Recluse

Yes the Antenna Rotary is an axis. I think I will play with Saturation and Curves to see if I can get it to be a little less sensitive. That's the crux of my issue. When the nozzles rotate forward much past 75 degrees, the pitch goes all over and I cannot get the witch's hat stabilized so that I can use small pitch increments for forward motion or any roll inputs without lots of oscillation. The latter, I think is just PRACTICE but the Witch's Hat stabilization is the key and it is driving me crazy. That's why I (so far) have been making approaches <70 degrees as I seem to be able to stabilize the witch's hat there and use a last minute correction to ease down. TOTALLY not by the book, I realize, but I will work toward that once I get some confidence that I can control things throughout the process.

So a little thread resurrection because I didn't want to start a new one when this seemed an appropriate place. I wanted to ask about Harrier Trimming on low speed approach for STOL or Rolling Vertical landings (and pure Vertical as well). I am used to the Hornet where i can trim to on speed AOA and adjust altitude with throttle and make small lateral corrections without messing up the trim. In the Harrier, it seems that I cannot seem to get a stable trim position, like getting Witches Hat on the Horizon while manipulating the velocity vector and altitude. I realize there are a lot more forces at play at slow speeds with nozzle changes, so I don't expect it to be exactly like the Hornet, but hoping there are some best practices. So, I am making an approach at around 60-70 knots with nozzles at ~65 degrees with witches hat near the horizon (maybe a few degrees down) and the velocity vector on the runway or deck. As I get closer, I rotate the nozzles to about 75-80 degrees to slow further, and try for a hover transition and despite trim and/or stick input the witches hat and the nose pitch wildly up leaving me totally screwed. I'd love to blame my aging Cougar, but I think the problem is the brain behind the HAND and not the Throttle and Stick. As an aside, I wish there was a HOVER STOP for 81-82 degrees. I use the Antenna Elevation rotary on my throttle for Nozzles and have ruined some otherwise good approaches by over rotating the nozzles to 90+ degrees so that instead of a nice touchdown, I get pitched up and start flying/rolling backwards. Like in the attached TRK. Not a pretty approach, but it got there. This was the AV8B Instant Action Carrier Landing mission which starts way too high, hence the initial mad dive to the deck to set up the approach with a slightly better altitude above the deck. Av8B Rolling TarawaLanding.trk

I did not know that..... thanks!! NOW I know why it was blinking.. I usually put the hook down when entering the pattern, but when I take off and immediately turn downwind, I often forget the hook.

Just wondering why there is no HOOK indicator on the HUD, and the COMMS with the LSO never includes a "LOWER YOUR HOOK" in the event that it is not down or didn't deploy. Nothing more frustrating than boltering because I never put the Hook down. Not to mention the DOWNCHECK for failing to follow the checklist. I realize that the Hornet cockpit is a much smaller place than it seems in my 2D monitor representation, so possibly the HOOK handle position and indicator is more than enough of a reminder to the absent minded pilot. Seems like the kind of warning indication that would be useful.

Sorry for the delayed response. I finally got to check this out. Thanks! Looking much better now. Oddly enough, the experience I had that led to the original post might have been some kind of glitch, as since then, even before optimization, the symbology is looking much brighter/clearer. Maybe I had selected Night Mode instead of DAY mode and never noticed. In any case, looking good now. Thanks again for your reply!

So I have finally decided to play with the NIGHT ATTACK capability. First trying to use NAVFLIR and TPOD (vs. NVG). I am finding that the symbology in the TPOD is very hard to read, including the CROSSHAIR which makes targeting a little problematic. Tried messing with the SYM switch as well as the Brightness, Gain, Day/Night switches and using various settings for the other cockpit lighting. Still very hard to read the symbology overlays. Other DDI's are also kind of hard to read, but the TPOD page is the worst, and the crosshair visibility is really needed. Am I missing something obvious? Thanks in advance!

Yeah, me too! I bought the Hornet and SuperCarrier (and SU-33 which I already had from FC3) as a bundle on a really good sale. The only way I noticed this is playing MP with a friend who didn't have Supercarrier and hosted so the Stennis replies were different than the ones you get with SuperCarrier.

It's so funny what we get used to. The A-10C was the first module I bought (after FC3) and I never fly it because the switchology was incomprehensible with all the SHORTS and LONGS and SPIs. I use a COUGAR so, the missing switches (China Hat etc.) had to be compensated for. The Hornet and Harrier were, by contrast easy to come to grips with, though, especially in the Harrier, it took a lot of attention to follow the NEW procedures that have come with each update ( EHSD Designate, TPOD and JDAM changes) but I still find it a lot more straightforward than the A-10C given my VERY limited attention to learning it. I did find that learning the Hornet helped with the Harrier, though there are some really distinct differences in how the avionics work. Sorry for the digression, but Vakarian explained it well. One clarification, once you hand off to the Maverick (IRMV showing) you need TDC ACTION to lock the target as Vakarian said. The SSS has different functions whether the DMT is active or the TPOD is the active sensor: When you are in TPOD DES mode, and do 2X SSS Action, you will see TV or INS show up in the TPOD depending on the last sensor, SSS Forward now commands IRMV as it would from the DMT. I believe the table below represent the current functions

Only if you own SuperCarrier, and, for MP, the person running the server in MP owns SuperCarrier as well. Without SuperCarrier, you only get something like a generic Airfield ATC (which is actually wrong).

According to a post by Razbam_ELMO, some time ago on the BUGS forum: "Note: the MK20 CBU in PRI fuse mode will open and release the bomblets at 1500FT ASL while the OP fuze will open up at 1500FT AGL."

Thanks! Will keep at it. Interestingly, I realize that I read that book (back in 2012 sometime) and I remember NOTHING about it. Maybe time for a re-read. I recently read AV-8B Harrier II Units of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Combat Aircraft Book 90) Kindle Edition by Lon Nordeen (Author), Jim Laurier (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DPPTM2S/ which was another good read. Mainly dumb bombs used (Mk 82, 83 and Rockeyes).

LOL If I could manage that much I would consider the mission a total success Great report!

Usually it gives you a reason for the abort. In my case, it usually happens when I am too far abeam of the ship. In those cases, I usually continue on to the smashing into the fantail perfect 3 wire landing just for the practice. I will often stay in the downwind longer than the Rules allow to give me more time. I don't recall if that aborts the landing or just warns you to turn in sooner.

That's a good idea. They seem to burn pretty well even from splash damage, and I was expecting them to EVENTUALLY explode and register as destroyed, but no such luck. If I can't get a good Damage Percentage to represent NON MISSION CAPABLE, I'll set the extra triggers. Most of them had at least their tail rotors blown off and a good part of the main rotors shredded so it wouldn't be cheating

Thanks for all the insight. Not just me seeing issues with A/C on the ground. For sure they are not indestructible, but it seems to take a LASER PRECISE hit from a Mk 82 class to DESTROY them. I changed the mission success criteria to having them all damaged 60% or greater. Thinking this will allow a one pass salvo of GBU-38 to do the job.

So, I have noticed that GBU-12 seem to do more damage than GBU-38 despite being the same warhead. Possibly this is due to precision of impact point, but in a mission trying to destroy Mi-8's on the ground, I am finding that no matter how precisely the GBU-38 seems to hit, I can't DESTROY the unit with one shot, where a GBU-12 does the job instantly. Both provide a good deal of Splash damage to adjoining units. The attached TRK is a quick demonstration, though hardly optimized and crappy flying too. - First attack with GBU-12. Destruction. - Second attack with GBU-38 which SEEMS to hit the impact point well. (I launched before it was fully aligned... but it hit the aim point and was properly fuzed, so it shouldn't be an issue) I targeted the point where the HELO meets the ground on a unit that seemed to have gotten less splash from the GBU-12. DAMAGE. - Third attack with GBU-38 on already damaged unit. Full destruction. I've tried with GBU-32, and the heavier warhead definitely scores a kill. Have successfully used GBU-38 against other targets (vehicles, small structures) and definitely gotten kills. Something about parked helos and aircraft that always seem more resistant to GBU-38 for me. GBU38 vs GBU12.trk

Is there a PLAT CAM without Supercarrier? I think that is the issue. Without Supercarrier, Stennis comms are like airfield direction. Oops never mind, I think there is still an LSO view from the deck..

I have noticed this as well. Since I own the SC module, I get SC directions from the Stennis. When I fly MP with a Host that doesn't own Super Carrier, the Stennis give airfield - like directions as shown earlier in this thread. I made a post on it which was moved to the DCS top level forum.

Thanks! I will download the latest. I don't think he specifically explained the F10 Check in functionality. I assumed it was part of the CTLD script but maybe not. I have put in F10 menus in the Mission Editor for simple things like Spawning units, but i never actually messed with MIST or CTLD so don't quite know how they work together. Anyway, thanks again for a nice Practice Mission.

Hey, thanks for this mission. Just getting into it. So far only flew Range 1 CTLD JTAC. Just wondering... in this tutorial on setting up CTLD JTACS, it seems you can get Comms via the F10 menu, but that option is missing in your mission. I will have to watch the tutorial again to see if I can retrofit it in. Auto Lasing and Subtitle confirmations work fine, so no big deal. Just an observation. Kind of an old video, so maybe things have changed.

Ok thanks, that helps! When I was doing the FLIR "handoff" I was concerned that the HUD Mode still showed RDR, but I see that is expected. I had been losing FLIR track when the Radar Gimballed out, but I couldn't seem to switch to PTRK without dropping the lock completely. Will give it another shot. Thanks, this is the way I was trying to do it, I was losing track in the trackless ocean once the target was unlocked. Have to be quicker, I guess. Appreciate the help!!

So I'm not sure how you are doing the handoff. Whenever I try it, I get the same issues described above, either the track snaps back to radar track, or if I move the cursor too far off, I can't get back to the little ship in the big ocean. Maybe I'm missing the obvious. And... no I am not going to solo any heavily armed ships. The Corvette's are just dangerous enough to require caution, but pretty safe with enough standoff or altitude. The cargo ships I have seen (default placement on PG map) are all static, so no problem there. It's the movers that make it hard to PTRK when dropping radar lock.

YES THIS!! Keep the tips coming! I experienced this annoying phenomenon last night. My favorite thing about the SEA mode is picking up the ships which used to be a pain to Point Track especially when you started getting in range of SAM and AAA. I have a practice mission with a Tarantul-3 (Molniya) Corvette. Never fires SAMS but the AAA is devastating if you get too close and too low. (ask me how I know ). Once I point track it with FLIR, I soften it up with some Mavericks, then drop a pair of GBU-12 on it. Getting the point track is often frustrating as I have to get close enough to use VVSLV to get near enough. SEA radar is great...for the AGM-65E and F, but whenever i would try for a GBU drop, I would have to get outside the Radar cone and lose the radar and thus laser lock JUST before Impact. Tried the GRIPES method, but it is harder to find the target again when you have slewed the FLIR far enough away on the featureless ocean. Any ideas? (for translating SEA FTT to FLIR Point Track, that is...) HARPOONS would work, and actually 4 AGM-65F do the job pretty well also, but it would be a generally GOOD THING to conveniently and consistently hand off to the FLIR.

I'll try it with some wind. Surely there must be someone here without SuperCarrier who has experienced ATC from the Stennis and can confirm? I have to admit that i was dubious about SuperCarrier at first, but the bundle with F/A-18 was too good to pass up. Now I can't imagine launching without the deck crew's assistance

I've only experienced it in that one mission (when run on a server by a Non-Supercarrier owning host). It DOES seem like the ATC is considering the runway as having two directions. It occurs every time in THAT mission. There is actually NO wind setup in that mission (I probably should rectify that...so there is some wind over the deck..) I will have to setup another one and have him host to check comms. When I watched Matt Wagner's old video, the Carrier ATC did give the "runway" in accordance with the correct Carrier orientation.