Operation Red Flag (OPRF)

Preface:

I use an X-52 Pro, no rudders (I wish), dual monitor setup. I use a Razer Kraken headset, and no webcam. Logitech G510 keyboard, Kensington mouse.

Computer is powered by an i5-4460 quadcore at 3.20GHz, 8gb of RAM (need to upgrade), and a GTX960.

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X52 Driver/Profiler
A lot of people crap on the drivers/profiler for the X52, but without it you lose a lot of functionality. I can create a different profile for different planes, and switch profiles without taking my hands off the throttle and stick. Multiple "shift" modifiers are usable with the software too.

Logitech G510 Software
For the pretty colors.

GlovePIE
This is a fun one. It can turn voice commands into keyboard presses. Feel like a boss when you call out "PLANE! AUTOSTART!" instead of pressing "s". Very robust, and fun.

AutoHotKey
Turns keypresses into macros. VERY powerful, easy scripting language, can pretty much do anything, including custom GUI's.

PDF-Viewer
Ditch Adobe for PDF's. Seriously. PDF-Viewer has OCR capabality, saves where you are in a document, and is much more lightweight. Overall muuuuuuuch better for your PDF's.

Greenshot
Amazing screenshot utility. Can automagically upload to imgur, has an integrated editor, lets you select what part of the screen your screenshotting, all around amazing. Can be slower on slower comps, so YMMV.

Open Broadcaster Software
Used for recording your screen and broadcasting to twitch.

Lightworks x64
Good video editor - definitely complicated, but worth it.

Spotify
Music.

Mumble
... if you have to ask ...

Mouse Without Borders
This one is useful if you have multiple Windows comps. It allows you to essentially use those other computers as another monitor. You can easily copy files from one comp to the other, only need one keyboard + mouse, and can hook up up to 4 computers.

Great for me when I'm running AI or whatever on other computers.

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What else is out there that is good?

#12656607 pinto wrote:

What else is out there that is good?

FLIGHTGEAR! ;)
Mav

Website dump - not all directly related to dogfighting, but all relating to FG/simming.

File flightplanes, automagically accessible by FlightGear ATC's using OpenRadar and ATC-pie

Skyvector - if you don't know what this is, click here naow

Big guide of VFR symbology

Operational Navigation Charts (ONC) - like Skyvector in Hard Mode

Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPC) - Like ONC, but at a finer scale

Combat Mission Plotter - used with TPC and ONC to actually plot realistic flight plans.

brief aside - I know a lot of you aren't SUPER dedicated to realism, but if you want to actually plot out a low-level mission realistically, you'd use the ONC/TPC and the PLU-6C to do it. The image linked above for the plotter has a transparent background, so it'd work great loading it up in GIMP or whatever to plan out your missions.

F-16 Combat Fundamentals

Basic Fighter Maneuvering and All Weather Intercept - US Navy, 2014

AP/B1 - If you want to fly actual real training routes that the US uses, then this is your bible. I highly recommend VR-1355.

Air Force VFR Procedures

Air Force IFR Procedures

Operational Brevity Words

How to navigate in a plane! Covers VFR and IFR, and is veeeeeeeery good

Flight Training Instruction for Tactical Formations - US Navy, geared towards the T-45 Strike

IVAO guide on special phraseology that ATC should use with military aircraft (and vice versa)

SimBrief - Create realistic flight plans

I modified an aircraft to get somewhat good results for the Viggen, with fuel usage etc.

Find bad weather to have fun in

The F-16 combat fundamentals is just amazing!
Many thanks for sharing Pinto!
Mav