Leading a MASSIVE Airstrike in the DCS F/A-18C Hornet

[@Spudknocker]

This mission was a blast to fly with everyone! Forgive me for the terrible Trap on the Carrier, I will have to make sure I set them up correctly in the future haha!

[@DJones476]

Spud, you were flying in excess of 320 knots when you extended your probe. That's a little fast. Extension/retraction airspeed limitation is 300 knots, while 400 knots is airspeed limitation with probe extended. Yeah, I know... I'm clinically pedantic.😎🍻

[@aaronIBEW]

@@DJones476 That's good stuff. This is how pilots get better.

[@jamescunningham6251]

Hey I'm a console guy. I havnt invested in a true gaming PC but I want to just to play this game. I absolutely loved the video. To everyone who played in this mission thank you for sharing this video online.

[@Spudknocker]

Hey man, my advice is spend more on your PC now to avoid spending a little now and a lot later to get exactly what you want performance wise, I and many others fell into this trap while first getting into PC gaming! DCS is a very difficult game to get into but when it all comes together this is the awesome result!

[@jamescunningham6251]

@@Spudknocker awesome man thank you. If you don't mind me asking how much did spend on your system ?

[@jeremywillis6954]

@@jamescunningham6251 I do want to point out I can actually run DCS well enough on a pretty old rig, 6600k and 970GTX with 16GB of ram. Something similar would only run maybe $500 these days if you can snag good deals on used hardware. My rig was about 800 back 6 years ago when I built it. Dropping about 2k on a rig today would land you something that lasts a good 10 years if you can deal with cranking down the graphics a bit roughly 7 years in and take decent care of it. DCS itself is free and comes with a couple of basic aircraft. The F/A 18C that Spud was flying here is about $80 USD or 60 on a sale. The map is another 40 and the supercarrier another 40 I believe. This is prior to the cost of controls, trackIR and the time investment :P You can absolutely get by with something like what I have but I agree with spud here- build a good PC and you'll have it for longer and be happier. The controls are another story haha. Just bare in mind that getting into DCS is the hard part lol. Steep investments (potentially) and some serious time behind the stick. I'm trying to get the hang of mid-air refueling right now and it's kicking my ass. Might have to buy better controls :|

[@eq1373]

@@jeremywillis6954 ultimately, getting a decent HOTAS is what worked for me

[@thelespauldude3283]

​​@@jeremywillis6954these specs will absolutely NOT give you a good DCS experience, and a 2k build will absolutely NOT last you 10 years by just lowering some settings.

[@AeroShork]

These are the kind of missions I've always wanted to see from DCS. The large package stuff that BMS was good at in DCS is a dream to see and I bet a blast to fly.

[@icecold9511]

So many people focus on the top gun stuff, they neglect more realistic concepts. Been making my own campaigns for a bit and only a fraction of them are straight up air combat. Even air to air is usually part of a larger strike mission or self escort. Often, gasp to the dogfighting crowd, my flight of hornets is under the protection of dedicated AI air superiority craft.

[@smudgekenobi7126]

Another one of these would hit the spot right now 👌🏼 excellent video as always spud

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

I lived on CVN-71 for 4 years. I was an Aviation Ordinanceman third class (E-4) in the G3 Division of the weapons dept. I was a mag rat. Working down in the weapons magazines we would get the days loadout sheet, break out whatever was called for, assemble them, place them on specialized carrier trucks and ship them up the elevators to the hangar bay and flight deck where the redshirts would load them on the aircraft. Missiles, bombs, rockets, cluster bombs, mines, torpedoes, whatever. I worked in the forward missile mags so I mainly dealt with Sidewinders, Sparrows, Phoenix and HARM radiation missiles. Occasionally I would have to go up to the flight deck and fix a problem. A bomb fin would get damaged in handling, the ARM/DEARM handles would break, just little shit like that. But it was still flight deck work and I spent many hours viewing with my own eyes what you showed in this video. lol I had flashbacks. And I was 18 years old. When you're that young you think your still invincible.

[@HavocStylesJoe]

Holy crap to admin this and fly is impressive.

[@gregpruitt1647]

This is amazing stuff. A nearly 3 hour mission with tanking included. These guys are pretty advanced players.

[@Darksagan]

Weasel came through in the clutch like a boss. Sick video.

[@GrizzleBock]

I love the tight formation flying around the boat , lovely !

[@halo5zero]

Loved when the F14's broke off to go pick a fight....and how the radio chatter increased as all the flights reached the target area

[@vvcv__00]

That radio chatter is absolutely absolute in showing how it happened to be one of two or three worthwhile things to see, and all in a 2+ hour video made for entertainment. Mmm hmmm, more radio chatter two-hour videos please!

[@sloppydog4831]

Cool mission, man. This is what DCS is or should be about: immersion. I'm really eager for the Mudhen to come out so we can relive some Gulf War Missions with that bird.

[@milocabral7428]

Tell me about it! Strike Eagle and EF Typhoon are my most hyped modules rn

[@lvwright]

Awesome video...just got the F-18 for DCS and can't wait to get into it

[@jamescooper5183]

Your going to love the F-18, easy to fly, tons of weapons, it's one of my favorites..

[@icecold9511]

Fighter pilots make movies. Bomber pilots make history. Hornet pilots do both and 'date' the prom queen.

[@allent555]

Wow, what a great deep interdiction mission. It would be cool see something similar using only non-smart ordnance using coordinated TOTs

[@Spudknocker]

I was actually flying in the only flight to be using LGB's in this one!

[@JefferyHHaskell_Author]

That cat launch was frigging epic. I need to come fly with y'all.

[@Spudknocker]

Honestly the flight around the boat wasn't the best in this video haha

[@forestdudes8710]

That Moment when you Guys did this massive Formation was Epic

[@andrer1757]

I just started DCS and currently learning the F-18. I'm about halfway through the practice missions, but I'm really looking forward to being able to fly missions like this in the future.

[@sloppydog4831]

That refueling man...I was sweating for you here. Right on time. Great flying.

[@larrysouthern5098]

Great Video...feels real!! Go Fly Fight!! 🐦 ❤

[@kylepenner]

I downloaded the game once and tried to play it but it is pretty hard to learn especially with just a keyboard and mouse, but WOW I did not know you could do cool multiplayer missions like this; it's crazy!

[@patricks7622]

I wasn't sure if you were going to find that stinger guy in time there. Fun stuff with the a-10. All I want for Christmas is more A 10 stuff time warped back to WWII, like right around D-Day when they were strafing Axis Powers munitions trains and for sport the ground forces may have some level of weaponry :-)

[@abhinandanbal9931]

Your mission videos are excellent. But you should also include a proper mission intro, regarding the targets you are attacking and the mission planning.

[@jessepost8398]

3 hours of enjoying spudknocker🎊🎊🎊

[@novicepilotaviator5868]

Impressive flight. More please

[@DJones476]

Wow! In DCS World, HARMs _actually hit their targets!_ 😜

[@aaronIBEW]

Ha!! I heard from an airforce pilot with the wild weasels that the Harm is a waste of a wingstation. They have a small warhead and leave such a massive smoke trail that they can be easily seen from the ground as well.

[@DJones476]

@@aaronIBEW Dan "Two Dogs" Hampton!

[@HE392MI]

Great content! If only I had the time to learn how to FA-18

[@CoryG1981]

its the videos like this that make me want to get a way better gaming rig and get DCS . Can't wait to see Afghan missions soon

[@forestdudes8710]

Just Got into this Game , what youre doin is very impressive . Good Work

[@MrWhiteladder61]

This would have been a perfect mission for some radar offset bombing. Great video, love these long missions

[@Naaskicker]

im new to DCS MP , at the first i was like '' how thay know who is 400 and 412 and other code names '' and after you open the map i was like ooh i see your name code are on the jet icon on the map , it's great video to learn how MP work on DCS GG i had fun watching and learning.

[@Fox3-Luck]

strong winds! looked fun though!

[@ygrams]

What a fun mission! I wanted to join but all the Hornet flights where already taken when I saw the announcement XD / "BoomStick"

[@spyglass1005]

I like your F 18 doing the side shuffle on the deck of the carrier there that was pretty cool. You could do it like back-and-forth and put it the music

[@DcsDux]

27:44 my new favorite phrase

[@Astax]

Thank you for this long video. Perfect while I'm staying in bed with covid 👌

[@danieldidsomething5589]

This is sick looks so real

[@Cutstalk]

Loved watching spud, hoping to join you in a mish soon

[@Void-hr4fz]

It would be cool to see a similar mission but with something like the tomcat.

[@bjrnchrstn]

Just hopped in the Tomcat for learning it, but this is next level stuff. Great to see 👍🏼

[@sophiajayprice5107]

That was a smooth landing….

[@aaronIBEW]

Nice mission. Fyi, 34000 is max restricted trap weight and 33000 and under is not restricted. See Natops manual 4.1.7 for details on restrictions and assymetrical load out. Also FYI don't forget clearing turns for a case 1 departure and keep IAS at 300 till 7 miles after launch. I enjoy your missions.

[@Dachamp2001]

Haven't played DCS in a while lol 😆 But seeing this thinking about flying again. But when I was running it there was and still probably very little if any air superiority missions. Don't do many strike missions

[@Oliver-rb7zc]

Absolutely mindblowing. How many game hours did you have to spend for being able to play like this?

[@Spudknocker]

Too many haha

[@davidabarak]

Just a quick note about launches. Once the launch bar is down, even before it's seated in the shuttle, the goal is to get the aircraft launched ASAP; there's a risk of an accidental firing of the cat and so they want the aircraft in a flyable state in case that happens. Accidental launches are extremely rare, but they do happen. I don't know if this is an issue with the EMALS on the Ford. All things considered, that wasn't a bad pass you flew at the end. And damned good tanking.

[@aaronIBEW]

Also for a case 1 cat launch a 20 degree clearing turn is needed. Spudknocker did not perform any clearing turn. The clearing turns are for safety and they should definitely be done if there is going to be a covey launch but should be done all the time regardless for a case 1 launch.

[@davidabarak]

@@aaronIBEW Good point. In my case - no pun intended - I'm such an coordinated mess that my turns are anywhere from 0 to 45 degrees and dip down way too far; positive rate of climb is not in my dictionary.

[@FD1CE]

It's so easy to refuel, because you've mastered it :D I ridiculously can just refuel :))

[@brunogt1982]

Absolutely Fantastic 🤯

[@aviation-action]

Impressive--great video... I've never had a lot of luck with DCS... I think it has to do with my set up... X-BOX controller

[@pennyisdreadful]

I play with the PlayStation controller I used to play with an Xbox controller you can do just fine. Even with a hotas set up you still need to use your keyboard for some stuff because there are simply too many buttons switches knobs and levers to toggle flick click depress and lick and smooch and squelch and pickle or whatever. You just need to learn what needs to actually go on the controller keybinds and what can stay on the keyboard

[@aviation-action]

@@pennyisdreadful well said!

[@bmckinnon]

When I was watching the air refuelling I was wondering how does the turbulence from the tanker affect it? Is the f18 powerful enough that it's not effected?

[@UncleReiben]

ED actually fixed how A/A TACAN works... and I think it's confusing people because of how it used to work. A/A TACAN only works between two cooperating aircraft with 63 channels of separation. So in the Mission Editor, you could have a Tanker transmit TACAN on 1Y, brief the receiver's that the tanker's TACAN is 64Y, and achieve the same end result as before. This is how it's supposed to work. It gets confusing, though, because in DCS the tanker TACANs still work by tuning the same channel and turning off A/A, which is incorrect, though more user friendly. Don't know if they're going to ever fix that, or leave it in for accessibility...

[@killshot0597]

I'm sure they'll fix it. If people point it out and with evidence in the forums they will make the change

[@thomaslecerf9158]

Very nice flight! impressive package indeed and very good coordination. Just a question though @Spudknocker : you and your wingman agree on 36 000 lbs for the Hornet's max landing weight. I'm pretty sure it's 33 000 lbs (according to Chuck's guide). Where did you get that info? Great work guys!!

[@aaronIBEW]

34000 lbs max weight restricted for carrier trap and 33000 lbs or under for max weight unrestricted. See Natops flight manual for F/A-18C Hornet 4.1.7. They are incorrect on the weight of 36000 lbs being the max trap weight for this airframe..

[@brandonhickman6658]

This is so Awesome, however I know nothing about these systems or how to even get started or the price that would be involved. Can someone tell me where I could find out how to get started and what all I would need? I would love to learn and get involved in something like this! Thanks!👍

[@Spudknocker]

Hey Brandon! First thing you need is a PC that is capable of running DCS at what you deem to be acceptable frame rates, DCS is a very resource intensive program. You can go to www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/ to download the game for free to see if you can run it. Full fidelity aircraft like the F/A-18C you see in this video run about $60-80 dollars

[@brandonhickman6658]

@@Spudknocker Thank You, I will do that!

[@jeremywillis6954]

@@Spudknocker Picked it up on summer sale on Steam-- Have yet to hop into Multiplayer (for fear of community lashings at my ineptitude) but seeing this takes me back to my old Aces High Squad Ops nights. Once I can master the language and systems better, I would love to partake in something along these lines!

[@jeremywillis6954]

@@brandonhickman6658 I do want to point out I can actually run DCS well enough on a pretty old rig, 6600k and 970GTX with 16GB of ram. Something similar would only run maybe $500 these days if you can snag good deals on used hardware. Trying to run this set up in VR is another story-- jittery as hell lol.

[@jeff7329]

Launch bar up to get launched of the the deck?How is that supposed to work?

[@larspedersen3043]

I’m struck with awe, this must be peak dcs🤩 Did Red Crown actually fly an awacs plane?

[@firemedic918gaming4]

You mention how easy it is to do AAR in the F/A-18C. I have a horrible time with it. Any suggestions?

[@eq1373]

1) Take engine latency into account 2) small stick and throttle movements 3) make use of BALT autopilot

[@aaronIBEW]

Use VR if able. Helps a ton with depth perception. Very tough for me to go back to a 2d screen. Much more realistic in VR by a wide margin.

[@Erv704]

Superb mission.

[@flyingbarbarian1]

How do you manage to fly hours manually without being exhausted? As an airliner sim pilot I usually hand fly short legs lasting around 20 mins manually the entire flight for fun, and that’s already very tiring.

[@axxie8779]

Awesome video.

[@ญัติผิวขาว]

สวยสง่างงามมากครับ..รวมทั้งติดอาวุธ

[@bpain7206]

Hey Spud, I've been trying to find decent radio effects for DCS missions but haven't had much luck. What are you using to create the radio transmission effects?

[@CasualTomcat]

It’s just srs or simple radio stand-alone.

[@Ermerps]

@@CasualTomcat I don’t know what SRS he is using but it doesn’t sound like that in mine

[@CasualTomcat]

@@Ermerps he might just have different settings. If it’s not that then idk.

[@thejetfighter]

Nice video 😀

[@longhaulcaptain9474]

Outstanding!!!

[@joshskidmore5454]

I need to get back into my F-18 and fly some missions with you.

[@architectssuck9957]

that carrier landing was 10x better than me

[@therocinante3443]

You know what? I'd love to try AFAC

[@imranrahim9668]

Hi very nice video can you please tell me which VR are you use?

[@flake8382]

What was the master caution on landing?

[@Fib3R21]

Groove time monkaS

[@BighnicHnicBAWSESTATUS]

New to the channel. Are you actually talking to AIs? On flight deck?

[@pennyisdreadful]

No those are other players lol

[@angycroc]

Hey Spud, your missions are super cool to watch, but I think a difference in perspective would be nice. I would love to see you playing missions you didnt have a hand in designing. And also if you didnt lead the mission. Might be fun for your community to step up to the job and also shows us how you deal with the unknown.

[@DJones476]

The problem with letting somebody other than Spudknocker design missions is that the overwhelming majority of DCSers don't have a clue what weapons/features were available when. For example, the Hornet wasn't cleared for the AMRAAM until 1993-'94, and the AN/APX-111 "bird slicer" IFF CIT wasn't a thing until 1995-'97. The LITENING II isn't cleared for carriage aboard ship, either, by the way. Spudknocker also knows which carriers were in the areas specified on the dates specified. Letting someone else do it would trash the immersion for me.

[@angycroc]

@@DJones476 That sets a very low bar for the abilities of his community

[@DJones476]

@@angycroc Oh, I'm not even nitpicking, yet. Trust me.

[@angycroc]

@@DJones476 Obviously i think he should pick exceptional individuals for those tasks. If those individuals dont exist in his community that is a whole other issue. If the point is immersion, maybe it would help if he wasnt F10ing all the time to handle multiple flights. Also in that case, dont you think he should be restricting himself to seeing only what his avionics show him? Kinda kills the vibe when you are calling AWACS for picture just for the roleplay and not cause you need to know.

[@DJones476]

@@angycroc Yep. Good point. However, the technical/historical mistakes (such as using JHMCS during a 1986 Libyan re-enactment) REALLY drive me batshit crazy.

[@adamnoftsinger]

What was the "mishap" that lost the HARMS? lol

[@johnpancoast3236]

Where was your wingman the entire time of your Fishbed dogfight?

[@baziwan9407]

9:59 3 must have meant his military right.

[@Spudknocker]

I don't know what it is but when I fly an airplane I can't figure out left and rights haha its weird, so I understand haha

[@baziwan9407]

@@Spudknocker Once you figure it out jump into a boom pod steering receivers and remembering that you have to give direction according to aircraft left and right while facing backwards.

[@kahlrhoam6769]

A fine mission! Can anyone pls refresh my memory; could the F14 be loaded up for a ground strike mission also? THX! 🇺🇸

[@WhoWouldWantThisName]

The D model was known as the `Bombcat' because it had the ATG capability. I don't know how it compared to the F-18s but they could do it.

[@solidkreate5007]

I want this module. I have a Warthog but no rudder set up

[@serialbox1]

So sick

[@NM4500]

Can we get the mission maker checklist somewhere?

[@alandunston1597]

For what it's worth, all four cats used simultaneously is almost unheard of. Especially with such few planes launching in the cycle. 1 to 2 cats for so few planes as shown.

[@johndone8045]

Thats a very smooth landing u might just missed the third wire and caught on the forth instead lol

[@broadstrokespro]

5:57 needs Danger Zone music

[@brunogt1982]

Can you compare msfs f18 vs dcs f18?

[@Schneids]

shit man there's still some stuff I gotta learn on the Hornet apparently. I thought I had almost everything down but I guess not.

[@michaelwirth3720]

Question, why nobody is flying the Raptor in this game? Not available or what?

[@SandyParsley682]

Aside from the fact it's an unofficial mod, the Raptor wasn't in service during Deseret Storm, which is when this mission was based

[@calemorgan3982]

I just got this game. It looks very complicated but I am dying to play a good flight sim game.

[@aaronIBEW]

This simulator in my opinion sets the bar. VR makes it even better and very immersive

[@yannisl8259]

Can you do an F18 sead mission on syria? Ive always wanted to see it

[@deenbrownel]

Love these vids even though I dont understand jack lol

[@donaldlucier652]

I can do what I want!

[@Bond.JamesBond00]

Skip to @1:20:05 for the Independence Day Presidents speech. :D

[@mateusfcl]

Lol what the heck Breedle’s Callsign in game is Gringo 1-1 and mine is Gringo 2-1 (never even heard of him) just because I thought it would be funny

[@bowlingrvs6101]

I would absolutely love to fly with y’all if you ever need another pilot.

[@auratr33visuals95]

Very kool.

[@milcomander6741]

You've forgotten the engine startup

[@TreetopFlyer1116]

Why does every DCS hornet pilot have to have slime lines on in the middle of the day?

[@Spudknocker]

Haha it bugs me too!

[@TreetopFlyer1116]

@@Spudknocker firstly, I enjoyed the video! hell, I enjoy all your videos. It’s the type of flying I prefer to do when I sim. But if folks want the realistic immersion. Then they should follow realistic protocols and doctrine. Also, if we wanna get real picky, there are zero lights on during daytime case 1 ops. And lights out Is part of the fencing process. Pinky switch is your friend. Alas, it is a sim….I get it. Just saying. Keep the great content coming Spud. Cheers!

[@BlueSky-fur]

hey, im sure your profile changed by now, can you maybe re-share your trackir profile? :D

[@Spudknocker]

Same one!

[@DieselPlays]

and nobody wants to ask who was that chic that was flying with the boys?

[@wawawuu1514]

This just in, women can fly planes, too. Shocking, isn't it.

[@DieselPlays]

@@wawawuu1514 calm down bruh I fly with them in real life. Dont get all woke-atonic.

[@Adriansdr07]

Hey man recently I got a mod for the f/a 18 but with the addon I downloaded I anciently deleted my f/a 18 files do you know how I can get them back?

[@blackrooksix]

Do a Repair on DCS: www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/repair/

[@Adriansdr07]

@@blackrooksix thx

[@MichaelPCarr10]

Better than Joe Rogan

[@MrCody6925]

I'd love to take the time and effort to learn and play this game but my god does it seem expensive to get all that stuff for one game yet again..... Imma still do it. 😂

[@guio0958]

Are all the players airmen? The radio chatter look real.

[@user-yd4rn4ez6m]

is this in VR?

[@lunai0076]

Spudknocker nice Mission 2:57 I with like to do that, I got the wingwing Orion Joystick F-16EX, Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog PC throttle and stick, VPC ACE Collection Pedals, hp reverb g2 with 3090 TI from RTX 2080TI the track ir I got all the modules the terrains ande campaigns I am not rich It take me 4 years to get to this point the only thing I don't have is Time

[@pennyisdreadful]

Give it to me I'll play it for you lol

[@DJones476]

Hey, Spud. I wasn't paying attention the entire time, but _I think_ you forgot to use your IR cool.

[@Spudknocker]

IR cool always stays in the norm position. The IR Cool switch is only used in emergencies to manually cool seeker heads.

[@DJones476]

@@Spudknocker It helps sometimes, but upon looking it up, I found that Wags said that it serves "little if any purpose" in DCS.