Combat
DCS: UH-1H arms the Huey with two types of 2.75 in. rocket pods and 7.62 mm mini-gun pods in addition to the two M-60D guns at the gunner stations. The rocket pods are your standard run-of-the-mill with either 7 or 19 rockets each and salvo rates controllable from an armament panel inside the cockpit. The Hydra rockets themselves come in a few different flavors: HE anti-tank, anti-personnel fragmentation, white phosphorous smoke, illumination flare, and some practice warheads. While the rocket pods are installed on fixed pylons, the two 7.62 mm gun pods are mounted to a flexible mount system that is controlled by copilot, allowing for more precise placement of iron on target.
You just bought yourself two tickets to the gun show. Boom, boom… firepower!
Don’t let the name fool you – mini-guns are huge fun!
FFAR FTW!
Did it just get drafty in here after all that popping noise?
Single Missions
The beta version of Huey ships with three single-player missions: Elbrus Rescue, Rebel Base, and Stray Eagle. With a name like Rebel Base, I’m hoping that means we get to use our cargo hook as a weapon against a large and powerful yet unstable transport vehicle!
The missions that come with DCS: UH-1H Huey are exceptionally detailed. Read your briefings!
Campaigns
The Huey gets a campaign of its own, too, chronicling the adventures of a UN pilot. The attention to detail in this campaign mission is impressive. The mission briefings are very detailed and descriptive, more narrative than technical, and the first mission has you ferrying a VIP into the Khashari region. There’s a lot of “I.F.R.” (“I Follow Roads”) flying in the first mission which may disappoint folks looking for quick action, but those enjoying the pure flight of an unaided helo will likely enjoy it.
The UN campaign looks promising.
Conclusion
DCS: UH-1H Huey is shaping up to be the premier helicopter combat flight simulation and I’m very much looking forward to reviewing the final product.
Previewer’s System Specs
- Processor: i7-950
- Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D-e
- RAM: 6 GB OCZ DDR 1600Hz
- Graphics Card: EVGA GTX 470
- Storage: 250 GB Velociraptor, 2 TB Western Digital
- Power Supply: 850 W Corsair
- Controllers: X52 Pro HOTAS, Warthog HOTAS, CH Pro Rudder
- Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7 Home
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