Ka-50 Problems

[StormBat]

Hey everyone hope your all enjoying 1.5 as much as I am, It's brilliant!. Well I thought I would create a practice mission for the Black Shark so I did but when I went to play it I found two very important functions don't work. First is Lock Target (Trust me everything is armed and ready to go) and Second is Autopilot will not engage. I tried binding them to new keys but to no avail. I don't know if it's 1.5 in general or the last update. Anyone having the same issue? Other then that I love this new engine!

:pilotfly:

[Isegrim]

HI

 

Lock Target:> How is the Time/Weather setting? The Shkval locks Targets by Contrast so Time Weather plays a big role. Also Check target size and the IT-23 Monitors Brightness/Contrast settings.

 

Autopilot:

> How are you doing your startup? By Yourself or Auto?

> Check INU/INU Heat (Backpanel behind right Shoulder).

> Check AC Sys Generators left and right(Electric Panel).

> Check engine is not running on Idle (Press Picture up x2).

 

ISE

[StormBat]

HI

 

Lock Target:> How is the Time/Weather setting? The Shkval locks Targets by Contrast so Time Weather plays a big role. Also Check target size and the IT-23 Monitors Brightness/Contrast settings.

 

Autopilot:

> How are you doing your startup? By Yourself or Auto?

> Check INU/INU Heat (Backpanel behind right Shoulder).

> Check AC Sys Generators left and right(Electric Panel).

> Check engine is not running on Idle (Press Picture up x2).

 

ISE

 

The time is early morning and the sun is up and it's a clear day. When I press the Target Lock button it does give me the range it just won't lock.

 

As for Autopilot everything you asked is on and I always do my own start up. I've been flying the Ka-50 for months and even though I still can learn a lot from her I never had a problem with weapon systems or autopilot until now.

[Isegrim]

The First proplem is the Time iam sure of that.

 

You should try at 12.00 just to be sure.

 

For the second proplem it seems that i need a Track file.

I have no proplem with the AP here.

[majapahit]

no problem here / hotfix 2

[StormBat]

The First proplem is the Time iam sure of that.

 

You should try at 12.00 just to be sure.

 

For the second proplem it seems that i need a Track file.

I have no proplem with the AP here.

 

 

Okay I did that and it started working, which is really disheartening to tell you the truth. The mission I created has sunlight and I can see no problem. In other words the laser should be able to lock without problems. The targets are very visible on my helos monitor, don't even have to fiddle with contrast or anything. It sucks that I have to limit my mission to the noon time or when the sun is almost completely up. Either this needs to be fixed or the real Ka-50 is very limited in it's attack times. although I know it's the latter. Frustrating! I did get the autopilot working though and that's good.

Edited October 11, 2015 by StormBat

[ajax]

How far away are you from the targets? Depending on the light conditions, you may be too far away. On a bright, sunny day I can get a lock from about 10 km to 12 km. Early morning with the targets in shadow, sometimes I can only get a lock within 5 km to 6 km. Sometimes less, if foggy or rainy.

[StormBat]

How far away are you from the targets? Depending on the light conditions, you may be too far away. On a bright, sunny day I can get a lock from about 10 km to 12 km. Early morning with the targets in shadow, sometimes I can only get a lock within 5 km to 6 km. Sometimes less, if foggy or rainy.

 

 

About 4km in clear weather and sunny skies which is now a threat to me because they can see and attack me. I never seemed to have that problem before 1.5 came out.

[StormBat]

I just wanted to update this post and let you know It seems to have resolved it's self and all is working fine. Just did a night mission and took out some armor and Anti aircraft units at Batumi without any problems along with some buildings and parked aircraft/vehicles with rockets and cannons. :thumbup:

 

Although I didn't always get a lock with the Vikhr missiles but it would get direct hits where my laser was pointing anyway from up to 7.7clicks out. I suspect it wouldn't lock because it's night with poor light conditions. It was a little hard to see targets at first but I fiddled around with my contrast and brightness until I could see them fairly well. It was awesome! I'm sorry to hear that some of you are still having issues with this and I know it can be frustrating, I feel you brothers. Hope it will be resolved for you guys in the near future because when it works and it does what you want it to it's brilliant! Cheers all.:beer:

[solidGad]

Although I didn't always get a lock with the Vikhr missiles but it would get direct hits where my laser was pointing anyway from up to 7.7clicks out. I suspect it wouldn't lock because it's night with poor light conditions. It was a little hard to see targets at first but I fiddled around with my contrast and brightness until I could see them fairly well. It was awesome!

 

Sorry i am bumping an old thread but thought it better then making a new one. I came across this issue recently as well. Morning missions i cannot lock anything. What is the procedure for firing without a lock? Just keep the box on the target after firing?

 

Thanks!

[Yurgon]

What is the procedure for firing without a lock? Just keep the box on the target after firing?

 

Yup. Confirm the Laser standby - Off switch is in the standby position, set the Manual/Auto weapon control switch to the Manual position, aim Shkval at target and fire away. :thumbup:

 

(Not entirely sure if you need to get the range in manual mode, but it won't hurt to do so ;))

[solidGad]

Thanks Yurgon! I will give that a try tonight! :D Been doing the Georgian Oil War camapign and alot of the missions are on the morning and seem to give the Shkval fits!

 

Once more question....actually two...

 

1) Should I turn the laser off when not using it? I haven't been but read somewhere you can overheat the laser?

 

2) What's the procedure for anti-air? An MI-24 shot me down in my last mission. Wasn't sure how to engage him and with what.

 

Thanks!

[Yurgon]

1) Should I turn the laser off when not using it? I haven't been but read somewhere you can overheat the laser?

 

The laser can overheat, but not by just being on standby.

 

Laser ranging and laser illumination are the two things that heat up the laser (ranging happens automatically when you push the target lock button on the collective (“АВТ ЗАХВ” button. Toggles target acquisition and lock when using Shkval)). Try to do as little ranging as possible and you should be able to get at least one and a half loads of Vikhrs off (~18 missiles) before the laser starts to overheat.

 

I sometimes have difficulties to get a target lock. That's why my SOP is to set laser to off, lock up target (as often as I need to in order to get a solid lock), then set laser to standby and lock target again (which will also update the range to target).

 

When you range or engage a target, there's a countdown timer displayed in the HUD. Never ever range or engage anything before the timer has reached zero!

 

If the laser does overheat, there's a 30 minute cooldown period, and I think aircraft repair doesn't affect laser cooldown. You'll know the laser stops working when you can't get an updated range indication in the Shkval.

 

2) What's the procedure for anti-air? An MI-24 shot me down in my last mission. Wasn't sure how to engage him and with what.

 

I'm really bad at air-to-air engagements in choppers.

 

In theory, you have the advantage because your missiles are really fast (much faster than Hellfires, in case you need to go against Apaches) and have a longer range than most other anti tank missiles. Your 30mm cannon is also great for air-to-air engagements.

 

The problem is that you need to lock the enemy and keep him locked while you engage him with Vikhrs. And in order to do that, you need to see him before he sees you, which is pretty difficult because the AI sees everything.

 

My tactic in the GOW campaign was to run as fast as I could into friendly terrain and hope that the enemy would come in range of friendly air defenses, or break off the attack in order to avoid my AD.

 

It would be interesting to see if the new vehicle enlargement option could turn the odds in favor of human players, but I haven't flown the Black Shark in a long while.

[M1Combat]

Use the HMS, Padlock view (or TIR), and the button that makes the gun follow the HMS (can't remember the keyboard key).

 

Pull the trigger :).

 

My favorite thing in the KA50 is killing other choppers :).

[St3v3f]

Yup. Confirm the Laser standby - Off switch is in the standby position, set the Manual/Auto weapon control switch to the Manual position, aim Shkval at target and fire away. :thumbup:

 

(Not entirely sure if you need to get the range in manual mode, but it won't hurt to do so ;))

 

You should get a range first to ensure the laser fires long enough.

[solidGad]

Thanks guys. That worked great. Only missed 1 or 2 shots. UN Task Force 21 tanks falling back after a withering assault from Northern Union Ka-50 attack helicopters. :D

[Yurgon]

You should get a range first to ensure the laser fires long enough.

 

Good point!

 

Thanks guys. That worked great. Only missed 1 or 2 shots. UN Task Force 21 tanks falling back after a withering assault from Northern Union Ka-50 attack helicopters. :D

 

Giv'em hell! :devil:

[Nerd1000]

The laser can overheat, but not by just being on standby.

 

Laser ranging and laser illumination are the two things that heat up the laser (ranging happens automatically when you push the target lock button on the collective (“АВТ ЗАХВ” button. Toggles target acquisition and lock when using Shkval)). Try to do as little ranging as possible and you should be able to get at least one and a half loads of Vikhrs off (~18 missiles) before the laser starts to overheat.

 

I sometimes have difficulties to get a target lock. That's why my SOP is to set laser to off, lock up target (as often as I need to in order to get a solid lock), then set laser to standby and lock target again (which will also update the range to target).

 

When you range or engage a target, there's a countdown timer displayed in the HUD. Never ever range or engage anything before the timer has reached zero!

 

If the laser does overheat, there's a 30 minute cooldown period, and I think aircraft repair doesn't affect laser cooldown. You'll know the laser stops working when you can't get an updated range indication in the Shkval.

 

 

 

I'm really bad at air-to-air engagements in choppers.

 

In theory, you have the advantage because your missiles are really fast (much faster than Hellfires, in case you need to go against Apaches) and have a longer range than most other anti tank missiles. Your 30mm cannon is also great for air-to-air engagements.

 

The problem is that you need to lock the enemy and keep him locked while you engage him with Vikhrs. And in order to do that, you need to see him before he sees you, which is pretty difficult because the AI sees everything.

 

My tactic in the GOW campaign was to run as fast as I could into friendly terrain and hope that the enemy would come in range of friendly air defenses, or break off the attack in order to avoid my AD.

 

It would be interesting to see if the new vehicle enlargement option could turn the odds in favor of human players, but I haven't flown the Black Shark in a long while.

 

Improved vision doesn't help all that much. The problem is that AI controlled helis don't have hydraulics, instruments or weapon control systems. As a result they are able to fight at 100% effectiveness unless they take critical damage to structure, engines or pilot. Two direct Vikhr hits to a Mi-24 often won't even slow it down, and AI Ka-50s have little difficulty fighting after one. What I find particularly galling is that Ka-50s will still use the gun in gimballing mode (and perhaps the vikhrs as well) after their Shkval has been shot off.

[solidGad]

Hehe .so you're saying just avoid air to air combat for now?!

[BitMaster]

Battling another Helicopter is great but mind the Hueys that have door gunners.... ;)

 

I have hardly ever lost a chopper duell due to guys thinking they fly a airplane from the moment the A2A begins but forget they have a CHOPPA :)

 

There are no real guides for A2A in helicopters but I have found most rewarding to do the following, either or ..or combined...it depends:

 

Set Cannon to FIXED if you think you should mimic an airplane and follow the other guy.

YOu wont have to lock anything and get distracted by knobs and buttons.

 

Aim, Shoot & WIN

 

Often, when guys kept circling ( mostly hueys ) I took a standstill and watched that guy circling around me while I only had to yaw to follow him. A huey can hurt you bad this way, another Ka has no firing solution as long as it circles so you can lean back and even lock him with Shkval if you think it will work..or... use the straight locked cannon and nail him down.

 

I only had a few kills with Shkval with other Ka's forgetting their "Check Six" while aiming tanks. This is plain easy and you only have to watch your own six to not fall into the same pit. Other than that, a Vikhr will kill any other Ka that hovers blindly along...and not even listening to the LW !! Happened to me too, more than once..!

 

With a straight cannon and doing the opposite of my component I have won 90+% of all heli battles.

 

The only advice for dynamic manouivering is this: BE HIGHER !!! he can hardly shoot upward but you can shoot downward more easily = great advantage if you get lost in a furball and look for opportunities.

 

Other than that, when he starts flying around...hold, hover, aim, shoot :) they will most likely get hit while still trying to find you. You only need to stay ahead for a few seconds but use them.

[solidGad]

Great advice BitMaster! Thanks! :D

[BitMaster]

Great advice BitMaster! Thanks! :D

 

Ckeck Six :)