Resources for New Pilots
From EagleWiki
Here are a few great resources which can be used to familiarize a new pilot with the sim. Its a good path to follow to learn - consider it an alternative to sequestering yourself with the massive manual. Please remember to offer your thanks and appreciation to the authors of each resource for the contribution to the community.
Familiarize yourself with your new home
Warhawks Cockpit Trainer
The Warhawks online squadron has graciously offered their Clickable Java Ka50 Cockpit Trainerto the community. This resource will allow you to understand placements and visial familiarization of the controls often refered to in the forums and manual. Enjoy!
Thanks again for this extra ordinary effort by The War-Hawks squadron!
Familiarize yourself with your new Neighborhood
Oliver Beaumont from Combat Sim Check-Lists has compiled a set of navigation volumes for print and download which detail your area of operations as well as the many airfields your will need to know. The downloads can be accessed directly as both JPEG and PDF at the links below. Please be sure to thank Oliver for his work.
Scroll to the bottom for Caucasian Navigation Volume:
http://users.skynet.be/F4Checklists/LomacDownload.htm
A rose by any other name: The Ka50, a different kind of Whirly Bird
This is a co-axial rotor aircraft with a unique set of challenges and considerations. SimHQ has published a fantastic Feature Review by Erik Pierce worthy of a pre-read if you are learning the Ka50. You can find the article here:
http://simhq.com/_air13/air_426a.html
I recommend a read either before or after you learn the aircraft - it is great for understanding nuances of flying it.
Preflight Start-up procedures
- Video
- Leading Edge Training download
- Check Lists
- Leading Edge Training link to DCS forums thread
- DaWu's check list (with pictures!) link to DCS forums thread
- SDeath's check list link to DCS forums thread
- hilikusopus's check list link to DCS forums thread
Official check lists are located in chapter 12 of the hard copy flight manual, available for purchase.
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/index.php?end_pos=1322&scr=shop&lang=en&cat_sid=2
Note - The realistic startup procedure can be bypassed by pressing LeftWin+Home, which will run through the startup sequence automatically.
Keyboard Commands
Mapi's keyguide link to DCS forums thread
Kurtz's keyguide link to DCS forums thread
Trim
Doesn't work at all like a fixed-wing aircraft. DCS:Black Shark is the first flight sim to try to properly model the trim system in a helicopter. The trim system in DCS:BS has been the subject of many threads on the DCS forums, and a search there is a good start for anyone hoping to learn more about how trim works in-game.
Producers Note #10: Trim
How to Take Off and Blow Up Stuff
Or: A Dummy's Guide to DCS: Black Shark
A mission file to fly solo and teach you the very basics of Navigation, Engaging enemy and using Weapons.
Link to thread at SimHQ forums
Download mission file, drop it in: \Eagle Dynamics\Ka-50\Missions
- Note Internet Explorer might try to change the extension to a .zip file when you download. If this happens, change the extension to .miz from .zip before you drop it in the missions folder - DO NOT UNPACK.
SPECIAL NOTE
Now that you can kill stuff and have completed your first mission (see above). It is VERY important you understand that the very valuable LASER you utilize to rain death and destruction across the Caucasses DOES NOT LAST FOREVER.
The laser on the Ka50 is subject to limited use and can burn out. This thread describes the limitations and strategies to maximize your little finger of death.
In a nutshell:
- You have 5 series of uses, with a cooldown of 30 mins between them. - Each series being 16 "lasings" of 10 seconds, with a gap of 5 seconds after each lasing.
Don't stress about it - if your laser burns out simply use your datalink to have your wingmen kill on your behalf or land and shutdown for 3-4 minutes... Bango- new helicopter and laser.
10 Rules to Live By
Very quick read after you do the mission above... good to familiarize yourself with tactics before trying a campaign or real missions solo/with others.
DCS:Black Shark Tactics Primer
Advanced Systems: Working with others
Now you are ready to work with others... There is plenty of meat on the bone in the sim so its pretty daunting to know where to start. These two videos teach the basics of two important systems to use in multiplayer: the ABRIS and the DATALINK
ABRIS: Full download - Part #1 - YouTube - Part #2 - YouTube
DATALINK: Full download - Part #1 - YouTube - Part #2 - YouTube
A Stick and Rudder Man's Guide to DCS: Black Shark
Here is a link to a SimHQ article which can be a helpful starting point for virtual pilots who are used to fixed-wing aircraft. It will help you to learn the nuts and bolts of the aircraft and what you absolutely should now. It also covers some additional considerations, such as pedals vs. rudders, fuel cutoff for fire extinguishing, etc.
American/Soviet recognition guide PDF
Not sure what you are looking at in your Shkval? This may help. War Hawks Public Training
Another option is to buy Jane's Tank Recognition Guide which is available used&new for very reasonable money.
Autopilot.. huh?
IvanK's attempt to describe its operation in practical terms based on experience flying the Sim. There may be errors and or omissions. Link to thread on DCS forums
Frederf offers some insight into using your PVI800 to navigate and simplifies some of the mystery behind the buttons
WaldoII has a very basic and simple youtube tutorial showing how to take advantage of the autopilot/route capacities of the Ka50.... Yes, it can fly itself ;
Flying low - lessons to live
Another great article on Nap of the Earth flying (NOE) and how to apply it in DCS.
Surviving AAA threats
A fantastic little thread to get your mind thinking in the right direction. Even though you are in a death machine, there are plenty of little bees about the ground wanting to swat you down. Read this, bump it and thank Robdcamp for writing it.
Gunship Academy
A fantastic read regarding countermeasures, tactics and survival strategies. Not DCS specific, but contains lessons relevant to all Heli sims.
Practise Practise Practise
Although DCS Black Shark ships with a wonderful array of campaigns and missions, you may want to simply have access to a less hostile environment to train within. The communities Dragon2781 has proven to be quite the asset with his creation of varios mission packs to enjoy. You may find his contributions and others from the DCS community HERE.
For the purposes of elevating your skill set and practising much of what you have read in the manual and here on the wiki, I highly recommend you download and install the following training pack to access some neat freeflight missions for that expressed purpose.
