What is the best starter jet?

[AIM-9X]

Something cheap, easy to learn, and still relatively versatile

[AIM-9X]

Originally posted by Troll Norris:

Originally posted by Cardboard:

Yes I have, however there are no interactable buttons and idk how to speak russian

You can change the avionics language in gameplay options menu.

oh, thanks!

[sergio.e.samayoa]

Originally posted by Cardboard:

Something cheap, easy to learn, and still relatively versatile

F18 is the easiest although all modern planes are very complex .
But if your concern is the price tag, learn to fly on the free ones while saving for the high fidelity models which normally cost $50+ EVEN ON SALE.

[Sleepysteve]

I will provide an actual answer to this question (which gets asked on a seemingly weekly basis). Start with a flaming cliffs low fidelity module. You can get them on sale for like $7. My recommendation would be the F-15c. Then download the Gripen mod. It uses the avionics of the F15c for the A/A variant and for the air to ground variant it uses the SU-25T's. It has some clickable cockpit elements, and has excellent and powerful weaponry.

Or be smart and download the DCS client and you can try any of their full fidelity modules for free for a trial period. I wish I knew about that when I got started.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by Sleepysteve:

I will provide an actual answer to this question (which gets asked on a seemingly weekly basis). Start with a flaming cliffs low fidelity module. You can get them on sale for like $7. My recommendation would be the F-15c. Then download the Gripen mod. It uses the avionics of the F15c for the A/A variant and for the air to ground variant it uses the SU-25T's. It has some clickable cockpit elements, and has excellent and powerful weaponry.

Or be smart and download the DCS client and you can try any of their full fidelity modules for free for a trial period. I wish I knew about that when I got started.

Total waste of money, when you can get the whole FC3 for ~$25.

The free trials are good advice, though. Everybody wanting to know "the best starter jet" should simply go find it.

[BirdDog]

Start with FC3 best advice.

[Delta Dagger]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

Originally posted by Sleepysteve:

I will provide an actual answer to this question (which gets asked on a seemingly weekly basis). Start with a flaming cliffs low fidelity module. You can get them on sale for like $7. My recommendation would be the F-15c. Then download the Gripen mod. It uses the avionics of the F15c for the A/A variant and for the air to ground variant it uses the SU-25T's. It has some clickable cockpit elements, and has excellent and powerful weaponry.

Or be smart and download the DCS client and you can try any of their full fidelity modules for free for a trial period. I wish I knew about that when I got started.

Total waste of money, when you can get the whole FC3 for ~$25.

The free trials are good advice, though. Everybody wanting to know "the best starter jet" should simply go find it.

Yeah, if you're going to gravitate to an FC3 aircraft, might as well just get FC3.

[CheckedWriter56]

Originally posted by Paradox1126:

Originally posted by spike2071:

this has to be the worst, vague, and inarticulate trope in this community.

It's true. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same modules. The aircraft you will enjoy the most is the one you want to fly

[Paradox1126]

Originally posted by CheckedWriter56:

Originally posted by Paradox1126:

this has to be the worst, vague, and inarticulate trope in this community.

It's true. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same modules. The aircraft you will enjoy the most is the one you want to fly

its dumb lazy advice especially when OP added in criteria. when i first got into dcs i asked the community what the hardest plane to fly was. i was told the mig-21. had no idea about it and thought it was ugly but i got it and i love it.

[spike2071]

Originally posted by Paradox1126:

Originally posted by CheckedWriter56:

It's true. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same modules. The aircraft you will enjoy the most is the one you want to fly

its dumb lazy advice especially when OP added in criteria. when i first got into dcs i asked the community what the hardest plane to fly was. i was told the mig-21. had no idea about it and thought it was ugly but i got it and i love it.

The OP's criteria was pretty non-specific. Almost any plane would fit into it. The Hornet is the most versatile, relatively cheap on sale, and easy to learn to take off and shoot stuff down. The F-16 is cheap on sale, versatile, and easy to learn the basics. The Harrier is cheap on sale, carries the same Fox-2s as the F-5, and easy to learn with it's in depth training missions. The C101 is a literal trainer jet that is versatile and cheap on sale. As is the L-39. The Mirage has some excellent training missions, a fantastic default campaign, can drop bombs and shoot missiles, and is cheap when on sale.

You asked for the hardest plane to fly. That's very specific. No one would tell you to get whatever plane you wanted with such a specific request.

[AIM-9X]

thanks for all the advice, i'm looking into the f-15, and im just wondering: is there multiplayer copiloting? can a friend who doesn't own the f-15 hop into the copilot seat and manage systems that would be hard to do while flying at the same time?

[Gunfreak]

Originally posted by Cardboard:

thanks for all the advice, i'm looking into the f-15, and im just wondering: is there multiplayer copiloting? can a friend who doesn't own the f-15 hop into the copilot seat and manage systems that would be hard to do while flying at the same time?

No, all two seater aircraft require that both users own it.
The F15E is the one aircraft I wouldn't recommend. It has just been released is missing a lot of stuff is missing. And there will be plenty of bugs. Meaning learning it will be more confusing and harder (are you doing something wrong? Or is it a bug?)

[SaxonRaider]

Its best to just get the one that your interested in learning. This is a study sim. You will need to learn all aircraft. Even can take 50+ hours just to learn all functions and use them in a Trainer Jet If your doing cold starts. (Parked with Engine off). There is more reward for yourself once you learned most of the functionality of your favourite aircraft and can use it successfully on missions.

[oldbanana69]

f15c for cheap f16 for fun

[ryansw989]

Play the x2 'Free' Aircraft and get a general gist for the controls and game in general. If you can wait until the next sale the difference in prices is significant. Or use stand alone where you can test any module for free for a 2 weeks. You can get a reduction off your very first purchase there no matter how many planes - or return to Steam if that is a concern having a better idea of what you want.

Then buy the F-16, Hornet or Tomcat.

[SaxonRaider]

I also recommend waiting for the next sale, however in the meantime you could try the near full fidelity and professionally built community mod of the A-4 Skyhawk. Its as close as you will get to having a paid aircraft.
The link to it is here https://heclak.github.io/community-a4e-c/