To be fair, the Vipers for the Thunderbirds are stripped down even beyond what a clean Viper has on it/in it. The Viper is also designed for external carry with only modest internal fuel capacity.
But yeah, it really shows how 5th gen and the compromises for stealth completely transform the aircraft design.
This is likely more a function of the F-35 generating much more lift forward of the CG. You can see the elevators pointed down to try and prevent the aircraft from doing a backflip.
I am actually blown away by the extremely slight differences between these two pictures. Like extremely slight stuff like the positioning of the emblem on the side of the intake, or the flaps in slightly different positions, or some sections of the planes actually look crisper and more defined on the video game.
I genuinely struggled to tell which was which until I looked at the water. At first I was thinking that the strong panel lines on the Lightning in the top image made it the real one, believing that the weaker lines on the bottom were the result of a texture artist falling into style over accuracy.
Then I looked at the water and saw the truth.
Then I opened the thread and saw that once the image is scaled up those strong panel lines look hideous compared to the real thing anyway.
I instantly knew the top one was DCS because the F-16 pilot has that chronic neck stiffness that all DCS pilots do, like his head is just stuck looking 10 degrees up
Definitely, it shouldn't jitter at all (smooth 120+ frames of tracking). Were you using the reflectors or the IR leds?
Admittedly clicking things requires a bit of finesse at times because you need to keep your head a bit steady as you flip switches, but it's not something I've ever found difficult.
Watch some YouTube videos, practically every scenario playback uses it.
The only time it's janky is if you really push the extremes of the view angles and the camera loses track, then it will do weird things.
One thing that helps a lot is setting the center / deadzones correctly so the view docks naturally when you're looking at the HUD.
I can't imagine flying without it, and I actually prefer it over VR (I have two headsets and don't use it with DCS).
I also have a button mapped to turn pause tracking a lot. That way I can look at stuff pause and make the adjustments and then click it back on pretty quickly so I don't have the issue of my view moving around on me.
Binding the external zoom keys does wonders for screenshots. Allows you to zoom in and out without moving the focal point, so zoom out, external zoom in, and you no longer look stupidly close to the aircraft.
Damm. I honestly had to take a second to see which one was real. The main give away was the DCS one looked too sharp and perfect.
ED should used pics/videos like this to really show how awesome their product really is.
Look it’s a bird!…. No, it’s a lawn dart! … nope, wait, It’s a Thunderchicken!!! Daduhantadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa off we go into the sky… …. Ah sh!t, hey we need to RTB ….bingo fuel
I always get a kick out of seeing an F-35 flying formation with a Viper. Look at the AOA difference at the same speed. She's a fat girl!
Can't be more capable than all the Teen series fighters put together without gaining a little THICCness
fat bitches need love too, craig!
..but they gotta pay.
Pilot looks like they're struggling to see over the nose. The velocity vector must be running down into the console.
He sees through the airframe.
Especially when TrackIR movement isn't limited and lets your head clip through the canopy.
Limiting view to canopy inside in DCS would be nice.
Mosquito moment
Yeah augmented reality HMD is something. Pairs with the TGP to allow visibility through the airframe.
SMH when will the USAF invent COFFIN already
Yeah, looking at this it's no wonder the C model needed larger wings
Leading edge extension ftw
She's got it where it counts. And she's much chattier, in the best way.
They gotta be flying slow af tho right?
Theres a reason she’s called fat amy
Look at those abs tho
To be fair, the Vipers for the Thunderbirds are stripped down even beyond what a clean Viper has on it/in it. The Viper is also designed for external carry with only modest internal fuel capacity. But yeah, it really shows how 5th gen and the compromises for stealth completely transform the aircraft design.
This is likely more a function of the F-35 generating much more lift forward of the CG. You can see the elevators pointed down to try and prevent the aircraft from doing a backflip.
Why does the f35 need such high aoa at that speed? It's not like the viper is some slow warbird
Is that sim f35 a UAV? 🙂
Nah, the pilot is just taking his stealth role way too seriously.
Must be Bob
What's that stand for?
Other than Robert I mean
You'll have to watch Top Gun: Maverick to understand the joke here 😂
I know!
Lol, just realised, jokes on me! Well done hangman
😂
Had the same exact thought
It's hard to tell the difference on the thumbnail
“They’re both your locker!”
Nine Nine!
I think the bottom one is real but that's mostly based on the water lol
The top Viper pilots helmet visor looks very gamey, the rest looks pretty photo realistic.
The Hud glass area gives it away a bit as well.
So does the acute lack of a pilot in the F-35.
I am actually blown away by the extremely slight differences between these two pictures. Like extremely slight stuff like the positioning of the emblem on the side of the intake, or the flaps in slightly different positions, or some sections of the planes actually look crisper and more defined on the video game.
Lighting on the seat of the f-16 too. But otherwise they look damn close.
We've come reeeaaallly far. But water will always give it away. Still the one thing that always breaks it for me.
I genuinely struggled to tell which was which until I looked at the water. At first I was thinking that the strong panel lines on the Lightning in the top image made it the real one, believing that the weaker lines on the bottom were the result of a texture artist falling into style over accuracy. Then I looked at the water and saw the truth. Then I opened the thread and saw that once the image is scaled up those strong panel lines look hideous compared to the real thing anyway.
The lack of pilot in the top f35 spoilt it for me
That and proper shadowing, I usually look for that and foliage as a give away
I instantly knew the top one was DCS because the F-16 pilot has that chronic neck stiffness that all DCS pilots do, like his head is just stuck looking 10 degrees up
Get TrackIR (or one of the many alternatives) if you know what's good for your stiff neck.
I tried it but returned it because the jitter made the clickable cockpit unusable. Was I missing something?
Definitely, it shouldn't jitter at all (smooth 120+ frames of tracking). Were you using the reflectors or the IR leds? Admittedly clicking things requires a bit of finesse at times because you need to keep your head a bit steady as you flip switches, but it's not something I've ever found difficult. Watch some YouTube videos, practically every scenario playback uses it. The only time it's janky is if you really push the extremes of the view angles and the camera loses track, then it will do weird things. One thing that helps a lot is setting the center / deadzones correctly so the view docks naturally when you're looking at the HUD. I can't imagine flying without it, and I actually prefer it over VR (I have two headsets and don't use it with DCS).
I also have a button mapped to turn pause tracking a lot. That way I can look at stuff pause and make the adjustments and then click it back on pretty quickly so I don't have the issue of my view moving around on me.
I find pause very jarring, mostly because I forget to unpause etc.
Yes, the trick I found was to turn up the smoothness slider in your trackir profile. Night and day difference.
We’ve come a long way.
I think the second one is the real and the first one is the Simulation. I guessed because of the Water
That and the fact the F-35 on top has no pilot.
Just realize it now, lol
The focal length of the 2nd one seems to be quite a bit longer (which is why the F-35 seems so much bigger).
Binding the external zoom keys does wonders for screenshots. Allows you to zoom in and out without moving the focal point, so zoom out, external zoom in, and you no longer look stupidly close to the aircraft.
Not that this isn’t well done and set up, but this is one of the first I can actually tell which is which
Who else had to zoom in to find out which is which?
Damm. I honestly had to take a second to see which one was real. The main give away was the DCS one looked too sharp and perfect. ED should used pics/videos like this to really show how awesome their product really is.
The digital one looks more real than the real one
Wtf which one is real and which is not?
Top is the real.
Nope. Water gives it away....and the lack of a pilot in the f-35
You are mistaken sir. Your eyesight maybe getting older. Top one is real real.
That F35 would be more realistic underwater
Look it’s a bird!…. No, it’s a lawn dart! … nope, wait, It’s a Thunderchicken!!! Daduhantadaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa off we go into the sky… …. Ah sh!t, hey we need to RTB ….bingo fuel
These are not the way round that I thought they were when I saw this post on my phone
I think the water is what gives it away, not the planes
I love how the thrust vectoring is missing in the sim, one day. :(
Probably not. At best a yak-38
I thought the top one was real until I zoomed in.
Pilot always gives it away.
I only know the up one is sim cuz the F35 Pilot is stealthy
In the words of John Travolta in From Paris with Love… ‘Tell me that isn’t some impressive shit!’ 😂
well at least we know the Viper isn't Thunderbolt 2....He's looking left.
I'm guessing the bottom one is real?