Learn the fundamentals of air-to-air combat in the DCS F/A-18C Hornet.
In this START HERE training mission, we work through the basics of using the F/A-18C’s air-to-air radar, acquiring and tracking targets, employing AIM-120 AMRAAMs and fighting Beyond Visual Range (BVR).
This video is aimed at DCS players who are new to the Hornet, returning after a break, or simply want a straightforward introduction before moving on to more advanced air-to-air combat.
IN THIS VIDEO:
F/A-18C Air-to-Air Radar basics
Finding and tracking airborne targets
AIM-120 AMRAAM employment
BVR engagement fundamentals
Basic air-to-air combat procedures
START HERE This is part of our START HERE series on Grim Reapers Channel 3, helping newer DCS players get to grips with aircraft, weapons and core DCS skills.
🔥 SAVE 40% ON THE DCS F/A-18C HORNET Use Grim Reapers discount code: GRSHF18
Subscribe to GR3 for more START HERE training and DCS content.
Eagle Dynamics’ START HERE missions are designed to help DCS players get to grips with an aircraft without having to dive straight into the deepest end of its systems.
They provide a more accessible starting point for learning the basics, helping newer players build confidence with an aircraft step by step before moving on to more advanced procedures and combat operations.
In this video, Cap works through the AH-64D START HERE mission, focusing on basic training from the Co-Pilot/Gunner seat and learning how to use the TEDAC and Hellfire missiles.
The Apache can be a daunting aircraft when you first climb aboard, particularly from the CPG position, so this mission is all about getting familiar with the essential controls and processes needed to find, designate and engage targets.
A New START HERE Series – Exclusive to GR3
This is the beginning of a brand-new series exclusive to the Grim Reapers 3 YouTube channel, where we’ll be working through Eagle Dynamics’ START HERE missions and seeing how well they help players learn DCS aircraft.
The idea is simple: follow the missions as a new or less experienced player might, work through the training provided, and give viewers a practical look at how these aircraft and systems come together.
If you’ve recently picked up the AH-64D, have been putting off learning the CPG seat, or simply want a refresher on Hellfires and the TEDAC, this is a great place to start.
Save 40% on the AH-64D
If this has tempted you to jump into the Apache yourself, you can currently get 40% off the DCS: AH-64D using Grim Reapers discount code:
GRSHAH64
A perfect time to pick up the module and follow along with the new START HERE series on GR3.
The Grim Reapers head back to 1974 for a large-scale DCS campaign mission set during a fictionalised Cyprus crisis.
With hostile forces advancing across the island, GR members must coordinate a complex mixture of offensive and defensive operations. Strike aircraft are tasked with attacking enemy ground units, combat air patrols defend the skies, and transport crews attempt vital supply drops to friendly forces.
Success depends on communication, timing and teamwork as each group navigates the island’s terrain, shifting threats and the usual Grim Reapers tactical confusion.
It is classic, old-style GR: a big scenario, multiple aircraft, plenty of moving parts and absolutely no guarantee that everything will go according to plan.
GR3 is the home of full-length DCS Member Missions, taking you from the opening briefing through the complete operation and final debriefing.
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