Good to hear. And interesting...keep getting different answers from VR users about it being epic or intolerable and they can't see a tank in the plain open at 4km...
@@volkvoort True. I personally play with dot labels. I don't feel like I should have to punish myself dealing with HMD hardware limitations in the name of realism. It's especially needed for ground targets. For air threats I can typically rely on AWACS.
People have to remember, the KA-50 'IS' DCS! This was the module that started it all, and it's just as much fun to blow shit up in it now as it was way back when it was released :D
@@Cnupoc Lock-On is just a Ubisoft updated 2003 version of Flanker 2.0 (1999) and Flanker 2.5 (2001). It doesn't take much to notice all the same maps, assets and so on between those two, just in updated graphics and many other small things. The KA-50 was first standalone simulator as "DCS World" module from 2008, until Black Shark 2 came out that brough the DCS World full compatibility, and before that DCS: A-10C was released about 6 months earlier to DCS World. Quickly forward to 1.5 and alpha 2.0, the 2.0 was first graphical refresh because EDGE, that 1.5 received before 2.5 was created that combined 2.0 Alpha and 1.5. And here we are, still in the 2.7 version that has not really gone so far from the Flanker 2.5 times when considering the core basics like AI, waypoints, the terrain structure design (no grass, no small trees everywhere etc). New lighting effects, new clouds, new terrain engine and all that has been updated heavily among all physics and so on related fighter features. It is fun to watch the old videos, that show the legacy even in today ones. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tiEdWHKppss.html Like how a Flanker has the A-G radar mode...
The more I fly the KA-50, the more I love it. Been flying it in VR with a motion platform and it's just amazing :) You feel like Rambo taking on the world with this puppy.
When things finally snap together in the Hokum, it's probably one of the most satisfying modules to fly. Yes, it's quirky, strange and can be frustrating as all hells to fly, and you NEED pedals in order to fly it (or at the very least stick-twist, even though it's not ideal by far), but the amount of destruction you can cause in that thing is pretty mental. Looking forward to Black Shark 3.
Awesome video! 100% right. The Ka 50 is one of is kind in DCS, until AH64 but still you need two to do the job correctly (sadly in real life the ka 50 was left behind by the Mi 28). Its the module im still flying and enjoy how difficult it is. Endless joy.
I love Black Shark for it's untempered Cold War vibes. It was designed with a full scale war in Europe in mind - even if, due to financial problems, it was flown only in 1990s/2000s. Ka-52 looks lot less raw in compare, lot more like a civilian helicopter with it's big, lightly aromored 2 pilot cabin with big canopy.
Isn't the Ka-52's canopy/cockpit armour similar to the Ka-50? ie. loosely that it's immune to 7.62mm and splinters of 20mm? Or did they reduce it to lighten the weight after the additional seat/ejection system/3rd pylon/radar/etc? I mean the engines are 400shp more powerful...
I can barely remmember my brother helping me play the blackshark when I was younger as he bought this for me as BD gift ever since the Blackshark has been special to me lovely video
The Huey is a lot more fun to fly, but useless in combat. So it's already a civilian module in some ways. Where's my Cessna 172 for DCS ! #GloriousDCS_FlightModel
Neat video. I've just got the hang of flying the shark to the point where I'm working with the autopilot instead of against it, but this vid showed me I've only scratched the surface!
That was a great summary. We had our best little MP sortie yesterday. Finally "getting" the trimmer and enjoying the Vikhrs very much. Thank you for your vids, this is an epic channel for "BS" content. ;-)
Hopefully soon they'll add more functionality to that - like being able to see the soldiers in the back hop in/out or have the door gunners. Would be neat for CSAR
@@volkvoort For now I'd just really like them to actually model the back when you are in the cockpit - At some point they are supposed to add the option for a Kord in the passenger compartment
I love this bird. Been flying it back when it had the primitive 3D cockpit from early BS2 and to this day it's the smoothest flying heli. A real pleasure how it handles and slides through the air. It's like an airplane that can switch to hover mode.
I came back to it last year after getting a spanking PC - then got distracted by the Huey - Then the F18 - Then the Mi8... and now i'm back. I fly with the Flight director on and the waypoints turned off. and you can just fly her like a normal chopper - just trimming for takeoff and as needed. Learn how she handles at different speeds, full weapon load and empty. Once you learn how she wants to fly, and you stop fighting her - you'll be in love.
Sad that Black Shark 3 is not going to get the President-S suite. As just the Missile Warning System is nice thing, that you get a automatic flares for it and announcement from where the missile is coming from, but it is not the same thing as having the actual IR lamp jammers to really block those IR missiles from the sky and ground. The Black Shark 3 as well would heavily benefit from proper Shkval filters and optical features (contrast lock, no requirement to use laser to get estimation for range and so on), but even more if we would had received the KA-50Sh variant that had a FLIR. It would have possibly made the KA-50 up to AH-64D level on the spot.
Funny enough, I don't think it was mine. Started Su-33, then got Shark & A-10 in relatively small space, but IIRC I didn't quite feel the Shark. Dived into A-10 and only later decided I was gonna make the Shark work. But hope you enjoy the return.
@@volkvoort ya i clacked a lot of rotor blades in the shark lol....once you get it down it can do dome crazy maneuvers...no rwr rally sucks to...i hear ka50 3.o will fix that....love the brrt machine also...
@@willl7780 I'm not 100% sure BS3 brings RWR. Missile Warning System, probably based on UV detection, yes, but not sure on RWR. Keep reading mixed things about whether people thought the original Shark had RWR, and some other sources saying RWR is part of the President-S package that has the MWS and DIRCM. So maybe.
Bought this module in one of the Steam sales long ago. Was scared of the complexity involved (only been doing flying in Arma until now). Great vid, subbed. A training regime from an expert like yourself would help complete idiots like myself.
I'm tempted. I really am. Did put it on the discord. But there's a lot of vitriol on the that forum right now, or rather a few really vocal types. Lol...and my icon's already on a bucket of the more recent threads trying to help out...
Man that's sum pitch! Great vid brother! I'm spending more & more time in my BS pit than my Hornet now... what the hells happening to me?! Effing thing is still trying to kill me when I try an hover or land tho lol
Good to know. I used to dig into the A-10 a lot. LASTE wind codings etc. Bit hazy on it now. Shark can get really complex by the interactions between the systems, but the basics of flying and killing things is very simple.
With the trials & such it's pretty easy to, well, trial out if you don't have it already. Basics are fairly simple of hold-trim, move sticks, settle in new attitude, release trim. That and firing it just master arm on, uncage, slew no target, lock, fire. As you can tell from my channel though, it can be a deep dive into the weird and wonderful if you go deeper.
I am a lone wolf... I don't like the shared workload experience found in the Hind or the Apache. The KA-50 and its coaxial setup suits me just fine and has done so since it was a solo module before DCS world was even a thing.
@ Damp Sok, I see YT did it's thing were messages go missing/hidden and aren't in any approval-pending cue on my end. I did see the notification though. Easiest is to ping me on Tactical DCS or Rotorhead's Discords and I can try & find time from there.
Still a master piece, but yeah, not a beast at night. For that (currently) it's pretty much the Apache. Gaz can do some stuff more at night. That's not to say you can't take the Shark out at night, but you need to limit your activities appropriately.
Yea. Even though I bought the apache, I keep coming back to the shark. The hind is not my cup of tea. The apache is very fun with a friend, but by myself for now I'm preferring to cut the George bullshit
right now is best time to pick it up for 60% off. I just bought it and holy shit i cant believe i never bought it earlier when i first started playing. My first helicopter in dcs was the mi24 and coming from that to the ka50 it is soooo much more capable. Hopped on DDCS and downed a apache a couple blurfor tanks and sams and made it back. The s8 rockets and gun are insanely capable from quite far away its really impressive. And the co axial rotor is something else... Its brilliant. If thats actually how the ka50 fly's the USA needs to make a co axial helicopter asap because that shit is light years ahead its so much more controllable and its like almost impossible to VRS.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tifxjsrBL9E.html. No specific page in the manual. Little trick I discovered in combining - you first select a Target Point, then a stored Data Link Target, then tapping uncage keeps cycling between them. So you can then lock up a third target manually, fire on it, uncage to fire on second target, uncage to fire on third target. Situationally very cool. Essentially mixing/combining Target Points with Data Link Targets, which is definitely not 'the usual thing' to do.
Can I get some tips for "look and lock" I don't find this to be that simple and would love to know how I keybind or what i need to do to get a lock, I can't seem to be steady enough. Maybe a me issue but if you have any tips I'll take it :)
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-V5Q8bVwtZx0.html for the first mentions. I *think* I go over it again it again in ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OAM7-TZf6p4.html. The gameplay videos ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jrqe0sFZMnQ.html has more of it at the end and and ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HTLmkmIe0xU.html should have it somewhere. Sorry no external resources for this one.
Glad to hear it...well the second part at least ;-). I think for a lot of people they get stuck with the autopilot side, which is just fixed by holding trim whenever you fly, after which it becomes quite understandable. Enjoy the training ahead.
The linked video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dXZvvBMW8aM.html explains it the best. But essentially just data link ingress then uncage if you have a stored target selected or an incoming message data link.
Absolutely, with one caveat: It's not the ultimate in teaching you pedal coordination with collective you'd need for all the tail rotored helos (maybe UH-60 would be an exception). So if you only want it as a springboard to fly the other helos, Huey might be better (raw flight, but almost no systems to learn). But the Shark's basics are very simple, it smoothes away a lot of the issues you'd have trying to fly a helo, has ample margins for power and crushing it into the ground so very good 1st helo to get into and enjoy.
It gets tricksy. I started DCS flying the Su-33 with a playstation 4 pad. I bound the gyro's to looking around. It wokred for me getting a taster, but the knobs of course always return to centre, so you'd need to hold the sticks in their relative positions. You can do it, but it's harder and less immersive. Helicopters require a bit more focus since you're always near the ground that wants to kill ya. I'd recommend if you could get HOTAS bits, you definitely want the stick (cyclic). Once can get by using a slider for the throttle (collective), but it's also very useful if you could rest your other hand on it. Head-tracking also adds to the experience massively. You can build one from cardboard, insulation tape, a few spare electronic bits and a Playstation 3 Eye camera, which normally goes for cheap 2nd hand if you want. Allows you to look around in a natural feeling way, and of course allows you to use the helmet sight on something like the Black Shark. Pedals are very optional. They're neat, but you just need something that's comfortable to hold. The Shark doesn't need pedals of course nearly as much as the other tail-rotored helos, but it's still useful. For reference I played the Shark for the longest time using that paddle thingy on the back of the Thrustmaster TWCS throttle as my pedals. So that's probably the last bit you get. Most of the helis have a "Rudder Trimmer" special option that allows it to hold that pedal position once you trim - which may also be a good option for gamepad play. A way for you to test the waters maybe: on the Eagle Dynamics main website, they allow you to 'trial' modules for 2 weeks, which then refreshes every 6 months. This doesn't apply to the Steam version. So what you can do is download the "Standalone" version from their website - I can't recall how big the basic download is without the extra maps & modules. Then set up a trial for the Black Shark - it's the easiest heli to fly with limited controls. There is a 'Game' mode as well as a 'Simulation' mode in DCS. I'm always in Sim mode, but the game mode simplifies things, adds some extra overlays like you'd find in more gamey things. Pick between one of the two, have a fly around and see. Your first takeoff and flight will be rough - it always is, even if you had a good joystick. Since you'll be using trim most of the time while you move, maybe bind that to pressing the thumbstick down if it doesn't require much force, then it frees up other wingers. Also you would want to set up axis curves to smooth out the inputs - it requires less motion that you think to get it moving a certain way. Also unless you're experience, smooth gentle banking and turns is far better until you get a feel for the limits, since you can wreck the helis with too powerful movements. If that works for you, then I'd assume since you don't have headtracking & less finesse controls, you'd have to do engagements a bit more reserved. So Keep further away, get into a good hover, fire from there in a calm way. This tut ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-foycT-j6t3o.html may give some ideas on doing that. As for the other helos - the Gazelle also has a lot of stabilisation, though it's fairly twitchy. Maybe that would be second-easiest to gamepad after the Shark. The Hip, Hind and Huey might be a bit harder to gamepad, since it doesn't stabilise, needs finer corrections more often and needs more 'pedal' inputs.
So get me wrong, they were going to keep the Black Shark in service if it wasn't for the budget cut? Which would be ashame as I've always favoured the KA50 over the 52, don't get me wrong the 52 is superior with the more advanced tech, though it just lacks the sharp sleek look the 50 has.
Yeah, personally also prefer the look of the Shark over the Gator. It did enter service and was meant to see more production numbers, but yeah, the economic collapse came at the wrong time for it. That, the scout partner never panned out (partially also money), there was pressure to keep the jobs of the Mil production/development and once they slapped on radar and more sensors/battlefield intel that became hard to do single-seat. That and maybe the idea of a single seater was still too alien for the descision makers. Maybe there's more politics, dunno.
I disagree that you "need" rudder pedals as long as you have a twist. I have been flying helos for a long time. Both with and without pedals. You just need a twist axis and a quality one pike the vkb gladiator
True, people even get by with gamepads. Though quality pedals are pretty nice, even for a helo that doesn't need it as much - it allows finer control with (a little) less concentration. Plus it offloads control inputs from the hands/wrist/elbow to the otherwise dormant feet/ankles/knees.
@@volkvoort I just don't like the message it sends the community. It's a bar of entry I see people mention when I ask why they dont own any helos. Because it shouldn't be a bar of entry because they are not necessary at all.
@@FlavorfulGaming You can play a helo with a gamepad, or even kb and mouse. It will just be a smidgeon more difficult or less capable. Those are unfortunately facts. You can also play Shark/Apache without headtracking or VR, but again you won't be as snappy or intuitive with putting your sensors/weapons on pop-threats. I'll absolutely agree pedals aren't necessary. Haven't watched this video recently, but IIRC I might have said something like you need pedals a little less. Possibly not the best wording, but I don't recall making a further thing about it - and my other how-to videos also don't state it as a requirement. But there's a large portion of people that try helos with a twist grip that then have significant problems with it, that then state how awesome it is to fly with pedals if/when they get it. Just like getting a fancier stick with more buttons/tactility, better base with cams or forcefeedback, smoother pedals, better computer, etc. - there's a lot you can go without or lesser versions and still enjoy helos. Most would agree in terms of further investment into flight gear - that for helos, pedals would rank higher than with jets in terms of upgrading HOTAS vs. getting pedals.
@@volkvoort you did mention that pedals were not 100% required. There was just allot of emphasis on them. That's all I was critiquing. My current set up is the vkb nxt stick and a winning orian f18 grip. I've been using a twist axis since black shark 1. Frankly I found when I got pedals they were a hindrance more then a improvement. I found it very hard to sync my collective with my anti tourqe. Hand to feet. I think the people who rely on the pedals so heavily are going to be biased towards there impact because it's what they are used to. Much like how I am biased against because it's what I am used to.....I would say head tracking should be the highest priority period above a set of pedals. Great vid otherwise 👍 I like ur channel. I'm always looking through helo content to find something new I don't know already.
@@FlavorfulGaming Thanks. Apologies on the emphasis, wasn't quite meant that strictly, but guess that's how it's worded. I started with T16 twist stick, then migrated to the TCWS paddle. Twist I found harder, but then again I immediately on-hand had the awesome paddle to switch to - and I was fortunate that mind didn't have wobbles & deadzone issues. Outside muh imMurshuN, the critique against the paddle is it prevents your fingertips from pressing any buttons on your throttle. I then got Logitech pedals, which is like you say, a step back. First I had to rewire the brain away from pull left (fingertips) = turn left into push left (foot), which took some adjustment. But added to that playing around with friction options, dosing with Nyogel and eventually removing the springs it felt less precise than the paddle. Overall better since I could use the fingertips, but slightly less smooth otherwise. Currently on VKB pedals, which aren't Slaw devices or MCGs, but pretty good and they've been fantastic in smoothness and precision. Guess that also means it gets more complicated in terms of not just "consider pedals" but "consider midrange and up pedals", but then again, same can be said for decent cams vs. a heavy cross feeling on your stick.
For a helo, the ideal is either a force feedback stick (which are rare or expensive atm) or something with a longer stick extension and applying very weak force to return to center and ideally cams instead of just springs (typically VKB/Virpil). That said, almost anything would work if you can map most of the buttons. Usually the more expensive ones of the bigger HOTAS brands are better quality, smoother feeling and less deadzones or inaccuracies. For a helo I do advise either pedals, or maybe if you're lucky and the pedal thingy on the back of the Thrustmaster TCWS throttle works. Except maybe for the Black Shark, you'll need to keep a pedal setting depressed for the tail-rotored helos, so your pedal solution shouldn't be a twist stick that gives wrist strain holding that 'pedal' position the whole time.
Very interesting video. I agree that the KA-50 is not the best choice in night ops, but I did a run last night during dark hours and was actually able to find targets in urban lit areas, although it took some effort to find a target. Nonetheless it was quite fun and a challenge. So on conclusion the KA-50 can be utilized in lit urban areas, even when its dark. I also used the enemy tracer fire to pinpoint possible enemy positions and intending to rocket barrage the area. But I was shot at before I got the chance. Video with timestamp locating a target: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-70yq36xu4lg.html
Yeah. typically brightness up, contrast down on Shkval might see something. Cities with nasties hiding in them like Igladudes...even if it wasn't night-time....ugh
Click on the i top right near that scene/trick - it should have a link to the video guide for it. Think the one you're looking for is ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tifxjsrBL9E.html. Haven't tested it yet with the new Black Shark 3 module. I suspect the INU drift/bug might make it harder there.
@@volkvoort thanks for the response, whats that bug that everyone's been talking abt? i use the ka 50 regularly but im not really technical with it so idk how that affects anything lol
@@volkvoort nevermind, i can see what the problem is or maybe im doing something wrong, i put the target into the numpad and then tried to snap it and it has the right distance between the two but snaps away from them by a bit
@@Axxel-720 It would often have some degree of inaccuracy. Less if you recall targets from the spot where you saved them (i.e. you're ina aperfect hover). But currently the massive drift from the INU precise/normal alignment is bugged, so that recall might be further out as if you'd been flying for hours.
Yeah RIP. LOL. No news at all for ages, 2 days after this releases they mention Russian law changes blocking it. Plus side is it was mentioned the cockpit & exterior upgrades are still going ahead. So even if they're prohibited from releasing some or all the quasi-classified (IDK) tech, we'll still get the purtier exterior (which does need a little love right now).
Probably between the economic situation and the never-ending competition that it just wasn't produced in the mass-production numbers it was meant to be still in the 80s. And then when things eased up, some of the bigger names in favour of it had passed on and with the new elements of the radar etc it became too much for a single seater. That and it seems the market outside also wanted 2 seaters. I think the 52 is less armoured around the cockpit, but the rest of the airframe should have the same level of armour.
@@volkvoort i agree about the never ending competition and their economic conditions, but i think atleast it should've done what it was supposed to do, replace all mi 24's from service. Ka 52's could've complemented it. Even ah 64's (A-C) didn't had this stupid tracking radar nonsense and they're still in service. Anyway good video.
Ka-52 has 2-man crew, which is better solution. Most of attack helicopters have crew of two: pilot and gunner. Acting as both of them can be very exhausting for one man.
@@jakubdabrowski3846 i thought some pilots just wanted to do all stuff by themselves. And anyway ka 52 has two crews because it's mission profile is way bigger than ka 50, ka 50 didn't had recon and net centric warfare capabilities.
@@user-gh4of6ce3t yup. exactly that. They went with single-seat originally because they needed to save a lot of weight to get it to the required performance - part of the reason it won the competition. And they figured they could do single seat with all the automation available at that time, especially since the expected mission was anti-tank, nap-of-the-earth, standoff from NATO short-range SAMs of the time. And in that flight, the 2nd seater won't be able to typically see much. This was based on the AFG Hind pilots, who did most the lifting with their ATGM work. But yeah, with the additional sensors and mission profile, it became harder to do single-seat, plus the military just lost interest in the single seat.
Frankly, the ka50 us the pinnacle of cringe. Yesterday, I literally took down a Tunguska in a hind first try while a ka50 died more than 10 time to that same sa-19, the worst is that I only bought the mi-24 3 day ago 🤣
Tactics plays a big part of engaging a Tunguska. If you surprise it or use ground clutter, then it's fair game. If you try to attack it from a hover outside ground clutter, without surprise, it's likely to murder you (assuming it's not distracted shooting at someone else). Shark just has more options than the Hind in dealing with the Tunguksa, including outranging it at nose-bleed altitudes, using hover pop-ups, gunning it down without the element of surprise. Possibly you can even still shoot down the SAMs. But you can also do bumps or ATGM flying in Nap of the Earth like the Hind as well. Nice work on fragging it with the Hind.