DCS F/A-18C Hornet DEFINITIVE Navigation & Autopilot Tutorial

Hey guys! In this definitive DCS F/A-18C Hornet tutorial we are taking a look at the Auto Pilot and Navigational systems. These two systems are inextricably linked via the Autopilot Coupled mode and is why are combining these two systems into a single video.
The navigational portion of this video will be broken down into INS Waypoint navigation and ground based navigational aids like TACAN. The Autopilot Coupled Mode portion of this video will cover both Waypoint and TACAN Navigation including flying inbound and outbound on specific Radials.
Waypoint creation will be its own separate video for quick reference.
0:00:00 - Tutorial Series Intro
0:03:15 - Auto Throttle (ATC)
0:06:30 - Autopilot - ATTH / BALT / RALT
0:12:00 - Autopilot - HSEL Heading Select
0:15:40 - Navigation - INS Waypoints
0:20:15 - Navigation - TACAN
0:22:00 - Autopilot Coupled Waypoint Sequence
0:27:00 - Autopilot Coupled TACAN Radial
0:34:00 - TACAN DME Explanation
0:36:00 - TACAN Inbound Radial
0:39:45 - TACAN Outbound Radial
►System Specs DCS/Gaming PC:
GPU: GeForce RTX 3090
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-10900K CPU @ 5.20GHz
Memory: 64 GB RAM 3600mhz
Current resolution: 2560 x 1080, 144Hz
►►System Specs Dedicated Server/Video Editing PC:
GPU: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3800X @ 3.9GHz
Memory: 32GB RAM
►►Here is a link to my Patreon Page every bit of support helps make awesome DCS videos and missions possible!
/ spudknocker
►►If you want to contact me with feedback on videos or want to collaborate feel free to join my personal discord here:
/ discord
►►And if you do donate to my Patreon make sure to link your discord account for your Roles in my Discord server.

[@Spudknocker]

Hey guys! if you would like me to make an ADF, Holding pattern or Radial Vs Course Line Tutorial please let me know! Links Below: Airspeed Types and Differences: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3-ldaxre7ytjac Definitive Taxi & Take Off Tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIK6mX-ql9GJZtk Definitive Start Up Tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp6zoX-VnNWXmqc

[@Spudknocker]

@@christoskelaiditis653 Hey man, check out these settings, They havent changed since this video was made kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIHZkGV4gZxmjKs

[@michaelmcconnell3777]

Yes please! Your 2022 primer on the Hornet systems are both timely and fantastic. Thank you for taking the time to teach those that want to learn more and aim for maximum immersion.

[@faelwolf1177]

@@christoskelaiditis653 YMMV of course, but I've had better luck with things like MSAA etc. turned off in the sim, and run AA through my graphics card settings instead. Some basic additions in reshade put it over the top, and I can run consistent high frame rates, up to 140+ fps on the Syria map offline at low alt over a city. (I run a 5700x/6800xt combo)

[@lordangelscockpit]

I love your videos, very well done! I would love to see videos for the ADF, Holding pattern or Radial Vs Course Line Tutorial. Btw, do you have your trackIR profile listed in the user files? It looks very smooth.

[@thecoolguy7403]

make every thing there is for this plane. Its presented very well and clear.

[@tinmanjr33]

All of the tutorials you asked for sounding off..PLEASE DO THEM ALL! These have been useful beyond belief, and they're well explained in a very descriptive manner. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us out, you have been a life saver

[@Prifly70]

Right? He makes it seem so easy. When other videos confuse the crap out of me with mistakes and "no wait I didn't mean to do that, lets start over" .

[@morid1n]

I want, nay, need ALL THE TUTORIALS for everything.

[@darrenpurves6150]

I have just got back into DCS after a long lay off, your skills and way of teaching are 2nd to none pal. Big respect from Bonny Scotland :)

[@justhuggy8570]

Where would we be, and go, without your indepth and comprehensive tutorials, thank you so much for the endless effort you put into these tutorials every time.

[@eustaceomalley6071]

Great work. I know late comment, but your tutorials are the best out there that I've found for the F-18. PLEASE DO THEM ALL if you have not already! Thank you very much for all your work!

[@benneboii8117]

Holy shit. As a complete noob who has recently gotten into this stuff this is amazing. Having things explained to me like I'm 5 is amazing. I will watch your entire series on the F18.

[@razrides]

Learned many new things today. I hope this series continues. Thank you!

[@rhysgoodman7628]

I love coming to videos like these just to see the wholesome comments.

[@MayBT7274]

Not all heroes wear capes! Or maybe you do :D ? Thank you for this tutorial series! With most Hornet guides being years old it is hard to find a definite guide to how some things in the Hornet work cause since the updates changed lots of things. Your guides are informative, straight to the point and with the more or less fully finished Hornet; just perfect! Thank you very much, Spud!

[@meeyoouuzeek]

Spud, thank you for the instructional videos! I vote for a video on a case 3 carrier approach. Truly appreciate this series.

[@gyoza3339]

These are extremely helpful And I'm so glad to have tutorials that is up to date! Thanks for making these!

[@stuartbraithwaite1297]

Great tutorial. Your tutorials are some of, if not the best on DCS. Keep up the good work much appreciated.

[@IRONIC1688]

I'm very greatful for finding this tutorail! Thank you so much. This helped a lot and I think now I got the hornet AP modes. Keep making this wonderful and helpful content.

[@E-Lighterswon]

In the future, can you explain the differences between Case 1, 2, and 3, when/if you provide a tutorial on the Supercarrier? And maybe show how we are supposed to communicate with the Carrier when header back home after a mission and go through the process with comms and the whole process of landing. You always make it look so easy. And you explain things so well and with great detail. And you show work-arounds and shortcuts, which are pretty cool. It's one thing to read the manual and it's another to actually see the process in action. I love you videos. Keep on flying in the Free World.

[@adsolutegeek9195]

Just bought my F/A-18C last week. This guide has been really helpful to me. looking forward for the next video in this definitive guide series :)

[@deetwodcs4683]

I just bought the Hornet, so awesome that you're doing this! I can't wait for the Air to air radar, BVR, BFM, and ACM.

[@velvety3459]

Thank you so much for this tutorial video, along with your other ones! You're patient, clear and very informative.

[@trevorlegg3223]

Fantastic! As a new player ( 3 months ) it’s a continuous evolution to learn these amazing machines and your videos are just first class and so helpful. I come back an refer to them all the time. Clearly these take a huge amount of time and effort, thank you Spud!

[@Spudknocker]

Honestly sometimes the ROI for my time put into these videos just doesnt add up... but its comments like these that make it all worth it, so thank you Trevor, I hope this video helps you out!

[@Cobalt135]

@@Spudknocker Just back into PC gaming after about 14 years of doing other things. Started with Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 all thru FSX and it's F-18. Decided to build a gaming rig a month ago and downloaded DCS with Nevada terrain and Supercarrier module. Downloaded two FA-18c manuals and paged about to see what I was in for. I knew it would be deep, started to feel a little overwhelmed. Decided I it would be best to just KZbin tutorials and yours have hit the mark for myself as I understand navigation systems/ILS, aircraft systems etc. I just needed info on how to use/operate the F-18 systems such as the AOA system for landing, how to use the autopilot, and how to navigate TACAN. Your "On speed AOA" and this video gave me everything I need to get in the air with the proper procedures. Just from looking at this channel's videos the high view counts on the tutorials show you have helped many thousands be more proficient. As I want to increase my knowledge into the radar and weapons systems I will be looking here first!

[@Steelshooter]

Spud, Thank you so much for all the effort you have put into these instructional videos. I thought that being a clear weather GA pilot the transition to the sim world would be relatively easy, wow was I wrong. I find myself constantly way behind the aircraft and learning it's systems has been an up hill battle for sure. If it wasn't for your instruction I would be completely lost. Your instructional style is going to really pay off with your CFII and if you were local I would book you for my next check ride to blow off all the dust and break some bad habits. After I put some more time under my belt in DCS I'm hoping to do some one on one training with you. Thank you once again.

[@Spudknocker]

You are very welcome! Thankfully my CFII days are behind me now! haha!

[@kennethhicks2113]

Reviews are always good! Excellent job! Been playing with other sim and switching a/c is such a challenge. Need to get back into my F/A 18... geez... know I'm gonna sux... The close to real function is a reason many of us luv the Hornet. Great presented content, Keep Truckin

[@loco6924]

Heard this alle before in so many ways but still you had new ideas for the "real" use. Inbound Radial is like ILS in bad weather, great! Thank you for your great inspirations. Keep on flying!

[@TheFlightLevel]

This is an excellent tutorial. Just downloaded DCS for the first time a couple of days ago. Been on Flight Simulator since the early days. Quite a learning curve but excellent flight models. Will visit your channel regularly. Blue skies!

[@cubedocity]

Loving the new updated tutorials, very informative and relevant. :) keep it up

[@faelwolf1177]

I'm glad to see this series. There is so much outdated info for this module out there that it's difficult to find valid training vids, and makes it very frustrating to try to learn this aircraft.

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

Excellent tutorial on Nav and Auto Pilot. Excellent practical description of Heading and Course. Also really enlightened me on how the different Auto Pilot modes work. Good effort sir. And yes please on more of the advanced navigation. DCS is not all dropping bombs and dogfighting!

[@GregFliesVR]

You're like a teacher i would hope for during his lectures! Amazing demonstration! Thank you for your time! Subbed then subbed again your videos are A+

[@arcadium86]

Thanks a lot for this HowTo serie mate ! One of the bests online ! 👍🏻🙏🏼

[@sloppydog4831]

Love the intro: synthwave and all. You are a gentleman of fine taste, sir.

[@RagsAIN-14]

I got my 1st mod f-18c in the DCS open beta world. Self-teaching makes it for a long curve 🫣 deeply appreciate any and all from beginning to possibly advanced. Deeply appreciated. Do my best to take care of you for your time. Ty!⚓🇺🇸⚓

[@jimrowden7693]

Would live to watch you do a case III.

[@Prifly70]

Thanks SK. The tutorials in game are horrible and barely work. Your series is excellent and so easy to understand. Sometimes the most complex subjects just need a good teacher. Sub earned.

[@RagsAIN-14]

Hey Spuds!👋 I'm going to have to watch this a few times. I take 1 hour for landing in trap and also on runway. 1 hour in refueling which now is an issue with my hotas acting up. June will solve that. My main issue is to learn the radars and also as you taught here today. Anything and everything that you can would be priceless. Thank you, spuds awesome!

[@unityzero2024]

Thank you for this series , me and my friends are all new trying to learn the f18 in a sim for the first time and these vids help massively

[@Spudknocker]

I’m so glad they are helpful!

[@DJones476]

Awesome new intro, Spud! It's decadently and uncompromisingly '80s! 😎

[@UkDave3856]

it's always good to have a refresher

[@Bearded_Moose]

Thanks for this Spud! Really helped and showed me what I was missing

[@ByronLina]

Keep making these please Spud - especially the landing video, don't leave me hanging!

[@michallacki9462]

These are the best DCS tutorials I've come across. Most guides lack the explanation behind why you're selecting certain switches ( which means you also don't really understand the systems ). I'm quite a nerd and love to know exactly why you're selecting each options to fully grasp the aircraft. P.S. My personal request for the next tutorial would be a carrier landing. Thank you sir! Looking forward to more of your content

[@williamstilgoe61]

So much info in measured logical steps. I’m just off to try it out. Thanks

[@smokie71]

Just want to say thank you for the excellent easy to understand instructions.

[@sprinkle_some_crack_on_em8279]

Spud is the best. Good luck with the new gig dude. Anyone flying with you is in great and capable safe hands

[@Mustis1524]

I'm really hoping you'll continue this series!

[@tuffguy007]

This is a great nav tutorial -- thanks so much.

[@remingtonsteele3493]

Thank you very much for this great video and your fantastic DEFINITIVE tutorials for the F/A-18C 👍🏻 A tutorial about the course-line etc. would be great and very helpful 😊

[@docholliday1811]

Oh man thank you for the tutorial, I am new to this flight simulator and I really appreciate your help!

[@Spudknocker]

No problem man! Glad I can help!

[@dougwhite414]

Fantastic video and explanation! Thank you!

[@harfang8188]

Great vid Can't wait to see the next one😉

[@talapath]

Very helpful, thank you. Please do a video on CASE 3 approaches and holds at some point in your series!

[@deepcoolclear]

Thanks for this. Very clear and understandable.

[@cleberbastazine4903]

Thanks! Another great tutorial. I didn´t know the use of AP with Tacan. Radial and course lines are something obscure to me. I believe I understood the concepts but when I go to use in flight I go to nowhere (So thanks for make it clear). By th way, your idea on making an ADF, hoding pattern, radial vs course line (and Case III) tutorials are very welcome. Nice job Spud.

[@dallas88b]

And to answer you question about making Case III landing Tutorial - YES !!, ADF, Holding pattern or Radial Vs Course Line Tutorial...absolutely... your Tutorials are excellent...though I am sure a lot of effort for you...but so much appreciated. 😊

[@dallas88b]

Really Excellent. Thankyou. The in game Tutorial guide is bugged a bit (which confused me till I found a note on the dcs forum...I thought the problem was me) and having your guide is a great advantage...as mentioned by others here it also has the advantage of being uptodate. Thanks again

[@alpenjon]

Incredibly helpful, thanks!

[@pistolpeets9004]

Excellent tutorial! Very informative and to the point. Liked and subscribed!

[@Spudknocker]

Thanks for the sub!

[@chrisvanegmond3157]

This is awesome stuff, thanks so much!

[@chrisgoddard1855]

Keep them coming!!

[@jonathanriley7147]

You the man, Spud!

[@mikechenard9911]

I got to admit that I really enjoyed this tutorial. A few days ago i sent you a email after seeing your last 2 new tutorials requesting that when making your tutorial to use the full name followed by the acronym because as a newbie to DCS, i am not completely familiar with all the terms being used. Also, i am certain i am not alone. Well in this new tutorial you did in fact started to do just that and it was really easier to understand and follow. Not certain if it was due to my email i sent you but i don't really care. it certainly was great this time and hopefully it continues. Keep up the great work and i am really looking forward to more of these tutorial you are making as you are really great at teaching. Quad

[@Spudknocker]

Hey man I saw your email, I think I should just make a giant index of acronyms haha!

[@TakeTheHighground]

Thank you very much, this was super helpful!

[@Talifax]

First time I've watched you, I just got the F-18 and DCS in general. I was doing the in-game tutorials on this stuff and I was feeling totally overwhelmed. Thank you so much for this, it explained it extremely clearly, but you managed to do it while not feeling patronizing. Could you do one explaining the radar systems? I would really appreciate it.

[@apl1393]

This was incredibly helpful, please do more!! I'm a newcomer to DCS (about a month) and started with the F15 in the FC3 module. I thought I was ready for a more hands-on plane and chose the Hornet....How wrong I was . I was overwhelmed by the information I was getting and was getting more confused. This guide was so well made and descriptive. Dropping bombs is great, but if you don't know how to get to the target, its not much fun. Subscribed and liked. You have a new fan :)

[@Spudknocker]

Thanks man!

[@prosperow]

these are brilliant thank you

[@venomtrk]

Thank you very much for your efforts.

[@chefgreycatskitchen7488]

Thank you for this video!

[@negativghostrdr]

These are fantastic. I've watched a lot of these. It's a bit like drinking from a firehose however. I've been trying to play DCS for years now, but I keep getting overwhelmed. I give up, then try to pick it up months later after I've forgotten everything! Now I'm starting to try to chunk it down. Starting up, taking off and landing over and over. Now I'm going to try navigating from the cold start airport in the Caucases, to another nearby airport and back. This seems to be a little bit of a missing ingredient in any of the tutorials I've seen. I'm trying to think of simple tasks that necessitate learning a system of the aircraft, and being able to see what knowing that 'new' system will do for me in a practical sense. For example: It would be great if someone like yourself would go all the way through a task 'the hard way', then introduce a system on the aircraft that makes that task SO much easier. That's what I think I maybe need...."Exercises" created by somebody (like yourself) who really knows what they're doing. As awesome as it is, I can only hear so much highly alien technical information like this before I start zoning out unless you give me something to do with a small piece of that information that will help engrain it by giving me some implementation and repetion.

[@Sheltemz]

Awesome this helps me a lot

[@punga2875]

We want more tutorial for the f18! Good job!

[@ryansta]

Brilliant,thank you.

[@eyemack]

Great video, as always! Really comprehensive for new Hornet pilots. Just a small grammar point, you keep on saying it's a semi-colon that appears when a AP selection is made, but the symbol is a colon.

[@ericforster2970]

Awesome stuff, Spud. Very helpful. RE: turning off waypoint turn anticipation at 25:16 you can manage this by boxing "OVFLY" on the HSI > DATA > WYPT DDI page instead of messing with unboxing and reboxing the SEQ and AUTO modes. (See page 152 of the July 2023 EA Guide).

[@Spudknocker]

Dang dude thats some deep knowledge!

[@ericforster2970]

@@Spudknocker I'm a n00b in DCS, so sometimes you just get lucky ;) Keep up the good work, mate. I learn tons here!

[@trynasmash864]

Case III yes please. Thank you for your service in the DCS youtube enlightening service Spud. ;)

[@milesfast]

You are my favorite DCS tuber. I hope to someday be able to live up to this quality of content! 🫡

[@landonwasmuth7695]

Case 3 carrier landing please. love the videos

[@caseysaunders2137]

Nice job. Very comprehensive. It never really occurred to me to use CPL mode with TCN + CRS line. Cool feature. And Yes, a Case III vid would be great.

[@Spudknocker]

the F/A-18C can do some amazing things that I think most people in the DCS fan base dont know about!

[@sloppydog4831]

@@Spudknocker Well Spud, that can be said to most of modules. There are lots of small details and cool features that people don't know about. People tend to focus on the bad not the good, unfortunately. In the warbirds, for instance, the gyro compass is pointing one way when the engine is on idle, and other when the engine is on a cruise power, showing that the gyro vacuum pump is modelled. These small details is what makes DCS so great.

[@Wildharrier]

I've been trying out the F-18 with the 2 weeks free trial(props to ED again), and It is an amazing module, and very easy to learn, fly, and employ; Curiously, that's what takes me off the module, It is just too easy, even tho you can do everything you want, is kind of boring to do It for me. But I still recommend everyone yo try It, and if you like It, buy It, you Will have thousands of hours of fun. And with Spud's tutorials, you will have an easy time learning It If you have any problems!!

[@David-su9jq]

Very helpful

[@illuminati73]

i bought my first ever pc just to learn this game, [ i know im late guys] lol ive even got myself a warthog setup. but ive not even been able to take off yet lol this is 100% hardest thing ive ever played, thanks for putting up to date videos on for us noobs lol im going to keep trying.. great video

[@tomaszwota1465]

How are you faring half a year later? ;)

[@harambae6101]

amazing video, need one for the viper....

[@joespeed1952]

I wish my HOTAS mounts would hurry up and get here, I'm too excited to start getting serious about DCS!

[@jameswilliams1085]

More videos. On EVERYTHING please.

[@tituslaronius]

Case III and hold would be awesome!

[@domenique4641]

agreed

[@domenique4641]

Holding pattern and Radial Vs Course line tutorial w/ CASE III recovery sounds great to me. Maybe you could also include ADF or make a short exclusive video about it.

[@dragonslayer3203]

Yes, I would like that too!

[@arcadium86]

Would be really nice to see a comparison in between land ILS landing and CAT3 Procedure on the F18 Spud!

[@abdullahm4830]

Good mimicry of buddy "Roll Left, Roll left".

[@Rusty10100]

case 3 would be very much appreciated

[@Agent-007]

Would be nice to have a landing video in this playlist aswell, to complete the set, start, navigation and landing

[@Bones-ku9pm]

hey Spud, at 20:23 you mentioned coming a little right to line up the HSI. i'm pretty sure this actually compounded the Nav error because of the wind. with the wind you would need to line up the VVI with the WP to compensate. if that makes sense. loved the vid though

[@gkalifas5366]

Bro the moment you showed cyprus i smiledd

[@arb6591]

@spudknocker hello, I am just a newbie and started watching your great videos. There will be more DEFINITIVE series videos for F/A-18C? Are you planning the same for F-16C? Thank you for great videos, you talk very clear which is extremely important. Great job!

[@simtaylor61]

All the nav stuff you didn’t cover. Yeah I want it ;)

[@alexjtovarc1]

😀THANKS

[@peterpickguitar]

Friend : How many hours have you played DCS ? Me : 5 hrs 1000 hrs of video instruction...... 😂 This was a great tutorial. Gonna prepare my notes and make this my next lesson.

[@thomascaldwell6370]

Case III approach tutorial video would be much appreciated.

[@Monolith69]

you should do a video on how to plot radial intercepts for landings for us new players

[@rmactvc]

I noticed that when you used the F 10 map ruler to draw the radial from the TACAN you then entered that in to the TACAN. The F 10 map ruler is in true heading and TACANs are magnetic. This might cause some confusion for some people when you try to use F 10 for navigation. I keep asking ED to give us a map option for the ruler of true or magnetic.

[@trynasmash864]

Great video and support Spud! But when did you fly the DCS F-111 module sir?

[@trynasmash864]

I would get the cold sweats if this were on the boards.

[@connorgriffith2743]

I know its a huge ask, but do you have corresponding missions we can play alongside these tutorials? Thanks for all you do for this community, as a lifetime aviation enthusiast and new DCS player I'm extremely grateful.

[@ShnazGaming]

case 3 yes please

[@Lysurgic]

please do a hold and case 3 tutorial!!!