Likewise. I’ve temporarily shelved the Apache. It’s got its fun challenges but I seem to prefer fast jets to get in, strike hard, get out as opposed to the hours of sneaking around doing recon and sniping armor. The biggest downside for my playstyle is as a single player you have to tell where George to look to find targets, which means you already have to know where the baddies are. If you don’t, you just blindly command him to search in random spots on the horizon.
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I’m having Great Fun Flying The Apache,It’s Super Cool Switching from Pilot/Gunner…Making some nice Hellfire Hits…Switching Back to Pilot and then searching for more targets,This is a Amazing Aspect to this module.
I think this module is like a 18 course dinner 
and needs to be digested in small bites.
It took time to get controls set up so they were at a comfortable level.
It can be a handful to fly when Loaded down with weapons and fuel,I guess The Real Delta Model is somewhat underpowered and this is reflected in the DCS version.
Both Cockpits are incredibly modeled ,and I enjoy spending time in them,especially in VR;
I’m enjoying The Hind for many of the same reasons…Although I’m not yet as proficient with her weapons as The Apache.
I probably have a 65% rate with The ATGM missiles 
just not picking up the “feel” of the aiming sight,
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I have still the same opinion, sharing with others, all we need is ‘A’ models of all the frames not the sterile ‘flying calculators’ ‘C’ models 
…but I understand that there is lots of youth out there with planty of spare time on their hands who wants only the latest.
i.e. I dont own Apache
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The Apache is an interesting conundrum for me. I bought in preorder and was thrilled for release day; I spent countless hours as a kid in the Novalogic Comanche series and this is seemingly a 2022 revisit (in VR!!)
After release though, while I can fly it to one degree or another, I seemingly don’t have the brain power to learn it’s avionics, startup, George, etc. Never-mind the HOCAS and dear god, the HOCASES(?) in the front seat.
About all that I’ve done with it is visual gun and rocket strafing in the ranges around Nellis - which I also don’t need the navigation system for, really.
2022 has been a pivotal year in my career with great rewards but also great professional challenges and a very steep learning curve; I think I just don’t have the bandwidth mentally for a complex airframe right now. I do dabble with the Viper and occasionally Harrier, but the vast majority of my time is spent in the Hornet enjoying the fruits of having learned this aircraft already. Systems failures and complex mission profiles are now enjoyable, which is what I seek at this point in my life.
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I am like that with the A10C i can just jump in and do stuff that is still ingrained in my muscle memory and my fading brain
I have been getting to grips with the apache and can operate both seats fairly proficiently but still learning.
The altitude hold will make life easier and i have seen now there is a special tab for pedals with no springs which i am hoping will stop the excessive yaw i get.
Hovering is beyond me atm. I can hover a huey and hip forever but the apache is a horse of a different colour.
The Jtac i tried before wags video but i will have to retry it with the IR pointer.
All in all i am happy with it and if i can learn how to lase and store i will be hopefully a little more deadly
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I’ll link these posts and videos again since they made a world of difference for me. The Apache can be intimidating but don’t let it fool you, you can be up and gunning in a short time.
I’ll admit I haven’t learned any of the start up or nav stuff, mostly since I fly IFR (I Fly Rivers/Roads) I’m just happy dinging tanks from the next ridge line over…
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I am a little late to the commentary for, ahem, reasons 
. From a pure flying perspective, the Apache is a disappointment after flying the Hind. The Hind reminds me of the one turbine helicopter I’ve had the pleasure to fly so far, the Agusta 109, in that the feeling of power is thrilling. You point the nose down, pull a little pitch and launch forward in a blur. The Apache feels a little more restrained. It doesn’t lack power, but it doesn’t make it so obviously apparent the way the Hind does. I crashed on my first attempt to hover. The only other time that has happened to me in DCS was with the Gazelle. I added a slight curve to X and Y and initially lowered the saturation in X to 50%. Lifting to a nice hover was pretty easy after that. I’ve since raised it the 75%. For those who struggle with any wheeled helicopter, remember that the brake needs to be off and the tailwheel unlocked. This is the only way to know the correct control position as you gently get light for a 2-stage lift-up.
IDM protocol is coming later. Hopefully it will work similarly to link 16, at least among other Apaches on the push. As much as I hate it currently as a weapon of pure terror, I really see some advantages to the Russian Alligator. The side-by-side seating makes communicating between crewmembers easier with less need to “talk on”.
I’ve read a lot of complaining about the trim over at the DCS forum. I wonder if this is from the initial April version of the helicopter. For me, the trim works quite nicely, perhaps better than the Hind. It continues to be a thrill to fly machines that are modeled accurately enough that we can begin to make comparisons. The Apache, as we currently have it, is on par with the Ka50 technologically. The two are as different as Earth and Venus.
Is there a way to permanently select Auto for gun ranging? Every time I switch out of guns (or rockets) and switch back, the ranging is back to Manual.
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Disco!
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I think you have to select the ranging for the gun manually each time you select it
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Would never say bad about the beloved A-10C, but all my fixed wing stuff has been shelved for now to continue Apache education.
My being a former Longbow / Longbow 2 / EECH addict helps. Getting off the ground was easier because of prior rotary exploits.
Everyone who is flying Apache has pedals, right? Without them, it would be nearly impossible. Once the hover hold arrives, it will definitely get easier.
Hopefully, it won’t be a 2-year wait for Radar Hellfires.
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smokinhole - “Is there a way to permanently select Auto for gun ranging? Every time I switch out of guns (or rockets) and switch back, the ranging is back to Manual.”
AFAIK, you’re correct. No Auto for gun ranging once you switch out. I haven’t tried it yet going from guns to Hellfires and back again, but I’ll try it this evening.
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Yep. It’s in the manual as behaving just that way. Probably makes sense in the real world.
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My guess would be in the real world you aren’t swapping weapons around that often or fast.
You are doing a rocket attack or you’re employing Hellfires or you’re using a gun in close, you’re not closing on an armored column and starting off with Hellfires till you can use rockets and then finish off the stragglers with guns in a single pass.
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I am still not there yet even not for Hind. just cant find reasonable amount of time to try them all
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LOL! That is the case with DCS now and frankly for me has been for quite some time. Supposed to be a “study sim” yet who has time for study with all the module choices one has now? So much candy in the candy store you just can’t pick one favorite and stop there. ED has spoiled us. 
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One plug for the Apache is getting it started and playing with guns and rockets is only marginally more complicated than the UH-1. It’s the TADS and CPG position that gets really complicated.
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Dear all,
In the next Open Beta, we will be adding the new CP/G target identification system. I plan to create a video on this next week, but in the meantime, please find an updated George document that describes the new system beginning on page 17.
Kind regards,
Wags
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Dear all,
Much of the work is focused on fixing bugs and tuning systems to first have a solid foundation to work from. However, IAT/MTT are in active development as is initial FCR/RF Hellfire and LB Net. Given the complexity of such tasks, we have no date estimates at this time.
Once IAT/MTT are available, we plan to offer the -64 in the free trial program.
Outside of those systems, much work is ongoing:
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Performance Level of Detail (LOD) models
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New pilot models and animations (SP and MC)
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Updating the PERF page (quite a deep rabbit hole)
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Continued tuning of the FCS / yaw offset
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Ability to change seats in MC (in internal testing)
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New voice overs for flight members (2, 3, and 4)
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Continued George AI refinements
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Tuning TSE/LMC behavior
There are of course other items in work, but these are the primary focus.
Kind regards,
Wags
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