Next up on the free trial list is the DCS: Fw190A-8. This BMW801 radial powered fighter is the second Focke Wulf fighter to appear in the DCS World series and is the most recently released WWII model. I’ll be spending some more time with it over the next couple of days.
Flying the ‘Wulf!
DCS: Fw190A-8 is an important aircraft in the DCS WWII line-up as its the only Axis fighter available currently that aligns with the Normandy June-July 1944 timeline that the only map currently available in the series represents.
It’s fortunate that the A-8 is so versatile by WWII standards as it can be used as a fighter, bomber interceptor, and fighter-bomber with the ability to drop a variety of bombs and cluster bombs. Eagle Dynamics have talked about F-8 and G-8 variants becoming available later on too which would be welcome.
My first flights so far have been fun, however, marred by poor frame rate. I’m not sure if anyone else is having issues here (and the Open Beta has been slow recently) but after doing a little testing I can see most of my modules from the Spitfire IX to the F-16 all fly with 45-60fps while the Fw190A-8 is currently sitting at 10-15fps. I will report back if I learn more!
I will write a first impressions and mini-review tomorrow so stay tuned for that.
DCS: Fw190A-8 is available today (April 5th) and tomorrow for free trial. Check it out!
Guides to get started
Here are some guides (among many) that are available to check out that give you some tips and tools to use when flying the Fw190A-8 in DCS World.
I always recommend Chuck’s Guides as well. His DCS: Fw190A-8 guide is available right here.
Stormbirds 
Now this one I like! Flies well, feels good on the FFB2, though I still haven’t managed to fire the guns. Funny, I thought I’d just blow off the FW and like the Spitfire, but I didn’t enjoy the Spitfire at all and like this one.
But I have four 190s in IL2, and with the sale over, definitely not buying it at full price. But it’s fun to try it out. A shame there is no trial for the Dora.
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CanadaOne, The sale is still on, check the website. I think the comments by Matt were in ref to Steam sale.
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Howdy,
I have DCS on Steam, not sure why. I have IL2 installed from the IL2 site. But, alas, the sale is over on Steam. I have a few bucks left in my Steam wallet and maybe I’ll save it for the next new DCS offering. I have the carrier on pre-order, I’m waiting big time for that.
Hope you’re doing well in all the silliness.
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Isn’t that possible to grab the Steam DLC you already own and get it on the non-Steam version? You could do the jump, personally I see no advantage to being on Steam.
It was easier for pre-2017 products but it seems it’s still possible for some of them:
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/500/#1510447
https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=229207
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I’m also seeing very low frame rates in the A-8 for some reason.
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You’re not alone! It’d be far easier for me to recommend this if it weren’t so frame rate heavy. I don’t know why either.
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Fun little plane with lots of firepower to balance its lack of raw performance.
My only problem is that you dont have rudder or roll trim and you need to keep using rudder the whole flight. If you don’t have pedals and instead use torsion stick, it is really annoying.
Other than that, it is a solid plane that I like.
Concerning the fps drop, I have random FPS drops in any module. Everything is ok and suddenly my fps drop to 10 or so, then bounce back to 60 and start decreasing again in an endless cycle. Looks like some kind of memory leak.
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I prefer this one to the Dora, but maybe that’s because I don’t own it, not sure. Or perhaps I compare it to the last time I flew with the Dora.
The sounds and the cockpit look more refined, I really like it.
I noticed the rudder pedals tended to move on their own, I suppose it’s on purpose and not my controller going crazy 😉
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in re frame rates, i don’t have the same problem you do, by far. This A8 is definitely slower than the older D9, but nowhere near as bad as the F-16 (which for me is by far the worst performer).
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It’s an odd thing. The F-16 is just fine for me but the A-8 was in the teens the first time I flew it. I got better performance the second time around fortunately.
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