(Part 3) Top products from r/hoggit

The previously mentioned Helicopter Flying Handbook is probably your best bet for free reading material.

If you don't mind spending a little money for reading material, I recommend:
(book title links to amazon)
[Principles of Helicopter Flight by W. J. Wagtendonk] (https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Helicopter-Flight-W-J-Wagtendonk/dp/1560276495) for around $25.
[Cyclic & Collective by Shawn Coyle] (https://www.amazon.com/Cyclic-Collective-Shawn-Coyle/dp/0557090660/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497929356&sr=1-1&keywords=cyclic+and+collective) for around $45.
Another good one from Shawn Coyle is The Little Book of Autorotations which focuses only on autorotations.
I own all three, and they're all good, but I would recommend Cyclic and Collective. The book is packed with damn near everything you could possibly want to know about helicopter flying. It also helps that Coyle's writing style helps hold the reader's interest even through dry and technical subjects.

The Saitek X52 and X52 Pro are extremely popular from what I've seen. I use a regular X52. They don't have quite as many hats as the Warthog, but you can use the pinky switch as a shift button to double the functions on each hat.

Buying new, you can find a regular X52 for around $80, and a Pro for around $140. You can always get better prices if you're willing to scour the internet for used ones. I've heard about people getting a regular X52 for around 50 bucks, which is a great deal in my opinion.

This profile is what most people base theirs on, I think. The link has detailed instructions and a diagram showing what's mapped to what. The rotaries on the throttle are unmapped - I use one of them for FOV zoom, which has worked well so far. It's really useful for gun runs.

I've also heard people recommend the Saitek X45, but I have no experience with it or any other modern joysticks. I only got back into flight sims very recently.

I've gotten a LOT of kills in WT and DCS using the high yo-yo and the defensive vertical spiral to force a good lag displacement roll that gave me a good deflection shot on a 70 degree intercept. A lot of it is situational, working against common mistakes or tendencies of the community as a whole. Things like "Most people that have a center stick will almost always to a hard right roll when engaged from behind or how most people forget to take throttle out and put it back in in certain lead pursuit scenarios or just realizing a dude isn't using any rudder so you and force them to get slower, faster so they run out of energy and have to start diving.

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

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The wiki article isn't perfect, but it has enough info to be a good starting point. Some great reference material exists in a lot of places, from old game manuals (Jane's Advanced Tactical Fighters and Aces over Europe actually had amazingly detailed guides in them for a lot of intermediate maneuvers) and some books specifically on virtual aerial combat too, https://www.amazon.com/dp/9197607703/?coliid=IV5773AQFMR3N&colid=389HLPCN1YO5A&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

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Hell, when I was a camp counselor at Aviation Challenge for a few months while doing some post-grad work the spiral bound book we gave the 12-18 year olds was actually better than some of the stuff the Navy was giving guys in the intermediate jet trainers as far as useful maneuvering information in a broad sense.

If you're not sure already that you want to get into flight simming as a hobby then you should buy a cheap joystick to start out with. Something like this. Cheap enough that if you don't like it it's not a big deal that you spent $16 to find out, and if you get hooked by flight simming it's not a big deal that you spent $16 to find out you want to buy a proper one.

Don't bother with VR or TrackIR at first. Just try out the free SU-25T module with a joystick and keyboard and mouse for a while to find out whether you like the experience.

From there, upgrade to a proper HOTAS (the ones listed here are good.)

Try that out for a while, and if you're still hooked, you can start adding gadgets from there.

Good practice would be putting at least a month in between each major purchase just to make sure you're not buying stuff on impulse.

What you want to avoid is dropping multiple hundreds of dollars on a hobby that you're really into for a short amount of time and then starts gather dust in a closet. Flight simming can get really expensive really fast, but if you play your cards right you can get your feet wet for almost nothing and then add stuff piecemeal from there.

I had my first joystick for 3 years before I bought my first rudder pedals. From there it was another 2 years before I upgraded to a HOTAS, and another 2 years after that before I bought a VR headset.

Also if you or anyone else is really looking into it the two most useful text book I found to be SMAD (Space Mission Analysis and Design): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Analysis-Design-Technology-Library/dp/9401051925/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=space+mission+analysis+and+design&qid=1559028595&s=gateway&sr=8-1


Other good reads are Fundamentals of Astrodynamics (which is much more relevant for KSP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Astrodynamics-Dover-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486600610/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SWR1ICPOGQ7X&keywords=fundamentals+of+astrodynamics&qid=1559028689&s=gateway&sprefix=the+fundamentals+of+astro%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1 And Ignition! to cover the history in a very entertaining manner https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ignition-Informal-Propellants-University-Classics/dp/0813595835/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/259-4345144-1867258?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0813595835&pd_rd_r=9e3755d8-811a-11e9-9b3b-b9bbd55e85d0&pd_rd_w=sq1G0&pd_rd_wg=m37dV&pf_rd_p=18edf98b-139a-41ee-bb40-d725dd59d1d3&pf_rd_r=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX&psc=1&refRID=WPHT2J5EFR2KZ1WYVJEX .


You can probably find pdfs online for those if you look mind.

Surprised I haven't seen it here:

Magnum! The Wild Weasels in Desert Storm.

Its not quite on par with Viper Pilot, but I think it's a close second. An excellent narrative of the the transition between the Vietnam and Gulf War (also includes the Gulf War).

Very enlightening stuff, would read before Viper for a better chronological order.

I highly recommend this NZXT case and it's cheaper: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TC73F72/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Got one for myself and built 2 more for a friend and a family member.

Specs since I know you fellow neckbeards may want to build one of your own:

Feel free to ask questions and I can do what I can to answer

-i7-6900k

-32gb DDR4

-1TB EVO 840 SSD

-GTX 1080

- $450 Thrustmaster Warthog

-$90 Thrustmaster Rudder Pedals

-$750 Volair Sim Seat

-$800 HTC Vive Pro

If you haven't read Raven One yet, get after it.

I won't spoil it, but THAT is what I thought you were referencing, and once you've read it, I bet you'll wanna make videos doing just that :)

It's this

SKYZONAL Ergonomic Mouse Platform Under Desk Ergonomic Wrister Mouse Pad (Black) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B071458RJB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_xvQOCb5TTVV5R

I was surprised at how effective they are. I wouldn't go with anything heavier than a hotas x though

Do you recall which one it was?

These are some of my favorites...

https://smile.amazon.com/Magnum-Weasels-Desert-Elimination-Defence-ebook/dp/B005D7FLL8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517679129&sr=1-3&keywords=wild+weasel

https://smile.amazon.com/F-105-Wild-Weasel-SA-2-Guideline-ebook/dp/B01BY34K9I/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517679129&sr=1-12&keywords=wild+weasel

https://smile.amazon.com/Viper-Pilot-Memoir-Air-Combat/dp/006213034X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=006213034X&pd_rd_r=8WMAQ52QBK32SPHVQN6S&pd_rd_w=p2r2i&pd_rd_wg=efvEa&psc=1&refRID=8WMAQ52QBK32SPHVQN6S

and this one is on my wish list...

https://smile.amazon.com/Hunter-Killers-Extraordinary-Maverick-Dangerous/dp/0062375121/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0062375121&pd_rd_r=0MV8ENFG0Q747QE4WRAJ&pd_rd_w=d7Byq&pd_rd_wg=NA79Y&psc=1&refRID=0MV8ENFG0Q747QE4WRAJ

F-15E can't come fast enough... If you're like me and enjoy IRL accounts of combat aircraft, I can't suggest Strike Eagle: Flying the F-15E in the Gulf War enough - lots of ground radar descriptions and use

My solution was to replace my chair’s wheels with these pegs which are designed for that purpose.

Replacement Office Chair or... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF0265A?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Raven One https://www.amazon.com/dp/1939398223/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B1-UCbFEPK1RX

The whole series is worth the read...

I use these: https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Office-Chair-Caster-Wheels/dp/B07HLNF9GK

You can apply the brakes for playing, and click them off for rolling around during normal work.

I bought these and replace my originals.

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https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Office-Chair-Caster-Wheels/dp/B07HLNF9GK/ref=pd_sbs_229_1/146-2723976-6746160?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07HLNF9GK&pd_rd_r=be930feb-a0be-11e9-87e6-bda8f79623bc&pd_rd_w=4jbpl&pd_rd_wg=v5aUy&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=F0A36FXXQCKRQSY6RPET&psc=1&refRID=F0A36FXXQCKRQSY6RPET

It’s one of these

Or you could just get these

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Office-Chair-Stool-Glides/dp/B00CF0265A/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=office+chair+glides&qid=1562502993&s=gateway&sprefix=office+chair+gl&sr=8-9

I ordered a Saitek X52 this afternoon. A little more pricey than the one you were looking at, but think of all the buttons!

https://www.amazon.com/Volair-Sim-Universal-Simulation-Cockpit/dp/B00AGYXUKW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=volair+sim+cockpit&qid=1571531415&sprefix=vol+air+sim&sr=8-2

There ya go

Build your own.

Buy these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VED3KW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000J1V7/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Get some PVC pipe and some epoxy, and you have all you need.

That's also a real photo. It's from the book The Real Axis of Evil.

PSA: If you recognize the picture, read this book. If you don't, read this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Fighter-Pilot-Memoirs-Legendary-Robin/dp/0312569513

Aye. I did read it when I was 13, but it's stuck with me.

Another one I read around that time would be https://www.amazon.com/Air-Warriors-Inside-Story-Making/dp/0684814307

Since you seem to be into air warfare, there's little else but older stuff like:

• Iran-Iraq War in the Air, from 2002 (also available via Amazon)
  
  
• Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat
  
  
• Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat
  
  Mind: these three were published in 2002-2004 period, and could all need a great deal of 'overhauls and upgrades'. The publishing of the first one caused a small 'publishing revolution' in Iran in particular, thus there is plenty of new info.
  
  Here are few examples for diverse 'updates':
  
  
• Tomcat's First Kill
  
  
• Hashem All-e-Agha was Iran's Top F-14 Pilot and Part 2 of the same
  
  Much newer, and then providing 'the other side's point of view' would be such like:
  
  
• MiG-23 Flogger in the Middle East, (this one contains precise details about the defection-attempt - and its results - of one Iranian F-14-pilot to Iraq, in September 1986), or
  
  
• Iraqi Mirages (due out in early 2019)
  
  For ground warfare, there's meanwhile an entire series suitably titled Iran-Iraq War. This was sold out, but a 2nd edition is due out in early 2019.
  
  Finally, for better understanding of all the possible rumours about (supposed) Iranian acquisitions of Russian weapons (all of which rarely materialize), and the reasons for generally sad condition of the IRIAF in particular (also why diverse projects like F-14AM always stop at 'one prototype only'), see: Iran is Too Much of a Mess to Acquire Russian Weaponry.
  
  Similarly, reasons why at least 'rumours' on specific missile-related projects should be taken seriously, are described in a four-part series of articles starting here: Iran Is Building Air Defenses Against Stealth Aircraft

This Book describes F-15E strikes on night 1 of the Desert Storm air campaign. Strike packages of F-15E's were escorted by a MIGCAP of F-15C's on at least night 1. So to everyone saying that F-15E's don't get escorts you are wrong in at least one occasion.

The "Art of the Kill" video has already been mentioned so I won't bother linking it. It's a good, if very basic, overview of air combat in modern fighters. Other resources to look at, that are unfortunately not video:

• Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering This is the bible of air combat. If you only get one resource on air combat, make sure it's this one.
  
• n Pursuit: A Pilot's Guide to Online Air Combat This is also rather decent. Do be aware it is more focused WW2 combat than modern fighters. Most of it applies just fine, but a few things in here will get you killed in and against modern fighters.
  
• Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying This isn't strictly about air combat, but it'll make you a better pilot. If you don't have the basics of flight down perfectly, all you're going to do is flounder around in the air during combat.

I can understand that.

However, I think the F-5E and the F-4E was used extensively as well, especially in the latter times of the war when the F-14's service was exclusively to aid in the tanker wars and the F-4's and F-5's were used to defend the mainland.

I have stories of the war from Iranian pilot's perspectives on here.

Also,

https://www.amazon.com/Iranian-Tigers-War-Northrop-Sub-Variants/dp/1910294136

https://www.amazon.com/Iranian-Phantom-Units-Combat-Aircraft-ebook/dp/B01DPPPY7A/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1572278789&refinements=p_27%3AFarzad+Bishop&s=digital-text&sr=1-2&text=Farzad+Bishop