How to lock a target in the hornet?

[pstavis]

Recently I moved from the F14 to the F18 looking for some fun. Of course theres a lot of differences but when it comes to the radar, I supposed it kinda works the same: You find the bogie on the radar, lock 'em and shoot 'em.

 

I'm having a hard time figuring out why sometimes the radar keeps scanning the target but no STT lock happens. I press the lock (tdc depress) over and over but no luck. I made a video for another discussion regarding a campaign:

 

 

Around the 7 minutes mark I try a STT lock on two bogies. You can see the radar tries to lock 'em but no luck. Am I missing some step here?

 

Appreciate any inputs you have into this issue (don't mind the rest of the flight, i'm still working on it).

Thx!

 

[razo+r]

Targets according DL is at 26'000 feet while you set your antenna to scan between 8'000 and 18'000 feet at that location. Put your antenna up and try again.

[Caster]

Razo has it right, but to be super unambigous, you're trying to lock onto a datalink image when you don't have a radar return, which you can't do. Also worth bearing in mind the different scan centering modes (AUTO/MAN/BIAS) that may affect the position of the scan volume. As always, Chuck's guide has an excellent section describing this

[Hulkbust44]

you're trying to lock onto a datalink image when you don't have a radar return, which you can't do.

Not yet. You should be able to L+S a donor track file. You would also see a circle on the target HAFU symbol indicating that the radar is contributing to the track file.

Mobius708

[pstavis]

Seems pretty obvious i'm not playing with the radar correctly. I belive i'm still hoping the guy in the back of the F14 will help me here too

 

Just to be sure: I'm always supposed to change the radar elevation or is there any other way to make it "automatic"?

[Hulkbust44]

Seems pretty obvious i'm not playing with the radar correctly. I belive i'm still hoping the guy in the back of the F14 will help me here too
 
Just to be sure: I'm always supposed to change the radar elevation or is there any other way to make it "automatic"?

It will automatically hold on to tracks in TWS AUTO. Otherwise just adjust antenna elevation as with every other aircraft. You could just center scan volume via AZ/EL TDC if you really don't want to slew elevation directly.

Mobius708

[Foka]

Search manual for HAFU symbols and learn them by heart. You'll need them all the time to avoid these kind of confusion or even friendly fire.

[McVittees]

Just another note regarding your video. In the oil in the water campaign thread you mentioned being ambushed/killed by the second fighter.  When you turned right toward the bandits you closed range on them both and allowed them to stay close to one another. Had you turned left, the second fighter would've been further back which would've have helped keep you out of his engagement range for longer and created separation between the two fighters.  

[MVS-Viper]

The key you are looking for is the Designate Throttle Control or (Keyboard Enter).  This will lock up the target you have in between the two TDC brackets.

[GrEaSeLiTeNiN]

These vid tutorials will help.

Undesignate and SCS to AttkRdr (AACQ) may be faster ways to designate.