Flight Qualifications Campaign

[Sabre-TLA]

Just uploaded a short video for BFT06 - Advanced Handling. Not as good as what the 74th has done but a start.

 

Hopefully it helps those that are having trouble with the Spiral Dive and Lazy 8 maneuvers.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5flDdAMhL0&list=PLOS_9ARrkqWeSBthQwP2NbA7syA_u0iAL&index=1

[Sabre-TLA]

Make sure you are using the DCS World version of the campaign V1.3 as it contains the heading trigger fixes for DCS World v1.2.2. http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/203573/

 

Did you fly to WP2? That's where the PO starts.

 

I just checked the triggers and you should hear "Ok Cadet! Your performance check starts now...." when you are at WP2.

 

The mission should play properly after that.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Sabre-TLA

[Zeke]

Has anyone else been able to fly BTF 9 and get any further instruction after take off?

[Zeke]

Make sure you are using the DCS World version of the campaign V1.3 as it contains the heading trigger fixes for DCS World v1.2.2. http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/203573/

 

Did you fly to WP2? That's where the PO starts.

 

I just checked the triggers and you should hear "Ok Cadet! Your performance check starts now...." when you are at WP2.

 

The mission should play properly after that.

 

Yes, I have the latest campaign. I flew all the way to wp 4. I'll try again. If it doesn't work, I'll send a trk file or something if you like. All the other missions have worked well.

[Sabre-TLA]

In BTF 8 when restarting the engine. I am following everything to the 'T' and the engine starts right up, still get a 'fail' from the instructor. I have a Cougar joystick and throttle so I can't control the engines separately (or can you?)

 

What did the fail message say?

 

I think someone posted earlier in this thread that you can use keyboard commands to control the engines individually.

 

Here was one reference: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1352031&postcount=340

[Sabre-TLA]

Yes, I have the latest campaign. I flew all the way to wp 4. I'll try again. If it doesn't work, I'll send a trk file or something if you like. All the other missions have worked well.

 

The trigger is pretty simple:

Unit Inside Zone (Player, PO Start) - Checks to see that the player is in the start zone which is a 3500 radius zone around WP2.

Flag is False (1) - Checks to see that Flag 1 is set to False.

 

It's the 6th trigger from the top and no other triggers effect Flag 1 before it.

 

I'm not sure if it's a bug but I'll retest it again and see if I can reproduce it. Update: Just retested the mission on my system and it was ok. Not sure why that trigger won't fire properly on your system. Please send an email to mapleflagmissions@gmail.com and I'll follow-up with you offline.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Sabre-TLA

[Zeke]

What did the fail message say?

 

I think someone posted earlier in this thread that you can use keyboard commands to control the engines individually.

 

Here was one reference: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1352031&postcount=340

 

It said I failed to properly start the engine. I did get it to work the last time I ran the mission, I just left the throttle at idle until the engine was up and I received a pass on that then. Only lost 1000 ft too, so it was ok.

[Leysard]

Thanks for the video of BTF06. Makes things clear now.

 

By the way, not sure, but I think that one of the problem comes with your drawing of the lazy eight that does not match with what you show in the video.

 

Look the file I've attached, perhaps could help.

Lazy 8.pdf

[Sabre-TLA]

Thanks for the video of BTF06. Makes things clear now.

 

By the way, not sure, but I think that one of the problem comes with your drawing of the lazy eight that does not match with what you show in the video.

 

Look the file I've attached, perhaps could help.

 

That's a better diagram. Mine was only showing one half of the 8 as I wanted to show 1, 3 and 5 were at the same altitude. With your example it would be 3 and 5 at the same altitude and we have to add the climb and dive references.

 

Well done!

[Zeke]

Ok, BTF 9 works fine, I was looking at the wrong WP, bit different then the other missions.

 

Sorry for the confusion.

[Zeke]

Can someone tell me what the 'Pattern Altitude' in BTF 9 is supposed to be. If I get one more 'Terminate' message because I'm to low, I'm going to scream. After reading through these forums it's my understanding that it is between 2000 and 2500. Even tried starting at 3000 at 10 miles and then riding it down, but I always get a 'terminate' message.

[SUBS17]

2500ft is pattern altitude you learn that in BFT 02, it should be the same for all of them as far as I know.

[Zeke]

Yes, that is what I thought too. But sometime you have to start to ride the glide slope down and you'll go below 2500. My question is when to go below in 'this' mission. I've been starting down at 10 miles out.

[deaconjb]

Yes, that is what I thought too. But sometime you have to start to ride the glide slope down and you'll go below 2500. My question is when to go below in 'this' mission. I've been starting down at 10 miles out.

 

Just curious, is your altimeter set properly? I don't have this mission so I'm just reaching here

[Zeke]

I've never touched it in this mission. both indicators (HUD and altitude instrument) show the same.

[Sabre-TLA]

As per the mission briefing the Pattern Altitude is 2500'.

 

The FAF (Final Approach Fix) is about 10nm out.

 

Here is a diagram that might help explain: http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/upload/iblock/0e2/ILS.jpg

 

You should have your Altitude set correctly by adjusting the Pressure Set Knob to the stated QFE setting on the Altimeter. It is usually 2987 but in BFT09 I believe it is a different value because of the weather. Check the value when you call ATC for the approach and adjust as necessary.

 

I also recommend flying with the ILS Localizer and Glide Slope Bars aligned once in range as per page 475 in the manual. Also check the Glide Slope Deviation Scale.

 

So ideally you want to reach the FAF at 2500' and turn towards the runway heading 120, and keep the ILS bars aligned until touchdown.

 

Please continue to report any issues.

[rrohde]

That's a great idea indeed. Structured training -- even for a "game" like this -- works the best.

[Zeke]

Passed, finally. I never did set the QFE in this mission until reading the reply's. Funny thing is, that used to be part of my start up check list, but recently I've been ignoring it since it wasn't part of the BTF 1 start up.

 

No problems once I set the QFE to the right number. Also stopped getting the 'maintain angles eight' from wp2 to wp3. hehe.

 

One thing I noticed is I never did get the ILS bars to activate, even though I unstowed them and selected ILS in the nav panel in front of the joystick. Also, it would be nice to get a visibility report from the ATC.

 

On to BTF 10.

[Zeke]

Is there a way to go back and fly the previous mission. I had to quit BTF 10 early and now it took me right to BTF 11. I'd really like to finish BTF 10 first.

[SUBS17]

What they need is a box next to each mission and as each mission is completed it automatically becomes a single player mission. You can access each mission via single mission menu and fly it as a single mission. Ideally the campaign when completed you would want a qualification in the logbook as well as all missions displayed in the single player mission list but with a tick in the box marking that its been past. Hopefully one day ED allows this although I wonder is it possible for Sabre to add A-10C wings to the logbook after passing the campaign?

[Sabre-TLA]

You can fly all the campaign missions as single missions by selecting the Mission button from the game menu and then pointing at this directory (or similar depending on where you installed the game):

 

C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\aircrafts\A-10C\Missions\EN\Campaigns

 

This won't change the campaign progress but does allow you to fly the missions outside of the campaign.

[Zeke]

Passed BTF11! Couple of things you may want to change though, it isn't clear at the start that you don't have to wait for the instructor to show up on the runway. The first time I waited for 10 minutes after taxing out and then just said what the heck. You may want to change the wording at the start, cause it says, 'meet me on the runway.'

 

Also at the end, I wasn't sure if we were going to land together, I thought so, but after awhile I just went for it myself. Could be more clear.

 

Amazing that the mission works so well, great job, it had to be a lot of work putting it together, thanks!!

 

Something I did to get better at formation flying with the AI was to set up a practice mission with a lot of turns. At first I stayed right on the AI's rear, as close as I could get and then just followed as close as I could. The more I got used to that, the more I moved off his wing. Made it easier for me to get better at it, may work for someone else too.

[Chriz6662]

I have a Question for the BFT01 Ground Handling. Why is it required to turn the Oxygen Regulator to ON? In the offical Document "A10A Flight Manual OCR2" it says "Oxygen Regulator – AS REQUIRED" at the before takeoff phase. Is there a reason why its requiered to turn on Oxygen Regulator at the before taxi phase in your mission?

[Sabre-TLA]

I believe the reason was to test the connections before taxi in case there is a problem.

 

You wouldn't want to be at altitude and then find out the Oxygen supply isn't working properly (like alot of F-22 pilots currently - though I believe the USAF has a fix for that problem now).

 

I guess if you knew the mission was entirely flown under 10,000' then you wouldn't need O2.

 

I think it's a good practice to make it part of the routine.

[Zeke]

Just finished up ATF 01 and passed on my first try. One thing I was wondering and something I didn't know before was where to enter WP TOT info. I did this for each WP but it only showed the last number I entered, and it showed it for each WP. I was wondering how this is done since I must have done something wrong.

 

Here is what I did. First I went to the WP page in the CDU. I cycled to the WP by advancing the WP to the number I wanted. Then I entered the TOT info on line R5 (where it says - DTOT[] ). I did this for each WP and when I got back to 1 it just showed the time I entered for the last WP.

 

Also, besides doing addition in your head by looking at the numbers in the HUD, is there a better/easier way to do this? I know in F4 it showed the speed you needed to use, I think in the HUD.