AR in VR is not easy but probably easy-er. I find it easiest to hope that the probe will snag the drogue without actually looking for confirmation. Let the drogue pass a foot or two from the left mirror and usually the snag just happens. After that it’s easier than the Su33 because there’s no godforsaken autopilot fighting the guy on the stick.
Also in VR, when doing shipboard work, you can lean left to get a good view of the deck and keep the HUD VSI just in view.
It’s been a dream to fly and learn a bit about the Harrier. This is what “study-siming” is all about!
Make sure you put the Stores page up on the left MFD, I think the Mav video only works on that one.
EDIT:
I had an issue with AGM D’s that I couldn’t figure out, so if you are trying those then try the G’s instead. It almost seems mission dependent. Also, key binding errors seem to be at the root of a lot of things, as in your should double check the ‘uncage’ until you can verify it works with some other weapon, just to be sure.
Concur. I think the early access approach is working well, in that there are a bunch of systems still to come but as we can do the meat and potatoes learning initially there still feels like a lot to do. The same approach with the F/A-18C will be just fine Eagle Dynamics…
@fearlessfrog Here is some fuel info from the NATOPS -
“The fuel quantity selector switch should be placed to the position that best describes the aircraft state. If external tanks are used, the TOT position will present the most accurate fuel indication. With internal fuel only, the INT position is more accurate and should be used. When aircraft total fuel is below 750 pounds, the FEED position will most accurately indicate the fuel remaining in the respective center feed tank.” Page 2-27
Uncage is functioning. I’ve definitely had to rebind a few things to get them to work properly, like TDC slewing. I’ll give the Left MFD a shot and see if that fixes things.
I like it as it is. It will become a great module like the Mirage. I really like the use of the nozzles. This aircraft will take time to get used to. Will it do more than 500 knots in level flight?
It took me a while to figure out that the Nose Wheel Steering is in the HOTAS controls.
There is also a switch for it near the gear leaver. Down for NWS (nose wheel steering) then press the uncage button to turn it to high gain which gives you super nose wheel steering with red cape and blue undies.
I meant the control assignment is in HOTAS. I had a hard time finding it at first. Its a common complaint. I think a lot of people don’t understand that the switch does a lot of things depending on weather you are taxing, tracking or wearing a super hero suit…
Any do’s and dont’s on landing? I quickly discovered that my love for helicopters is not of much use. The manual says strong and forceful inputs which does seem to help. I noticed a stabilized approach being quite important too.
I did not have too hard a time landing. The main don’t is “don’t take your eyes off the variometer”. If you do, you will slam into the ground or sit there and hover. My landings are not perfect but I can walk away and fly again. Only practice will make them better. Avoiding a straight down approach helps too. If you start going backwards near the ground correct the angle of the nozzles not the pitch. Make sure you make a will and leave everything to me before you attempt to fly this bird. But seriously, its a lot of fun.
Like any other plane, what is your altitude, air temp, stores config, and overall weight?
You can see some serious differences in performance as those change. I know it will break Mach 1 in a dive, but I’m not certain about the alt, dive angle, etc needed to do it.
I can’t seem to slow down enough in the transition from forward flight to hover, then I’m all over the place, either shooting up into the sky or plummeting into the drink.
Which is why pretty much all my Harrier screen shots are of me making big splashes.
I think a lot of the hovering depends on if you use a split throttle or not. I find it much easier not to split the throttle between nozzle angle and thrust and use another control (a spinner on top). It makes it a lot easier.
I have a wheel on the side of my throttle that I’ve used for nozzle angle since SF first started supporting it.
I can’t imagine trying to use the throttle split that way, it would get me confused at the wrong time in combat.
It’s actually pretty good IMO. One thing is for sure, with the long throw of the second lever, it is very easy to dial in the exact amount of desired nozzle.
I find that slowing down to 200 and then settings nozzle angle of 45 for decent helps. Don’t try and go for a full on hover right off the bat. I only use it for the last 100m or so
Yeah, I tend to just have a couple of nozzle favorite positions I aim for (SFW btw) and then either pitch with the witches hat (indicator on the HUD in VSTOL mode) and do lots and lots of active throttle work for vertical speed, i.e.
50 for takeoff laden
99 at 220kts to bring me down to 120kts
40 or so on the upwind leg, gear down if I screwed up the turn and am a bit far away from the deck.
80 to let me drift forward at about 60kts, to the left of the LHD when close. A bit of pitch controls speed when settled.
A quick viff to 95 to bring me to 5kts ish and the back to 75 to transition forward (with a slight pitch).
I am wiggling my arm on the throttle like crazy, watching that VSI indicator to keep things calm, with my nozzle wheel sort of muscle memorying the values above.
I am not saying this is the right way to do it, just what I like so far.
Honestly, this has been the hardest part for me. It’s like switching from tennis to squash. Snap your wrist and push for power.