Reaper6

This may be the case if my Vikhr actually hits them. But before my Vikhr hits them? It would also give a kill message, which never shows. At least for me this has happened nearly every time I've engaged a Blue Heli. I would however see "player" disconnected message sometimes. Either this is on purpose or maybe problems with connection(highly doubtful if it is happening nearly every time). It's mostly just a waste of a Vikhr, but oh well. I was really just wondering why they were doing this. Reaper6

Well no I am not trolling, and no I don't need confirmation. But let me try and put it in a better perspective for you. Imagine if every pilot during BlueFlag did this. So the only kills you would ever receive would be ground targets, because they can't disappear into thin air. Would kind of take the fun out of being a fighter pilot, wouldn't it? Reaper6

But my question is why? If my missile is inbound or you have already been hit by a Vikhr. You can't wait for the kill before you go into spectator? I'm not really talking about looking around in spectator, I'm fine with that. I'm talking about when I am looking thru my Shkval and tracking a Vikhr in... POOF! they dissapear and went into spectator slot. Reaper6

I actually tested this theory everyone had with me not flying and instead "driving" around on roads. I actually tried this using different speeds in the Ka50 (20, 40, 60, 80 kmh). All of those speeds resulted in the same outcome. You will recieve a betty message calling engine vibration. One engine will catch on fire(I'm assuming because of dust, even though I had dust prot on) and eventually the second engine will suffer the same fait. This happens generally after trying to drive any longer then a few minutes. This will also occur if you are flying below 5m AGL, tested speeds from 20-290kmh. Reaper6

I'm actually just asking why they do this? Maybe frustration, I'll go with that one. Reaper6

Not true at some take-offs from FARPs, from what I've been told. Reaper6

I was always wondering why Blue side Helis kept going spectator either right when I launched at them or before they hit the ground after I hit them? Maybe someone can shed some light on this? Do you not loose a life this way or? Reaper6

I guess if your definition of random is everyday at the same time, then you would be correct sir... Reaper6

Although I do like night missions, Is there a way you can push them forward in the time line? Usually the morning(for me) is when most of the Red is on, and generally it's night missions. Reaper6

The laser range finder / laser designator mode toggle “ЛД-ЛДП” switch is located directly below the HSI and is set to the “ЛД” laser range finder position by default. [LSHIFT + O] When set to the “ЛДП” laser designator position, the laser can be used to designate targets for weapons such as the Kh-25ML, Kh-29L or laser bombs. The Ka-50 can search for a target and illuminate it for 20 seconds by a second press of the ENTER key. This switch does not affect “Vikhr” employment. Now if ED would just give is the laser code! Reaper6

Most certainly, I'm always looking for a good wingman in BlueFlag. Reaper6

ABRIS Options I probablly should have covered this prior to lines/points, and you may or may not find this useful. Before adding lines, waypoints, or any other data to ABRIS you will want to setup some of the "OPTIONS" of ABRIS. Setting up options in ABRIS is fairly simple and can be done quickly while your Shark is starting up. When your ABRIS has completed its power up/testing cycle, you will find yourself in the "MENU" page. 1) Select FSK1 "OPTION" to navigate to the "OPTION" page, I have circled in yellow on left ABRIS screeen shot(I have combined two ABRIS screenshots into one). The right ABRIS screenshot shows you the OPTION page. I have circled in yellow "TRACK/HEADING" for information purposes. You will have two types of heading readouts in ABRIS. one being "TRUE" and the other being "MAG". Default is always TRUE North, but your mechanical guages in the Ka50 cockpit will read MAGnetic North. There are 3 types of north; Grid, True, Magnetic. But this is a lesson for a later date. Once you have arrived on the OPTION page, select FSK1 "SETUP" which will bring up the sub-menu options. We want to select the "UNITS" sub-page. 2)This will bring you to the UNITS sub-page, you will notice top left it has the current page as OPTION and right below it UNITS. Letting you know you are in the UNITS sub-page of OPTIONS. Here you can change your LAT/LON from "Degrees Minutes and Seconds"(Default), to "Degrees and Decimal Minutes". This is easier for you to get coordinates from ABRIS and enter them into your PVI(without needing to do math to convert the two). To change between the two options you can press the FSK4 "CHANGE", or simply press the ABRIS axis enter.You must change each (Latitude and Longitude) seperatley. 3) Next you may want to change some of the options for your ABRIS map. For BlueFlag generally people are using MGRS(Military Grid Reference System) to announce coordinates. If you're not familiar with map reading using MGRS, I will try and cover this later down the road. We want to start off by selecting the FSK1 "SETUP", and scrolling the sub-menu to "CHARTS" and pressing the ABRIS axis enter. This brings you to the "CHARTS SETUP" sub-page, from here you are able to add or remove the different objects displayed on the ABRIS map. We want to display MGRS gridlines on our map instead of Lat/Lon lines. Circled in yellow on right ABRIS screen shot are these two options, you will have to scroll all the way down the Charts Setup page to see these options. I don't know how to type Russian, but the top one circled is Lat/Lon and the bottom "UTM CETKA" is MGRS(UTM being Universal Transverse Mercator). 4) Here we have changed the options of the Grid lines in the ABRIS map to be MGRS/"UTM CETKA by changing it from a "-" to a "+". We also change the one above Lat/Lon from a "+" to a "-". Now you notice on the right screenshot we have the ABRIS map. It is displaying Lat/Lon coordinates in "Degrees and Decimal Minutes", circled in yellow at the bottom. And you will also see the MGRS lines on the map, also circled in yellow. The grid square identifier is a bit hard to read in ABRIS, but you get the idea. I have also circled in yellow the top portion of ABRIS, where it has "TRK 139o T. If we had changed the type of North to MAGnetic, the "T" to the right of 139o would be replaced by "M". Hope this helps a little in setting up your ABRIS. Doesn't take much time, and I think at least for me in BlueFlag is very helpful. Reaper6

You're very welcome, and thank you for your kind words. Reaper6

I didn't get any screenshots for the tip-of-the-day. But I would actually like to start getting some "gun cam"/Shkval footage in the future if anyone has experience doing that to help me out? I think if I actually got video of cockpit footage people might get nauseous from the amount of head movement I am doing. But I do have one note for BlueFlag and the Ka50 refueling at FARPs. Since it is not possible to refuel by regular means because of some bug with the fuel trucks. If you capture a new FARP and don't want to respawn or can't because people have already taken the slots. Request all 4 pylons be outfitted wit drop tanks, switch on both internal and external hardpoint fuel pumps on. This will fill your internal tanks, slowly but better than flying hundreds of Km again. Once full request normal rearming, and you're all set! I don't think this is cheating? Because you would normally be allowed to refuel at FARPs, it's just bugged! Reaper6

Your GCI has a potty mouth lol! Great video, great kill. Good learning experience for myself and adjustment of tactics to prevent this scenario in the future. Reaper6

Has there been any update planned for this? I liked when Janes LongBow had this modeled and the wiper actually wiped the rain away. Would be a added challenge using the Shkval and flying in adverse weather conditions. Reaper6

Then Huey pilots have to give up their precious mini-guns :) I would recommend stay with guns... Reaper6

That video you are showing is from the Ka50N, and is showing the Thermal image. TV lines are limited with thermal imagining, and range is of course decreased. ALso just to note, the target boards stand out like they are because of thermal blankets/tape. Also used at target ranges in the U.S. Reaper6

You're a better man than I then. If red ever organizes that many aircraft at one time, I believe we would steam roll the entire map. And I would be happy to participate in the carnage :) Reaper6

Just tell your people to stop flying so high in those Helis, and then it will be harder for me to spot them :) Hueys have the capability to carry rockets don't they? Reaper6

I think when you press an attack with 30 pilots, there really isn't a need for seasoned pilots or tactics. Not a whole lot red could have done during these scenarios, other than sit back and take as many with you as possible. Reaper6

I have never seen an actual Shkval up close, but have seen it in YouTube videos. It seems to be pretty high resolution from what I've seen? It's not an easy task spotting air or ground targets at 40-50km, but not impossible. Ground targets not so much, but seeing something pretty much a dot in the sky of nothing is somewhat easy. Blue also tends to fly their Helis at around 100-200m AGL for some reason, not sure what that's all about... Reaper6

We have been practicing this during this testing round. I think Red is developing a lot better tactics for the Mi8 pilot survivability. I also have been doing some flight hours in the Mi8 to better understand. I think before I just thought they could pretty much do things the Ka50 could do and left it at that. Also integrating them into the Attack plan is a great step forward, especially with more units at airfields. It also gives them something to kill other than just flying around dropping things off everywhere. Reaper6

I guess in a way I do depend on my 1950s TV technology lol. Nothing against Blue but I think Red is more into tactics than Blue. We most of the time have to because of the numbers(Not to bring that crappy topic up again). I have never flown Blue so I am no expert what they do over there. They just seem to have more unseasoned pilots than Red has. Reaper6

Usually they are covering an area outside the Battle area, do to SAMs and especially Vaziana where there will be no less than 6 AI. Most of the time I prefer CAP not be around me, and allow me to maintain the element of surprise. Reaper6