STBY HUD MODE & the depressible pipper: how to get a WWII-style gunsight in A-10C

I worked for many days trying to figure out how to configure the A-10's HUD to resemble a Second World War fighter's reflector sight, so now that I've discovered how, I've created two demonstration videos on how to do so, in case anyone else wants to use a minimalist gunsight and/or have a low-clutter HUD.

One is a comprehensive tutorial which also explains some general things about using the HUD and the depressible pipper; the other is a "TL;DR" version for those who want the quick and simple method, without all of the details.

Full version:

"Lite" version:

By the way, there is no modifying of any game files involved--all configuring is done from within the virtual cockpit, either while sitting on the tarmac or else while flying.

If I've made any errors in any of my explanations in the video, then please correct me with all speed.

What do you mean by 'depressible pipper'? I don't quite understand the term in context.

Pretty nifty either way though!

The depressible pipper is the HUD pipper which you can move up and down with the DEPR switch on the UFC (the panel with buttons just below the HUD). When HUD is in NORM mode, the depressible pipper is the one comprised of a dot with a broken circle surrounding it; as the video shows, this is not always displayed. When HUD is in STBY mode, the depressible pipper is the only pipper available, although it looks different in STBY mode than it does in NORM mode. It's the large solid circle with a dot; you can't miss it. It is always displayed when the HUD is in STBY mode (assuming the HUD is functioning properly and is being provided with power).

By the way, watch out for the following bug (at least, I think it's a bug) regarding the STBY mode: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=93568 Edit: found a workaround for this problem; simply turn the IFFCC off and then back on again.

I dont understand why you would do that.

As shown in the video, there is no reason at all.

The depressible pipper and backup HUD are used for manual weapon delivery, but you need the correct MIL depression values which are provided by the mission planning software. Something that us simmers don't have access to.

Although there are examples of manual delivery profiles out there should you really want to try and learn such things.

Here's what I posted in another thread (in which I originally began to explain the process):

I use it for air-to-air gunnery with the cannon. The reason I use the STBY depressible pipper is that there is absolutely no HUD clutter. When I lead a target in a dogfight, I'm looking at the target and not the pipper. This is even true when I fire. I focus on the target, and I see the pipper out of the corner of my eye (so to speak--it isn't that far away even when leading at high speeds and deflections). If the HUD is cluttered, e.g. air-to-air mode (all those dots around the pipper, and the HUD ladder, oh my!), then I can't very well see the pipper out of the corner of my eye. Hence STBY mode.

Now, I'll concede, this pipper is not ideal for firing at a straight-and-level target, without tracers. At medium and far ranges, I find it somewhat difficult to get consistent hits against non-maneuvering targets without wasting ammunition. However, against a maneuvering target, and/or with tracers, it works great. I regularly get air kills with a one-second burst, and seldom miss during dogfights.

why don't you simply use the AA gun mode?

-you don't have to calculate the impact-point on the fly.

-you have no piper that is covering your target

See my previous post--too much clutter on HUD. I can't quite tell out of the corner of my eye which of those myriad green fuzzies is my gunsight, when I'm maneuvering to bring the target towards the sight. I focus on the target, not the sight--just like when pistol or rifle shooting in the real world.

Also--and this is a separate reason--I like manually calculating lead rather than letting a flight computer do it for me. Same reason I prefer guns to missiles. I would much rather fly a fighter from the Second World War era than fly a modern aircraft. (It took me years to learn to calculate lead effectively, since I'm very bad at mathematics and most related activities; however, I'm very glad now that I spent all that effort learning to.)

Naturally, my method of doing things isn't necessarily the most effort-efficient way; if it were, the real USAF would doubtless use an old reflector sight instead of the HUD. However, I wanted for a long time to have this gunsight on my virtual A-10, and for weeks I thought it wasn't possible. I found out more or less by accident, and I thought that there might be a few others who would enjoy having this sort of gunsight. Hence my tutorial. I'm not trying to convince anyone to use it; it's only there for those who want it.

Here's a 44-second video showing one of my gun kills while using the STBY gunsight during a dogfight:

I dont understand why you would do that.

Such a thing is a backup, F-16 has a similar sight that can be used for dropping bombs and the gun.:joystick:

There is most likely tables to use that sight for gun, rocket and bomb delivery.