DCS C-130J: A Beautifully Complex Module
- Santiago "Cubeboy" Cuberos
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
In a game where the word "combat" is in the title, it's natural to expect to find a lot of combat aircraft and experiences. And for the most part, that's how it has been!
That being said, there is one company that has stood against the current and worked hard for several years to develop one of the best non-combat experiences available in DCS, Christen Eagle non-apply: the C-130J module by the Aircraft Simulation Company (ASC).
AN AMAZING PACKAGE
If you want to track down the origins of this module, you have to start with Anubis's C-130 mod. This proof of concept showed that there was indeed an interest in an aircraft like this within the DCS community, so ASC was formed by the same mod team that wanted to take the project to the next level.
At the 3D level, this module is just amazing. The art goes above and beyond almost anything we have ever seen in this simulator.
Everything from the cockpit, its plethora of panels and displays, the detailed but subtle wear and even the intractable items are just wonderful.
Its flight model is fantastic, not only from a realism point of view, but also from a gameplay variety perspective. It carries weight and momentum like a big aircraft would, but I think they also nailed the "feel" of the aircraft.
Several C-130 pilots have sung their praises over this module's systems and flight model. So, they have to be doing something right. But what I want to focus on today is systems, because it is the area where I have the strongest opinions.
I think that this module's systems are both its biggest strength and its biggest detrimental feature. The bigger the aircraft, the more complex its systems are, so I went in expecting a bit more of a process to start up the aircraft than I would with a fighter or any smaller aircraft. Those expectations were met, but to an insane degree.
BEAUTY IN COMPLEXITY
To be honest, this is not the developer's fault, this is more on Lockheed than it is on the devs. The C-130 is, by far, the most complex aircraft to start-up properly in DCS. From its CNI NAV set-up, to the infamous electronic circuit breakers, the Hercules can feel like a daunting task to manage properly if you are used to fighter aircraft or even helicopters.
The Herc seems to be mostly built around pre-planned missions, which does make it a bit more difficult to just sit down and fly a sortie or two. You will have to spend some time setting up your aircraft, cargo load and drop points, or just set up your nav waypoints. While it does have excellent tutorials, and it can be easy to learn all the basics, you will miss 80% of the module's depth and details if you do not go out of your way to play around with your systems and integrate the aircraft fully within your missions. There are so many sub-systems and little details everywhere that you will find it hard not to get stuck on learning a new thing every time you hop on, which is both a wonderful and terrifying feeling.
It is very evident that the developers not only created something that was close to reality, but also something that was close to their heart. This module is a work of love, and you can tell it just by glancing at everything it has to offer.
NOT A PLANE FOR EVERYONE, BUT A WONDERFUL MODULE
This aircraft is certainly not one I would recommend to just anyone. It is, sincerely, one of the most complex ones to operate, it will take time and effort to learn, and you will have to dedicate time to get used to her systems. If you are afraid of that level of complexity, then you should not look into getting this module.
On the other hand, if you are used to more of an airliner workload from games such as MFS2024 or even Xplane11/12, then the C-130 will feel just like home. It is a big bird, but it still has swiftness and very responsive controls, so flying her is honestly the easiest part of the module. You will be able to do many missions that no other module could do, but do be aware that you are not a combat aircraft, even if you are in Digital Combat Simulator.
About the Author
Santiago "Cubeboy" Cuberos
Longtime aviation fanatic with particular preference towards military aviation and its history. Said interests date back to the early 2000s, leading into his livelong dive into civil and combat flight simulators. He has been involved in a few communities, but only started being active around the mid 2010s. Joined as a Spanish to English translator in 2017, he has been active as a writer and the co-founder of Skyward ever since. Twitter | Discord: Cubeboy
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