AV-8B Harrier Thread

[Snacko]

Thank you Sephyrius!! I love understanding the theory and why of what I'm learning. That is good info! Cheers mate!

[uscstaylor]

I would just make it a habit to use it accordingly, Muscle memory sort to speak, The aircraft systems know when to use the H2O if needed, but remember to turn it off when not needed in flight....Just my 2 cents

[Nealius]

Couple quick questions:

 

The manual just says to set the Water . . . AS REQUIRED, when taking off.

I assume H2O switch should be up to TO (Takeoff)? Always, not 'As Required'?

 

When do you set the Flaps to Auto or Cruise? VTOL is for takeoff and landing, but what are the situations for Auto or Cruise?

It also says 'Check flaps at approximately 62°'. Is that STOL, and how do you check that angle?

 

Thanks!

 

Most of the flap/nozzle usage is detailed in the NATOPS manual. The Harrier has about 4 different types of takeoffs and 5 different types of landings, which are going to require different flap settings. Cruise Flaps are also apparently needed when refueling.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Most of what you put is fine, but I'll just add a bit more info to help.

 

Think of the water as a temporary "boost" to your engine. If you're at or close to (or over ;)) the weight restrictions of what you're doing, you'll want to use it to get that extra oomph. If you don't need it, well, then you don't need it.

 

Personally if I don't need it I enable it and then keep the throttle below the point where it kicks in (a "W" lights up on the HUD and front-right panel when it's active) because it's good to have it ready if anything goes wrong.

 

Eventually we'll get an MFD page 'VREST' that will take all the guess work out of this. It calculates the maximum weights we can perform each type of takeoff/landing (with and without water) as well as instantaneous gross weight so you can see if you're over/underweight for each.

 

Same for landing, sometimes if you're doing a landing at a higher speed you'll get surprised by the VTOL flaps that kick in when you drop to a certain airspeed (and look quite silly as your aircraft starts gaining altitude rapidly), so you don't always want them.

 

VTOL flaps won't 'kick in'. With nozzles fully aft, if you move the flap switch to STO then flaps will only deploy to 25. If you leave the flaps in auto, as soon as you lower the gear the flaps will also deploy to 25 too, so either way your flaps are lowering. No need to fear the STO flap setting.

[Snacko]

Good to know. Looking forward to that MFD page. ;-)

[Fabion66]

Hello to all.

Yesterday there has been an appreciated upgrade to the Hornet through the Hotfix 3 in DCS Wordl 2.5. There I can read textually "Added EHSD Moving Map (Work-in-Progress)". I did the upgrade, after I played the Harried but the EHSD still doesn't have a moving map. When I click in EHSD page on the left "maps"..there is written "no map". Someone can help me to understand? Do I do something wrong ? thanks . Fabio

[VirusAM]

Hello to all.

Yesterday there has been an appreciated upgrade to the Hornet through the Hotfix 3 in DCS Wordl 2.5. There I can read textually "Added EHSD Moving Map (Work-in-Progress)". I did the upgrade, after I played the Harried but the EHSD still doesn't have a moving map. When I click in EHSD page on the left "maps"..there is written "no map". Someone can help me to understand? Do I do something wrong ? thanks . Fabio

It is work in progress.....that page is only a placeholder

 

Inviato dal mio ONEPLUS A5010 utilizzando Tapatalk

[Fabion66]

:thumbup:

It is work in progress.....that page is only a placeholder

 

Inviato dal mio ONEPLUS A5010 utilizzando Tapatalk

[Karon]

Hello to all.

Yesterday there has been an appreciated upgrade to the Hornet through the Hotfix 3 in DCS Wordl 2.5. There I can read textually "Added EHSD Moving Map (Work-in-Progress)". I did the upgrade, after I played the Harried but the EHSD still doesn't have a moving map. When I click in EHSD page on the left "maps"..there is written "no map". Someone can help me to understand? Do I do something wrong ? thanks . Fabio

 

Hotfix 3 patch notes for Harrier are outdated and refer to previous patches: the Moving Map MFD page has been introduced weeks ago and it hasn't been updated yet. Good news though, Hotfix 3 has introduced APs functionality for the Harrier, and they actually work quite well; I guess we'll see them mentioned in HF4's patch notes..

 

Also, as you said "Added EHSD Moving Map (Work-in-Progress)". Some stuff might work, some might not. If it ware working you should have found pics of it all over the place :)

[Fabion66]

Hotfix 3 patch notes for Harrier are outdated and refer to previous patches: the Moving Map MFD page has been introduced weeks ago and it hasn't been updated yet. Good news though, Hotfix 3 has introduced APs functionality for the Harrier, and they actually work quite well; I guess we'll see them mentioned in HF4's patch notes..

 

Also, as you said "Added EHSD Moving Map (Work-in-Progress)". Some stuff might work, some might not. If it ware working you should have found pics of it all over the place :)

 

Hello. Thanks for your kind answer first of all. But I didn't understand what you mean with "introduced APs functionality for the Harrier". What is the Aps functionality introduced? Auto Pilot maybe ? And where I can find it ?

 

Thanks

Fabio

[Esac_mirmidon]

Altitude Hold

[Fabion66]

Altitude Hold

:thumbup:Thank you. I tried and actually it works fine.... very nice.,.. actually is AFC before and then Alt + hold....

[Esac_mirmidon]

Right, i've missed the AFC switch.

 

Glad you like It.

[stalhuth]

getting better and better :)

[pimp]

What factors/criteria needs to be met to get solid crosshairs for CCIP? I tend to get the solid crosshairs inconsistently so I mostly drop my bombs on the dotted crosshairs, which is inaccurate. I try to fly straight/level with speeds between 450-550 knots.

[Nealius]

I've had good consistency getting a solid CCIP solution when bombing between 30-50°, so long as I retard the throttle to idle/near idle and apply forward stick to keep the FPM at a stable angle. Before rolling in for the attack run I'm usually around T450-460kts.

[pimp]

I've had good consistency getting a solid CCIP solution when bombing between 30-50°, so long as I retard the throttle to idle/near idle and apply forward stick to keep the FPM at a stable angle. Before rolling in for the attack run I'm usually around T450-460kts.

Thanks for the dive attack tips. I'll try that when practicing. What about level flight? I just don't understand whats needed for the solid crosshairs for level flight.

[shagrat]

Thanks for the dive attack tips. I'll try that when practicing. What about level flight? I just don't understand whats needed for the solid crosshairs for level flight.

Steady parameters for a couple seconds, for the ARBS to calculate... No time to look up the exact parameters in the NATOPS manual, but I'm sure they are in there.

The key is to fly a proper bomb triangle/approach and put the nose/velocity vector behind(!) the target and let the plane fly the crosshairs through the target after leveling out, instead of trying to make last seconds adjustments... Easier said than done, I know. ;)

[Nealius]

Definitely easier said than done. I'm having more trouble rolling out in the Harrier than I ever have with the Viggen or even the Warthog. So much inertia from the turn I end up rolling out sooner than I want.

[Sarge55]

Level bombing, my rule of thumb which works fine is 500' at 500 kts. Obviously terrain will dictate your approach.

[Fabion66]

:thumbup:

Level bombing, my rule of thumb which works fine is 500' at 500 kts. Obviously terrain will dictate your approach.

I'll try...

[Fabion66]

Hello to all.

As I 've read somewhere in the forum that the programmers need us in order to help us, I want to tell this: when I start the AV8B on the Tarawa with A/G ordnance such as GBU 12, a part of the AGL line (CCRP bombing) that doesn't work fine like in the A10C, if the flight path is correct, the gbu's work fine and they hit the targets. On the countrary, when I start the same mission with the same weather conditions and at the same time with an air to air configuration and after I land on the Tarawa asking to the ground crew an A/G configuration that inlcludes GBU 12, after the gbu's don't work. I tried to fly in the best way like when I start with A/G configuration ( Ialways use CCRP - Auto mode) but there is no way to hit the target(s). It seems that the gbu's don't see the laser and, as a conseguence, they fall down like dump bombs... Another thing....the Tarawa ship. It's able to take many hits from Kormoran and As20 antiship missiles without any result but at the same time the CiWS phalanx dont' shot to the incoming missiles. The ship seems "dead"... no effect from the missiles but also no reaction ..Did aAnyone noticed this or I am alone to have realized theese things? thanks for the support .... Bye Fabio

[Nealius]

How close to the target should the velocity vector be? For a while I was getting solid CCIP solutions without even trying, and now I can't seem to get a solid solution any more.

[shagrat]

How close to the target should the velocity vector be? For a while I was getting solid CCIP solutions without even trying, and now I can't seem to get a solid solution any more.

It is also depending on speed. If you go too fast it may cause problems.

In general the CCIP is calculated by the ARBS and this takes a couple seconds. So if you move the plane too much the ARBS needs to recalculate the solution.

So if the cross is solid it has a precise calculated solution, if it is dashed the solution is more an estimate.

[Nealius]

I'm probably too fast, with my aim-off point too far away from the target.