Warthog and refuelling
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Using an FCC3, I have no particular issues with gripping the stick normally and refuelling, nor flying formation (Same skill… basically intro BFM skills).
If you cant tank without removing your hand from the stick to adjust your grip, how will you fly formation during an intercept?
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I have and used: a stock Cougar, Uber Cougar, Miles Hall Sensor Cougar, FCC3 Cougar, FSSB-R1 Cougar, stock and hall sensor modded TQS, TUSBA-R2 TQS, and a stock Warthog stick and throttle.
All are capable for close formation and AAR tanking. The stock Cougar and TQS set being the most challenging due to the stock Cougar sticks center gimbal dead zone and the non-TUSBA modded TQS due its lower resolution and zone control. IMHO, the Force (FCC and FSSB) stick and TUSBA throttle are the best Cougar configuration, and a stock or FSSB Warthog if you dont want a Cougar set. Note i use a Warthog stick grip on my Fssb-Cougar.
With every Cougar hardware configuration, Ive had to re-run the CCP manual calibration and save it. Never use the auto-cal mode. This recalibration is something alot of Cougar users forget to do. Sometimes when the TQS cursor is driftring, you have to first calibrate the controllers in Windows before then calibrating in CCP. This procedure keeps the controllers from being too sensitive by alloweing the full axes range. There is a point where the pots go bad, and then calibration cannot compensate for faulty hardware.
Controllers aside, AAR requires a steady hand and patience. Theres are also best practices to hook up to the boom and stay there. Ill summerize:
- call up tanker to refuel when every ship in flight is within 10 nm of tanker and no other flight is actively refueling (Y1, flight leader or first needing refueling)
- snooze radar, open fuel port, call up fuel state on DED
- wait in to-be-refueled formation position, then when your turn move behind tanker
- pull up to the pre-contact point, which is about a plane length behind the boom
- when cleared, line up the hud gun cross to the boom tip and move in slowly
- learning the connected “sight picture” for each tanker type to hud references helps
- watch the tankers director lights and let the boom come to the plane when in place
- make very small stick and throttle inputs to stay on boom and within director range
- when full, hit the disconnect stick button or just slowly back off,
- then call (Y3) and move to the refueled formation position.
- Close fuel port, reset DED mode and activate radar.
I use every ingress and egress in combat missions to fly close formation off my lead or wingmen, except when in a combat zone. This keeps my formation skills sharp and in turn makes AAR easier.
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- when full, hit the disconnect stick button or just slowly back off
This is not required if you plan to refuel till full. You will automatically disconnect from the tanker when fully topped off. Those steps only necessary if you are not going to AAR till full.
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Agree that its practice practice practice. I’m very much a noob with AAR in BMS and have managed to do so with my THWH with no disconnects just recently - Even managed to follow it while in a turn :headb:
Key for me is to really relax, loosen my grip and make micro adjustments.
You’ll get there
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I have and used: a stock Cougar, Uber Cougar, Miles Hall Sensor Cougar, FCC3 Cougar, FSSB-R1 Cougar, stock and hall sensor modded TQS, TUSBA-R2 TQS, and a stock Warthog stick and throttle.
So far I’m happy with a Warthog and a Tusba R1-Cougar TQS (have chosen not to use the warthog throttle, I like the ergonomy of the Cougar TQS more).
Would you say that adding hall sensors to the Tusba-TQS would be another big step in precision or can it be neglected?
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I would say upgrading to HALL sensors is an improvement even just from a reliability standpoint.
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I find it easier to hook up in a turn because of the slight back pressure on the stick, seems easier for me.