Short answer: DCS World on the League's version, the Nevada map, your aircraft, the SFL mission files and gate mod, the SFL Virtual Pilot Kit, and Discord with a working microphone.
Windows 10 or Windows 11. The VPK needs it.
DCS World, signed in at least once. Run the version the League sets: by default, the most up-to-date DCS version available at 0000 UTC on execution day.
The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) map. Each Trial's SPINS names the operating area.
The F/A-18C Hornet or F-16C Fighting Falcon, whichever you enter with.
The SFL mission files and the SFLGates gate mod the missions need, from your pilot home (see How do I install the mission files?). Install them as published and never alter or swap the official mods or missions.
The UCID-Verify Tool, once, during verification.
The SFL Virtual Pilot Kit (VPK), required to fly on SFL servers.
Discord with a working microphone and audible receive.
A webcam, for the broadcast during live OTS events.
Your rig is your responsibility: client stability, internet, audio, controls and bindings, and display setup are all part of readiness.
Short answer: Download the mission files from your pilot home and run the installer on the PC you fly from. It installs the missions and the SFLGates gate mod they need.
Start DCS once first, so it creates its Saved Games folder.
Download the mission files from your pilot home. Any registered pilot can download them; you do not need to be entered.
If the download is an .exe, run it; there is nothing to unzip. If it is a .zip, extract the whole zip somewhere outside Saved Games, then run RUN-ME-FIRST-install.bat.
The installer copies the missions to Saved Games\DCS\Missions and the gate mod to Saved Games\DCS\Mods\tech. It removes older versions of the gate mod first.
When a newer version appears on the portal, download it and run it again. Missions and mod ship together because an older mod will not load newer missions.
To install by hand, copy Missions\*.miz to Saved Games\DCS\Missions\ and Mods\tech\SFLGates to Saved Games\DCS\Mods\tech\SFLGates.
Short answer: Start DCS and open the mission from Mission Editor > Missions. At-home flights are practice and are not scored.
The mission files hold the SPEED, PRECISION and ACCURACY Trial missions and the dogfight setups, flown in the F/A-18C or F-16C on the Nevada map. Each Trial's SPINS explains the course, the rules of the run and how it is scored.
Short answer: The League's competition software for your PC, a custom Windows application. You must run the current VPK to fly on SFL servers.
It does four jobs:
Event execution. It joins your DCS to the SFL server for your scheduled slot, seats you in the correct mission slot and aircraft, and brings you into your next scheduled event. VR and standard monitors both work.
Event integrity. It checks DCS telemetry, DCS state and installed mods. It never reads passwords or account names.
Network baseline. It runs a speed test to the SFL servers.
Broadcast. During live OTS broadcast events, it can stream a low-rate feed from your webcam to the SFL broadcast, under the consents you signed.
The VPK changes your DCS setup while it runs. When you quit DCS and the kit, your previous DCS configuration is restored. Its terms are part of the SFL Pilot Terms and Conditions (Section 8).
Short answer: Download the kit from your pilot home.
Before you first open the kit, install DCS World and sign in to it at least once.
Run the installer. If Windows shows "Windows protected your PC", choose More info, then Run anyway (or Run).
The kit installs to C:\SFL\PilotKit and adds a Desktop shortcut and a Start-menu shortcut, both named SFL Virtual Pilot Kit. It needs no administrator rights.
To update, run the newer installer. It stops any running kit session and installs over the old one.
If Windows or your antivirus blocks the installer, ask in #sfl-support on the SFL Discord. SFL can provide a staged zip instead.
To remove it, go to Settings > Apps > SFL Virtual Pilot Kit > Uninstall, or use the uninstall entry in the Start menu.
Short answer: Open the kit, follow its prompts, and launch DCS from the kit. The kit joins you to the SFL server for your slot and seats you in the correct mission slot and aircraft.
Open SFL Virtual Pilot Kit from the Desktop or Start menu before your slot.
Read and accept any agreement the kit shows. Declining stops the kit, and it offers a retry.
Follow the kit's prompts. When it reports you are ready, launch DCS from the kit.
The kit joins you to the SFL server for your slot and seats you in the correct mission slot and aircraft.
Fly the slot. When it ends, SFL's servers remove you. If another slot follows, the kit brings you into it.
When you are finished, quit DCS and close the kit. DCS returns to its previous configuration.
To stop in a hurry, quit DCS or press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K.
The VPK install fails: the installer writes %TEMP%\sfl-pilotkit-install.log. You may send that file to SFL.
The kit flashes and closes, or will not start: it writes C:\SFL\PilotKit\start-here.log. Send that file to SFL.
DCS never starts, joins or seats you: confirm DCS is installed and you have signed in to it at least once. Quit DCS, close the kit and retry.
No webcam on a broadcast event: close other applications using the camera, then retry.
The mission files install fails: each run writes a line to Saved Games\SFL\competitor-install.log. Send that file. It holds no account codes or sign-in secrets.
Something breaks during a live run: report it to CLASSIC on the event voice channel.
Short answer: Anything the League has not published. No mods, export scripts, overlays, plugins or other add-ons, and no macro, scripted, automated or AI-enabled assistance.
Run only the official League-published mods and mission files, unaltered.
No scripted, macro-driven or automated execution aid.
No AI-enabled assistance tools.
No background process or hardware-and-software combination that automates flying the aircraft or substitutes machine help for your own inputs.