DCS: F-14B Tomcat | Navigation Tutorial | Mission Editor & Multiplayer!

This is a tutorial covering the basics of how to navigate in the DCS: F-14B Tomcat as well as how to set up a flight plan in both the mission editor and a multiplayer server where you aren't given any waypoints beforehand.
While not nearly as sexy as BFM, CASE I's or dropping bombs, it is still very important to learn how to properly navigate in the F-14 as this serves as your foundation, with all other Tomcat knowledge being built on top of it!
Navigating in the F-14 Tomcat is not as straightforward and automated as it is in either the F/A-18C or AV-8B and requires some more planning and thought for both pilots and mission makers.
Here is a link to my Patreon Page every bit of support helps! / spudknocker
If you want to contact me with feedback on videos or want to collaborate feel free to join my personal discord here: / discord

[@Spudknocker]

Gotta know where to go in order to fight!

[@L3AF]

or you can just buzz the tower over and over and over again. xD

[@bleeckertb]

hey are those multiplayer map WPs added onto the kneeboard so a human RIO can input them?

[@WhiteEagleTube]

Dont forget Spud to make sure the Tacan command selector is set to Rio or “NFO” or the HSD wont show the RIOs tacan info it will be showing your default station, usually home base.

[@helinick81]

great Vid bro.. but I am a RIO and would love to see exactly this video from the REAR seat... something you are interested in doing for us RIO's ? thanks in advance !

[@hornetdriver8509]

Well that sure answered some questions! Thanks for putting this out there Spud!

[@rwhunt99]

As always, clear concise and to the point, thanks for helping us out!

[@Piergeiron]

This is immensely helpful! Thanks for the insights, gonna go and edit my missions RIGHT NOW! :D

[@spartansix9944]

Great tutorial! I had no idea you could do the IP and ST from the map.

[@IDRio]

Just started DCS, and this is very helpful, thanks!

[@Spudknocker]

imw123 well it’s a great time to get started in DCS!

[@IDRio]

@@Spudknocker Indeed! Still learning the A-10C, will bought the tomcat once my budget allows. The system requirement for DCS is too damn high.. lol

[@cowboy10uk]

Any chance of doing a similar video, but from a RIOs point of view. I can get tacan working, but struggling when it comes to inputting waypoints into the system. They never seem to work.

[@whiplashw3948]

Set your "messages" under the Data entry panel there to "TAC" and then select WP1... and then do the regular LAT LON entries with coordinates and click enter and then set the steerpoint to WP1 on the TID.

[@Scarebus_Driver]

Great video thanks mate!

[@Spudknocker]

Thanks for watching! I hope it helped!

[@silentdeath213]

Thanks for this. Ive really been struggling in the editor.

[@Spudknocker]

Ya I understand, its not 100% straight forward and no spelled out in the manual. I really hope that it can be better integrated to make the process more streamlined. I would even like it if realism was sacrificed and allowed us to use more than 3 waypoints

[@silentdeath213]

When I was creating my own missions I was able to put as many waypoints down as I wanted. I could also use jester to select those inside the mission itself. Unsure if that’s a bug to be fixed or what.

[@1melph1]

Thank you for the tutorial.....just what o needed.

[@PolTen72]

Very useful info. Thanks.

[@hawkeyemt6319]

Always there when we need you 😉

[@Teejay82_]

Super helpful :) TYVM

[@Arkham_UK]

Thanks spud!!

[@warrenzechnas]

Brilliant!

[@grizzworld]

Thank you so much Spud it is exactly what i needed right now . if you could throw in a vid on how to read and operate the trinity of dials (speed, barometric and Radar altimeter) i would be eternally thankfull ... Cheers GRIZZ

[@inf3243]

AFIK the Fixed Point isn't used for an Egress, but should be a visible landmark you can do an INS fix on, before you run in to the IP.

[@shydncrumph8119]

Awesome! thx!

[@denny9278]

watching this in a 4k tv, and it is outstanding, is like the real life, at least it give me the impression, only if they improve scenery lod radius a little bit, but again, is impressive, the F14 looks and shine as the real thing 👍

[@Spudknocker]

Denny 927 similarly I cannot recommend watching DCS videos on an iPad enough they are gorgeous!

[@JudsonCc514]

Very helpful stuff, Spud, thanks. Any idea on how human RIO's can incorporate manual waypoints?

[@GW2Vids1]

I set up a manual waypoint too and it wouldn't show up, but didn't try selecting it multiple times through Jester. Think it's a bug.

[@gUm_bY745]

Great video man, are you using eye tracker or vr?

[@brutus_ch]

Thx !!

[@oliverherberts3445]

If i put a waypoint where the target is, can i slew the lantirn pod to the floor on that waypoint?

[@varanzmaj]

How do I get the Link4 Data Link to work on multiplayer servers that have it enabled?

[@callsignchaser2751]

you mention the mark label tool on the multi player mission editor - where is that tool?

[@stalhuth]

you forgot "aaasssssss always" :)

[@Spudknocker]

Ernesto Reyes uh oh... you’re right! What was I thinking! 🤣

[@yehehput]

Great video. Please can you do a navigation tutorial for us RIOs. WP entry as well as using radio set course towards airfields etc. Tacan seems simple but radio and NAV confuse. Thanks!

[@BlackAces1983]

Awesome as usual, really liking these tutorials. Would like to see somebody do a flying tutorial, explaining how to fly using stick and rudder under high AoA and so forth. Because I'm seeing all these youtubers flying this thing with ease, and I'm over here being quite frustrated and used to FBW jets like the Hornet. Or if somebody could point me to such a tutorial it would be nice.

[@jejelerider3278]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGbSoZ15rsyNq8k you're welcome

[@czechpilot]

Hi, I would highly recommend F-14B NATOPS and then flight characteristic chapter, there is lots of good theory and then you can practice these mnvrs later on in the air :))

[@czechpilot]

Hi, I would highly recommend F-14B NATOPS and then flight characteristic chapter, there is lots of good theory and then you can practice these mnvrs later on in the air :))

[@BlackAces1983]

@@jejelerider3278 @czechpilot Awesome, time to study.

[@Itzo_]

Should add "Pilot with Jester" or something in the title.

[@keepwalking6041]

i stil can't find info how do you steer your plane according to altitude, ..direction i get it.. but altitude?..

[@victorleonard7087]

Hi Spud, nice video. Where can i get the coordinates for the Persian Gulf reactor site? Thanks!

[@Spudknocker]

Victor Leonard I don’t think there is one on the map? I could be wrong?

[@victorleonard7087]

@@Spudknocker Thanks for the quick reply!

[@Spudknocker]

Victor Leonard no prob!

[@Arkaine_]

Nvm the first, second and third waypoints. Can Jester do the IP, ST and FP in the air ?

[@spitfirefrench]

yes

[@fusselbirne4374]

Hey guys, maybe someone can help me really quick. I bought the F14 Tomcat over the DCS e-Shop. It worked all fine, but the Module is not in my modules List, so I can't even download the plane. :( The order says "completed" but it doesn't work... Does anybody know what I did wrong? And what also strange is, that the module is not down in the selection tab in DCS World where I can choose my plane to fly. Does anybody have an idea?

[@theflyinggasmask]

well, it's all fine and dandy to tell jester what to do, but how do you do all of this with a human RIO?

[@MongooseTacticool]

Discord or SRS? :) many MP servers have channels for both I imagine.

[@JoeTheSpaceGuy]

Hey I’m playing as RIO and a back seat tutorial for navigation would be great!

[@Knubinator]

When JESTER adds the waypoints, does it delete them from the map? Would hate to see a super cluttered map on GaW or TTI

[@OzWannabe]

They are gone once entered. I can't see them on the map once entered. In fact I haven't even checked after opening and closing the F10 map. Nevertheless, Jester is inserting them correctly

[@akisakis7980]

So far so good...if only jester had an auto STT lock that would be great lol

[@Spudknocker]

Curious here why would you want an Auto STT lock from jester?

[@Cloudglow]

If I'm not mistaken, you can add 3 normal waypoints and then these kind of waypoints; Fix Point (FP), Initial Point (IP), Surface Target (ST), Defended Point (DP), Hostile Area (HA) then 5 other datalink ones. So I think... sorry... WE think you're data is inaccurate mr.Spud ;)

[@sedlo]

Can you add multiple navigation points, or just one DO, one IP and one ST?

[@Spudknocker]

Its unfortunately WP 1,2,3 and Home Base, and then IP, ST and FP. However using jester and the F10 map you can change them on the fly.

[@sedlo]

Roger that. Just trying to port my Red Flag mission over. It’s proving to be very frustrating ;)

[@Spudknocker]

@@sedlo I already tried haha its difficult as you said... just gotta come up with straight lines to replace a few points... All 14 waypoints still show on the Kneeboard map though

[@sedlo]

@@Spudknocker Yeah... I'll have something by the weekend! If Heatblur is taking suggestions off your channel, if there was a way to make more DPs inside the editor, or give us the ability to set points on the map prior to getting into the cockpit, that'd be great!

[@Phoenix_VR]

Is there an option to control Jester using voice commands?!

[@StragTacGaming]

Voice Attack. It's a program

[@weltensegLA]

wouldn't it be appropriate to advertise deleting the markers afterwards? We'll have very busy F10 maps now :) Good video!

[@gryff42]

What's the difference between Waypoints and Fixed Point, Initial Point and Surface Target? Are those just "fancy" named waypoints?

[@Spudknocker]

Gryff they have to be placed differently, watch the mission editor portion of the videk

[@gryff42]

@@Spudknocker But this is only relevant if I want to create/edit missions, right?

[@whammo11224]

Where's the mission link?

[@BrikkTopX]

Thanks. Wasnt entirely sure about the waypoint system... My first attempts with the tomcat were a bit fustrating. Ranging from rolling off the carrier deck right after startup, ripping off wings, misjudging speed, going straight in to trees xD. Flying the F18 only spoils you somewhat. I really like jester, would be cool if you could interact with him a little bit more. Random comments or questions just for the lols. ;)

[@jlcmiles]

I struggled too, but mainly with flight characteristics. I noticed the Tomcat demands absolute respect with a nice balance of rudder and aileron at all times when making turns. Any sudden motions or unnatural jerks culminates into sending her off in a brutal rage that culminates with her either penalizing you with a wing flop, or worse... a flat spin

[@MongooseTacticool]

True. I've been throwing her around finding the edges of flight envelope. At a good altitude, If you push it, you can do some interesting things!

[@robstone7325]

could you please do a similar video with a human rio in the back seat, that would be awesome. because im lost in the rio seat

[@Spudknocker]

Yes Sir! Workin' on Learnin it myself!

[@robstone7325]

@@SpudknockerThankYou so much, I really enjoy watching your videos keep up the good work.

[@tswdev]

We need this functionality as RIO too. Don't want to be inputting coordinates all day. In fact, as RIO we should have the same Jester commands to ease us a bit. Else just ask your pilot to do all the shit first while you grab coffee and join with him after its all setup... clearly not ideal

[@bullitthead7853]

Maybe just input the coordinates after you take off, so you don't get bored... Get the pilot to head in the general direction, then start inputting coordinates.

[@Angus_Gibson]

But how do yu put navigate by the TACAN screen? Why is the middle of the arrow offset to one side?

[@konatelassina5301]

HAAAHHHGGHHgghghhh!!!! 12:17 how did you clean up your mirrors for that single moment!?!?!?!?! I've been looking for a week how to do that!!!!!

[@Spudknocker]

M Key

[@konatelassina5301]

@@Spudknocker Odd, when I do that, it just turns black.

[@exiletsj2570]

Currently the worst part about navigating, is that you can’t actually see the navigation screen, because of the giant metal stick thing in front of it

[@Spudknocker]

Ya a binding to hide the stick would be very welcome

[@BrikkTopX]

There is no binding for this? I was looking for this for ever , typing all kinds of possible words in the search function. xD. But good to know its not me.

[@jejelerider3278]

In Vr it's really not an issue, so for the real pilots it was not I suppose. Just move the head a little. The nav is basic. And normally you have someone behind to take care about that, you just have to follow is indication. "Mav, fly to the 280, 45 Nm"It's very new in DCS, but this plane was created to fly with a human RIO :)

[@azayomi]

It has been mentioned in the forums a number of times. The RIO in the back of the plane has a clear view don't they? So I guess you could just press "2" and jump to the back and look or get an actual human RIO. I do think hiding the stick would be a good solution.

[@BrikkTopX]

At the end its still a flight sim. So there should be an option to hide the stick. :)

[@buddheineken6198]

What are you setting the knobs below the display power up buttons? DEST? VEC? MAN? Really bad choice dark cockpit for the video.

[@LtRiot]

You know your $80 plane came with a manual right? DEST - Selects RIO set waypoint as steering command source. AWL/PCD - All-weather landing/precision course direction, selects glideslope guidance (ILS/ACLS) for landing or PCD for air-to-ground engagement directions as steering command source. VEC - Vector, selects data link deviation steering as steering command source. MAN - Manual, selects manually selected course and heading as steering command source. www.heatblur.se/F-14Manual/cockpit.html

[@buddheineken6198]

@@LtRiot So what's the point of the video then?

[@LtRiot]

someone get this bitch a pacifier