newbie RIO questions / input needed

[akosmaroy]

Hi,

 

I'm trying my hands at the RIO seat in the Heatblur F-14B. I've watched the Jester videos and more, etc. I've created a minimal / simple mission where I'd be flying up to meet a Tu-95 escorted by a MiG-29 from about 250nm, me starting at 20.000 feet, them starting at 25.000 feet (see attached). I'm trying to see these two aircraft with the AWG-9 from as far away as possible, but, well I'm having difficulties - and thus I'd like to get some feedback :)

 

As a first, the MiG-29 shows up on the ALR-67 Indicator already at quite a distance, maybe at around 200nm. But I can't see it on my radar, trying all modes (Pulse Search, PD Search, RWS, TWS), rotating the radar azimuth in the proper direction and also actively scanning at various radar elevations. at around 145nm, I'll start to see the Tu-95, but not the MiG. by this time, the MiG has already seen me, has climbed to 36.000 and heading in my direction at high speed (with afterburner). I'll start to see the MiG at around 70nm, fire off a Phoenix towards it, which it will successfully dodge, and also fire its missile after me right away. by the time the Phoenix misses, the MiG is about 25nm already, I'm trying to fire a Sparrow at him, but I'm had by it.

 

Obviously I'm doing this in a really lame way - I guess an F-14 should be able to spot these aircraft at a distance and handle them with a Phoenix each while not getting into a dogfight. (Maybe my assumption is wrong)

 

I'd appreciate if anyone could give me input on what to do better / differently, to see these bandits at and handle them from a distance.

 

 

Akos

F-14 patrol.miz

[shagrat]

The same way you can see the MiG-29 on your RWR because it sends radar waves towards you, it can passively detect you from far away.

The RWR does not show distance just, that in a specific direction there is a radar emitter and judges the potential threat rating. A guy with a strong signal, locking you is more "dangerous", than a weak signal of a search radar. Keep in mind it does by no means indicate a distance.

Next it's totally normal that a small contact like the MiG-29 can only be found at 70 to 60 NM (by the way, for practice, you might want to start with a less agile and powerful enemy, MiG-23 or 21 maybe).

I would try shooting an AIM-54 from 35 to 30 NM, or latest, when he fires on you. The AIM-54 is no magic bullet and the MiG-29 is agile enough to dodge it, so you need a plan B, as likely the first missile forces him defensive, but won't kill him. I would rather try another AIM-54 than an AIM-7, or if you get closer than 20NM jump into the pilot seat and go ACM and close quarter brawl with him...

Keep in mind the radar may be powerful, but it can be notched, the enemy can hide in ground clutter etc.

It is a tactical game of cat and mice, somehow. :)

[electricaltill]

Only asking this because I made the same mistake the first time - is WCS turned on, rather than just in standby?

[akosmaroy]

Only asking this because I made the same mistake the first time - is WCS turned on, rather than just in standby?

 

yes, the The WCS XMT switch is 'on' (top most position), right and ahead of the HCU

Edited April 14, 2019 by akosmaroy

[electricaltill]

Sorry, I didn't read all of your post before responding.

[akosmaroy]

looking at it deeper, I can see the Tu-95 with PD Search at around 195nm. it shows up on RWS at about 185nm. it shows up on TWS at around 175nm.

 

I can never see it on pulse search for some reason. isn't pulse search supposed to be the most basic but longest distance scanning mode?

 

after TWS also sees it, I can select RDR on the HCU, then find the target on the DDD with half action the moving the HCU, then select it for PD STT with full action. so far so good. but it's still only the Tu-95.

 

at around 100nm, I start to see the second dot (the MiG-21) on PD Search. at around 75nm I start to see it on RWS, and briefly after on TWS.

 

my naive questions: after I see the MiG-21 at 100nm on PD Search, how do I launch a Phoenix at it right away? or what range should I wait for?

 

for the Tu-95 I see the launch zone vector symbology, e.g. the TUMR / TUOR / TUIR dots / line on the TID. but I only see a velocity vector like thing for the MiG. why is that, e.g. no TUMR / TUOR / TUIR? might it be that it's already too close for the Phoenix at 75nm?

 

if I fire a Phoenix at the MiG at around 70nm, and it misses it, by that time it's about 28-30nm away. what is the best course of action at this point? fire another Phoenix? switch to Sparrow? (it seems I have AIM-7M Sparrows on board, that would have a 38nm range)

 

after I've launched a Phoenix and it dodged it, what is the proper procedure to change to the Sparrow? is that PD STT? how do I change from TWS to PD STT? is the only way to go for the RDR mode on the HCU and select the target on the DDD? is there a way to select a target for DP STT from the TID?

 

I looked at the TID symbology part of the Heatblur F-14 docs - but, is there something more comprehensive? :)

 

sorry for all the naive questions :)

 

(I've changed the mission so that I start at 37.000 feet, above the Tu-95 and the MiG. I've changed the MiG-29 to a MiG-21, but that can get to me too)

[shagrat]

looking at it deeper, I can see the Tu-95 with PD Search at around 195nm. it shows up on RWS at about 185nm. it shows up on TWS at around 175nm.

 

 

 

I can never see it on pulse search for some reason. isn't pulse search supposed to be the most basic but longest distance scanning mode?

 

 

 

after TWS also sees it, I can select RDR on the HCU, then find the target on the DDD with half action the moving the HCU, then select it for PD STT with full action. so far so good. but it's still only the Tu-95.

 

 

 

at around 100nm, I start to see the second dot (the MiG-21) on PD Search. at around 75nm I start to see it on RWS, and briefly after on TWS.

 

 

 

my naive questions: after I see the MiG-21 at 100nm on PD Search, how do I launch a Phoenix at it right away? or what range should I wait for?

 

 

 

for the Tu-95 I see the launch zone vector symbology, e.g. the TUMR / TUOR / TUIR dots / line on the TID. but I only see a velocity vector like thing for the MiG. why is that, e.g. no TUMR / TUOR / TUIR? might it be that it's already too close for the Phoenix at 75nm?

 

 

 

if I fire a Phoenix at the MiG at around 70nm, and it misses it, by that time it's about 28-30nm away. what is the best course of action at this point? fire another Phoenix? switch to Sparrow? (it seems I have AIM-7M Sparrows on board, that would have a 38nm range)

 

 

 

after I've launched a Phoenix and it dodged it, what is the proper procedure to change to the Sparrow? is that PD STT? how do I change from TWS to PD STT? is the only way to go for the RDR mode on the HCU and select the target on the DDD? is there a way to select a target for DP STT from the TID?

 

 

 

I looked at the TID symbology part of the Heatblur F-14 docs - but, is there something more comprehensive? :)

 

 

 

sorry for all the naive questions :)

 

 

 

(I've changed the mission so that I start at 37.000 feet, above the Tu-95 and the MiG. I've changed the MiG-29 to a MiG-21, but that can get to me too)

This could be helpful with the basic understanding of the modes: