Which one should I get f16 or f 14

[Fanatical Extremist]

Only can get one and going to pvp bvr with one

[fikmeinshizer]

they are entirely different beasts.

the F-14 has more range in terms of BVR capability but it is older and thus more easily avoided. you really need a friend to play RIO to get the most of it too since Jester isn't the sharpest tool in the box. that said the F-14 is amazing in it's performance and the module has become the benchmark to which all others are compared

the F-16 is smaller and arguably more nimble with more modern systems to help it out and a wider range of other systems for when the ACM gets tedious. that said it has way less range on its missiles, way less fuel in its tanks and is very early in its development so has loads of missing features

my personal selection of the two for a dedicated BVR bird would be the F-14

[Ramsay]

F-14 is a much harder aircraft to use well due to it's older systems but has the longer range missile (Phoenix), really it'll come down to how experienced you are and what type of experience you are looking for.

If you're newbie to BVR, I'd suggest the F-16 is the better choice as, despite the shorter range AIM-120, it has far better SA due to it's data link that'll allow you to plan/execute a BVR "game plan" and still get you mixed in with the "action".

If coming from the F-15C or Hornet, the decision is harder with the F-14 *perhaps* winning out if looking for something "different" or want the aircraft with the longest BVR missile.

[VRFlightGuyInPJPants]

Let's not forget F-14 has carrier-ops of which F-16 hasn't.

F-16 is more all-rounded in terms of mission types, may be even better than the F/A-18C.

Edit: the correct answer should always be: why not both?

[SSerponi76]

"Better eat apples or bananas?"

- If you like to go Air To Air and carrier based: F-14
- If you like Air To Air and land based /don't care: F-16
- If you want to go Multi-Role: F-16
- If you want to go Multi-Role and Carrier Based: F/A-18 ()

Keep also in account that F-16 is still il Early Access and many features are still missing.

[SSerponi76]

Publicado originalmente por VRFlightGuyInPJPants:

F-16 is more all-rounded in terms of mission types, may be even better than the F/A-18C.

I really love the Viper and the Bug (I already have 100+ Hours in F/A-18 and doing my OCU on F-16 those days) and I can say that both are great Multi-role fighters. However, at moment I'd prefer the Bug as Multi-Role platform since its avionics system is much more advanced and easy to use. Although equivalent in terms of capabilities, the Viper avionics require much more wokload to the pilot and this make some difference.
However, Viper is/will be a much better AA platform for both dogfight and BVR.

Publicado originalmente por VRFlightGuyInPJPants:

Edit: the correct answer should always be: why not both?

100% agree

[Jonny*Combat]

A major difference between the two will be how good a pilot you are and how much do you want to learn?

The Tomcat is mostly analogue and the HUD is not the main instrument for flying or fighting (flight and Phoenix shots will be referenced using the gauges and cockpit displays). In flight you will have to constantly trim and understand the dynamics of a constantly changing wing angle. It's a beautiful plane to fly but it does take considerable practice to fly well.

The Viper on the other hand is fly by wire so flying (and landing) it is very easy. The HUD is the main instrument for all regimes. Again it's a fantastic plane to fly (the 9g slice will give you a huge advantage in the merge).

Just some things to consider.

[startrekmike]

Right at this moment, the F-14 is a MUCH more complete module overall and isn't really missing any major functionality. In contrast, the F-16 module is still very much in early access and is currently missing the majority of its functionality. If you are okay with buying something you won't really be able to fully explore for perhaps a year or a bit more, give the F-16 a go. If you want something that is pretty much ready to go out of the box, the F-14 is a better option.

[van Leeuwenhoek's mustache]

The tomcat has several big problems:

- It's built around the phoenix missile, which is very unreliable when used against fighters (and small aircraft in general).

Good for hitting bombers, tankers, AWACS and newbies who still don't know how to defend missiles... but it'll lose track of maneuvering bandits more often than not.
Really susceptible to notching and chaffing... very frustrating.

- Radar operation in BVR is done by Jester (unless you have a friend willing to do RIO).
Jester isn't smart, you need to babysit him constantly, on top of it, you'll be handicapped by the Jester wheel menu.
Even if you use voice command software to handle the wheel menu (which is a must, imho), it'll still put you at a disadvantage.

- AWG-9 radar is old. It has no fancy azimuth/elevation slew (just 3 positions, like the flanker/fulcrum's radar), pretty unwieldy and "rigid"... not "fluid" like the viper/hornet's.
(Also, it's quite easy to notch... it struggles to keep locks on maneuvering targets)

- Doesn't show essential information on HUD (speed, altitude, etc.), you'll have to check the instruments instead, old school.

- Doesn't have JHMCS (+ visibility is pretty bad for the pilot)

- Doesn't have built-in G load protection, so you'll need to be aware of G loading when turning at high speeds... otherwise you'll rip off its wings (very common for newbies).

-It's a pretty "temperamental" plane to fly. It'll shake, refuse to turn (or turn the opposite way), since it's not meant to be flown like other modern fighters.
It requires dedicated training, just to perform basic maneuvers.
Also, it can enter flatspins if you stall it, so watch out for that.

- Its A/G capability is pretty limited when compared to hornet, viper, etc.


It's utterly awesome otherwise... just the unreliability and "sluggishness" of the phoenix/AWG-9/Jester that kind of ruin it.



As for the viper, it's pretty incomplete, yes, but it's also arguably the best fighter currently in DCS.

- It has really good acceleration and top speed, which is essential in A/A combat.
Doesn't struggle to go supersonic with a standard CAP loadout, it can outrun and outclimb most aircraft in DCS, etc.

- It has a "fluid" radar, easy to operate and sufficiently tweakable.
Also, it's much better at keeping locks than the AWG-9 (this might change in the future).
(Takes a while to get used to the HOTAS controls, though).

- It has a pretty decent datalink page (HSD), which shows contact altitude (doesn't show mach speed, though).

- It has JHMCS and aim-9x (easy to lock on bandits at close range and ability to shoot off boresight)

- It has excellent cockpit visibility (the best in DCS, I think)

- It can carry 60 flares and 60 chaff, which is a lot for a light fighter

- It can mount triple racks for A/G ordinance, which allow it to carry a surprising amount of ordinance


It also has some cons, ofc:

- It only carries ~7140lbs of internal fuel, which is roughly half of what planes like the hornet or the eagle carry (and part of the reason why it's so fast).

Also, it consumes an outrageous amount of fuel with the afterburner on.
Basically, external fuel tanks and proper fuel management are a must.

- MFDs are kind of small (...at least it has MFDs, so it's not all that bad 😅)
Wouldn't hurt to have a third MFD, like the hornet, but you can still manage with just two.

- (Related to the previous point) TPOD screen isn't great.
Targets are harder to make out when compared to hornet and warthog, specially in the evening / night.

- Plenty of features still missing, which will probably take a few years to implement.

[SSerponi76]

Publicado originalmente por van Leeuwenhoek's mustache:

- Plenty of features still missing, which will probably take a few years to implement.

True, however the Viper already has a good AA capability and a decent AG one (it has enough to cover Strike, CAS and SEAD roles).

The most important thing is that ED seems really commited to make the Hornet out of EA soon, so they can concentrate their efforts on the Viper as promsed.

[van Leeuwenhoek's mustache]

Publicado originalmente por Fish:

Neither, L-39. Take on the freaking world with the L-39.

Nah, C-101 with its powerful hair dryer beats all 🤣

[VRFlightGuyInPJPants]

No, it would be the MB-339A

[Fanatical Extremist]

i got the f 14 and wow it is fun but at the sametime going to take a while to master'it hard for me to turn and stuff

[SSerponi76]

Publicado originalmente por VRFlightGuyInPJPants:

No, it would be the MB-339A

Many Italian Pilots trained on the "Macchino", I think that that will be the best trainer of the game once ready.
Not too difficult in reality: L-39 is (really) fun but "too" russian, C-101 is fun too but is a sort of flying hair dryer, Hawk is dead and buried.

[VRFlightGuyInPJPants]

The current mod is not that bad. But yeah, I am looking forward to the official DLC