Which Plane Should You Buy First in DCS

Comments · 194

• GL

  @gl4se · 2 years ago · pinned

  Just a heads up, ED has recently ended the 50% off first purchase discount. I'm assuming this video was in progress before this happened, or it was missed. Best to wait for sale once you've found a module you enjoy now.

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• WA

  @wabbit234 · 2 years ago

  Simplest answer is to just get the one you think is the coolest.

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• KL

  @klaw2749 · 2 years ago

  The community-wide neglect for the JF-17 is real.

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• MY

  @myuw91 · 1 year ago

  I started with the FC3 to learn how DCS works, then got the Mirage 2000C and ever since haven't felt the need to fly other jets. The Mirage is a wonderful plane to fly, despite the loadout shortcomings. Even so, operating the weapons is much easier to memorize that I dread the thought of having to go through countless menus on the F18C. If you don't have the luxury of time to play very often and regularly, I would recommend the Mirage 2000C over the F18C, since it's faster to relearn all the functions – like riding a bike.

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• AG

  @agidotexe7167 · 2 years ago

  it is a really simple awnser for me, i always tell people ''what are you the most interested in learning?'' the idea of modules being hard and easy is missleading imo cuz all modules are challenging in its on way. Just go with what you want.

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• RE

  @rednotdead89 · 1 year ago

  The MiG-21 is what got me excited about DCS and I went straight for it as my first module.<br><br>(Of course the first thing I do after takeoff is gentle nose down, inducing negative Gs...☠)

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• TO

  @Topper_Harley68 · 2 years ago (edited)

  JF-17 is a very good multirole fighter that has good SA and easy to fly and operate, also has some good unique weapons.

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• IA

  @iateaBibleonce · 1 year ago

  i think a really good place to start is, do you have a favorite aircraft thats available in dcs. its a difficult game/sim to learn and get into, and having a strong passion for the aircraft you fly can really help once you hit the later, more painful stages of learning how to fully use your chosen module. amazing video though, beginners need all the help they can get in this game.

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• ST

  @stephensanford5273 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Great video Ian. Here&apos;s my take. My brother got me into DCS. He told me about the A4. I flew the A4 only for months before I bought anything. In all that A4 time there were important features I missed learning about because I wasn&apos;t flying with others and sharing information. So, after the A4 I got FC3. Thats useful for learning how DCS works. How missiles work, how countermeasures work, and all that. Then I got the hornet and the Tomcat. I love the Tomcat, but after over 1000 hours in the Tomcat, I can&apos;t stand Jester. I just turn him off after startup and get in the back to do it myself as needed. &nbsp;During that time I learn the Hornet slowly, step by step during breaks in the Tomcat. Later i got the Viper, Hawg, JF17, Mudhen, Harrier, and the lovely French airplanes. <br><br>Now I own and can operate most aircraft in DCS. (I16 AND MIG19 are the only modules I don&apos;t own and fly, though I own the Mossy, I can&apos;t fly the damn thing because my leg was damaged in Iraq and the Mosey is a pain to do much of anything in, let alone take off and land with one working leg.) <br><br>If i just want to burn simulated jet fuel and tear holes in the Sky, the Mirage 2000 is just a joy to fly. Once you understand French aircraft design theory the Dassault airplanes are amazing, fast, good on gas, maneuverable, Nd just a joy to fly. They also have limited payloads so a Hornet or viper will always have more and longer-range weapons. And that can be a big challenge in multiplayer. <br><br>The hornet is my go too jet when I&apos;m not in the mood to deal with jester or want to do close air support. I love my Mudhen, love it, but its not a CAS jet like the Viper, Hornet, Hawg or Jf17. The Strike eagle is a deep strike jet with reasonable self-escort ability. Fly far, dumb the whole payload and go home. The CAS jets are far better and easier to quicky get weapons on a pop-up CAS tasking. Sure the mudhen can do it, but not as well as the CAS and light multirole jets. <br><br>Since I run a squadron and play online most of the week. (Advantages of being retired) the Hornet is right now the best A2A platform in DCS. Its good at BVR, and a monster in a ACM fight. The F15E is better than the Hornet at BVR, but only marginally. And it&apos;s not as good in a turn fight as the hornet.<br><br>The Viper is top dog at SEAD, Great at CAS, and second to the Hornet as an all-around A2A fighter. (The 9x gives a huge advantage to anything that can carry it, its a great missile). The Viper radar is good, not hornet or mudhen or tomcat good, but more than good enough to do the Job. <br><br>The JF17 is very underrated. It has a really good targeting pod. Its good at SEAD, and the SD10 (PL12) is a very dangerous FOX3 missile. It has antiship missiles, and a good radar for its size, with a2a and A2S modes. (The Jf17 was the first jet in DCS to have a Velocity search mode, now the Viper and hornet also have it, and Muchen should get it).<br><br>The Harrier... ouch. I love it, really i do. But the Harrier, by its very nature is a pain to fly, and not ad user friendly as other jets in the sim. <br><br>Here&apos;s a point that I like people to know. Each nation, or company has their own design theory. French jets have French theory built in. U.S. Navy jets are different from USAF jets. Mcdonnel Douglas Jets (F18, F15E, Harrier, eventually the F4 Phantom) all have a MD theory built in. With that in mind learning a new jet is easier if that jet is somehow related to one you already know. Flying a Mudhen is easier for past Hornet drivers than for past Viper drivers. A Mig 21 makes more sense to people who flew the Mi24 Hind or Mig 15 or 19. (It&apos;ll still try and kill you, but at least you&apos;ll know why...lol) <br><br>When the Mirage F1 dropped I cold started it without cracking the manual my first time sitting in the jet. I had about 300 hours in the Mirage 2000 at that time, so I flipped on the battery, fuel pumps, etc, and started her right up. Both those jets have many features in common, so knowledge learned on one, helped with the other. <br><br>Right now most multiplayer missions are really made for and best enjoyed in light multirole jets. Anything other than a Hornet, Viper, JF17 and sort of the F15E and F14, will be at a disadvantage in most multiplayer servers. (There are servers like cold war, or Vietnam or warbirds which are designed for other aircraft, or special helicopter servers for those that like their wings to spin.) <br><br>Alright sorry about the long post, again great video, I hope it helps people get into this frustrating simulation. (Love it, but we&apos;re fighting right now.)<br><br>Sorry about spelling. My fat fingers and typing on a phone. I&apos;ll &nbsp;fix on my pc.

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• MI

  @mikeck4609 · 2 years ago

  You don’t have to get a simplistic aircraft to start with. You can get a very complicated aircraft, but only learn to do a few things in it. Get the F- 18 and just learn how to do air to air and drop iron bombs. Then, as you’re ready, you add other things one at a time.<br><br>The F-18 can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be

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• VI

  @virgo47 · 2 years ago

  My first module was FC3, I still return to these planes - and even to the free Su-25T. My first full-fidelity module was... L-39. Love it. It&apos;s old. It&apos;s not F/A-18 or F-16 for sure. But I also don&apos;t spend hours and hours on DCS every day, so I liked that L-39 was simpler. And I&apos;m born in Czechoslovakia, so it was quite obvious choice as well. ;-) And my second full fidelity module was F-5E.

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• MA

  @marc-kevinquintin7574 · 2 years ago

  Lets no kid ourselves... We all end up buying them all at some point...

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