F/A-18 + centerline LANTIRN (real-world)

[SDsc0rch]

saw this video recently

 

 

i noticed they are mounting the LANTIRN pod on the centerline -

 

when i was deployed, i seem to remember stores weren't certified for carriage on the centerline when landing aboard the carrier

 

does anybody know if this has that changed?

 

or is this a marines-only thing? (ie.. since this sqn is ground-based it is permitted - ?)

 

(( hint-hint, ED - when we get the DCS hornet, sure would be nice if we could mount the LANTIRN to the centerline! ))

8)

[Eddie]

That's a LITENING pod, not LANTIRN.

 

But yeah, last I saw it was USMC operating from surface bases only (Navy are still using the ATFLIR pod). Haven't seen anything to suggest that has changed. Already possible for the AI Hornet.

[SDsc0rch]

ah - roger that

 

(i thought lightning pods had an angular front-end --- checked google, that's SNIPER..)

 

thx for the response

[Vampyre]

It's a Marine thing and like Eddie said only from land bases. The Litening pod is too heavy to hang on station 4 and would also require a specialized mount. We tested the both the Litening and Sniper plus the associated mounts on F/A-18's and AV-8B's at VX-9 while I was there. Station 5 was found to be a far better location for a targeting pod as there are fewer obstructions to impair the field of view of the pod, was fully capable of mounting any pod without risking damage to the airframe and the station was already capable of mounting stores that required MUX cable to use.

[SDsc0rch]

excellent

 

makes perfect sense (i take it station 4 is where you mount sparrows/slammers?)

 

 

i like that configuration - hopefully we'll get USMC hornets in DCS

: )

[SkateZilla]

excellent

 

makes perfect sense (i take it station 4 is where you mount sparrows/slammers?)

 

 

i like that configuration - hopefully we'll get USMC hornets in DCS

: )

 

Station 4 is the intake station, Sparrows, AAS38 and AAS38LTD on station 6, however AAS38 is being phased out.

[DUSTY]

And for those times where your tanker support is, well, not so supportive - A Litening pod on the left cheek station as seen here on Aussie Hornets:

 

 

 

Likely only used when ferrying the aircraft though as that pod's FOV would render it pretty useless.

[SkateZilla]

look left, drop tank, look right, drop tank..

 

I dont see the point of even mounting it, just leave it off and save drag / weight.

[Druid_]

Aussies only ever look down :music_whistling:

[Eddie]

I dont see the point of even mounting it

 

:doh:

 

Probably because you're thinking in terms of how most DCS players use targeting pods vice how they are most often employed in reality.

 

Not to mention, that could be a ferry configuration, for example. As is most often the case with three tank fits.

[DUSTY]

Haha, yeah guys I can confirm that is a ferry config as per my original post.

 

 

 

Aussies only ever look down :music_whistling:

 

Shots fired! :poster_ban:

[McBlemmen]

So if the TGP isn't on the centerline and not on the intake station , where would it be?

[DUSTY]

So if the TGP isn't on the centerline and not on the intake station , where would it be?

 

Those three stations are the only available for TGPs on the F/A-18.