Lesser-known things about the F-18 in DCS World That Make the Plane Usable [READ PINNED COMMENT]

[@elbutchio]

After you reset the trackfile/brick timeout, when you come out of the DATA submenu on the Attack radar page you'll see a "SET" option on the middle right hand side push button. That'll save your settings for the selected weapon so you won't have to reset it every time. Also saves Azimuth scan and elevation bars too.

[@djbiscuit1818]

This works well, but AFAIK you can only see "SET" in RWS, not TWS. I haven't checked if it keeps brick longevity/data settings in TWS, but I suspect it likely does.

[@trashcraft1338]

@@djbiscuit1818 It keeps the basic settings in tws too it may keep data settings too but i haven't confirmed it.

[@OLIV3R_YT]

@@trashcraft1338 I just tried it and it works. So you can "SET" your settings in RWS and they carry over to TWS as well.

[@kcrisher]

came down here to comment this, as i used to change it every time as well until someone introduced me to this magical "set" button lol

[@purplepenguin43]

thats awesome to know:) now if i could just figure out why 50% of my AGM-88 harms released in SP mode like to turn 180 and run away from sam sites that are

[@CallsignJoNay]

You beat that keyboard like a rented mule.

[@stevewalsh1935]

Hammerin' on that mouse, too. lol

[@johnmclean6498]

Now THAT was funny! I'm gonna use it!

[@bh2022]

also if you tdc cursor over any of the settings on screen and depress, you can change those settings without the mfd softkeys

[@tmo_117]

You have changed my life

[@RadianMeasure]

🤯🤯🤯 ty sir

[@Qwonk]

Ahh no wonder I lose locks. Thanks man! Great tutorial again

[@Corsair8X]

The nice thing about the hsi/sa switch is if you are needed it the map because location is important you can have it on one and not the other. Then by switching you are essentially decluttering the map with your hotas. Also, if it helps, the hsi/sa doesn’t have to be in the lower mfd to do that. If you like it on the left that’s fine too. You are just moving the sensor switch in the direction of whatever screen it’s on to do that.

[@tmo_117]

I lose my tracks a lot and it was frustrating me today, I’m not totally new or well versed on the F/A-18 so I learned something today, all the tips were definitely helpful will need to rewatch in case I forget, thank you

[@icecold9511]

Especially frustrating when taking a shot. I did that, immediately lost lock, and killed an f16 when the 120 went pitbull

[@RainLaw]

OMFG this is the most game changing tip video's I've ever seen. I recently abandoned the F-18 due to the pure frustration of constant lock drops. Everything you said was pure gold! Thank you very much for creating this, I really appreciate it!

[@romagnolo]

Last tip was so useful for me, thank you for sharing it. I knew about it, but never actually though about using it. I was always frustated with the AA aspect of the F-18, not anymore thanks to you.

[@surfman88]

Very helpful. Makes Air engagement more insightfull! Thanks!

[@lilletrille8998]

Thank you for making this video Sir. I have probably 100s of hours in the FA-18 at this point and I didnt know any of this. Although I have not had any real problems locking and tracking targets in TWS, I am sure this will help me a lot though!

[@glxytoni]

as someone who flew alot of F-18, yes this stuff did help me alot thank you so much

[@Kathlanus]

Thanks, these were some quite usefull shortcuts I wasn't aware of

[@Kennyuk77]

Nice video, I am now deep into TWS mode!

[@kevinspringer2002]

Everything you talked about was news to me. Thank you!

[@skypiratez]

Been flying with the Hornet since day 1 but those few tricks were absolutely new and yet useful. Thanks a bunch man.

[@rpersen]

Amazing tips presented in a clear and orderly fashion. Subbed!

[@markcambridge8142]

Thanks for the very intriguing video!

[@rybuds47]

Could you do a tutorial on how to click the mouse with such authority? Cheers thank you for the info!

[@shadowprogram215]

rage

[@FD1CE]

Wow, changing the scale of the HSI is gonna save me for sure. What a delicate point. I had noticed a lot that my scale was changing but had no idea :)

[@nathanm6992]

I primarily fly the Hornet and really enjoyed this video! Thanks, and well done!

[@ricbish]

Very nice & very helpful! Especially that radar screen! Thanks for making this

[@Mako-sz4qr]

Sweet ! Thanks for sharing. Totally agree about the Viper vs Honet Hotas deference’s. Also in TSW in the hornet 2 rt clicks on the sensor control will lock target but just one target.

[@djbiscuit1818]

When you do that, you're entering AACQ (Automatic ACQuisition) mode, which enters an STT lock on 1) whichever track your captain's bars are over 2) your designated L&S track 3) your closest target, in that order of priority (I think. 1&2 might be flipped?). Anyways, it locks the first thing it sees, starting at 1 and working its way down the list. It's important to note that this is NOT a "soft lock" like designating a target in TWS (or with LTWS in RWS). AACQ enters a STT-"hard lock", and your target WILL get a lock warning on their RWR, unlike a soft lock through TWS. Chuck's guide can tell you more about the mode and how it works.

[@DRAGONFANG18]

This blew my mind haha. Thanks!

[@djbiscuit1818]

I ended up learning the AZ/EL and SA from HSI bits from Chuck's guide and trying to learn the damned workflow of the SCS/radar system (coming from the F-16 in falcon BMS it was incredibly unintuitive), but there was some really cool new stuff in here I didn't know about too. It's also worth noting "STEP" in the SA page will step through the contacts, and give you detailed range/heading/speed information on each one, which can be helpful in figuring out how close you are to a contact your radar currently isn't looking at. Super helpful for ID'ing just how dangerous a "pincering" enemy is. A nose-hot enemy at 22mi, M2.2, and 40k ft is a LOT more dangerous than one that's at 26mi, M0.4, and in the weeds. The former is likely already launching on you, the latter is probably defensive if there are additional friendlies in the area. Without STEP, they look *very* similar on the SA readout. This also tells you whether or not you're successfully extending away from an enemy, which is a big deal in something as slow as a Hornet.

[@maddog7989]

You have just made the Hornet much more enjoyable!

[@BlackHawkFR]

Useful tips I didnt know. Thx you

[@bigolivegaming3755]

Didn't even get a min into the video until I found something new. You can turn down the friken rwr warning. Thank you so friken much lol

[@JayDKBGames]

Great Info especially on the Radar

[@blkspade23]

The target aging is based on time, not sweeps. So the setting is literally seconds tracks are in memory. I think the issue with it seems to that it might be too good at what its doing. The track is maintained through an estimation based on what the target was last seen doing for the set amount of seconds. Only so much displacement would be possible over given amount of time knowing the targets speed and last heading.

[@russtuff]

I knew zero of those things and this is basically my go to plane. Thanks!

[@Proximax9]

haha same! :D these are some very useful things to learn

[@DertyMike]

Also, A TWS launch with an AMRAAM will not provide the enemy aircraft with a radar lock and launch indication. As such, the first warning the enemy pilot will likely get is when the active radar seeker of the AIM-120 missile goes active near the target.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

@mandellorian I believe the ARMRAAM communicates with the F-18's radar, not Datalink via AWACS or the link shared to the F-18. Solely Radar, which is why it's a "semi-active radar missile" They are just as efficient without an AWACS as with one.

[@vzfhv3c516]

good videos and hints. Thx.

[@tommo2944]

very helpful mate - thanks

[@kennethmahl2391]

Very good job of explaining the procedures

[@ALPHARICCO875]

Super vidéo 👍 Thank you

[@mrpawno4955]

I hope they fix notching and radar memory soon

[@CaptJack747]

Thanks for this, really appreciate it.

[@AugustVomDache]

Useful details. Thanks

[@casacasa5397]

This game has turned into more off button pushing and menu navigation than actual flying. So there will be excel class for dcs.

[@pinkfloyd7572]

Excellent video!

[@SteonCZ]

Great tips. Thank you.

[@sschreck]

@CaptPickguard I am having trouble getting my radar or HSI to scroll range like you did from just slewing out of limits. Is there a trick to it?

[@CaptPickguard]

Out and in quickly. You don't need to touch the top of the screen, just exit the box of the radar display or circle of the SA.

[@BlueSkiesVinny]

Great video! But please, go easy on that poor mouse 😂

[@OLIV3R_YT]

Thanks for this!

[@ray32245mv]

can someone tell me, is it possible to have datalink and/or radar contacts displayed in the HUD as they are in the HMD? i can have UN-LOCKED datalink contacts showing up in my HMD, turn the nose so they are covered by the HUD, and they are not there - is there a way to make them be there?

[@CaptPickguard]

I'm afraid not, though there are bug reports that point towards some potential reworks for the sensor system. I don't think you can show anything other than your L+S or DT2 on the HUD, but future changes may make designating those easier.

[@bigrivercod]

That is a great tutorial. Thanks.

[@limbow5908]

what are your graphic settings? do you use reshade or is the lighting just on point in the vid

[@iceman90734]

OK so all of these things I found out entirely by accident, with exception of the DL/Brick timeout...never knew that one. Pretty sure that's something that can be saved per plane (hello cartridges, where are you?)

[@TheRocketdrive]

you can tell this guy is hardcore into the 16 because he a. has to enter A/A mode before hitting amraam instead of just hitting amraam to enter a/a mode. b. thinks tws mode is the ONLY mode for BVR.

[@mobius7089]

Fair, but the Hornet is basically always in TWS, trackfile processing happens all the time.

[@-Sunny--]

We need more! Give us more tips and tricks and this you might not know stuff :)

[@icecold9511]

That first one I need to try. In a recent mission I launched an amraam at a bandit, then immediately lost lock. Missile went pitbull immediately and turned on an f16 at my 2 o'clock close.

[@jebb125]

that's why you use a aim 7, never shoot when friendly's are in front of you... 10-2 is in front

[@trashcraft1338]

Can we turn off automatic screen changing when changing weapons?

[@mobius7089]

What screen? LDDI shouldn't change at all.

[@Le0n14]

Wow! Thank you!

[@phat3330]

4:46 I believe you are the entire lower line as it has been stretched out. You can see this if you ever spot a missile with your radar.

[@spysareamyth]

Yeah, the radar shows things across by azimuth to declutter the display for aircraft close to you

[@refused215]

Oh mannnnnn thanks a bunch

[@cellokid5104]

Good to know. Thanks

[@neonsf]

Thank u very much

[@ascherlafayette8572]

great tips

[@guiduz3469]

Awesome thanks

[@chrisgoddard1855]

Thank you!

[@swimskim5874]

Thank you so much

[@stealthtomcat4739]

Your voice is so deep

[@hanswolfgangmercer]

I didn't know any of these!

[@-Sunny--]

thanks man!

[@Itzo_]

Pretty sure Wags have mentioned all of these actually in his tutorials/showcases.. Especially the radar data options. But keep em coming if you've got more always wanting to learn new stuff!

[@MicroDotTV]

your radar settings for the amram are wrong u want 4 bar sweep, 40 mils, 40 degrees with a high scan, & for sidewinders u want 6 bar scan, 10 mile range, 20 degrees on medium

[@youraveragejoe9298]

doesnt really make it "unusable" to be honest

[@RVBJohn]

Holy shit thank you

[@NatendoSwitch]

easiest sub of the day.

[@greggwyllie1952]

😲🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@soultacticaltm2803]

niiiiice

[@justinsmith9135]

Omgggg get a silent keyboard lmao. I know it’s a knit pick, but fuck all I could hear was you clicking what seemed like a thousand times to perform one task 😂😂😂😂

[@jagheterbanan]

Yeah bugged me as hell, couldn’t concentrate on what was being said

[@TonerLow]

My favorite thing about this module was the uninstall button (:

[@jorgi6961]

Holy shit

[@OriginalThisAndThat]

You abusing your mouse xD

[@przychodzic1280]

Bro click louder

[@RAVIOLIdS]

as if the f-18 wasn't usable lmao

[@MetaliCanuck]

Make plane usable? Such an oxymoron.

[@nemiw4429]

Call the police, we have a faking cheater!!!

[@fderty4]

The only thing you need to know about the F18 is how to destroy it, because no such ugly plane deserve to exist.

[@erfguuipo8084]

F18 is sucks

[@josephrosenbaum3343]

right now it makes the hornet radar even usable. Without changing that trackfile life you constantly drop locks with every sweep.

[@icecold9511]

With tragic consequences if you just popped off an amraam with buddies just ahead of you.