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 
It’s great to come back to old friends, no?
The other day, Reflected Sims issued a 40-mission challenge for Spitfire. All you have to do to “win” is simply survive all 40 missions just like IRL. (Search youtube for “The Ultimate WW2 Fighter Pilot Challenge in DCS”)
I’ve become kinda burnt-out on 4th Gen jets (and helo!), and have never gotten serious with Spitfire, so I figured, “Why not…?”.
I broke a few aircraft figuring out take-offs and landings, but now i’m (slowly) working my way through the first campaign.
Let’s just say I’m no longer qualified to “win”, but man, the new emphasis on surviving to the “end of the war” genuinely increases the immersion factor (for me, at least!).
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p.s.: I just gotta say, flying this warbird over The Channel map in v2.8 is proving to be every bit as visually satisfying as XP with True Earth, and yeah, even as much as MSFS. 🙂
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It is undeniably a stunningly beautiful map. They did good work there!
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I hadn’t heard about this but I will seek it out and see what’s going on there.
It is great to come back to old friends. And the Viggen has a ton of style and uniqueness to go along with it. Eventually I’ll get back to my Viper and Hornet too… but I want to spend some time here and get going with the F1 some more.
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The Viggen is a very niche aircraft. A Gripen? Weeeeeellllll, discussions are ongoing.
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I’d jump at a Gripen. Any version!
But the Viggen is too much fun for now so that’s good enough.
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Agree. I haven’t done anything useful with Viggen, but it is high up on my list due to road bases (& thrust reverse!), how surprisingly effective it can be in WVR air to air, and raw speed at shrubbery altitude 🙂
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It’s very much at home when you bring part of the shrubbery back to base with you! 😀
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It’s in the F-4 mold of iron and power. I work with some ex-Viggen pilots and it was apparently a blast to fly low and fast.
Re: road operations, at the Fighter Conference in Berlin a senior USAF General said that he was looking forward to working with the Swedes as NATO partners because they were the best at dispersed, austere operations and the alliance could learn a lot from them.
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I have also revisited the Viggen quite recently. Right now I’m having a blast!
Some people may argue that the Viggen is much less versatile than say the F18 Hornet. And they are right.
BUT – what the Viggen does, it does so with style.
The Viggen is actually one of THE reasons I’m so much looking forward to the new Kola map.
Btw, if you haven’t tried it yet, toss bombing in the Viggen is a lot of fun!
I think the Viggen will be getting a larger update with the upcoming December patch. Not sure exactly what will change, though.
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I do love to just joyride in the Viggen but the weapons systems I find really hard work, especially as a module I dip in and out of rather than being my daily drive.
The short field capability is good fun to play around with though. I messed around and perfected the art of landing on the straight at the Yas Marina circuit on the Persian Gulf map (just watch your wingtip on the light poles and don’t take your landing gear off skimming the roof of Ferrari World).
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There are some planes I like to fly, some I like the systems, and some I like both. The Viggen is just a flyer for me. Gave it a go on the free trial and it’s good fun, and it has great sounds. But I’d never get into the systems. Just a personal preference thing on my part.
But that engine sound! 🙂
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