Hi from Zero_Mass

[ZeroMass]

Hey guys, I’m Zero_Mass, from the Netherlands. Some of you may still recognize the name from the 25th vFS, 1st vFW. I recently started to get back into DCS A-10C, trying to (re)learn the prerequisites you have for entering the recruitment. I want to join your group is because the AI wingman is just utterly stupid.
Seriously though, you guys seem like the most dedicated and professional group out there. Looks like I can learn A LOT from this group. I'm really looking forward to fly with such highly trained vPilots (If I make it through recruitment).

I also have some questions:
1. Does the 81th vFS have a regular flight night? Because when I look at your calendar I only see nights planned for the 76th.
2. At the recruitment section it mentions ‘operating instructions’. These aren’t public are they? Because I couldn’t find them in the public downloads.
3. I’m practicing night AAR, but is it required to do it without NVGs?
4. (I can try) do you have an estimate of when recruiting opens up again?

[Snoopy]

Hey Zero, long time no see. To answer your questions:

1. Yes but participating has been limited so it isn't posted every week.
2. OIs are internal only
3. We currently don't have Air-to-Air Night refueling but realistically you wouldn't use NVGs since the tanker has external lighting illuminated.
4. My guess would be 1 to 2 months but that's subject to change.

[Stuka]

Hey ZeroMass, welcome over here.

As for your question about the 81st flights: besides the flights you see on the calendar, there is also our internal OPS board that is used to plan flights. The calendar is not giving you the complete view.

[ZeroMass]

Hey guys, thanks for answering my questions!

Ok, thanks for clarifying the Night AAR for me snoopy, was a real pain in the ass to practice that .

but, pff, still two months eh? Well, guess I still have a lot of time to practice .

[Ashy]

Hello zero_mass if you would like to link up and practice. im down for that! Im new to the dcs world but i have a pilot background. so that part is easy but understand what a lot of this stuff means isnt. Nothing like the civilian world. So some one to work with that has the same goals would be nice. Also Just recently ordered track ir 5 to greatly improve the experience and help with flying instead of fumbling through the keys to look around in the pit. super excited about that it will come in tomorrow!!

[Howie]

Hi ZeroMass and Ashy. Track IR is an absolute necessity for DCS as far as I'm concerned and it's still not really 'good enough' but it's the best we've got at the moment unfortunately.

I'd advise you to read through the checklists and all publicly available downloads to get started with. There's a lot to take it so it helps to get started early.

Another bit of advice is to bookmark the recruitment page and keep checking every few days so you don't miss when it opens!

[ZeroMass]

Hey Ashy, I sent you a PM .