Helmet-mounted sight - When/how often do you use it?

[Jack McCoy]

I'm curious to know how many of you use the HMS. I have TrackIR4 and I don't find the HMS that useful. I find my target by manually panning the Shkval with the Radar Cursor of my Cougar HOTAS.

 

For the out-of-HUD targets, I do pan-[pause]-pan. The pause is to let the Autoturn to Target start its turn toward the target.

 

Comments?

[GGTharos]

I use it all the time. I can aim the Shkval in the vicinity of a target very quickly, so even if I have say, a stinger trying to poke me from my 3-9 line, I'll HMS it, then run away.

When I turn back in, the Nav system remembers where to point the shkval. ;)

[ericinexile]

^^^^

What he said. Plus, sometimes its nice to keep Target Points called up on the PVI. But when you do the Shkval slaves to that point--which is of course the idea. Having the HMS up allows you to quickly point the Shkval elsewhere without clearing the TP.

[-fox-]

Yeah, I also began to use it all the time because it's such a quick way to move the Shkval.

[nemises]

I also use it all the time for rough targetting, or AA threats... fine tune with the shkval slews, which are too slow for any broadstroke work.

[Jack McCoy]

... fine tune with the shkval slews, which are too slow for any broadstroke work.

 

The axis control is quite fast. I also have the key-command mapped to my HOTAS cyclic's DMS (a hat) button for fine tuning.

 

--

To all, thanks for the comments so far. I'll definitely use the HMS more often in my routine.

[Boberro]

I use it all time. Very helpful and fast aimer and fly direction controller mixed with Q key.

[nemises]

The axis control is quite fast. I also have the key-command mapped to my HOTAS cyclic's DMS (a hat) button for fine tuning.

 

--

To all, thanks for the comments so far. I'll definitely use the HMS more often in my routine.

 

yeah, good point... if using an analogue control (axis) , then that would be much better.

 

I use the micromouse on my x52 for Shkval control on LOMAC, but wanted to keep it clear for "clicking around the cockpit" in BS...however, I actually use my mouse for that (take my hand off the cyclic), so might look at assigning the micro-stick axis to shkval slewing in BS also.

[DanKurt]

I use all the time. I can never get it to auto lock on target, may be due to TrackIR sensitivity, but use it to get the shkval in the right area then use my cyclic hat switch to home in on the target and it works a treat.

If you have a head tracking device then I would recommend you use it until it becomes a natural reflex to use it as part of your attack.

[Jack McCoy]

Another side-benifit, for me at least, is I can pan diagonally (horiz and vert simultaneously) using the analogs. Very useful the track the occasional air target.

 

For some reason, maybe my stick firmware, or Windows prevents me from doing so with the hat, specifically, up-left. :(

 

As far as the mouse, I place in the middle, so I can use it with either hand, depending on where the controls are in the virtual cockpit.

[Spartan1-1]

You may also want to try this... From time to time when I have multiple soft targets at close range (trucks, infantry, etc.) I will put the HMS to good use as a gunsight. Select you cannon and while in cannon mode hold down the key you use to slew your shkval on target with the HMS (O I believe). If you have Track IR just look at your target and engage. Works well when you get used to it. It also saves some steps when your done with one target and want to re-engage another.

[McVittees]

I'm assuming everyone in this thread is using Track IR, because I find I only use it to lock up air-to-air targets i've padlocked. Looking around using the hat and pointing the Shkval with the HMS doesn't really work for me. Shame that.:cry:

[ericinexile]

I'm assuming everyone in this thread is using Track IR, because I find I only use it to lock up air-to-air targets i've padlocked. Looking around using the hat and pointing the Shkval with the HMS doesn't really work for me. Shame that.:cry:

 

I've never used padlock. But I do find that if I designate a piece of empty sky and within a second or so get the badguy inside the box, the skhval will slave on him.

[Fish]

Sometimes i find the front pane view, with the dimmed HUD glass, cluttered, and poorer in visibility than the 'side' windows, and difficult to identify more obscure targets. I will put the target area on my 2oc or 10oc, then use the HMD, through the side windows, as others above.

 

TIP: during initial flight setup, i always dim down the HMD, and HUD until i can barely see them. This gives me great visibility for target aquisition

[fox_111]

Untill I get trackir, I rarely use the HMS. My joystick hat that control it is too sluggish and it only lead to frustration and lost time on my attack run.

 

I currently only use it to spot target when in hover or very slow flight.

[Chizzy101]

You may also want to try this... From time to time when I have multiple soft targets at close range (trucks, infantry, etc.) I will put the HMS to good use as a gunsight. Select you cannon and while in cannon mode hold down the key you use to slew your shkval on target with the HMS (O I believe). If you have Track IR just look at your target and engage. Works well when you get used to it. It also saves some steps when your done with one target and want to re-engage another.

 

I also use this technique and you can really devastate a group of soft targets in a very short time.

[enigma6584]

I'll have to try that technique out. Thanks for the heads up.

[EtherealN]

I've also used that technique to good effect. A very well masked AAA battery with two MANPADS as extra teeth gave my wingman an early grave in a mission, and I wanted to exact revenge. So as I cleared around the hill I had the cannon ready with HE (I was sideslipping out of my cover) and I had rounds downrange within a second of getting visual - and then I spread them over the small formation and had all of them defeated within some 5-6 seconds.

 

That would have been impossible if I had tried to go for individual lock on each target.

[fox_111]

You can do it without locking target individually, using the Shval.

 

Just range the first and fire away. If targets are at similar ranges. If not, you can compensate by shooting higher or lower.

 

I took columns of veh. like that in one or two long bursts. It's fun.

[Jack McCoy]

Yes, you can pan even during the burst. I do that, but just not with the HMS; Shkval only.

[LoBiSoMeM]

I use HMS (with FreeTrack) in the initial approach, always.

 

I'll try the "gun pan" method! I usually do that with Shkval HAT control...

[EtherealN]

You can do it without locking target individually, using the Shval.

 

Well yeah, but I find the hatswitch on my Cyborg just isn't up for the task of doing that with any kind of precicion, whereas I find the HMS allows all the precision and freedom of movement I need. It also allows me to keep my eyes outside the cockpit, improving the odds of spotting a MANPAD launch and such.