Low Level Flight Tutorial

[EricJ]

Been working on this for the past couple weeks, and while I still have more to go, just thought I'd "release" it so to get more input, corrections, from the community, and those maybe more familiar with the Su-25T, as I feel I'm not really too up to it (all that doggone Su-33 flying...) so to make it better.

 

http://562.50megs.com/LOMAC/Tutorials/LLF.rar

 

You will need Adobe PDF reader to view this file.

[GGTharos]

Don't take this the wrong way - I don't mean to be abrasive. I'm just drawn that way :D

 

This is okay I suppose if you're lone-wolfing it, at least until AFM comes to play ...

 

1. Flying with the throttle firewalled is fine when you're all alone and you don't have fuel/drag/turning issues due to say, AFM'ed ordnance.

It is absolutely /horrible/ when flying with a team, not to mention it is 100% not compatible with timing alterations required in a multiple-package environment and, when AFM for these aircraft comes around, flying with the throttle firewalled will cuase plenty of hill's disease as both your turning parameters become tighter -and- your aircraft is less g-tolerant.

 

2. The US HUD is superior. It gives you more, and better information in terms of keeping your aircraft flying the way you want it to. Have you noticed that a lot of countries prefer the NATO-style HUD?

 

3. The roll-over is nice, but this is unnecessary aerobatic flying - you can certianly make use of it in the case of theater SAM presence ... but if all you have is SHORAD? Suicide. Don't use this terrain-hugging technique, in fact, don't hug the terrain at /all/ unless you -must-.

 

4. There WILL be SAMs in those valleys! If you're not covering up the aproaches, you're being a bad enemy. BAD! Same with ridge vaulting. hop the ridge? There's another SAM waiting for you there, or should be.

 

5. Good job and reasoning on the parachute-equipped bombs. A+ C on the aproach. You don't want to be this low in a non-CAS aircraft - not in the real world. AAA would shred you to pieces - and by AAA, I mean every peasant with his rifle. On a bombing run make a steep attack from on high! Of course, LOMAC's gunners are well, not so great.

 

6. Overflight of target after using guided missiles or well-ranged rockets ... tsk tsk tsk ...

 

Alright - I'll explain myself now.

 

You asked for criticism so I gave it - what you suggest is not by any means a safe way to fly your aircraft (I won't deny that it's fun) and the desire to fly this way is a product of poor tactical SAM employment, lack of AFM for some of the aircraft, and poor AI.

 

What I mean to say is, this isn't a realistic way to fly - now that might not matter, you may not have been shooting for such a thing. Unfortunately anyone to learns your way and then goes on to play with people online is quite a bit more likely to get nailed because he helft all is buddies behind. If it isn't going to be a high-flying fighter (which can look down into valleys without much trouble) it'll be some low-lying SAM nailing you from the reverse slope of that ridge you just rolled over or vaulted. Normally such things don't happen in LO, I admit - people put zero throught in air defense more often than not - throw a SAM here, a SAM there, bam we're done.

 

In any case - my opinion: Fun, yes. Realistic, safe? No.

Will it kill you when these aircraft get AFM? yes.

 

Why?

 

you'll find your 'crisp handling' become 'handles worse than a 747' with all those munitions on-board, and in addition, if online, you'll be pressing your buddies to keep up with you, potentnially wasting fuel in afterburner. What I don't agree with here is the speed/throttle setting you chose, first and foremost. The actual flight -profile- you have chosen may in fact be necessary ... but it should -not- be necessary to fly it all the way to target, unless the target or med/high-altitude SAMs are in the way. You can avoid all the SHORAD just by climbing over 20000'. Nothing will touch you that isn't a Patriot, Buk, Kub, Grumble or HAWK.

 

About maintaining speed: One, don't overspeed going down. Maintaining the same speed sets your pace, lets you do everything 'the same'. When crossing ridges, you don't want to balooning over them at 200kts. You're missile and AAA bait, in case you -do- run into something.

 

Always expect SAMs when going down valleys. That's where I'd put them, that's where YOU should put them.

[EricJ]

Well.... this isn't so much a tutorial on getting shot at by SAMs, but more or less a primer on generic flying. I was going to touch the SAMs and other stuff. And this isn't geared towards team flying. Most people sit down offline and fly on their own, it's for that. Team tactics can come with the territory. This is actually in response to more newer players. They're not idiots. Nuggets yes, but not people to act all high and mighty about.

 

Remember, my other handle is Flanker562, I know what to write about. I may have been out of the business a little bit, but it comes with time to get all that back. This isn't my first time on the stick nor tutorial

[GGTharos]

I am basically of the opinion that if you want to create a tutorial, it should be done right. While you're not touching on SAMs, flying in the manner you suggest -will- be dangerous when they do come up.

 

I don't think that those people are idiots, no - that isn't what I said. What iIsaid is that I don't think this is a good way to fly a sortie. It is a fun one though.

[EricJ]

Ahh okay... :D I'll include it don't worry, but there's aspects I add everytime I think on it, so it will be there ;)

[GGTharos]

Good luck, it is a big effort. :)

[EricJ]

:D Yes it is :D

[Guest IguanaKing]

Russian and US HUDs are different, which is why the US velocity vector is constantly moving, and the Russian one is static. Russian HUDs show you exactly what you said...where your nose is pointing. US HUDs show you exactly where you will end your life if you continue on the same path. This is why it is called a "velocity vector"...it shows you where your entire aircraft is actually headed, not just which direction its nose is pointed. These are often two VERY DIFFERENT things. ;)

[EricJ]

Sure are, and thanks ;)

[EricJ]

http://562.50megs.com/LOMAC/Tutorials/747.zip

 

Little track I made last night of a loaded down Su-33, unedited, Lock On 1.12a, and the ACMI file included.