Frequently asked questions

What is [23vEW]?

[23vEW] is a [virtual DCS World group flying and fighting in DCS World aircraft since 2018]. We enjoy [milsim aviation & DCS World].

Time of Flight?

Varies - mostly US time zones (Eastern, Central, Western), mostly evenings, marginally more weekend evenings but we fly weekday evenings too at times

Minimum Flight Time Requirements?

None – though flying these jets like we do is a perishable skill (with few exceptions, you’ll need to spend time training if you have not flown in previous 90 days before you can join a mission)

Attendance Nazis?

No

Radio Brevity Nazis?

No.

Politics / Pronoun Nazis?

No (leave politics at the door)

Drama Queens?

No (there's paid professionals that can help - ridiculousness destroys online groups)

Team / Friendly Group?

Yes (we have each other’s backs as wingmen and much like the military your reputation as a team player follows you and affects everyone’s trust that you’ll have their back).

Veteran Friendly?

Heck Yes (we have active duty, reserve, retired and veterans of all branches including active-duty Naval Aviators…. civilians welcome too). This has resulted in a combined knowledge and experience which results in greatly enhances immersiveness and fun factor of missions.

Life/Family Balance?

Yes (life/family/work comes first – fly when you can…).

Realism?

Intense (while we have to keep it fun, we strive to keep operations & missions as realistic as possible and as challenging as possible – training wheels off!).

DCS Dedicated Server?

Yes. we have SIX dedicated DCS Open Beta Servers (patched to current). We are also using the DCS Olympus app on some of them to make changes to missions in real-time (immersive bliss).

DCS Version?

DCS Open Beta (patched to current)

Required Maps?

NTTR (this is our main training map). You'll probably WANT more though..

Recommended Maps?

Syria, Persian Gulf, Caucuses (minimum if you want to frequently run missions). We'll likely be spinning up Afghanistan and Kola maps before long and Egypt/Sinai is promising for some historical recreation missions.

Required Comm Software?

Yes – DCS Simple Radio Standalone (SRS).

HOTAS Required?

Yes (no way to efficiently execute formation flying & combat missions with just a keyboard).

Weekly attendance required?

No.

DCS World aircraft skill level required?

At minimum – able to takeoff, land, navigate and basic understanding of your desired primary airframe (exception is UPT but we do NOT hold year-round UPT). We can teach formation flying.

DCS World aircraft basic courses available?

Yes, we offer B Courses for the A-10C II, F-16CM, F-15E. Our Naval Aviators handle F-18C training. We have approximate B Course mats (US Army Materials) for the AH-64D, OH-58D and CH-47F but recommend those interested in rotary wing primarily join Black Shark Den - The Black Shark Den (we fly periodic joint ops with BSD & consider them friends)

Eval Flight Required?

Yes (FAM Flight doubles as an EVAL Flight).

Interview Required?

Yes (casual) - unless you're a jerk you'll be fine.

Probationary Period Required?

Yes (behind the scenes) - we haven't had to drop anyone in a long time (see Interview required above)

Cross Training Allowed?

Yes (we even encourage cross training but suggest every pilot reach at least BMC in their primary airframe first).

Changing Primary Airframe Allowed?

Yes

Qualification levels?

-Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)

-Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF)

-Basic Course (B Course)

-Basic Mission Capable (BMC)

-Combat Mission Ready (CMR)

-Instructor Pilot (IP)

-Section/Flight Lead

Pilot Upgrades?

Yes.

-Low Altitude Step Down Training (LASDT)

-Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)

-Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD/DEAD)

-Close Air Support (CAS)

-Forward Air Controller Airborne – FAC(A)

-Rotary Wing Qualified for CSAR, FAC(A), RESCORT, Troop Transport, Sling Loading.

Leadership Opportunities?

Yes. We have a leadership team that administratively runs 23vEW. Individual squadrons at full strength have squadron leaders and each flight has a flight & section lead.

Other opportunities/roles?

Yes. Those wanting to run ATC, operating as a JTAC, commanding ground forces as ground commander, Olympus Commander, or making missions as a mission designer are encouraged to do so – all contributions are voluntary but welcome (we encourage participation at the level you feel comfortable or have time for).

Standardized/Realistic Skills & Training?

Yes (based on USAF/USN & USA open-source documents) - however - given that our active-duty pilots don't want to learn wrong procedures starting jets, you might find hot start jets on missions / training & you'll find we spend MORE time flying and LESS time planning. We're 100% focused on accomplishing whatever training objective or mission is at hand (less time on bureaucracy)

RTFM in common use?

No – but.… given that DCS World aircraft are study level simulations, expect some reading, watching videos and practice will be required on your part (experienced 23vEW pilots and IPs cannot do everything for you and have their own time to manage - be respectful of that and it's a win win).

Some common starting points we send new pilots to include:

– Chuck’s Guides: A great collection of reading light quick reference manuals for most DCS World aircraft. You can find Chuck’s DCS World Guides here: Chuck's Guides (chucksguides.com)
- Eagle Dynamics Manuals: Documentation (digitalcombatsimulator.com)
- Razbam Manuals: Manuals | Razbam Simulations (razbamsimulationsllc.com)
- DCS Tutorials; DCS Tutorial Collection (dcs-tutorial-collection.de)
- 23vEW Discord Channel (Tutorial Playlists): 23rd virtual Expeditionary Wing (23vEW) - YouTube
-
If you search online for USAF AFI or USN NATOPS documents, you'll likely find a LOT of OPEN-SOURCE (non disrtibution restricted) materials that are useful for DCS World. We DO NOT allow sharing of any restricted distribution materials.

Motivation Required?

Yes. DCS World has study level simulation aircraft so learning the aircraft requires reading, watching videos, practicing and spending time on the aircraft and tactics with other pilots in 23vEW. At the same time, it's still a hobby/game so let's not take ourselves so seriously this becomes another job. Bottom line, motivated people fit in and non motivated people stand out

Realistic Tactics?

Yes. A common discovery upon learning a DCS World aircraft surrounds the requirement for solid tactics (knowing the aircraft, systems and weapons is not enough).

The end game of DCS World involves wingmen and flights working together to accomplish mission objectives. All modern air combat tactics are built upon wingmen & formations as Mutual Support (SA and Firepower Multipliers) -> You must be flying in formations, must be able to keep up with the pack and you must have other pilots to explore and master these tactics

Learn aircraft systems/formation while flying with group?

Yes. Learning by doing is a viable method (though it still requires motivation and self–study to succeed). In many cases, even after reading the entire manual + chuck’s guide, you will not understand your learning deficiencies until you stumble across them.

With respect to formation flying, the only way to learn is flying with other people (you can get in the ballpark flying with the AI but flying with other DCS pilots will get you there on skill much faster).

With respect to learning on the fly, a complex mission with SAMs and Bandits is not the time to be cluttering up the radio with basic level questions that's available on Chuck's Guide, YouTube or the Manual (at that point you're working against your wingmen by lowering their SA). That's what training is for!

Use common sense and good judgment mixed with a little consideration for your fellow pilots / IPs

Missions?

Yes.

Joint Operations with other DCS World groups?

Yes.

Mods required?

Yes we typically keep it Mod light only to the extent needed to fly Gray Flag missions as a Wing (e.g. SRS + C130 + Blackhawk)

What type of missions?

a LOT. We run Interdiction, Escort, CAS, SEAD, CSAR, DCA, OCA, Deep Strike, Recon, and many more types of missions (a recent addition was an Anti-Ship missions on a Defense of Guam vs China mission generated by one of our Naval Aviators)

Fun Flights (more casual)?

Yes Sometimes (particularly Retro Nights).

Special Events?

Yes.

Competitive (PvP)?

– No (except bragging rights when we do BFM/ACM workups). We are a PvE wing.

Primary airframes?

DCS A-10C II, F-16CM, F-15E, F-18C

Secondary airframes?

All primary + DCS UH-60L, OH-58D, AH-64D, UH-1H, CH-47F, F-4E, AV8BNA, F-14, F-86, F-5E, and more

MOST COMMON FAQ:

Culture - LIFE FAMILY FIRST / WARRIOR BROS (fangs out on when pushing to the jets). Casual respect - professional in jets + FUN!
Do drama queens thrive here - NO
Do jerks thrive here - NO
Do cool dudes thrive here - YES
Do fun dudes thrive here - YES
Do warriors thrive here - YES
Do people pull rank here - NO -> Rank is a metric of progression only (Most of us had enough 'sir's and salutes for a lifetime in the military or are still in the military)
Is the realism up - YES (we built all our USAF training mats on USAF docs and our USN pilots fly the real thing)
Is it just like the real thing - NO (this is a sim/hobby/game)
Can we go fangs out as a team - YES
Mission Intensity - Varies (Typically challenging. sometimes intensely challenging)
Mission Depth - Varies (based on mission designer)
Mission Frequency - Varies (Typically weekly, sometimes lapses- see LIFE/FAMILY FIRST) - we've been at it since 2018 so there's enough going to keep guys around that long
Interview Required - YES (Casual)
FAM / Eval Required - YES (Casual)
UPT Year Round - NO
UPT Occasionally - YES
B Course - YES
IFF - YES
Multiple Airframes Allowed - YES
Changing Airframes Allowed - YES
Attendance Requirements - NO
Long Breaks Allowed - YES
Is this a job - NO
Is this a hobby - YES
Is this a challenging hobby - YES
Will we spoon feed you - NO
Do I have to study/learn - Only if you want to succeed
Will we help you by training, flying and fighting together - YES
Will you help us by training, flying and fighting together - YES
Is training, flying and fighting together fun - YES
Is training, flying and fighting together necessary - YES (if you want to do it right and kick ass)
Required Maps - NTTR (Training) Other (Combat)
Flight Nights - Varies (usually evenings)
Time Zone - Eastern, Central, Western (US)
Dedicated Server - YES - 6 of them
Mods - YES (see what's required for Gray Flag)
SRS Required - YES
What Kind of Flight Nights - Training - NTTR, Mission (member created), Mission (Briefing Room / Rotor Ops created), Mission (Hybrid / downloaded), Server Raid (Gray Flag etc), Joint Ops (other groups)
What kind of missions - depends on the airframe and mission designer.

• Hog = CAS, CSAR, Interdiction, Escort, SCAR, Rescort, Anti-Helo,

• Viper = CAS, CSAR, Interdiction, DCA/OCA, CAP, SEAD, DEAD, SCAR, Escort, Interceptions

• Hornet = CAS, CSAR, DCA/OCA, CAP, Intercept, Interdiction, SEAD, Anti-Ship, SCAR, Escort,

• Strike Eagle = CAS, CSAR Interdiction, DCA (BVR focus), OCA (BVR focus), CAP (BVR Focus), Intercept, SCAR, Deep Strike