A few things on the go for the latest DCS World Weekend Newsletter. A good chunk of content that I’ve covered through the week including all of the AH-64D updates, however, we did learn some new items on the F-16 and the OH-58D.
Kiowa development accelerating
Based on a quote in the developer diary, DCS: OH-58D Kiowa Warrior development is now accelerating and good progress is being made on the project. Here’s a quote:
The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior project is accelerating, following a challenging 2021. The programming department is back to its original pace. Our partner, friend and company co-owner has fully recovered, a great start to 2022.
Polychop Simulations
There’s also news on the scale and scope of the project. The plan is to now include a range of options that will let you configure the helicopter in a variety of configurations from it’s 1980’s origins (the Kiowa with no weapons pylons) to 2017. It sounds like some avionics will remain in place through that but you’ll be able to have a bit more flexibility.
They also report that a former Kiowa pilot and instructor with 5300 flight hours, Barundus, will be contributing voice lines for the AI interactions as well as campaign.
F-16 updates
A few updates are coming to the F-16 in the next update. They include BDU-50 training bombs, a new ‘Max Toss Anticipation’ cue that accompanies the recently added Dive Toss bombing mode, plus the ‘Lock’ voice over when locking an aircraft in ACM mode. I really like that last one.
These are all expected to arrive in the next update.
Another item that DCS: F-16 pilots have been waiting for are further improvements to the G-onset and instantaneous turn rate.
Other updates
The developer diary of course mentions the recent release of the DCS: AH-64D’s early access guide. They also have a feature of the new WinWing Orion HOTAS F-16EX throttle which has a unique configuration and some interesting features.
Check it all out on the DCS World Weekend News.
Stormbirds 
Looking forward to an update and some new stuff. That’s a nice looking helicopter but I’ll probably pass. My chopper heart only has room for the Blackshark.
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Well that’s a good helicopter to focus in on for sure. Lots of fun in my experience.
The Kiowa will fit int an interesting niche with its scouting and laser designating capabilities – less direct warfare with this one.
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As much as I love Black Shark, I’d keep an open mind on Kiowa Warrior.
Hellfires, APKWS, and the mast-mounted thermal/optical/laser sight mean its much better filling a Sniper role than Black Shark can be – not to mention that KW can effectively fight at night, where the Black Shark weapons are mostly blind.
Depending on one’s preferences, I suspect it will be more fun to fly than BS as well.
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The IRL pilot, Barundus, seems to have been extensively involved with development from the beginning. He appears or is mentioned in many of the early KW live streams, and seems to be a fixture in Casmo’s LLH community as well.
If PC can take his guidance and effectively apply it to KW, we should end up with quite a nice bird.
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The involvement of such an experienced SME makes me very hopeful for this project!
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Helicopters in DCS in VR are so much fun to fly, and the Kiowa has been on my wish list for quite some time now, Really looking forward to it’s release.
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