Some updates coming out of the DCS World camp this weekend including the official status of Red Star Simulations as a third party developer for DCS World. There’s also some radar updates for the Hornet and Viper, a new UH-1 campaign and the Maverick legacy bundle pack sale gets an awesome trailer/cinematic experience. Let’s have a look!

Red Star’s MiG-17F

I’ve reported on Red Star Simulations and their efforts to bring the MiG-17 to DCS World. They have, from the start, indicated a desire to build and submit a project that would be a worthy addition to the DCS World aircraft module collection. Now it’s official!

The news report indicates that the team has focused quite a bit on flight dynamics bringing together Soviet wind tunnel testing, captured US aircraft testing, and some input from current MiG-17 pilots (a number of MiG-17s are on the US airshow circuit these days) to build the model.

The aircraft will feature the type’s systems that includes:

• ASP-4N gunsight with SRD-1M gun radar
• SPO-2 Sirena RWR
• SRO-2 Khrom IFF
• ARK-5 ADF radio and navigation
• Standard and Egyptian upgrade weapons

The MiG-17 is an interesting type with strong visual similarities to the MiG-15 but with some interesting under the hood features like an early afterburner, better transonic performance, and of course its place in history as a key type encountered during the Vietnam War. It’s not exactly a 1:1 match for the upcoming F-4 Phantom (the E model being considerably more modern) but it would nonetheless be interesting to match the two up in very dissimilar combat.

A number of screenshots of the project in progress have been shared here.

Radar updates for Hornet, Viper

DCS: F-16C and DCS: F/A-18C flyers will know all too well that the radar on these aircraft, while very capable, have some challenging behaviours that sometimes change from patch to patch. Eagle Dynamics appears to be keen to continue to refine their radar modeling and, I would add, hopefully address some of those problems along the way.

A two part pathway has been announced with phase 1 presumably coming in the next Open Beta and then phase 2 coming sometime later.

Visit the DCS World Weekend News update for the more technical explanation of what they are doing. If you are like me, however, you will probably be mostly pleased to know that some work is being done and hopefully adds both to realism as well as to reliability in the appropriate circumstances.

Last Show for UH-1

A new single player campaign for DCS: UH-1 is out with a wide variety of mission types on offer. Here’s the description.

The Huey Last Show is a fictional story-based campaign that will test your skills as a helicopter pilot, in 15 missions you will be facing various challenges and various missions while confronting the forces of the Soviet Union. The campaign features 15 story-driven missions, over 2000 voiceovers and late 1970’s units. A full-scale conflict will progress throughout the campaign and you will be required to complete various missions: SAR, RESCAP, Gunship, Transport, SOC Ops. Also included are detailed briefings, kneeboard files, and supporting documentation for each mission.

Learn about this and more on the DCS World Weekend News update.

Maverick Legacy Pack sale trailer

Announced last week, Eagle Dynamics is offering a bundle deal for the DCS: F/A-18C Hornet and DCS: F-14 Tomcat through their website. DCS World trailers usually sport some sort of trailer announcing the sale and this one comes just a bit later than the bundle but it was worth it as the trailer plays out more like a short narrative that could have been ripped from either of the Top Gun movies while also being a very DCS sort of setup.

Even if you own both modules and even if the bundle doesn’t apply to you, you may still want to tune in as it is a fun watch!