Mini DCS Su-33 Flanker Review by Eric J

[Skyviper 1,101]

Mini DCS Su-33 Flanker Review

By Eric J

 

 

                When I first got Flanker 2.0 back in 2000 or so, I started what was now my staple aircraft, the Su-33.  Over the course of the years I have come to love and enjoy this aircraft, and since its still in the “inventory” of DCS Flaming Cliffs 3, I still like to take the old bird out for just purely flying and sometimes combat missions.  Though over the course of the years it is generally the same aircraft all around, but with the new tweaks to the flight model it’s changing but under the hood it’s still the aircraft I started to respect and love since Flanker 2.0.

 

Flight Model

                The aircraft’s flight model in 1.2.10 of Flaming Cliffs 3 was considered more stable than the current 1.2.11 and quite frankly since Flanker 2.0, where you could feel the weight of the aircraft and subsequent thrust of the aircraft.  Given the years of flying this jet however, a lot of people dismiss it (mainly the gunzo crowd as they preferred the Su-27 due to simple fact that the Su-27 was lighter (because the Su-33 had to be strengthened for carrier landings) despite the fact that the aircraft had two less pylons.  Plus the Su-27 was to most people great for most everything else, with the multi-role Su-33 looked down upon.  Which in the years I’ve flown it I’ve done most everything everybody has done in the aircraft, so it’s not as “Less capable” as the Su-27, which couldn’t use PGMs.  In Flanker 2.0 you had the additional Precision Guided Munition capability (though they were pre-set at the time, but was flexible enough to handle most missions) as at the time of its making the Russian Naval Air Force was trying to fund such a capability.  Enter DCS where weapons are more stringent and realistic, as when LOMAC rolled around. The capability was never funded and LOMAC followed suit by removing that capability.  However you could still modify the MEInit.xml and add that capability, using Kh-29Ls instead of the TE model, which was always fun to use.

 

Besides that and from various observations the Su-33 was to me considered the “Black Sheep” of the aircraft set, treated but not really cared for by the community, not as “flashy” due to the Su-27 and the F-15.  As while everybody wanted to fly air combat and duel, I was more interested in Ironhand, or SAM Suppression as well as simple ground attack back when I was known as Flanker562, and given the pure power and capability I fell in love with it through the years.  Even in DCS the Su-33 is to some a hard aircraft to fly, but it requires some patience and skill to manage the aircraft as even with the tandem triplane layout, tends to stall a bit more than the Su-27 does, the (back then) Nagging Nadia yelling at me for angle of attack and so on.  And it should be noted that when you fly the Su-33 you’ll hear that a lot.  Again it’s heavier and should always be treated with some respect due to that.  Once you finally get a hold of the aircraft and begin to push it more, the more it’s rewarding to you as a flyer.  Again it requires time and patience and simple flying is the key to get the nuances of the aircraft down and manage it.  There’s a lot I can say about the aircraft, and the heavy reinforcement makes it more durable than most.  And if you fly this aircraft don’t feel guilty.  No it’s not as maneuverable as its brother Su-27, but again, once you know how to exploit the aircraft’s maneuverability and power, you can do most anything with this aircraft.  I’ve done some DACTs with the newer engine and eventually came out on top of the Sabre, so if you manage it and force the aircraft (Bitchin Betty will again let you know if you push the aircraft too hard, a lot), you can take on any modern fighter and have a good chance on coming out on top given skill level.

 

                However the current flight model of the 1.2.11 version makes it more “bouncy” than usual, as with 1.2.10 once you tweaked the curves (for me anyway) the aircraft was stable, and frankly thought it was too stable in the curve setting.  Now I’ve had to add some dead zone to prevent it from doing as such, which is fine as while it’s not the best I can still fly the jet normally and have no problems figuring out what works for me, given that I’ve flown it often on in various guises for almost 12 years.  It truly is a beast and back then when it had the firepower, was better in my opinion than the Su-25T as far as bringing a good warload to the fight.  While the claws are dulled with the more realistic and stringent loadout manager you’re limited to bombs, rockets, and gun.  Still once you get a hold of the Su-33 it never will leave my side.  The only exception will be the upcoming DCS: Hornet and the DCS: Super Hornet. The Su-33 is the only aircraft the player can fly that is able to do carrier operations currently.  But given the aircraft’s lack of popularity its future remains to be seen as the real Russian Naval Air Force will retire the aircraft next year, and probably within a couple years Eagle Dynamics may move to a Mig-29K module, if they do.  Which will be nice, but the ability to use PGMs will be nice, but I’d rather have the capability on this bird than on a more short-legged jet.  While some claim that the Su-33 has less capability it sure doesn’t have the staying power and endurance of a Su-33.

 

                Despite this and until Eagle Dynamics in a few years removes the aircraft, I’ll keep flying it because it’s simply just a great aircraft to fly and will always be near and dear to my heart.

 

 

3D Model/Textures

                The current 3D model of the Su-33, after the years since LOMAC came out in 2004, is looking very sharp and the accompanying screenshots show the beauty of this aircraft.  So mostly I approve of the look and the texture work is always superb.  However due to the lack of official support (I simply haven’t made any of my own layered PSDs due to other projects I’m working on) of official PSDs to add your own custom skin is noticeably absent which is a bummer as given the detail it’ll take me a while to make them.  But that’s for me to worry about as I will say that they have added the better quality to the textures as back when I was doing skins both for Eagle Dynamics and for hobby work, it went from one texture map to more, which is good as the quality is showing and doesn’t hit your framerates as hard as one might think.  So out of 5 stars I give it a 4, simply because of lack of any texture support.

 

Functionality

                As with any Flaming Cliffs aircraft, the cockpit does not have 6DOF functionality and quite frankly for the Su-27 and Su-33 it’s simply not needed in my view.  Still the displays inherit from the Su-27 and the small MFD shows everything that the Su-27 shows, so for a review I will simply refer to my Su-27 review, as it’s all the same to me.  The only major difference of course is the small box on the left of the HUD showing the glide path indicator for carrier traps.  And after two years of not flying it the system still works as it should, given that I did a first try trap after so long in the aircraft.  It shows how much experience pays off with this aircraft and the easy of familiarity I do have with it.

 

Major issues so far

                So far with 1.2.11 the only major issue to me is the bouncy flight problem, but again as mentioned before my stick needs to be adjusted some more to compensate for that.  Overall as I think the aircraft is treated as a “Black Sheep” it still works and really one of the most bug free aircraft Flaming Cliffs 3 has to offer.  However, the only major visual bug is the fact that the instrument panel is used from the Su-27 (matter of fact its laid out similar) so be aware that your two wingtip stations will not be displayed when selecting them.  Other than that the aircraft works as it should.

 

 

Final Thoughts

                The Su-33, if you haven’t noticed, is and always will be my preferred jet.  And as said before when the Hornet or Super Hornet finally gets finished, will become my other jet as I like Navy jets, and the Su-33 is no exception.  And after 12 years of flying the aircraft I have to say that it has treated me well over the course, as once you fly the Su-33 long enough, most of the aircraft seem less tame than it.

[Stratos 3,167]

 

Flight Model

                Enter DCS where weapons are more stringent and realistic, as when LOMAC rolled around. The capability was never funded and LOMAC followed suit by removing that capability.  However you could still modify the MEInit.xml and add that capability, using Kh-29Ls instead of the TE model, which was always fun to use.

 

 

 

Is that doable in DCS? I think we cannot use any kind og PGM in DCS no matter what.

[+EricJ 3,935]

I don't think so but I mentioned LOMAC because back then you could do that.  I wish I knew how but it may be hardcoded that you can't anymore.  Regardless I have the A-10A to keep me happy until I actually bother with the C model.

[Skyviper 1,101]

Great work you're doing EricJ.

[Stratos 3,167]

I don't think so but I mentioned LOMAC because back then you could do that.  I wish I knew how but it may be hardcoded that you can't anymore.  Regardless I have the A-10A to keep me happy until I actually bother with the C model.

 

Thanks!! I'm also waiting the Hornet impatiently. After all it will be the closer plane to our F/A-18A MLU.

[eagle2046 2]

Great review. Just need to upgrade my rig so I can play this sim.

[+EricJ 3,935]

Thanks!  I'm in the process of getting another one done, just have other commitments at the moment, but agreed Stratos, though I'm more looking at the Super Hornet more than the Hornet though...

[Skyviper 1,101]

Great review. Just need to upgrade my rig so I can play this sim.

 

That makes two of us.