F-16C Viper: Tacan Navigation & Runway Radials Tutorial | DCS WORLD

[@MattWagner]

Good stuff. Important to remember that the TACAN beacon is always offset from the runway, so never expect the TACAN steering to bring you exactly down the runway.

[@veterankamikaze3591]

You make a damn fine simulator.

[@RicCrouch]

Hey Wags, is the “C&I” switch going to be corrected to be the CNI switch as it is in the real jet?

[@Iam_Dunn]

Loving the 16 Wags!! .... Easy to part with my $$ when I know the quality will always be high! :)

[@gabravo2005]

Wags is correct, when you looked up to see if you were aligned with the runway you weren't off center. You were aligned with the signal coming from the TACAN station.

[@grimreapers]

Affirm Sir, just realised I also forgot to adjust -2º magnetic declination. *sigh*

[@andreartymiuk]

Careful, TACAN / VOR / VORTAC is not going to be actually ON the runway (they are quite large !) , so the radial is unlikely to line up exactly to the Runway. As you get closer the deviation will become more significant. TACAN is not a landing aid, its a navigation aid. For the runway you need an ILS localiser (or mk1 eyeball).

[@grimreapers]

good call Arty

[@johntack1049]

GR is my go to for QUICK, no BS functionality. Straight and to the point. THIS IS HOW TUTORIALS SHOULD BE. Thanks. Liked and subd

[@grimreapers]

Welcome Sir

[@christopherwilson6527]

Civil aircraft can pick up a TACAN. It just doesn’t give direction like a VOR does, it only shows slant range. So it can give a rage circle from station

[@grimreapers]

cool

[@RicCrouch]

Bearings to/courses from VORs and TACANs are based on magnetic north, not true north, just like runway directions.

[@toddw6716]

you weren't lined up with the runway because you selected 127 to the TACAN. You need ILS to get to the runway. The TACAN provides a place to home in on.

[@toddw6716]

If you had picked that radial from the tacan that crossed the end of the runway, you would have had a tacan approach.

[@kentyannayon3741]

There'd be a mild sidestep using the TACAN, but that's why there's higher minimums for VOR/TAC approaches. But yeah, nice to see some degree of instrument procedure usage

[@Knightfang1]

man those Persian Gulf Airfields are huge, cant wait till this map is on sale again so I can add it to my game

[@spc83]

I really appreciate the methodical approach to your videos for the F-16...crawl, walk, run...I just go load up bombs and hope for the best :D

[@grimreapers]

lol yes that;s what I used to do but I kept getting told off.

[@schweizerluchs7146]

Wow that lineup was really good👌

[@mhe0815]

Fun fact: even civilian DMEs use basically the same DMEs as the TACANs, even the same UHF frequency bands. The magic happens inside the DME receiver of the civilian plane, it has a conversion table of VHF frequencies to UHF channels, hence if you have such a table handy, you can use the DME of a TACAN even in a civilian plane. Table: www.classicjetsims.com/CF-104/images/tacans.jpg

[@grimreapers]

Thanks!

[@preamp51]

Likewise, in a military jet that cannot use VORs, you should still be able to use the DME part of it (provided it’s a VOR/DME ofc) by using this table and tune in to the DME channel. (Haven’t tried it, though...)

[@mhe0815]

@@preamp51 Should work both ways, yes

[@tonymarcella13]

Might be worth noting to make sure the MIDS LVT switch is on as if it's not then tacan will be set to off. I had this issue to start out and couldn't figure out why tacan was off.

[@grimreapers]

thx

[@diskuslars7527]

This is why i love my F18....just turn the HSI to True North (besides of Carrier OPS) :)

[@keirfarnum6811]

You mean you hope we’re ALL doing very well!

[@toddw6716]

In order for you to be lined up with the runway the tacan would have to be on the runway. It’s a straight line from the tacan to you not down the runway. That’s the difference with a ils, which is lined up with the runway

[@LSPD1169]

FYI Tacan & VOR combined is called “ VORTAC”

[@justmrak9078]

Update: Today I was learning this thing and found out my course set on the HSI didnt do much, turns out you have to type in the course itself on the DED which has CRS(probably and obviously stand for Course) ont he TACAN tab. Hope this helps someone :)

[@christhomas9842]

How do you draw the line?

[@Moose88]

On DED tacan says "OFF" I cannot figure out how to turn it on...

[@grimreapers]

I have never seen it off...

[@Moose88]

Ah! I didn't have the "MIDS LVT" knob turned on. Thanks to Facebook I got the answer... I couldn't find the reference in the manual... But maybe I'm just blind! Thanks!

[@stefanfritzsche]

@@Moose88 if it is of any consolation - I had the exact same thing happening to me. and nowhere in any checklist does it seem to say "MIDS...ON" However it helped me understand the "fine print" in the cockpit: if you look closely the ILS volume knob actually has an "OFF" written at its far left position, indicating that you will actually turn off the ILS completely if you turn its volume down all the way. The switch right next to it - TCN - however, does not have this "OFF" written at the low end of the volume range.. because THAT will actually NOT turn it of... because "MIDS LVT" will, as we both have found out by now :D it's the detail I have come to appreciate in these simulations

[@MarkShawMedia]

What method are you using to move and zoom with - the mouse ?

[@michaelcasson9563]

How do I turn it on, it says in caps OFF where it should say the a/a or any of the others

[@taifungepard6337]

Not sure if i can help but I'll try my best the panel on the far right where the INS knob is at and the switches for the DED ICP ect right of the INS knob you see another one turn it to the on position and you should hopefully have Tacan on i hope it helps again i tried my best

[@michaelcasson9563]

@@taifungepard6337 thanks for the input, I'll try it out when I get home from school!

[@1818TC]

@@michaelcasson9563 One way i've managed switching it ON was using to volume knob on the side of the throttle, the one he uses in the video to listen to the TACAN morse code, simply turn the knob all the way up and it should switch ON your TACAN system, at least it worked for me ;)

[@VertoxEffect]

michael casson make sure the mids lvt knob is also on

[@crispy1688]

You need to switch on the MIDS LVT knokb on the aviation panel

[@Soloeagle54]

This might be a stupid question, but how do I get to the CNI page? Every time I start my plane up, the DED defaults to the INS page and I can't seem to find the CNI page after toggling through everything using the list button. I just started learning the F-16 today, so forgive my ignorance

[@xparti]

CavemanFTW try dobber left in list page

[@Soloeagle54]

@@xparti Got it. Thanks for the response

[@heklik]

Why can't I zoom inside the cockpit using mouse scroll , How to enable it ? Thanks

[@grimreapers]

Try LAlt+C

[@cornstarch6955]

Thank you so much for the video. It helped me iron out some of my mistakes.

[@Sailor_91]

Hey cap, i have a problem with my Tacan... when i go in the Menu in the tcn/ils page.. it says Tcn OFF... my question is: is there a Powerbutton for it or is it a Bug ? And do you have a problem with the exterior lighting not working ?

[@Michael-ig8ne]

Øyvind Opstad you have to switch the MIDS LVT knob to ON

[@Sailor_91]

@@Michael-ig8ne thanx for the tip. What about the exterior lights... even with the power on.. nothing is flashing... maby not implemeted yet ?

[@VertoxEffect]

Øyvind Opstad external lights do not function yet

[@grimreapers]

MIDS LVT switch rear right

[@SaegioBendix]

When I want to change the band from X to Y, and I press M-SEL (0) as stated in the vid, it does not change the band but enters a 0. what am I missing?

[@castorex]

Hit ENTER after typing 0 - band will change to Y

[@isomuf707]

Very intersting and helpful, thanks

[@fernandog.ramirez.6917]

So I just learned how to fly VOR's military cousin in a F16.

[@slidem2k]

When I try myself on the game, it says under development ? Why were you able to do it and I don't ?

[@grimreapers]

Very odd. Maybe it's because I play Open beta?

[@patientmental875]

Press RTN it will change the menu

[@philader6206]

all is clear . thank you ! ;-)

[@SamuraiGambit]

That was awesome. Thanks.

[@Iam_Dunn]

Have to allow for magnetic deviation IRL, but I don’t know if DCS follows real world magnetic deviation charts? (I would assume they do, the attention to detail in this sim is reeeeeee-donk-ulous!!) ....LOL.... :)

[@grimreapers]

It does, hence why I was out by 2º. Silly me.

[@Iam_Dunn]

“East is Least. West is Best” .... :) Thanks for all your work with the new tutorials, I would be lost without them!! :)

[@noambelder5850]

How do I switch back to the home page in the DED ?

[@grimreapers]

press RTN on the dobber

[@noambelder5850]

Grim Reapers thanks !

[@nateowens227]

VORTAC is correct, that’s a VOR and TACAN station

[@schweizerluchs7146]

What should i write?

[@grimreapers]

how much you love Cap.

[@schweizerluchs7146]

@@grimreapers i do😘

[@kruegerbnu]

Where did you get the 127 heading from?

[@rmactvc]

He measured it from the map to find the true heading. using some line function I'm not familiar with. Trouble is TACAN and VOR use magnetic, so he should have just used the runway heading. You can see he is off course to the left when he flys in to the runway. I think someone else explained it too.

[@Warman_12]

Thanx Cap......

[@royrached6668]

In real pilots will calculate the wind speed and direction and add extra degere on the heading...

[@grimreapers]

cool

[@MacVision3D]

Please turn up the lights on the ufc ....

[@grimreapers]

ah didn;t realise u could...

[@SDsc0rch]

heading airspeed and... ALTITUDE not an IFR rated pilot I see :))

[@grimreapers]

hells no :)

[@captlazerhawk]

Why in the hell are DCS players just learning about TACAN? Was there no TACAN on DCS till the F-16?

[@Iam_Dunn]

Capt Lazerhawk ...No, TACAN has always been part if the sim. The F-16 is a brand new release and a lot of people have ZERO idea how to run the systems (Like me. I know all about NAV and ILS, but I had NO CLUE how the tune F16’s TACAN until I watched this fantastic tutorial.)

[@grimreapers]

You have to remember for a lot of people, this is their first plane.

[@cmdrriotz5283]

My HSI always has red tape across the NM and some of the other parts.....

[@ethanponce6770]

on that HSI u r talking about- inbetween the HDG and CRS knobs, there is a blue M button, click it. it should go NAV, PLS NAV, "TCN", PLS TCN. click it till it goes to TCN, if u are tuned to a correct TCN and are in T/R mode then the NM should pop up. and to bounce between X and Y bands once u have station put in, click M-SEL/0 then click enter it should bounce from X to Y

[@miirojoshua6813]

LoL nice

[@goose1146]

How the fuck does your channel not change when you press 0 it just says 0 when I hover over Chan and press zero instead of changing my channle

[@Michael-ig8ne]

It’s a VORTAC not a normal TACAN

[@BorisJohnsonMayor]

He clearly stated that if you listen...

[@RicCrouch]

Boris Johnson I think he is referring to the text question Cap put up on the screen while describing it.

[@rmactvc]

It is a co-located VOR and TACAN we have quite a few in the US.