It’s 2019 and people like to make resolutions – I call them challenges and I want to share a few of my challenges with everyone and hopefully hear a few of yours too.

More learning, more variety

One of the ways I like to challenge myself is with variety and that means I need to learn how to do more things. I flew a lot of fighters in IL-2 in 2018 but this year I’d like to challenge myself to get more bomber time and spend some more time perfecting the art of level bombing. And dive bombing too.

In DCS World, I’ve spent the better part of the last 7-8 months learning how to fly the DCS: F/A-18 Hornet and precious little time in the AJS-37, AV-8B, and M-2000C modules. I definitely want to get to know those better.

I also want to get to know some of the systems that all of these jets share a bit better. TACAN, radio beacon navigation, and doing some procedures by the book rather than just eyeballing it like I do are all part of what I’d like to get better at.

I also bought the A-10C on sale and now I’d like to spend some time turning that into an effective aircraft for me so I can do some more interdiction style missions on Georgia-at-War and enjoy some of the single player options for this jet too.

Hardware upgrades?

I’ve got a decent enough PC setup to support my flight sim needs and this past year I’ve done things like upgrade the GPU and add some more RAM and storage. All things desperately needed to keep up with the latest requirements – also, so I can produce some good looking screenshots for the blog!

In 2019 I want to focus more on interactions with the sim. TrackIR or Delanclip or some other head tracker is high on my list of things that I want to setup and use. Similarly, my X-52 HOTAS simply doesn’t have enough buttons and I’m thoroughly researching VIRPIL’s T-50 throttle and trying to decide if I want that or if I can wait for VKB’s TECS and compare their merits before making a purchase.

My VKB Gladiator is a great stick but the new VKB Kosmosima and VIRPIL WarBRD have more buttons and hat switches that really interest me too.

I haven’t decided what I’m going to do but those are definitely things I’m thinking about changing up in 2019.

New aircraft?

Each aircraft pack or module (depending on the series) is a bit of an investment in entertainment value and I like to get the most out of what I buy. If I haven’t at least partially mastered and felt like I can actually do things with the aircraft that I buy then I feel like I’m wasting money.

This year there are a few modules that have my attention. IL-2: Battle of Bodenplatte and Flying Circus of course continue to expand and I’ll be very interested to fly the new aircraft coming to those series. For DCS World it’s the DCS: F-14 and DCS: MiG-19P that have my immediate interest. I may not get either right away or I may purchase both as they have my attention and curiosity.

Later in the year there may be more options including the chance that we’ll see a DCS: F-16 Block 50/52 come to early access. I’d also love to check out a helicopter… but I haven’t decided which one or if I want to invest the time learning them yet.

Lots of great options

No matter what is going on this year, we have tons of entertainment value available to fans of the two series that I cover heavily and it’s also a great year in general for fans of series like Ace Combat with the release of Ace Combat 7 due later this month and there is of course War Thunder that is expanding further into the 1950s and 1960s with aircraft like the F-100 and MiG-19.

That’s what I’m thinking about doing this year but I am of course curious to know what all of you are thinking about in terms of your flight sim plans for 2019. Stick with what you know for maximum enjoyment or trying out something new? Love to hear from you in the comments!