How to navigate to airfield without TACAN or ADF?

[imacken]

Given that most airfields in the Caucasus don't have a waypoint associated or TACAN or ADF beacons, what is the best way to navigate to them?

[cercata]

Ask AWACS for RTB ?

[QuiGon]

Map and compass. Yes, I'm being serious. Many people rely far too much on technology.

 

Edit: Haven't noticed this thread is about the Hornet. In that case you can keep relying on technology and just use your INS/GPS system as Sandman1330 has pointed out below. That's actually the most common way anyways.

Edited March 5, 2019 by QuiGon

[Sandman1330]

Click on the airfield in the F10 map, it will give you lat/long that you can manually input into the nav system as a new waypoint.

[imacken]

Sure we can use the F10 map, but what do pilots do that don't have F10 maps?

I'm kind of surprised that there is not a simple list of airfield basic stats on the kneeboard in all mods.

Is there a good basic list out there somewhere?

[QuiGon]

Sure we can use the F10 map, but what do pilots do that don't have F10 maps?

They have paper maps and charts in their cockpit for that very purpose. But the home base as well as the divert base are being saved to the nav system already as part of the pre-flight procedure, so you can just use your nav system to navigate.

Edited March 5, 2019 by QuiGon

[Txshooter38]

I have the approach plates for the airports in my kneeboard. They contain the gps coordinates for the runway thresholds. You can manually enter these as a waypoint so you have the exact center of the runway, not a tacan that is typically off to the side. That and the correct runway heading and you have everything you need without using f10. Also a good way to manage 0/0 conditions without ILS.

[imacken]

So, I found some charts around, but I am confused as both downloads seemed to have different coordinates to that shown on F10 map.

Runways are different too. For example, Gelendzik shows runways 1 and 19, but on the charts I've seen they are stated as 4 and 22.

Also, they highlight a question I've been meaning to ask for a while, and that is, why are runway designations different to their actual physical orientations. For example, Batumi 13 is actually at 120 degrees. Quite a difference.

[MistahBobbo]

Oftentimes I will get on the radio, tune to the airbase I wish to get to, request to land, and then get an initial course and distance from the controller at the AB I've contacted. The approach plates can then be used to get a more precise course once I am on final.

[dawgie79]

Tune in to airfield frequency, radio inbound, ask for navigation assistance/directions to final (request azimuth in the comms menu if I'm not mistaken).

Edited March 5, 2019 by dawgie79

[Txshooter38]

Also, they highlight a question I've been meaning to ask for a while, and that is, why are runway designations different to their actual physical orientations. For example, Batumi 13 is actually at 120 degrees. Quite a difference.

Yep. I am probably about to show my ignorance but I think I heard it was magnetic deviation???? But you are correct the runway number is only what I consider an approximation of the actual heading you need.

If you google "approach plates" for Caucaus you should find a pdf that has all of the correct info you are looking for. (Patterns, tower channels, GPS, etc)

[QuiGon]

Also, they highlight a question I've been meaning to ask for a while, and that is, why are runway designations different to their actual physical orientations. For example, Batumi 13 is actually at 120 degrees. Quite a difference.

That's because of the magnetic declination. There are two different norths, the magnetic north and the true north (also called geographical north) and depending on the country, the runways are either numbered according to their magnetic or their true heading. If numbered according to their magnetic heading, then their designation might change over time, as the magnetic pole shifts over time.

 

Edit: See here for better explanation: https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3712751&postcount=16

Edited March 5, 2019 by QuiGon

[Txshooter38]

Here it is.

https://www.docdroid.net/tVm7f1A/dcs-world-gnd-and-vad-charts-v405.pdf

[Yeti42]

Sure we can use the F10 map, but what do pilots do that don't have F10 maps?

I'm kind of surprised that there is not a simple list of airfield basic stats on the kneeboard in all mods.

Is there a good basic list out there somewhere?

 

Ether dead reckoning or they'll bounce off a radial from another Tacan with a calculated course. Most of them (the pilots) will know roughly where they are at all times, It's basically situational awareness which becomes kind of automatic.

[imacken]

Here it is.

https://www.docdroid.net/tVm7f1A/dcs-world-gnd-and-vad-charts-v405.pdf

Thanks for that. Here is a concise simplified chart although like most, it is missing the VOR info for ADF.

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/600867/?sphrase_id=16423519

Edited March 5, 2019 by imacken

[marginal]

Assuming you have waypoints programmed into a mission and you are taking off from a base (not starting airborne) the easiest way to get back to the home airport is to cycle back to waypoint zero (W0) and fly there. If you have the master arm switch and A/G mode selected you will also get a diamond overlay on your HUD at your home airport. On the right side of your HUD you will see TGT and distance to go. You can back that up with a inbound call to ATC at the base/map reading/tune a TACAN.

[KittyVCAW-1]

Learning the area you fly in and using landmarks has worked out pretty well for me so far.

[Anonymous User]

Ideally you will have your divert airfields loaded as markpoints in the data cartridge. To get home from where you departed, you can nav to WP0 (or Navaids).

Relying on general SA and landmarks isn’t a valid gameplan IRL due to distances covered and operating in different AO’s.

[TonyG]

Give this a try TACAN/ICLS mod.

 

It adds TACANs and ICLS to a bunch of the airports in the Caucasus and NTTR maps.

[imacken]

That's because of the magnetic declination. There are two different norths, the magnetic north and the true north (also called geographical north) and depending on the country, the runways are either numbered according to their magnetic or their true heading. If numbered according to their magnetic heading, then their designation might change over time, as the magnetic pole shifts over time.

 

Edit: See here for better explanation: https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3712751&postcount=16

 

I know what you mean, but surely that does not explain 20 to 30 degree differences. From =4c=Nikola's post, the suggestion is that there are significant inaccuracies in the DCS Caucasus map.

[imacken]

Just noticed this very useful post https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3595045&postcount=6

Adds the data to the kneepad for all maps. Best via OvGME.