Help with straffing using A-10 cannons

[Zoltar]

Hi Guys..I am trying to graduate on A-10. I have figured out landing and trimming. Now giving shot to straffing with GAU cannon. But i am not getting it. Here is what happens.

 

1. I begin to dive towords the APA convoy standing on the road from @ 3500 m.

2. I zoom in the HUD so that i can see things big and aim the piper properly.

3. I try to put the piper on the left most vehicle as i am approching the target at 90 deg.

4. I then pull up and right so that i have a swipe across the convoy.

 

The problem is simple. I can't perform steps 3 and 4 as the A-10 attitude is not stable in dive. The piper keeps wobbling up and down and i miss the range. I can't trim as it takes some time to trim the a/c and not possible in dive. (my guess :cry: might be wrong). If you guys want i can post a track for the same. Please help. Thanks

 

Thanks.

[NotiA10]

Zoltar,

 

Dont know exactly how u try to do it but remember that it also depends what type of vehicles you are trying to strafe. for example a strafe on tanks is completely uneffective. different again with soft armourd targets. i uploaded a track some time ago regarding this the link is here http://lockon.co.uk/index.php?end_pos=1397&scr=user_tracks&lang=en

 

(file is called demo 3 1.trk)

 

 

wbr

:pilotfly:

NotiA10

[dynamocl]

Practise practise practise. Not being able to trim is a major disadvantage, again practise this.

 

The main thing, as you assumed, is to keep the piper steady on the target, long enough to release a controlled burst. For the time being forget about "spraying the convoy as you pull up", this won't be very effective, and I find only works in films like Rambo. You will need to "step" the pull up to have controlled bursts on each vehicle.

 

"Spray and pray" will just waste ammo, and give very poor results.

[dodger42]

I find rudder very useful for getting things lined up.

[Ironhand]

...The problem is simple. I can't perform steps 3 and 4 as the A-10 attitude is not stable in dive. The piper keeps wobbling up and down and i miss the range. I can't trim as it takes some time to trim the a/c and not possible in dive. If you guys want i can post a track for the same. Please help. Thanks.

A track would be helpful.

 

Here's a quick track of a strafing run (V1.12a): A-10 Strafing 101. There's no voiceover but I added some explanatory text.

 

For me, the biggest boost to accuracy is speed control. If you are reasonably well trimmed (it doesn't have to be perfect), you'll have much more succcess if you aren't accelerating rapidly in the attack run. I usually suggest throttling back and extending the speed brakes. In a steeper dive you'll still accelerate but it'll be much slower and you won't be fighting the stick to keep your nose down.

 

If your pipper is bobbing up and down--though your nose isn't--the problem is not trim. Instead, the problem is that the pipper is traveling over uneven ground. You'll have a very difficult time with accuracy, if that's the case. If the target is on a road, lining up with the road running under your nose will make your life easier.

 

BTW, the targets in the track are "soft" targets, so it doesn't take much to kill them. As NotiA10 notes, tanks would take many more rounds to kill, though they'll take fewer rounds to kill if you attack from the rear.

 

NotiA10,

 

I tried to download your track several times but the link yields a file with 0 KB.

 

Rich

[Shaman]

When you master the A-10 gun, try gunnin ground targets with Su-25 or Su-25T, it's much more cooler because of AFM and real ballistics.

[Cosmonaut]

The thing to remember when attacking ground targets is to get lined up correctly so you have enough time to get set for a good run in. A lot of times you have the urge to pull hard around way to soon and end up very close to the target making you rush around the cockpit trying to get the pipper lined up.. This kind of attack can look like you’re performing an Air display for the convoy you’re shooting at ;). A real A10 pilot will have enough time to get a good burst off then break before he fly’s over the target he was shooting, so he doesn’t risk flying into his own bullets. Try to take more time in lining up for a good burst by flying far enough away from convoy so you give yourself time to line up for the shot and dive for cover before your next run in.

[NotiA10]

Rich

 

i e-mailed you the track

 

Dynamo

 

i completely agree with you that by strafing you waste a lot of ammo. However, under certain circumstances, where time over the target area is limited due to for example aproaching enemy fighters, a quick and precise strafing run (on soft targets !!!) may be the only and best option (naturally only if you are out of clusters).

 

wbr

:pilotfly:

NotiA10

[GGTharos]

Hi Zoltar,

 

When you want to strafe the entire convoy, come up head-on or tail-on (tail on prefferable) and take the convoy with fire.

 

About your stability problems: You can help a little by doing things that will keep your speed stable - reduce thrust for example ... then you have less stick play to do to keep the pipper on target. Your other option is to strafe the single target, ie. rak him withfire, starting from the ground a bit before him, ending on the ground a bit behind, thus bracketing the target. Also remember that once you fire, recoil decreases your speed slightly and thus the pipper might dip. Therefore it may be helpful to allow the nose to -slowly- be pulling up, and you fire once the pipper's on target or a moment before. Done just right, the reduction in speed from the gun might cause the pipper to stabilize on target.

 

Another technique that'll give you some success is to strafe from some 10000' with a 45-deg dive. You have to do this one quickly, of course - in case you're having doubts, A-10's had to do this for real ;)

[hitman]

Make sure your alt-hold is not turned on because that is almost what this sounds like.

[Guest IguanaKing]

In addition to all the great advice you're already getting, strike hard, fast, and get out. Don't get target fixated and overfly the column, even the guns on the trucks can render you combat ineffective if you get too close. Also, if there are any BMPs or BRDMs in the column, be even more cautious about keeping your distance and don't attack from the front. The cannon on those can really hurt you if you present yourself as a target for very long. Granted, they're not as dangerous as a Shilka, but they can still hurt you pretty badly.

[Ironhand]

Rich

 

i e-mailed you the track...

 

NotiA10

Thanks. Just watched it. Impressive!!! :)

 

Rich

[Zoltar]

Hi guys. Your advice is invaluable. Thanks for sharing! I thank you Ironhand for the track.

 

NotiA10 can you send me your track on following email niranjan.marathe@gmail.com

 

Thanks.

[Zoltar]

Thanks Ironhand and NotiA10. The tracks made by you are very impressive and informative. Only thing I am not able to get properly yet is lining up with the column. I make a pass over the column score 2 - 3 hits and break away. I generally loose the column especially playing Ironhands track. Do you guys remember the heading or something like that to again line up properly? Please let me know.

 

Thanks.

[NotiA10]

Hi Zoltar,

 

how are u going with your strafing now ?

 

anyhow, dont know how the others do it but i for myself use landmarks like roads plus i try to remember the heading and i always try to keep my eyes on the targets constantly checking were they are. Keeping your eyes on it is the best method if it is possible.

 

hope it helps mate,

 

wbr,

:pilotfly:

NotiA10

[Guest IguanaKing]

Yup. Use landmarks and always pay attention to your heading when you make your first pass. You can also use the zoom feature, since RL A-10s usually have a pair of 12X binoculars in the pit. ;)

[Ironhand]

...I generally loose the column especially playing Ironhands track. Do you guys remember the heading or something like that to again line up properly? Please let me know.

Depends on how easy it is to track the target(s). I use everything everyone has mentioned so far, depending on the situation. I'll make note of my initial heading. I might glance down at the HSI. But I also try to keep my eyes on the target area. In my track, I knew the targets were on the valley road. One road. One valley. So it wasn't nearly as difficult to keep their location fixed as it would be if they were out on the flat lands with multiple roads and similarly colored fields to confuse things.

 

Rich

[Zoltar]

Thanks Guys. After some more practice i am able to line up (fairly) with the remaining of the target. I have developed a pattern. This is based on the "Run in and Break" landing track posted by Chriss Warren on Ironhand's site. Attached is the pattern schematic. Please suggest improvements if any.

 

Thanks.

[Disso]

All the comments in this thread are invaluable, and exactly what I've come to experience in my own flying, great job!

 

I generally loose the column especially playing Ironhands track. Do you guys remember the heading or something like that to again line up properly? Please let me know.

 

TrackIR, TrackIR, TrackIR.

 

After making the run, and as I pull up and bank away, I NEVER take my eyes off the target, other than for quick glances at intruments are the surrounding area. I use my rotary switch and zoom out to the max, and as I turn up and around, the target is always sound in my sites, my eyes transfixed on it as I use peripheral vision to bank around and re-align. I never needed to actually check the target heading as mentioned above...just keeping your eyes on it does the trick.