DCS: F-5E Tiger II DLC

You may have noted the "zero hours on record"- I bought the key on Steam, transferred it on the DCS website to my DCS account, and launch it on the standalone launcher to avoid the overhead of steam overlay etc. The F-5E, summarized, is an underpowered export fighter that has just enough in all of the major equipment areas to pose a threat to anything it faces- though it won't be anything but the underdog in the vast majority of matchups.... It's a shame the developers started very, very strong and then left a handful of annoying little things to be a problem today, five years after first reported. I will break this review up into several sections- A2A, A2G, Flight Performance, Navigation, Module Overall and Miscellaneous. Air to air considerations- SENSORS--- Radar, of relatively low power but a display that will do out to 40 miles for bombers and other high RCS targets and offering search and single target track. Passable, it can search appreciably farther than your eyes can (unlike the MiG-21), it can lock targets, and it even has dogfight modes! The pairing with only sidewinder missiles means that the F-5 has no actual BVR combat ability, and low rcs targets like the MiG-21 won't show up on screen until much closer distances than the radar can display. Downside compared to the MiG-21- it has no IFF ability. Better hope your target isn't in a four plane furball. RWR- This is one of those small issues I mentioned at the beginning of the review. The '87 is a capable RWR, not unlike the one in the F-16 module. The thing is, the declutter button "Search", which, once pressed, should hide or display search radars, is instead implemented as a "if pressed, show only search radars (some of which are acq and belong on the "other side" of the two) or if deselected shows tracking and engagement emitters." This is incorrect, and a quick google search will find you the fix on the forums, which takes a few minutes to paste into the game files. Thanks to this fix my RWR now operates correctly. Luckly, this does not fail the integrity check for multiplayer (thankfully, as it actually makes the RWR closer to its real counterpart). The other minor inaccuracies which are present are audio issues, for example an AIM-120 going pitbull will notify you in tone for a second- then stop. In reality, it is meant to continue this tone as long as the radar waveforms/emission patterns indicate launch, guidance, or track. All this said, the RWR is directional within a few degrees, displays threat type, and alerts to launch- a clear edge over the 21's four lights, and just barely enough to help you survive and passively hunt if you decide to put it against 4th gens. Cockpit visibility- Good all around, with partially obstructed rear vision superior to the MiG-21 and inferior to most 4th gens. WEAPONS--- 2x20mm cannon with a radar connected gunsight- nothing special, roughly on par with the MiG-21. Aim-9B, P, and P5 infrared missiles- with the seekers uncaged to pull some lead before launch the P series missiles can be used in dogfights effectively, and the P5 has minor frontal aspect capability. The B and P require rear aspect shots, and the B does not perform against maneuvering targets nor against flares- save it for the bombers or for ambushes. Maximal load is two missiles, on the wingtips. All five underwing and centerline pylons are for fuel and air to ground ordinance only (unless you like to use 70mm rocket pods on planes, good hunting). Air to ground considerations- SENSORS--- Just your eyeball. WEAPONS--- Up to 9 Mark 82 500lbers, in low drag or snakeye configuration provides for a hefty strike capability while still retaining a pair of self defense sidewinders. If you need range, you can still carry 7 of them with 300 lb of fuel on wing tanks (the inner two wing and the centerline pylons are wet). Also carryable are 5 750lb demolition bombs for the Vietnam feel, or a full set of 70mm rocket pods underwing with fuel centerline, or mixes of all the above etc.... It can also carry LGBs but has no laser of its own, so bring a buddy in something else to designate things. Ground attack abilities are not 4th gen but more like 3+ gen- no special sensors but has a partial precision strike capability. Flight performance- Don't drop below 320 knots IAS or you are vulnerable to anything- your engines generate pitiful thrust even afterburning, thanks to the F-5's trainer heritage. Stay around 380 for the best sustained turn rate (load and alt dependent, generally only with IR missiles and on the deck), and stay below 5k feet if you can. The MiG-21 (and really everyone but the MiG-15) has better thrust to weight than you and better acceleration. The F-5 is best played like a baby F-16- sustained turns and energy management are your game. Your instantaneous turn is outperformed by most, you can't run that well, and you struggle to regain lost speed- but in most apprecialbe respects, your Russian analogue in the 21 is on paper a mostly even match in all parameters. Your turn ability is slightly better and your energy side of things slightly worse. You won't beat any competent pilot in anything you expect to meet unless he makes a big mistake or doesn't know where you stack up against him- any good pilot who knows his plane is going to beat you, so you must practice heavily and be on your game. Against 4th gens, ambush is your only recourse. Navigation- No INS, no GPS, all navigation is radio based- TACAN and HF DF. HF DF is a mission editor thing- not many usable beacons in the caucasus on your western HF DF frequencies unfortunately. TACAN is common enough in the south, less Russian aligned state of Georgia- most of the southern airports boast a TACAN beacon that you can use to find range and bearing to. There is no ILS on the F-5- find your airport via TACAN, align with the runway heading, and decrease altitude in proportion to miles to the beacon- very doable, very less user friendly than the "cheap, crappy, crude" that people associate with the 21- despite the eastern figher's reputation, it has a full ILS in the form of PRMG- a full win over the F-5 here. If you like flying in blizzards at night, the F-5 is not your plane. You're going to need to be really good at flying tables mentally or be able to see the runway lights from a couple hundred meters to land this thing if it isn't sunny and clear. Speaking of landing, the brakes really don't slow you down too well- pop your drag chute if you don't touch down well at the end of the runway (hard enough in itself, as the engine spool gives good delays in power, so you often come in a little on the faster side, as being on the slower side is a recipe for diasaster). Overall- A good module. I approb. Misc- Don't forget to put your flaps in auto and retract your airbrakes (OUT BY DEFAULT) while you do your startup. On short runways, pop your drag chute when you land (see above paragraph), hunt anything newer than a MiG-21 with only your RWR and via low altitude ambush, and try to enter your fights with as much energy as possible, and watch your speed to NEVER fall below 320 knots in a turnfight, ideally stay around 380. If the weather is getting bad get back on the ground. That's all I got. Module is a 10/10 with the fast and easy RWR fix, but due to the fact that you still have to do that after 5 years, I'm giving the module 9/10 for it being pseudo-abandonware. Thankfully most of the module is spot on and was from the start, or else I don't think I would have spent more than an hour or two on it... Good module, I recommend you buy it after the MiG-21 unless you are just a big F-5 fan or hate the 21 for personal reasons- I think the 21 is a better done module and a masterpiece in this cold-war-export niche, but the F-5 is a quality module that I think compared to the MiG-19 and Viggen (I don't own the viggen but have seen a lot about it, I do own the 19) it is a worthy second purchase.

Fantastic first full-fidelity module to learn - simple systems mean you can focus on flying the plane, which is forgiving for beginners but still a lot of fun.

A problematic module. Now, the russian developers have the nerve to ask for a €10 upgrade (on top of the base price!) for: [quote]Numerous bug fixes and tunings such as damage modelling, sensors, and avionics.[/quote] Extremely disingenuous. Especially given their track record for fixing bugs to date.

The aircraft is really good for beginners I would highly recommend it as your first plane however I think the devs could do so much more to actually make this aircraft viable and better. Many different variants were created and used by many nations, but we only see the most basic version. Almost all versions used by countries outside the US had improved radar, BVR missiles, Mavericks and air to air refuelling capability. The current version we have in game gets two bad sidewinders and guided bombs that you have to us a JTAC or a another air plane to laze targets for you as well as dumb boms and rockets. If you are not a beginner dont get this plane unless the changes above are implamented

It is a pretty good and well made module of one of the most awesome planes out there. Ones you know how to operate the F-5, you`ll get along with it easily, even though in the beginning it is pretty hard to trim the plane during take-off.

The F-5E is the first DCS module I picked up, and while it is indeed a relatively simple module to learn, I am quite hesitant to recommend this module to other beginners. The Tiger isn't a forgiving plane as it demands a lot of respect on stick, trim and throttle that any absolute beginner will have yet to learn, too. Surely, the Tiger doesn't overburden a newcomer with the overwhelming complexities of menus upon menus on MFDs, but it also doesn't sport any of the amenities that make modern jets easy to handle. For example, the absence of an autopilot / fly-by-wire actually made it hard to follow a mission as any length of time with one's head down in the cockpit or on the map can result in a deadly deviation from your intended course. Admittedly, the Tiger is relatively easy to trim, but I really struggled with keeping the plane steady at times, especially the separately sold Aggressors BFM campaign appears to be downright bugged. There, the Tiger was veering to one side incessantly. The training missions included with this module are good, but there's far fewer missions/instant actions than other high-fidelity modules like Heatblur’s F-14B or the F/A-18C by Eagle Dynamics. There is [b]no campaign[/b] either. While not part of this review, it may be worth mentioning that the additional single-player campaigns such as the Black Sea Resolve '79 and the Aggressors BFM are, considering the recent improvements to AI opponents, not tailored to absolute beginners and hence didn’t substitute for the lack of a campaign. I'd say, if you are a beginner and you want to pick this up, try to get it during a 50% sale. Just keep in mind there's no campaign and other high-fidelity modules offer a whole lot more content for a slightly higher price. Oh and, I highly recommend studying the official DCS manuals or the supplementary Chucks Guides alongside the training missions. Either way, I wish you a lot of fun in DCS.

This is a somewhat modern jet that lacks nearly all modern jet features. The radar sucks. The RWR sucks. The Targeting """System""" for ground attack is barely more useful than just eyeballing it. It can only has 5 hard points, and has the payload of a clapped out VW Golf, and flies like a pig if you use what little payload it offers. It can only carry 2 Fox2s for air to air. It will die in every dogfight if you bleed off any speed *AND ITS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME* Its a simple light fighter that puts absolutely nothing between you and the plane. Its as good as its driver, and thats it. Drop the bags and jam the throttle into burner and have fun (just keep an eye on that Gmeter). Good 5 drivers can tango with much more advanced jets. Its twin 20mm cannons and light weight make it a great gunfighter, and while you're not going to out thump a Hog or Frog, it functions quite well in the ground attack role, esp. as a complement to more advanced fighters. Bottom line: If you can't live without BVR, buy something else. If you want to do MiG-28 sh*t in an absolutely tits gunfighter of a plane, buy this and don't look back.

You will learn the weapons systems on the F-5 faster than any other aircraft. it is old school, basic radar, sidewinder growls, press the fire button and let the missiles homing seeker head do the rest. It cannot haul a very heavy load, not very stable, actually, not at all stable at low speed and high angle of attack due to the small wing area, and to even attempt a carrier landing with this bird since it is in fact equipped with a tail hook, is in my opinion crazy... I love the challenge of flying this aircraft though. I don't always want an experience where the aircraft computers, the aircraft radar, the aircraft yada yada, has all the advantage. Sometimes I want to see what I am made of, I want to see if I can take this quick little devil, and outfly, outmaneuver, and outsmart my opponent tactically to gain just enough of an advantage to seize the opportunity to get a shot off. BUTTT... that's just me. Landing the F-5 will never become tedious, it requires skill and concentration each and every time. Hey they even included the fictional Mig 28 livery from Top Gun, I mean come on, what's not to love about the F-5?

Hands down, the best first addon aircraft for new DCS users. No, you're not going to be knocking BVR targets out of the sky or shooting mavericks into open tank hatches, but that's not the era this plane was designed in, nor is that what it's intended to do. It's a lightweight point-defense interceptor for air forces that don't have a ton of money to drop on bleeding-edge technology. It's complex enough to force new pilots to RTFM, but simple enough that when you memorize the keybinds and HOTAS assignments, you can focus on honing your flying skills. It's not a shotgun, it's a knife. Get in close, exploit your opponent's weaknesses and gut them.

Love it. It's a simple aircraft to learn and operate (even I managed it). Not many electronics to it, and even tough it's engagement capabilities are limited (you won't be doing any long range shooting with this bird), it's still a worthy opponent to the Warsaw Pact Mig 21. Excellent for people who want to leap from the simplified aircraft in FL3 to full realism, even tough you'll want to stay on the trim. The tutorials are excellent, simple and well made. I love it. Completely recommend you buy and master this one before trying something more complex.