1 hour ago, ESzczesniak said:

Agreed, DCS is an amazing simulator and fantastic for combat simulations.  To see how flawed (bright) P3D night is, try flying a night combat mission in DCS.  That's how night is supposed to be...dark, disorienting, and mostly black with just a few lights. 

 

But that aside, DCS just feels more immersive.  I can't pin everything it is, but little things.  The A-10C has been my baby and you can just feel her getting lighter as speed builds on the takeoff roll for one example. 

You have a recommendation for a newbie?  I understand there's a whole war and/or combat missions but right now I'm really just having fun flying around the pattern lol

4 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

Thanks for the tip....  since you have a lot of experience what aircraft is a good payware start?  The harrier looks cool but I'm not really into all the Russian stuff.

It would depend on your expectations.

The A-10C is the easiest to fly but has a lot of systems to learn before you can employ it in a combat zone.

The F-86 is also pretty easy to fly and has relatively simple systems.

The 2000 Mirage is really good looking and supersonic. But, pretty hard to fly and I've found it a bit puzzling, system's wise.

The WWII aircraft are simple to learn but really hard to master in all phases of flight.

The Harrier is a beautiful aircraft, but it's in beta and not complete.

I love the Helos but, that's a different ball of wax.

If you just want to fly and look at the scenery, they're all good. If you want to go the full Montie, it depends on how much time you have to invest.

Every time I pick up the A-10C after a long separation, I have to go to ground school again and spend a lot of time reading and watching YouTube.

1 minute ago, RichieFly said:

It would depend on your expectations.

The A-10C is the easiest to fly but has a lot of systems to learn before you can employ it in a combat zone.

The F-86 is also pretty easy to fly and has relatively simple systems.

The 2000 Mirage is really good looking and supersonic. But, pretty hard to fly and I've found it a bit puzzling, system's wise.

The WWII aircraft are simple to learn but really hard to master in all phases of flight.

The Harrier is a beautiful aircraft, but it's in beta and not complete.

I love the Helos but, that's a different ball of wax.

If you just want to fly and look at the scenery, they're all good. If you want to go the full Montie, it depends on how much time you have to invest.

Every time I pick up the A-10C after a long separation, I have to go to ground school again and spend a lot of time reading and watching YouTube.

Thanks for the detailed response.  I'm sort of hesitating to buy anything because my PC time is spread so thin.  I might do 1 online flight a week (approx 2 hours invested total).  Sometimes I'll get more time for offline (because I can pause etc) but I'm not sure if I have time to invest in a PMDG style combat aircraft hehe.  Though I'm totally thinking about purchasing that F18 early access.  It looks amazing.  I had the old VRS for FSX but never updated to P3D and have since forgotten everything about the F18.  I started flying combat sims like F19 and Jane's ATF and later Longbow, and Jane's USAF.  Those were the days.  After USAF I pretty much quit combat sims because I didn't find anything as detailed... so I switched back to civilian FS2002/9/FSX and now P3D and XP11.

Now I'm at a stage in my life where I have my kids on my lap (sometimes...  I prefer to minimize their screen time), but today we flew around in the P51 in DCS and the boys loved it.

Does anyone know how to zoom in inside the cockpit?  Mouse wheel works external view but nothing seems to work internally.

59 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

Thanks for the detailed response.  I'm sort of hesitating to buy anything because my PC time is spread so thin.  I might do 1 online flight a week (approx 2 hours invested total).  Sometimes I'll get more time for offline (because I can pause etc) but I'm not sure if I have time to invest in a PMDG style combat aircraft hehe.  Though I'm totally thinking about purchasing that F18 early access.  It looks amazing.  I had the old VRS for FSX but never updated to P3D and have since forgotten everything about the F18.  I started flying combat sims like F19 and Jane's ATF and later Longbow, and Jane's USAF.  Those were the days.  After USAF I pretty much quit combat sims because I didn't find anything as detailed... so I switched back to civilian FS2002/9/FSX and now P3D and XP11.

Now I'm at a stage in my life where I have my kids on my lap (sometimes...  I prefer to minimize their screen time), but today we flew around in the P51 in DCS and the boys loved it.

Does anyone know how to zoom in inside the cockpit?  Mouse wheel works external view but nothing seems to work internally.

A10C is incredibly in depth. 

For what you want, the F15C would be perfect. Nice flight model but lighter on the systems. Lots of fun though!

I certainly understand the time limits, the the A-10C is very satisfying. It’s doesnt take much to get her in a traffic pattern, but persistent time and learning will lead to never ending growth. It’s a nice balance for me. No radar, almost fully dedicated air to ground mission. It’s a hallmark of systems depth. Even PMDG might be able to learn something. The F/A-18C might equal it, the the A-10C is a simulation milestone. 

3 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

Does anyone know how to zoom in inside the cockpit?  Mouse wheel works external view but nothing seems to work internally.

Controls/views/ zoom in slow   zoom out slow     I have the A10C and it is fun and easy to fly but, as mentioned, the weapons systems are very complex, imho.

10 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

You have a recommendation for a newbie?  I understand there's a whole war and/or combat missions but right now I'm really just having fun flying around the pattern lol

 

For something with a good balance between fidelity / ease of systems / looks / fun I would recommend the F5E.

Right now all DCS Helo's are 30% off,The Huey is fantastic and highly immersive,Great for flying tree top level enjoying the new scenery in DCS 2.5.

Yeah the Normandy Map plus WWII Assets are worth it since you grabbed the P-51D.  I also picked up the FW-190.  Really fun to do Bomber escort or intercept.  Attack ground targets.  

Dogfighting well...........i suck or the AI are really good.  Or my wingman is terrible at covering me.  

Anyway thats my only frustration....but it is great.