A few DCS World news items to update everyone on with the latest DCS World Weekend News coming out. We see a bit more on the MiG-17F, the DCS: C-130J livery contest is wrapping up, and lets check in on the development counter for the F-100.

Afterburning MiG-17

I remember first seeing Randy Ball’s MiG-17F at an airshow a few years ago. The announcer said that the audience just had to see the unique afterburner of the MiG-17… and they were right. It doesn’t have that focused blast of flame of a modern afterburner and resembles more of something you might see on a monster truck. That’s the subject of the MiG-17F development update.

Red Star Simulations have done some work to replicate the unique looking flame. I’m not sure, from the development image, if they’ve succeeded yet but its a good effort.

More interesting is the actual operation. The report indicates that the MiG-17F does not have an afterburner light in the cockpit so pilots had to go on feel. Soviet pilot doctrine tended to avoid the use of afterburner on takeoff to preserve the engine and the dev report says that in DCS its usage will have real world restrictions.

In DCS, you’ll need to keep a close eye on afterburner use. Once it’s lit, engine temperatures will start climbing, and when you see the needle nearing 730°C (into the red), it’s time to back off. Push it too far, and you risk engine damage or even failure. After shutting down the afterburner, bring the RPMs below 11,200 to help cool the engine. You’ll usually see Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) drop below 690°C within half a minute, and you’ll then be able to safely use the afterburner again.

Far from the modern afterburner that will go until you run out of fuel, this one is going to require sporadic and careful use.

Livery contest update

Eagle Dynamics, Airplane Simulation Company and WINCTRL are all partnered up for the DCS: C-130J Livery Contest. Submission period is nearing the end of the road and you have until April 6 at 23:59 GMT to submit your livery to the contest.

First through third place winners will either win hardware from WINCTRL or ED Miles for module purchases.

Check out this thread here for details!

Read the DCS World Weekend news here.

DCS: F-100 ticks closer

Thought not included in the DCS World Weekend update, community members have been noting that Grinnelli Design’s DCS: F-100 project progress tracker has ticked forward a few more notches.

The project now indicates that art is at 90% and code is at 98% with an overall completion progress of the 94%.

The developer was at FSWeekend and there are a few pictures that have been posted to the DCS World forums. It’s not quite ready for all of to fly it yet but it looks like this project is getting relatively close. We’ll see how that turns out in the coming months.