F15 Campaign and timing (Spoiler Warning)

[Datajack]

I've moved on to mission #3. The first couple of times I tried it I got mission failures because I didn't make the CAP waypoint on time. Is there anything in the avionics to help with this? See that the hud in nav mode gives you the time when you will arrive at the waypoint, but it's a bit tedious to have to do that manually, and the clock in the cockpit is a bit hard to read (I have a track IR 4 and I can't seem to zoom in to the instruments like I was able to in FC1 (is this correctable?). I remember in other sims the avionics "knew" what time you were supposed to arrive at a waypoint and would show you how "early" or "late" you were at any given time. I think something like this is a must (if it's not already there), especially if you're going to build your campaign missions to be so strict (which personally I find pretty annoying).

 

Anyways, any help is appreciated.

[EvilBivol-1]

You are heading for waypoint-2, right? In testing, I don't think I've had the issue of running out of time and this was with me doing an extra orbit or two around the base to collect up my wingmen. Later, I started to simply head straight for the waypoint at about 250 knts and this seems to work just as well. They would usually catch up by the time I got there.

[Ven]

Not sure if there was time rule in mission 3. I checked in with AWACS about minute and half early and had no problem. I always got there early and never late so I'm not sure but once you check in with AWACS, you can't possibly run out of time because how quickly you patrol the CAP zone is up to you. You do get mission failure for leaving the CAP zone however.

 

As for ETA, it does give you ETA to your current waypoint on the HUD. Use that with the cockpit clock. Just make sure what time you need to be at waypoint 2 from the briefing.

 

And for your TrackIR zoom, there are threads about it but you just have to assign TrackIR Z axis to zoom. Or I keep the TrackIR zooming disabled and use mouse wheel on X52 Pro for zooming.

Edited May 3, 2010 by Ven

[Datajack]

So I have to use the ETA and the clock. Man that's a lot of manual work to have to calculate what my airspeed needs to be to arrive "on time", especially if I can fail the mission if I don't get there on time. I guess I'll have to set up some missions in the editor to practice doing this. :(

 

Also, how do you check in with AWACS? I tried that. I opened the AWACs comm menu and didn't see any command for checking in or out.

 

I'll check out the TrackIR Z. Where do I set that up? In the controls menu?

Edited May 4, 2010 by EvilBivol-1

[EvilBivol-1]

Datajack, it really should not be difficult. If you take-off and simply head for waypoint 2 at anything above minimum throttle, you should get there in time. Perhaps the issue is that you are not hitting the waypoint precisely enough and it's not registering you as having passed it. Try to fly the route accurately along the assigned course-line.

There is no way to manually check-in with AWACS. This will happen on its own through a trigger when you hit the check-in waypoint.

 

And yes, all axis controls can be mapped in the control options. Make sure you select the F-15 to configure as each plane comes with its own control profile.

 

Look up Ven's F-15 campaign AARs if you are having trouble passing the missions. I would hold off on reading them until you try the missions yourself a couple of times, but here is the report for this mission (#3): http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=52688

Edited May 4, 2010 by EvilBivol-1

[Datajack]

Okay I found the problem. I tried this a few times and it always happens. As I'm approaching WP2 (following the WP cross on the HUD), at about 7 miles to the WP, the cross shifts all the way to the left of the screen. Not paying attention to the actual distance left to WP2, I simply assumed I had reached the WP and the avionics had switched me to WP3. So of course I would turn it would throw me off. Once I realized I hadn't actually arrived, I simply ignored the WP cross, stayed on course, and eventually after about a minute the WP Cross "corrected" itself. I received the check in message from AWACs and the mission continued as normal. Not sure if this issue with the WP Cross is by design or not, but at least I now know it's behavior and can adjust accordingly.

[EvilBivol-1]

Good catch.

[Datajack]

Oh good I guess that means you are able to replicate this too? I'm guessing this is a bug? Man I'm glad for once it wasn't me! LOL.

[EvilBivol-1]

It's not really a program bug, but a mission design oversight. The zone checking for your entry into the CAP station is just too small to cover the automated turn cue.

[Datajack]

Gotcha. I've completed up to mission 5 in the campaign so far. I did notice this behavior in either mission 4 or 5 I don't remember now (I think it was 4). I do remember taking off and turning away from WP2 to circle the base and give my flight a chance to rejoin, and while turning back into the waypoint to get going it happened again. Again, thanks for your help and quick replies.

[EvilBivol-1]

Data, just FYI, I flew mission 3 twice just now and had no problems checking-in considerably before hitting WP-2. Were you flying the route using the HSI or only the HUD cross to navigate?

[Datajack]

I was only using the HUD. What I did was circle the base once to let my wingman join up and then just followed the HUD cross.

[EvilBivol-1]

Right, I think that may have been part of the problem. The HUD cross takes you directly to the waypoint without lining you up on the assigned track (course). I would suggest always using the HSI to navigate the route.

[Datajack]

Yeah that's what I've been doing since I figured that one out. I haven't had any issues since.