DCS: OH-58 Kiowa Preview/Interview

Flight Sims
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For Those who don’t use/have Discord

OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Module FAQ 01/02/2024 from Polychop Discord

Q: What version of the OH-58D Kiowa will we get?

A: OH-58D(R) CDS4, dating from around 2016. However, the mission editor has access to options to customize the aircraft to represent older airframes with systems such as AN/ALQ-144 Infra-red Countermeasures, the Pilot Display Unit and the removal of the Mast Mounted Sight.

Q: Can I shoot the M4 out of the door?

A: Yes

Q: Is there going to be multicrew?

A: Yes

Q: Will there be a data link or similar?

A: The Improved Data Modem (IDM) is a similar system that allows for transmission of data between player aircraft. This includes but is not limited to the following features: Free-text Messaging, Target Sharing and Remote Hellfire Missions. The OH-58D is also equipped with the Level 2 Manned-Unmanned System (L2MUMS) which allows for video and data transmission between player controlled OH-58Ds and AI UAVs.

Q: What price tag is it going to have?

A: 69,99 USD
Q: Will it have a George AI?

A: The OH-58D will not have a ‘George’ AI on release but this feature is our highest priority after release.

Q: Will it be on Early Access or Pre-Purchase? If so, will there be a discount?

A: The OH-58D will not see an early access release or pre-purchase period.

Q: Will a paintkit be available on release?

A: This is very unlikely

Q: What weapons will be available for this aircraft?

A: M3P .50-caliber machine gun, various 2.75 inch rockets (including laser guided APKWS), AGM-114K Hellfire, Air-To-Air-Stinger missiles and the trusty M4 carbine on the dash.

Q: Can we throw the smoke grenades that are on the dashboard?

A: Yes

Q: Does the Kiowa have a HMD (Helmet Mounted Display) or HUD?

A: The OH-58D has an Optical Display Assembly (ODA) (also referred to as Anvis Display Symbology System - ADSS) which is a helmet mounted sight for use with Night Vision Goggles. Optionally the Pilot Display Unit (PDU) can be installed which provides a limited HUD for weapons symbology.
Q: Does the Kiowa have a data cartridge?

A: Yes - the Personal Computer Data Transfer System (PC-DTS) is a data cartridge system that can save and load data to/from a JSON file. The saved data includes Routes, Waypoints, Target Points, Radio frequencies, Notepad data and more.

Q: Will the FARP Asset pack that was shown in 2019 be released with the Kiowa?

A: No, sadly it will not. While it seemed like a great idea back in 2019, the implications of having to support and maintain 30+ assets indefinitely have the potential to become a burden on our small team.

Q: Are force feedback controllers supported?

A: Testing is in progress.

Q: Is the flight model of the Gazelle representative of the Kiowa’s flight model?

A: The flight model (and all other areas of development) of the OH-58D has undergone a rigorous testing process with both our internal SMEs and those from Eagle Dynamics. During the entire development process we have had access to - and direct feedback from - experienced Kiowa pilots and crew chiefs who contribute directly to the validation of the flight model and systems of the OH-58D.
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

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Wow, all reasonable and clear. Happy for this. :smiley:

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q missing:

Q: Release date?
A: two weeks

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Nothing new, just kicking back waiting like the rest of the group… in the meantime, here are some photos I took from my last time working with the Deltas. Fort Irwin training evolution sometime around 2015.

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So…PolyChop had a Q&A with the Devs and DCS Community on their Discord channel….I wasn’t able to tune in live…but this was posted by a PolyChop member

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They said the stream will be posted on YouTube in the coming week
Good Times

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What…. Bloody hell this is getting expensive :joy:but DCS now seems like London busses … you wait three hours for one then three come along at the same time :rofl::rofl:

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Hmm, so I was considering getting the CH-47, but I don’t need 2 helo’s and the F-4 to learn all at the same time. I think I might hold off on the CH-47 for now based on potential release of the Kiowa.

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I am the opposite. Already have two choppers that I hardly ever fly, Apache & Blackshark. As a SP ‘gamer’ both of them are a bit too challenging for me when it comes to trying to fly and fight at the same time (i.e. single pilot workload vs. George).

Of the two I find the Blackshark easier, but buttons & switches… buttons & switches everywhere :stuck_out_tongue: And to me the OH-58 is just ‘Apache Lite’ - no disrespect intended.

I wasn’t going to bother with any more DCS choppers, but I am warming towards the CH-47. Maybe it will let me just concentrate on flying the damn thing and I might someday understand this helicopter thing?

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Interesting, I too am a SP DCS player. I sped a fair bit of time in all three of the attack helos (Hind, Apache, and BS), almost exclusively in the back seat. In helo’s I don’t tend to mess with shooting anything guided unless George/Petrovich is doing the work, forward firing is the way to go! Yes not very realistic, but if the Army wont pay me to go to Ft. Rucker, I get to do things my way :wink: I am really looking forward to the Kiowa, as we don’t have a MD-500 in the pipeline anywhere. As a forward firing guns kinda guy, a light gunship really scratches that itch. Now, if we could just get that AH-1…

I’ll get the CH-47 eventually, but I think I’ll wait on it and save my pennies a bit. Or I might hit pre-order tomorrow, who knows!

You might try the excellent UH-60 mod, there is also an armed version mod for the mod, that is very well done. It’s a pretty “honest” chopper that does what you’d expect it to do in most situations (looking at you Gaz), and being able to use it as a gunship is a lot of fun as well.

Helo’s are simple, the big prop on the roof is an afront to god. As it spins, it makes him angrier and angrier, which causes the whole demon machine to be thrown from the Earth’s surface. The rest is just buttons, switches, and pedals to control which direction the angle of attack the rotor blades are to adjust the lift vector of the rotor disc, and how the torque is countered. Really very simple

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I guess that is my problem, mainly with the Apache, I’m trying to do everything myself.

Plus I find that jumping back and forward between seats, apart from killing the immersion, means I have to deal with (IMHO) a lacklustre Gearge :wink:

I have pre-ordered the Phantom… because Heatblur, but I don’t plan on buying any other aircraft anytime soon. I have too many modules as it is. I reckon I have less than an hour in the Mossie and really want to spend more time with that and the Channel Map.

But thanks for the tip about the UH-60. I might give that a go, flying cargo around will help with making a decision about getting the Chook.

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I think I’ve got about 10 mins in the Hinds front seat, and that was just trying it out when I first got it. I do have things assigned and bound in the CPG seat in the Apache, and I do use the front seat if I’m going to be parked in a standoff hover and killing things. If we’re moving I’m shooting from the backseat. I don’t actually have too many issues using George, for “find something over that way and kill it.” Or for setting up Co-op mode rocket runs to take advantage of the tilting pylons.

Yeah, I stopped buying WW2 birds after the Mossie for the same reason. I just wasn’t spending near the time in them to justify buying them. I don’t mind getting a module, doing a deep dive, and then putting it on the shelf to remember fondly (MiG-21 for example) but not fly. But if my logbook is still in the single digits, I probably shouldn’t have gotten it after all.

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:eyes:

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It’s not an MD-500 but it’s a OH-6a Loach! Helo mod that dropped yesterday, you can sling smoke grenades, HE frags and lay down some 2.75 and minigun fire!

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I tried it out last night, and man I need to tweak my curves and saturation. The opposite of smooth and controlled. Also a lack of magnetic trim equivalent, is a pain. I get that may be realistic, but I’m flying on a joystick with zero extension with springs, so there are whole lot of other non-realistic things too. Same with a lack of pedal trim. Definitely looks great, and I certainly can’t complain about the price!

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I feel you! I added some curves as I am flying a similar setup. I figured I had enough Huey time…nope! But then again, totally different type of rotor system. I thought the bird had a mag brake as well. Just have to learn to constantly trim while flying and learning its characteristics. Agreed, cannot complain about that price!

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Maybe I missed it in the control bindings, I’ll look again tonight.

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I flew the Loach for about 30 mins tonight around the Marianas and had a blast. That is until I tried to land. Once you get moving she’s fine, but woe her up and she wants to hurt you.

Like, You don’t think that you’re going to ride me like that and walk out of here without some cuts and bruises, do ya?. Got a mean streak in her, which means that we should get along fine.

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Yep no magnetic brake or pedal trim. Once I get past the first 30 kts or so she settles down, but it’s quite the ride to get to that point.

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No force trim. Usually that is a feature found on helicopters with hydraulic control servos. The 369/500 is all mechanical. The trim is, I believe, composed of simple electric tensioners pulling on a couple of springs.

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:eyes:

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