One Year Later

It has now been one year since I launched this Patreon channel. What started as a personal initiative to share my love for combat aviation with the DCS World community has grown into a focused platform with over 420 members, including 60 paid subscribers. I'm thankful for every one of you who has shown interest, supported the work, or contributed with questions and feedback.

This project is built on a shared interest in understanding and applying real-world tactics in a simulation environment. Over the past year, I have the feeling that we’ve made tangible progress toward that goal.

I. What Has Been Done

Over the last 12 months, I’ve published about 250 posts covering a wide range of subjects related to combat aviation, tactical procedures and DCS World in general.

Two DCS World missions were released: one simulating a 2001 strike on a Taliban communications center, the other focused on runway denial, applying a detailed methodology through a mission called Operation Bakwa Hammer.

A significant portion of the work has been dedicated to making new DCS theaters usable in CombatFlite. I published over 50 resources including elevation data, maps in mbtiles format, and configuration files for Afghanistan, Iraq, Kola, Cold War Germany, the Sinai, and the South Atlantic. Most of these theaters are now fully usable. Importing DCS .miz files works perfectly; .miz export is still untested. WWII Marianas is on the list.

Example of Kola theater map for CombatFlite.

The Afghanistan airspace was another focus area. I created and explained VFR procedures for all airfields, as well as VFR and IFR procedures for Kandahar and Bagram. These include tactical departure and recovery procedures used during Operation Enduring Freedom. Charts for Herat and Kabul are planned.

About 20 articles were written on weaponeering. I went into detail on how modern bomb fuzes work, what each setting means, and how to choose the correct configuration depending on the aircraft, target type, and mission constraints. Supporting kneeboards were created for multiple platforms, including the , Viper, Hawg, and both Mirage variants.

The bomb fuze guide was a project that required extensive research...

A large number of posts covered tactical subjects such as show of force missions, Paveway delivery techniques, tactical formations, and runway attack profiles. Other articles focused on mission planning, the use of alternate and diversion airfields, or the planning logic behind Bakwa Hammer.

More structured content was also added: a glossary of common vocabulary and acronyms, a full breakdown of the electronic target folder format, and an extensive series of posts about operational documents used in the command chain — including JTARs, ACOs, ATOs, NSLs, ROEs, and call sign lists.

Example of electronic target folder (ETF) for DCS World.

Several posts explored search and rescue operations and helicopter performance in the Afghan environment. I also reviewed several books on airpower in Afghanistan, shared a number of detailed photos from OEF missions, and created Tacview overlays with Afghan airspace boundaries, MGRS, and CGRS grids.

In terms of video content, I published two longer tutorials: one on how to import any .miz file into CombatFlite, and another explaining Paveway II delivery profiles in detail. Both are meant to offer clear, practical workflows that can be applied directly by mission creators and pilots alike.

Finally, dozens of kneeboards were created to support mission planning and execution in DCS World...

II. What Comes Next

The focus of the channel will now evolve slightly, based on your feedback and my long-term intentions.

First, I am considering changing the name of the channel. Nothing has been decided yet, but I feel that the current name reflects my personal attachment to Afghanistan and the milsim community, but it may be too narrow for what this project has become. I want the name to remain grounded in realism and tactical education, but be more open and accessible to DCS players interested in real-world application across all theaters.

Second, upon request from several members, and starting in September, I will launch a new series of monthly “Masterclasses.” These will be structured presentations focused on practical topics selected from your suggestions. Each one will be designed to give you clear takeaways you can directly apply in DCS.

Third, I will gradually reduce purely explanatory or theoretical content. Instead, I’ll prioritize material that translates directly into DCS use: kneeboards, missions, practical tactics, and content you can load into the sim without further processing.

One Last Thing

To mark the one-year anniversary and thank you for your support, I’m organizing a giveaway. It includes both digital rewards and original memorabilia from my deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom. The details, including how to enter and who can participate, are explained in a separate post.

Thank you again for being part of this first year. The best is still ahead!

"Gaby"