If you were to ask anyone that has tried DCS for a considerable amount of time in the sim, what is one of the key features of this simulator, they would most likely say that the depth of the aircraft/weapon systems and their complexity is one of the defining factors that make DCS what it is for most advanced players. This is something I wholeheartedly agreed on, at least until I flew the OV-10A mod for the first time.
We reviewed this aircraft before its launch thanks to its developers, SPLIT AIR, and we noticed that not only was it one of the most interesting and unique additions to DCS World in years, but that it held the keys to an entirely different flight experience for both beginner and advanced players alike unlike anything that had been released before. As a turboprop aircraft, this small yet powerful stallion lives in a very peculiar place in the DCS "meta". Due to its max speed being barely higher than a helicopter speed record, its Goldilocks zone lies closer to the helicopters than fixed wing aircraft; something that opens many opportunities that would be unavailable for the rest of the fixed wing modules currently available in DCS World.
You can use it to capture zones thanks to its Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) capabilities, as well as being able to provided proper CAS for allied troops thanks to its wide arsenal of weapons. This puts it in between a fixed wing and a rotary wing in terms of capabilities and potential, an untouched area in DCS that opens up so many scenarios for mission creators. All of this is only enhanced by this mod's incredible ability of being extremely simple to learn and fly. You can get it airborne with ease, and its weapon systems are some of the simplest ones to learn. I love that I can go from a cold start to take-off in less than 2 minutes, all while carrying a combat load and ready for battle.
It is that simplicity and versatility, as well as its mission capabilities, that bring this mod to a league of its own. It's awesome and, please, do yourself a favor and download it. Not only that, but it will open your eyes to the world of low-level action in DCS World.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/19/2023 - SMALL REVISION: 11/06/2024
About the writer:
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 the co-founder and one of the main writers. Twitter | Discord: Cubeboy #9034
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