If you still interested in that kind of thing. Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) recently released the F/A-18C Hornet: https://www.airdailyx.net/article/f-a-18c-hornet-released-fo...

Here is a video of a tutorial on CASE 1 carrier landings in the Hornet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuigBLhtAH8

Some of the DCS planes are study sim level (The A-10C Warhog, The KA-50 BlackShark, Mirage 2000, Viggten etc.) and the Hornet is going to join them (It is currently in beta and not complete).

"Study Sim" here means that you could learn the game using the real life documentation for the real aircraft. (Although they do have game specific guides).

A cheap'ish HOTAS (EDIT: See llimllib's comment below, the last link has examples. A Thrustmaster T-16000M is about 100 bucks ) is all you need harware wise.

In case somebody wants to save themselves a google:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HOTAS

> HOTAS, an acronym of Hands On Throttle-And-Stick, is the name given to the concept of placing buttons and switches on the throttle lever and flight control stick in an aircraft's cockpit, allowing pilots to access vital cockpit functions and fly the aircraft without having to remove their hands from the controls. Application of the concept was pioneered with the Ferranti AIRPASS radar and gunsight control system used by the English Electric Lightning[1][2] and is widely used on all modern fighter aircraft such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the A-10A/A-10C and others.

Meaning, in this context, that you have a joystick and throttle with like 17 buttons each hooked up to your computer

https://nerdtechy.com/best-hotas-joystick-reviews

I played DCS A-10C a few years ago. It's such an incredibly detailed sim that I barely managed to do anything more than get the plane started and in the air.

It would've been much easier if I had a couple of touch screens to simulate the cockpit controls. Trying to click on all the buttons or remember the keyboard shortcuts was impossible.

Most of us just use the mouse and click around the cockpit (Along with a HOTAS Joystick / Throttle setup).

When it comes to keyboard shortcuts I think the only one I use is the G key to raise / lower the landing gear.

There are simple aircraft (Known as FC3) that don't have clickable cockpits and can be started up with like 5 keyboard buttons.

I would still say you need a Joystick and Throttle though.

I did have a joystick and throttle at the time from playing FSX, MS Combat Flight Simulator, and Battlefield 3. I just found it a bit overwhelming to try and fly and click on all the cockpit buttons at the same time.

There was a great let's play a while back for the A-10 sim from gamers who don't normally play sims.

Don't have the link handy right now but they basically caught the plane on fire before the could learn how to takeoff correctly.

Is DCS an effects based simulation, or does it actually attempt to physically model the performance of aircraft systems and threat systems?

I am not entirely sure what the definition of "Effects Based Simulation" is here.

I can say that it actually tries to physically model the real-world performance of aircraft and threat systems.

(Although there is debate on how they model some of the Air to Air missiles).

One of the third party developers is currently creating the F-14 Tomcat and are going into incredible detail on the flight model and avionics.

As an example, here is some information modelling the INS: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=206097

(More posts at: https://forums.eagle.ru/forumdisplay.php?s=cb4fea99082f9003b... )

>It was probably the most I read when I was 14

True for me too. I remember that game. Reading the manuals for all the Jane's and Microprose's games, and taking them very seriously, was definitely a childhood highlight.

Btw, I found that GoG has F-117A and the reviews are awesome. I hope these are genuine reviews because they definitely echo my experience :-) Here is the link: https://www.gog.com/game/f117a_nighthawk_stealth_fighter_20

"...it will keep you on the edge of the seat.."

"This game is in the top three of all PC games I have ever played."

Definitely echoes my colored-by-nostalgia-memories :)

Edit: I have a question — what is the best way to play this game on a MacBook? (Without installing windows or Linux)

> what is the best way to play this game on a MacBook

It appears as if the gog version of the game is the original with a bundled DOSBox, so you very likely can grab the gamefiles and DOSBox configuration from theirs and use it with a DOSBox installation on your system.

Can you even buy a joystick these days?

sure you can! check those https://virpil-controls.by/en/shop

Those prices are pretty steep though.

I think you can still get Thrustmaster and Flightstick Pros, but back in the day, I could just go and buy one.

I have not seen a joystick at a retailer in years.

I just bought a relatively cheap ($70 CAD) HOTAS setup at a local retailer a couple of weeks ago. I’m not at home and don’t remember whether it was Logitech or Thrustmaster, but it’s a great setup for playing X-Plane. If I wanted to be more realistic, I should have bought a yoke and pedals, but that was more in the $200+ range and I’m not sufficiently committed... yet.

> MacBook

Dosbox?

Is this it?

http://retrogamer.biz/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/FA-18_Korea...

That's the one!