Help with finding targets

[iceman540]

First off just want to say what an amazing simulator this is, even at beta phase. I've been flying simulators for a while but only recently found this one....awesome.

 

Anyway, I've read the manual and am reasonably up to speed on the TGP and use of the MAV, but I still can't figure out how to find targets..I know this sounds a little silly.

 

So there I am in my warthog around 10,000 on the Search and rescue mission going for the downed F-16 pilot with Sandy holding for me to clear the way. I come racing down the valley knowing that there's AAA out there somewhere. I fire up the TGP and just start randomly hunting around and don't have much look finding any targets....well until I get too close to them and then all hell breaks out..

 

I'm just wondering if there is a better way to find targets? Can anyone help?

[Steel Jaw]

Nope. Welcome to the world of CAS.

 

JTAC, smoke markers, Mark 1 eyeball.

 

I think we are all making that adjustment. I myself was spoiled by Falcon's ground radar.

[Echonomix]

Yeah, at least in the a-10 you have "some" speed and maneuverability . I would try going out in the ka-50 and would get shot down before I had time to do anything about it :( . I never got confident enough to fight in that thing. Always was afraid of blade clash. Loved just flying it around and target practice though!

 

As for a-10 ground attack tactics, I'm reading a book about it and I believe there are some articles on simhq that might help out. The book, if anyone is interested is, warthog - flying the a-10 in the gulf war.

[Steel Jaw]

Got that book years ago. An excellent MUST READ.

[iceman540]

Thanks so much for the really fast responses (I'm in the middle of trying to create a 'test' mission to have a go at refueling..anyway).

 

Okay, so looks like I need to sharpen and calibrate the Mark I eyeballs.

 

Smoke: other than the training missions is this much used in the game?

 

JTAC: How is this used? Can you point me to a good thread if you know of one.

 

Book/web info: Feel free and post links if it's not too much trouble, I'd love to read a littel more about tactics.

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.

 

The only downside of this game is the fact I need to buy a new machine and a HOTAS - Which involves getting my wife's agreement! :-(

[Echonomix]

Thanks so much for the really fast responses (I'm in the middle of trying to create a 'test' mission to have a go at refueling..anyway).

 

Okay, so looks like I need to sharpen and calibrate the Mark I eyeballs.

 

Smoke: other than the training missions is this much used in the game?

 

JTAC: How is this used? Can you point me to a good thread if you know of one.

 

Book/web info: Feel free and post links if it's not too much trouble, I'd love to read a littel more about tactics.

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.

 

The only downside of this game is the fact I need to buy a new machine and a HOTAS - Which involves getting my wife's agreement! :-(

 

 

To answer:

 

1. Yes, practice the weapons like you would practice guitar, or anything else.

2. Smoke, I think, will be used as realistically as it can be during missions. In the beta at this point it might still be buggy/work in progress

3. JTAC is WIP and mostly not functioning correctly in the current (beta 1) beta. Wags has a youtube video where the JTAC is much more active and functional, expect that in maybe beta 2 or 3?

[Echonomix]

AFAIK, the refueling is not completely functional in beta 1.

[iceman540]

Thanks for the answers, much appreciated. As this game develops I'm sure it will get better and better.

 

Yeah, my refueling attempt didn't work out so well...I need to study up on creating missions in the mission editor.

[Ells228]

Sim, not a game hehe

[Mule]

Reading that book now. Great stuff.

[Zenra]

Thanks so much for the really fast responses <snip>

The only downside of this game is the fact I need to buy a new machine and a HOTAS - Which involves getting my wife's agreement! :-(

I like to create simple missions putting targets where I like and then practice finding them while flying - worked well in Black Shark, too.

 

Concerning options for dealing with the financial / wife aspect, see this thread.

[iceman540]

Whoops...Sim not game....sorry :-)

[Frogfoot1606687865]

I think the best rule is to stay at least 10 miles from the target area in a safe zone , set the autopilot to fly in a lazy circle and use the TGP to scan the target area. The TGP is excellent at long range, and much less effective at close range. When you have located a threat/target you can create a mark point and continue your search. when you are confident that you have accounted for all/most of the AA threats you can plan your attack. Creating a new flight plan using the mark points to engage AA threats first. Then mop up the remaining targets.

[My Fing ID]

If your steer points are need the enemy you can use china hat aft long to put have your targeting pod face the steer point. If your point is in the air then the pod will target air (so steer point is 1000m up, the target pod will look 1000m up exactly where the steer point is) so you may have to lower your aim until you hit ground. From there just zoom in/out and look about. Put the point on your 2 or 3 oclock to keep from flying over it. Use the boat switch too. Boat switch forwards/aft is white/black hot IR. Not the best resolution but it does work.

 

Of course you could take the balls the the wall approach and fly over the enemy looking for gunfire. Just figure out in general where the bullets are coming from, fly away, use china hat short to boresight the TGP (put it in front of your plane) then when you're a ways out fly towards where you took fire from, slew the pod a bit to get it to stay in that area and start scanning for targets.

 

If you want good training with the JTAC, Wags made a video and put it on youtube that goes through the procedure. You can then play that same mission in A10c. It's called target range or shooting gallery, something like that. Anyways big thing is to alway take a targeting pod with you because otherwise you're going to be relying on your eyes and if you're lucky someone else's eyes (JTAC or if you have a buddy another A-10c).

[iceman540]

Thanks for all the tips. I especially like the idea of putting her in a "lazy circle" using the autopilot. I'm familiar with using the hdg/alt hold feature, but how do you get it to fly in a circle?

[Arclight]

Set to altitude/bank hold; switch in down/aft position.