Situation Update: Philosophy, Membership Changes, and Way Ahead

Hi all,

After a month off, I wanted to take a moment to explain where things stand, what is changing, and where this project is going.

Philosophy

Over time, I’ve been thinking about the purpose of this page and how the content should be shared. The goal has always been to make real-world combat aviation knowledge accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their experience in DCS or their financial situation.

Because of that, I am changing the overall approach.

Going forward, posts will no longer be treated as something locked behind payment. After a few weeks, all posts will eventually become available to free members, and most likely to the public as well. The idea is that you are not paying to access content. If you choose to subscribe, it is simply a way to support the work because you find it useful and want it to continue.

Membership Changes

There are already hundreds of older posts available that cover a wide range of topics. If you are new, take the time to read through them first. That should give you a clear idea of what I produce. If you want access to new material earlier, or if you simply want to contribute, then a membership makes sense.

For those who want immediate access, the lower tiers now include a seven-day free trial. You can use that time to read everything, download what you need, and catch up without any pressure.

Only a small number of products will remain paid. These are items that required a significant amount of work or specific softwares, such as large CombatFlite MBTiles packages. These all remain included in the Combat Pilot tier. If you were planning to purchase several of them anyway, that option is usually more cost-effective. If not, the lower tiers are completely fine. The intention is to keep everything affordable and accessible.

"Test Pilot" Tier

I also wanted to mention the "Test Pilot" tier. This one is different. It is not about content access but about direct instruction. It includes a monthly one-on-one DCS session where we can work on anything you want, from basic flying skills to more advanced topics like mission planning, tactics, or leadership. It is aimed at people who want structured coaching and who want to improve beyond what they can do alone. If that interests you, contact me on Discord and we can discuss it.

Practical Subscription Changes

There is also a practical change regarding subscriptions. Since I am based in Europe, all tiers are now priced in euros instead of US dollars to avoid unnecessary currency conversion fees. The memberships are now 1€, 5€, and 10€, instead of 1$, 5$ and 15$.

With these changes, I ask everyone to review their subscription. If the new approach does not match your expectations, or if you would rather wait and see how things evolve, feel free to pause or cancel. Support should always be voluntary.

As for the near term, I will need a little more time before returning to a normal publishing rhythm. Memberships will remain paused for another month, even if I am able to resume posting earlier.

The Way Ahead

But rest assured: behind the scene, work is already in progress. I am preparing material on artillery and ISR restricted operating zones in Afghanistan, along with a discussion of the troops-in-contact concept.

For mission design, I will now also include the Syrian theater. It reaches a larger audience and offers more varied terrain and visual references. The plan is to return to fundamentals and rebuild from there. Recent work showed me that I sometimes assume certain basics are already understood, when that is not always the case. So before moving further into modern weapons and advanced tactics, we will focus on the foundations.

Thanks for the continued support, and see you in the virtual skies!

Gaby