least enjoy the aircraft and slowly but slowly see improvement over time. Thank you for your work. I truly hope that you are recognised, not just within the community, but in a tangible way that can help you to keep making, and of course updating, such great content. All the best to you and yours. Have a great weekend, Dave

[@muttleyjones2]

Well done great control I am impressed. Not as exciting as a dogfight maybe but well worth a watch I think in order to see this manouvre executed. Thumbs up!

[@rudelchw]

Thanks for the mission file ... very toughtful :)

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my plane takes off fine but about 70 feet it starts to pitch up. Everyone is saying 82 is the magic nozzle position and thats where I have it. flaps in TO and H2O is on. my weight is good. and as she starts to nose up I put in slight nose down pitch but she doesnt accept it. just ends up going backwards and crashes. what am I doing wrong?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

nvm I noticed i was holding down brakes the entire time. as soon as I stopped that it worked fine...not sure what wheel brakes have to do with VTOL when i'm already in the air but thats the only thing I did differently and it worked fine once I released it.

[@RedKiteRender]

Thats.... interesting, i was going to ask if you're allowing the aircraft to drift backwards, keep it either forwards or minimal / no reverse when hovering otherwise bad things happen.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

yaaa might just chalk that one up to it being in beta

[@amosmoses8656]

I and so greatful for your videos, thank you so much.

[@dickboogaard3175]

Thanks for tis info. Neatly and with mastery explained.

[@dogrokket]

Great tutorial, thank you!

[@VELCRO666]

Awsome kneeboard dude cheers

[@lilkris3008]

I’m thinking of picking this up during the sale to hold me over till the Apache comes out in January the water management was something I was worried would be too complicated but this looks like a lot of fun

[@RedKiteRender]

Really unique aircraft, the water isn't something to worry about!

[@iainbradford4254]

Excellent as always. Just picked up the AV8B. After a couple of flights and actually making it kinda work but with some ugly touchdowns and I now know a much better idea what I need to watch for. Thanks

[@RedKiteRender]

Cheers! glad to of been of help.

[@iainbradford4254]

@@RedKiteRender One question: towards the beginning of this video you bring up a 'stores and fuel' page where you can dynamically change the mass of the aircraft. I listened a few times but I can't understand the key combo, can you write it please.

[@RedKiteRender]

@@iainbradford4254 The Rearming window? That's Left Alt + @' I think there might be some issues on the exact combo depending on what region your keyboard is from. Check the controls page for 'Rearming and refuelling window' Sorry if my voice was not clear, these earlier videos i was still getting my voice as it were, and learning/improving on audio production skills.

[@iainbradford4254]

@@RedKiteRender I did actually just about made it out, but it didn't work so assumed I'd made a mistake. I have a Nordic keyboard so the @ is in a weird position. But now thanks to you I know what the 'window' is called so it should be easy to find it in controls. Thanks

[@mich159isepic]

very informative, keep it up!

[@GoodGuysGaming]

Incredible tutorial. Thaks so much!

[@GoodGuysGaming]

Do you fly in a particular group? I have a very nice gaming community and a few of us are looking to learn the sim.

[@RedKiteRender]

I fly with a group already, unfortunately i don't have the time to teach people to fly, beyond these videos, which already take up a lot of my time.

[@stalhuth]

thanks for this will be great to see a tutorial of the TGP using

[@yoosta22]

Nice job. Great teacher.

[@vulturesrowmodels]

Thanks! Nice tutorial!

[@davewhite3508]

Terrific series of videos. Many thanks.

[@BuzZoo]

Make it look so easy!

[@Michael-4]

Just the job, thanks.

[@TheConqueror1453]

Nice Tutorial Thank You

[@TheSkipjack95]

Using the rcs will also increase temperature in the hover, as the decs will increase fuel flow into the engine to maintain performance with the loss of RPM caused by the tapping of air from the turbine (iirc) to feed the rcs. Can become dangerous with heavy weight and water flowing already.

[@monkman911]

Great vid RedKite! Finally a tutorial that is concise and meaningful. I do have a question for the DCS community regarding this aircraft however. I use a Winwing throttle quadrant and split the throttle levers, one for power, the other for nozzle angle. I noticed that when I transition from 82 degrees to 83 degrees there is quite a lot of movement with the lever before it registers the next number. Is this normal for this module? Thank you in advance!

[@Plydrms]

Very nice! What map are you flying on, and what air base?...thanks

[@hmleao]

So the flaps are used in cruise position to take off? What's de difference between auto and cruise? VSTOL is used only to land then? Your explanations are some of the best I've seen around. Thx.

[@xxjj4082]

This is in both the tutorial and in the manual but I have not found were to actually change this setting "Set Stabilator Trim to Takeoff Trim (2 deg nose down). Is there a button, a scroll menu, something I've missed for sure...

[@FooshMan]

It’s your elevator pitch trim.

[@DaSnowFangs]

Put the nose wheel into CAST in order to prevent tipping from sideslip.

[@cutlass6332]

In your training mission file. I can't get the JTAC to respond, must I need to be using "simple radio" options? In Harrier cockpit its set at 127.500 I see JTAC is set at 133 in mission editor

[@RedKiteRender]

Harrier only has simple radio interaction at this time.

[@optimusmoose9171]

How did you get that paint

[@unfathomable1876]

I have flipped about 40 times trying this.. But when I watched this video it was like butter

[@RedKiteRender]

If you're struggling consider setting up some curvature for your pitch/roll axis(try 30-40) and reduce as you see fit. Real life pilots have much larger joysticks and greater precision than ours generally. This will give you greater precision in the lower end of movement at expense of some precision at the higher end.

[@unfathomable1876]

RedKite thanks! It helped alot!

[@BartB1986]

@Unfathomable, What also helps is (If you have a Thrustmaster Warthog) to get an extension for your joystick. This makes it much more precise, but setting up a curvature is less expensive offcourse ;).

[@unfathomable1876]

BartB1986 I was always pondering on weather I should buy the warthhog or not but I'm definitely making the investment now that the announce of the hornet is out

[@RicheUK]

Great Video, thanks. Can I ask what controllers you use?

[@RedKiteRender]

kzbin.infoabout

[@RicheUK]

thanks

[@snappcloud6157]

How to get all those HUD information. Bought the module today but there is no video explaining how to get those details

[@RedKiteRender]

The inputs visualisation? that's ctrl + enter if i recalled correctly, but you shouldn't need it when flying yourself, since, well, you can feel where your physical controls are.

[@KirkFord]

What's the deal with the AOA HUD indicator? It was showing 75 degrees of angle on touchdown. Is it a bug or a feature?

[@RedKiteRender]

The Angle of attack is the difference between the pitch angle of the aircraft and the angle the air is flowing over it, since i was descending with almost no forwards speed, the aoa is very high as the air is flowing up from below the nose. This is correct behavior.

[@KirkFord]

Excellent, thank you for the clarification.

[@GIZALARF]

Hi, I can't afford a HOTAS system and wonder, if this jet can be configured to be used via my keyboard in the same way that I fly and use for the MIG, F15C, SU25, A10 ?

[@RedKiteRender]

Uhm, technically yes, but you'll struggle to operate the more complex systems or hover with it. If you've got an xbox 360 controller Look up Tuuvas's channel, he's got great references for setting that up with the Harrier.

[@Airsniper1]

Ok; Found the button and now have the Mission. Button was hidden. Will this work on 2.5? Uninstalled 1.5.8.

[@RedKiteRender]

Yes, the mission converts over automatically without any issues.

[@MongooseTacticool]

Butter! :)

[@brettallen2129]

how do you bring the arm panel for weight check prior to take off??? is it a mod???is it on other planes too????

[@RedKiteRender]

00:18

[@brettallen2129]

RedKite hi I did not hear what was said after left alt. I’m also having difficulties vertically taken ng off I’m following all instructions but the plane is spinning around , do you need to apply rudder and brakes and I’m also taking off into the wind

[@RedKiteRender]

Lalt-@ thinking about it, it might be Lalt " if you're on an american keyboard. brakes prior to lift off, soon as airborne release, rudder and other controls as needed to maintain steady flight, if your joystick is too small/sensitive and you're overcorrecting consider adding a curvature to it in the axis asign menu of controls.

[@cromwellthesynth]

how do you get that awesome looking livery!?

[@RedKiteRender]

You can find custom liveries for dcs on the user files section of the Eagle dynamics website: www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3053236/

[@Novacngood185]

To add to the op's Question. Ive got the files. In which do I place them . I couldn't find an AV8B folder in the Bazzar folder. Tried creating one but no joy.

[@RedKiteRender]

they go in C:\Users\Username\Saved Games\DCS\Liveries\av8bna\

[@shillen65]

Hi Pal, need your help... I´m thinking about grabbin the Normandy / WWII-Asset bundle. But i had to read some guys saying the map isn´t woth the money and the performance is really bad. As you´re doing this Harrier-tutorials on Normandy, you should be able to say whether the map does work well or not (from your POV).

[@RedKiteRender]

Normandy sees very little use for me, i do use the ww2 assets but rarely the map, this is because i mostly fly modern aircraft. I'd strongly consider the Il-2 Great battles series if you're after a more complete WW2 sim, although DCS has the better systems and flight model. The Normandy map performs a little worse than the average map and doesn't see much use online. So unless you're looking to specifically fly ww2 in a group or solo i don't think it's worth it.

[@shillen65]

@@RedKiteRender thanx for reply. As far as I´m 100% singleplayer, the lack of online usage of the map is no problem for me.

[@TheBix8257]

I keep drifting to one side, no wind in mission. I keep her straight & steady but it slips like I'm on a skateboard....

[@RedKiteRender]

The harrier is not like a helicopter which hangs off of it's rotors, it dosen't self stabilize at all, you have to balance it manually, which means constant corrections to allow for the drift which is pretty much always present, this is a big part of why you want to always VTOL into the wind.

[@thelmaviaduct]

Love the skin. Are you on a UK map? How's that done?

[@RedKiteRender]

I'm on the Normandy map (dlc) with a custom fictional RAF livery :) (link in description)

[@antonioogando4705]

Hi, how to find the table of weight and balance to reduce the fuel? reduce weight to VSTOL ? I can t find it. Where is it? Thanks

[@RedKiteRender]

This was recorded before the feature existed, but you'll find the VREST page calculates VTOL weights for you. Otherwise you can do it same way i did on this video with pen/paper and mental maths

[@antonioogando4705]

@@RedKiteRender Thanks man

[@Mohkin-demon]

My vstol hud mode is missing several things, as well no attitude indicator ,pitch ladder, witches hat is missing the little I c I cross slip indicator while in vstol mode . I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. someone, anyone Help. Please! your assistance would be most appreciated. Reply

[@RedKiteRender]

Did you start the aircraft up yourself? it sounds like you missed the gen switch.

[@Mohkin-demon]

I resolved my issue by uninstalling DCS World 2.5 + then I re-installed it and everything functions correctly in reference to all indicators ,pitch ladders scales symbols gun, and missle sight reticles.

[@ivanbastos4963]

I had this issue too. My solution was to simply set the texture quality to high

[@bascomp1]

Left Alt ???? how did you open the wieghts menu

[@RedKiteRender]

Lalt - @

[@flayling7221]

Where did you get the skin from?

[@RedKiteRender]

It was on the ED user files web page on the eagle dynamics website, but this skin has since been removed, there's plenty more RAF skins on there though.

[@Lb8068]

Hey! Love the video but that livery you linked in the description isn't available any more. Is there any way you could get another link to it please? Thanks very much for the tutorial regardless!

[@Lb8068]

I should've done some searching before commenting! I found an excellent UK livery pack here for anyone wondering: www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3300606/

[@deltaflightsimmer3327]

wich joystick do you use ? :)

[@RedKiteRender]

kzbin.infoabout

[@raresbirzu2436]

I see that you fly above the engine limits for much more time. Don't you experience loose of power if you keep jpt above 645 and rpm above 1000 for more than 15 seconds? It happened for me many times and repair didn't fix it.

[@RedKiteRender]

I believe 800JPT and or 120% rpm is the 15 second limit emergency power, running above 100% rpm and temps around 700 is fairly common during vtol, it does slowly degrade the engine. The aircraft is quite maintenance heavy especially when used for VTOL which is why they typically opt for STOL instead. It's something like 110% rpm / 700JPT has a 15 min limit per flight, though i'm not sure how it's modeled in dcs. I think it's a bug that the engine does not get repaired. If you're finding the engine dying out quickly, there is a good chance you've been running it hard throughout your flight beforehand and already worn it down. I've experienced the power loss problem in the past, but i've not seen it since i started being more mindful of my engine use. Bear in mind that whilst the DEC does help maintain safe limits, it does not prevent engine wear caused by the pilot, even in conventional flight.

[@raresbirzu2436]

well, I'm more careful with engine too after I got it wrecked for a few times. I've got it messed up by vertical take offs. I did like 4 vertical take offs and 4 v. landings and the engines didn't help me no more. Then tried to repair but couldn't get off the ground. Maybe as you said, it should be a bug. Hope for the new update from 1.5.8( on av8b) to also come soon on 2.2.

[@RedKiteRender]

Yep, that would do it haha! currently 2.2 and 1.5.8 have differing versions of the harrier on 1.5.8 for example the screens are greenscale! (correct colour) I expect we'l see updates speed up once the 2.5 merge happens late January.

[@raresbirzu2436]

Yes, right. Can't wait to see 2.5. I wonder if it'll be any change on graphics in Nevada map as Caucasus map will look so different.

[@raresbirzu2436]

645 jpt and 1000 rpm is maximum continuously use. My bad. I have just read it in manual right now.

[@Airsniper1]

HOW do I get the Mission?? No button to access it.

[@RedKiteRender]

Press 'Show more', under the video description.

[@Airsniper1]

Not seeing that option, sorry.

[@RedKiteRender]

www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3077188/

[@Montis.]

I don't get it, how do you take off without using any H2O?

[@RedKiteRender]

H2O is automatically used only when the engine power is high and it's getting hot, heavier you are the more likely you are to need it, pushing the H2O select on also changes the engine profile to allow for more power.

[@mrpawno4955]

Top left speed ist Calibrated Airspeed tho, not IAS

[@Kartoffeljoghurt]

the harrier is sucking away that fuel so quickly, tried a multiplayer match yesterday and had to rtb pretty damn quickly because I was running out of fuel and another funny thing I noticed: until now I used the sliding marker for AoA as an indicator on how much trust to put out to hover properly. Like when it's above the zero-line add thrust, when it's below lower the thrust... that works too ^-^

[@RedKiteRender]

There's always external fuel tanks or AAR :) but she does drink pretty quickly on high power. The AOA will tell you the angle you're descending with so i can see how it's helpful, i personally prefer the variometer on the right though.

[@juniorslothsix5562]

What's he water for?

[@RedKiteRender]

It's injected into the engine to cool it, the switch also changes the engine profile to allow it to run at higher power than normal.

[@unit0033]

why does it carry water

[@RedKiteRender]

Water injection serves to both boost the engine power (higher pressure) and cool it too! Allows for a temporary increase in power at expense of engine lifespan.

[@thisisadebrown]

The problem is if it has those markings on it and around all, it is not an AV8B

[@RedKiteRender]

It is an AV8B NA, Its got a fictional RAF GR.5 livery on it. GR.5's have two more pylons and a few other alterations.

[@TechGaming45]

Vwey good.

[@brettallen2129]

Left alt that’s all I can understand?? I did not quite hear after left alt

[@SomaFlly]

way too much math for me, im out

[@voltag3man]

you took a 2 minute tutorial and stretched it into 16 minutes...