This journal entry is less about a specific flight or mission and more of a general overview of what I’ve been flying recently. After a bit of a hiatus, I’m back in the cockpit of more DCS World aircraft again and I thought I’d return in style with the DCS: AJS-37 Viggen by Heatblur Simulations. It’s been intensely fun!
Back to the Viggen
This isn’t my first “kick at the can” with the Viggen. I’ve previously had some very fun times with the Viggen flying it on Growling Sidewinder’s server, flying it on Persian Gulf at War, and checking out that Cold War server before Enigma’s Cold War server became the go-to place for this era of jet.
I’ve even posted a few videos over the years like this one carving some mountain passes on the GS server.
And then this one splashing a couple of MiGs on Cold War.
A lot of time has passed since then and I’ve gotten rusty on this now classic DCS jet. Time to get back to it and so… back to basics it was for me!
Back into training
The Viggen was Heatblur’s first module released under their then new branding. It and DCS World have come a very long way since then but the Viggen hasn’t lost its touch although Heatblur do have some updates coming out eventually.
In the meantime, its back to bootcamp for me thanks to the included training missions. I’m not sure if its my memory or if a more robust set of training missions have been added over the last couple of years but I can happily report that the DCS: AJS-37 sports a full compliment of missions that can help you get up to speed.
The first tutorial covers a cold and dark start-up which is, thankfully, a short process. Then its off to taxi and takeoff training before getting going with more advanced capabilities including navigation and weapons.
The training scenarios cover a variety of weapons including the basic usage of the RB-05A pilot guided missile, RB-04E anti-ship missile, RB-75 which is a Swedish AGM-65A Maverick, and the impressive BK-90 guided glide cluster munition. Training doesn’t have the full complement of weapons incorporated but it does get you started on some key weapons.
For everything else, I turn to Chuck’s Guides for the DCS: AJS-37. An excellent resource for any situation!
On mission
A couple of nights of flying my way through the training sorties and consulting Chuck’s Guide and I’m back in the saddle, ready to fly the Viggen into some simulated DCS combat. And so I did with the infamous “Hunting the hunters” single mission.
My first run of this mission went well right up until we got into range with the enemy. Up to that point, my start-up run was perfect, taxi, takeoff, and the inevitable hunt for the ASW frigate went well. Spotting both the friendly submarine in need of protection and the enemy frigate on radar was particularly exciting.
Then, closing to target, I got myself ready to launch. I entered the target range and ordered my flight to attack. And attack they did, but their missiles seemed to all drop off and not go anywhere. So it was just me and my RB-04E missiles streaking their way to target. And they did hit according to TacView! So the mission was a partial success.
But I was hit by a missile and crashed into the sea. Not before very suddenly coming up on a Ka Ka-27 helicopter that I was warned about in the briefing. My Sidewinders were not ready and I nearly hit the helicopter at Mach 0.9.
Next time, I will succeed!
Stormbirds 
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