Belsimtek is now selling pre-purchase versions of their Mil-8 helicopter module.
From the website news:
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight is a highly realistic PC simulation of the Mi-8MTV2, a combat transport and fire support helicopter and an upgraded variant of one of the most widely produced helicopters in the world - the Russian Mi-8 (NATO reporting name ‘Hip’). Developed by Belsimtek and Eagle Dynamics, the team behind the hit title DCS: UH-1H Huey, DCS Mi-8MTV2 continues to deliver exceptional realism and immersive gameplay within the DCS World virtual battlefield.
The simulation features accurate modeling of all primary aircraft systems, avionics, and proper functionality of nearly all cockpit switches and controls. Flight and other dynamics are modeled using real-time physics calculations and carefully tuned using actual Mi-8MTV2 documentation and pilots deeply involved in development and testing. The result is not only the most realistic Mi-8 reproduction on the PC, but a comprehensive helicopter model that correctly presents complex dynamic effects particular to helicopter flight, such as: autorotation, vortex ring state (VRS), translational lift, hover in and out of ground effect, and many others.
You are placed in the cockpit of the Mi-8MTV2 to fly combat transport and support missions as the left pilot, right pilot or gunner. The helicopter can be armed with unguided rockets, gun pods, and on-board machine guns. In the transport role, a cargo of up to four tons can be carried internally or three tons on an external sling system to deliver and retrieve supplies in a wide variety of terrain and weather conditions. A series of single missions and a handcrafted, immersive campaign plunge you into the heat of battle in the DCS World battlefield of countless AI and a variety of player-controlled fighter and attack aircraft, helicopters, and ground units. Get online to play with or against other DCS players in a synthetic online battlefield.
A quickstart guide and interactive training help you get started quickly while the comprehensive Flight Manual details the helicopter’s systems and operational procedures. A wide variety of gameplay options allows each player to tailor their difficulty level as required.
Key Features of DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight include:
- Unmatched flight physics providing the most realistic and dynamic conventional helicopter experience on the PC
- Multiple player positions, including pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, and door gunner
- Accurate and highly detailed 3D cockpit featuring six-degrees-of-freedom technology compatible with head-tracking devices
- Interactive cockpit controls that allow you to operate systems using the mouse
- Accurate modeling of the Mi-8MTV2 instruments, weapons, engines, radios, fuel, electrical, and hydraulic systems
- Highly detailed Mi-8MTV2 external 3D model, liveries, and weapons
- Accurate audio environment based on custom Mi-8MTV2 sound samples
- Immersive, handcrafted campaign with a variety of transport and fire support missions
- Training with interactive and video lessons
- Multiplayer coop mode for crew members of the same helicopter under development for a later update
- Developed in close cooperation with actual Mi-8MTV2 operators
Additionally DCS 1.2.6 is now available:
(Some emphasis of mine, what was long disturbing me, that got improved)
1.2.6 Change Log
DCS World
- Added new anti-ship penetrating warhead for anti-ship missiles.
- Increased Max G for the following missiles: R-60 (from 18 to 42), MICA (from 18 to 24), and R-40 (from 8 to 15).
- R-27ET: Decreased rear hemisphere DLZ.
- R-73: Corrected mass and thrust.
- R-77: Corrected time, fuel flow and thrust.
- SA-8 Osa: Increased range at low altitude from 6 to 8 km.
- Corrected the lock on range of IR missiles.
- Added Australia as a new country choice.
- Renamed APA-50 to APA-5D.
- Fixed error with coalition.addGroup()function.
- Added a new 3D model for the B-8V20 rocket launcher.
- Added a new 3D model of Tu-22M3 (beta).
- Fog of War: Aircraft will no longer be visible on F10 map once it leaves line of sight of enemy units.
- Added exhaust smoke to Kusnetsov aircraft carrier.
- Kills are now tracked in the Log Book for Campaigns.
- Engagement range of ground units has been adjusted.
- Su-25T bomb Interval and Quantity are now working correctly.
- Trigger GROUP DEATH will working with event ON DESTROY.
- Fixed several SAMs ignoring the set "Alarm State Green".
- Debriefing: Fixed event recording. This will also correct log book errors.
- MiG-23 will now attack the moving ground target with rockets.
- Many minor corrections in the game.
- Wingman will report leader about enemy radar activity.
- Multiplayer: Radio communications are now working.
- Multiplayer: Debriefing window in the mission is now disabled for clients.
- Multiplayer: Fixed several crashes.
Flaming Cliffs 3 (A-10A: DCS Flaming Cliffs)
- A-10A: Removed AAQ-28 TGP.
- A-10A: Corrected standby compass showing wrong heading.
- A-10A: Added PAC.
- A-10A: HUD fixed pitch angle indicator jumping from -90 to +90, when standing still on the ground is fixed.
- A-10A: Simultaneous engine start now working.
- A-10A: Fixed AIM-9 air to air mode.
- A-10A: Removed glideslope indication on the HUD.
- A-10A: Fixed ADI yellow vertical bar.
- A-10A: AoA indicator, indexer and AoA sound corrected.
- A-10A: Fixed HSI outer needle.
- A-10A: Added Stability Augmentation System (SAS).
- Su-33: Corrected AoA indexer.
- MiG-29 and Su-27/33: The vertical scan will not lock target automatically. Instead, player must press and hold the ENTER button to lock the target.
- Added RShift modifier to Kneeboard next/previous page commands (conflicted with Ka-50 Shkval track gate size controls).
- Su-25T: Removed targe diamond on the HUD.
- F-15C: Fixed altitude hold when air to air refueling.
- AWACS: Decreased the answer pause between picture requests.
- Corrected some missions.
- ATC now available for Kusnetsov aircraft carrier.
DCS: A-10C Warthog
- The engines will start after repair.
- If PTR switch is set to STOW and back to ABLE the pitch steering bar may freeze is fixed.
- A-10C. SAS and EAC switches fixed.
DCS: Combined Arms
- Fixed multiplayer crash when land groups are assigned a route.
- Added German CA Manual.
- Smoke markers for controlled ground units are limited with 10 smokes at each color.
- Input: Absent joystick commands restored.
- HUD: Added cues of masking for line of firing by vehicle elements.
- HUD: Added health points indicator.
- MP missions replaced to MP folder.
DCS: Black Shark 2
- Added RShift modifier to Kneeboard next/previous page commands (conflicted with Ka-50 Shkval track gate size controls).
- Lighting night vision cockpit switch modifier moved to LCtrl to prevent conflict with Kneeboard ON/OFF key.
DCS: P-51D Mustang
- Fixed no UNSAFE warning light and horn when throttle retarded.
---------- Post added at 11:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 AM ----------
Another Kickstarter, this time the names might be pretty known among the Orbiter-Forum world: They had been the leading developers behind the Il-2 series.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/508681281/dcs-wwii-europe-1944
Of course, also all had been pretty lost from the radar for years, with different stories how they left the flight sim industry.
Still, I think this kickstarter might fail as well: Even just $100,000 is a huge budget for a flight sim project (while only paying effectively one developer for one year). While I am pretty sure that they could deliver there, this project is very close to Il-2 after all, the "September 2014" plan is also pretty short for the number of planned aircraft.
I would wish that the $1,000,000 target is hit though... sounds like what the P-51D module of DCS really needs.
EDIT: At least the money allocation and planning, that they describe on the kickstarter page, sounds pretty regular to me, nothing too optimistic.
