DCS A-10C Warthog Combat Flight Simulator Review for PC

DCS A-10C Warthog is a combat flight simulator from the makers of Black Shark. It is based on the latest version of the A-10, with updated avionics and weapon capabilities of focuses on ground attack as you would imagine.

This latest update to the Warthog has firmly established the aircraft as an invaluable close air support vehicle that is both loved by the pilots, and those on the ground who depend on it.

But what about the game itself? Well, to call it a game is a gross miscarriage of justice. This is a study simulation, which basically means that this is about as close to the real thing as any of us armchair pilots are going to get.

To see how this fits into DCS world, read the next article in the series.

Remember, if you need a sweet Flight simulator joystick, or HOTAS to fly with, check out my review

If civilian flight is you thing, check out The noobs guide to FSX or Microsoft Flight Review!!

This product works with TrackIR 5 head motion sensing view controls, follow the link for a full review.

Right off the bat, this sim impressed me immensely. Every single switch in the cockpit that has a bearing on the piloting of the plane and the weapon's systems are clickable. And of course with this being the newer version of the Warthog, there are newly modeled multi-function displays and computerized systems that just did not exist in the A-10A we flew in Flaming Cliffs 2.

Perhaps the best way to look at this title is the break it down further and see what each area brings to the table

6DOF, or six degrees of freedom is implemented here. What this means is that you can look around the cockpit as if you were really sitting there in it. Left, right, up down, in, out, and from side to side to look "around" items in the cockpit are all possible using the mouse, or better still by using head tracking hardware, like TrackIR that translates you head movements into the game itself!

NVG, or night vision goggles are fully implemented and look simply amazing, with a soft diffused glow covering all the working surfaces.

Up front we have the two MFD's we mentioned in passing earlier. These can be configured to display so much information, it beggars belief! Do not expect to just plug in your joystick and start dropping bombs in this bad boy...

Perseverance is the key here and the tutorials included are amazingly in depth and detailed.

TADS. Tactical Awareness Display. This can display your current situation and position, and points of interest as well as target steer points.

DSMS. Digital Stores Management System. An overview of the remaining stores on the aircraft including gun ammo. This allows you to configure how you want to release the weapons too!

Targeting Pod. TGP. Litening II AT targeting pod. This allows you to deploy weapons from outside the attack range of many air defense systems bu using a zoom-able camera that can be used day or night, or in low light situations.

Maverick. MAV. Displays the data / camera image from the Maverick guided missiles. Awesome!

This is just a few of the implemented systems, but gives a broad overview of what's on offer

Oh yeah baby, now we're talking! This thing is basically a flying tank, so you can expect some serious hardware!

The GAU-8/A 30mm cannon which can be loaded with three different types of ammunition, training rounds, high explosive incendiary (HEI), or Combat Mix combining HEI and armored piercing rounds. This thing SHREDS soft and hard targets alike, and is the reason the A-10 is the shape and size it is.

We also get various forms of Rockets and unguided, cluster, LGB laser guided, and GPS guided free fall bombs. The usual mix of Mavericks is also of course available!

Oh, and just in case you manage to get a shot off, you can arm up with Sidewinders for air to air combat, handy for taking out pesky helicopters!

Just go and get it from the DCS website. Better still, get DCS World for FREE! and then add this module into it. I haven't even started on the theater of war, the mission builder, the campaign builder, the user mods, the amazing updated graphics, the awesome community and the fact that you can fly it online with Flaming Cliffs 3 or Black Shark 2 pilots.

Still here??

GO BUY IT ALREADY !

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