Any reason AIM-7 Sparrow will not (initially) launch despite "SHOOT" cue

[Bearfoot]

I'm not sure if this is operator error, a bug, or something else.

 

- AA mode: check

- Master Arm: on

- Target locked in STT

- Aim-7 selected

- Flying relatively straight and level

 

Target range just enters RMAX and SHOOT cue comes on.

 

Press trigger and hold down.

 

Nothing.

 

Check everything, shoot cue still on, lights all flashing.

 

Press trigger and hold down. Again nothing. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And then, suddenly, sure enough, they come off the rails, fire up, and track.

 

What could be going on with all the initial attempts? This happens consistently enough for me to think I am missing something. After I get the first one to launch, the others come off on demand without problem.

[blkspade]

Rmax was initially fixed at 26nm. Seems they changed the Rmax onscreen indication, but not the actual logic that allows for weapons release.

[Bearfoot]

Rmax was initially fixed at 26nm. Seems they changed the Rmax onscreen indication, but not the actual logic that allows for weapons release.

 

Ah, this makes sense. Good to know! thanks!

[Bearfoot]

Rmax was initially fixed at 26nm. Seems they changed the Rmax onscreen indication, but not the actual logic that allows for weapons release.

 

Ok, can confirm that this is exactly it.

 

SHOOT cue comes at ~32nm ... but absolutely impossible to launch then.

 

If I wait till < 26 nm, then no problems on launching at first try.

[SonofEil]

Also just a FYI, there's currently a bug where if you've previously used, or even selected ground munitions then A/A missiles won't fire. It's caught me out a few times now.

[Cik]

my advice is that you should also not even be attempting to launch a sparrow at <10 miles. any sort of symbology that indicates that you could theoretically hit anything at range in excess of 15nm is fibbing.

 

 

i think even at m2.0 with a non-maneuvering target at m2.0 nose on at 45,000 asl you would probably struggle to get near that, though i've never tested it because you're lucky to find a target that isn't at 200ft AGL the whole time anyway.

[Bearfoot]

my advice is that you should also not even be attempting to launch a sparrow at <10 miles. any sort of symbology that indicates that you could theoretically hit anything at range in excess of 15nm is fibbing.

 

 

i think even at m2.0 with a non-maneuvering target at m2.0 nose on at 45,000 asl you would probably struggle to get near that, though i've never tested it because you're lucky to find a target that isn't at 200ft AGL the whole time anyway.

 

Thanks for the tips. Relatively new to the missile combat thing (helos + ww2 mainly), so I'm just learning the ropes, and wanted to ensure that I understood the mechanization and symbology correctly so couldn't understand why it was firing --- I recognize that RMax is a "long shot" (ha! ha!).

 

Having said that, against an AI, an RMax shot does get them to go defensive/cold, which means *THEIR* "long shot" (which they almost always make) stops tracking which lets me close the distance directly in full burn so by the time they come around from their split-S for take 2 about half the time (not consistently) they end up eating one of my AIM-9's that I sent down their face ...

 

I have no doubt that these kindergarten tactics will not work against a savvy human opponent, but I'll take what I can get!

[pete_auau]

Thanks for the tips. Relatively new to the missile combat thing (helos + ww2 mainly), so I'm just learning the ropes, and wanted to ensure that I understood the mechanization and symbology correctly so couldn't understand why it was firing --- I recognize that RMax is a "long shot" (ha! ha!).

 

Having said that, against an AI, an RMax shot does get them to go defensive/cold, which means *THEIR* "long shot" (which they almost always make) stops tracking which lets me close the distance directly in full burn so by the time they come around from their split-S for take 2 about half the time (not consistently) they end up eating one of my AIM-9's that I sent down their face ...

 

I have no doubt that these kindergarten tactics will not work against a savvy human opponent, but I'll take what I can get!

 

 

lol but if you make the a1 have no weapons at all be even easier to shoot than down, guess they could throw chaff and flares at ya