Looking for realistic procedure for "scramble" (hot launch) mission

[Bahger]

I'm making a mission in which a CAS flight is "on call" on the ground. If the commander of the task force attacking a town nearby calls for CAS, the flight will "scramble". The airfield is within 50nm of the task force's location and the flight can be at the target within 7 minutes. I'm wondering:

 

- Is this procedurally realistic?

- If so, are there any phrases, protocols or radio procedures I should know to emphasize realism?

 

In this instance, a runway start is not a lazy alternative to a cold, ramp start but an operational choice, as, with engines running and systems up, the flight is primed to be available to the ground commander pretty rapidly. I just need to find out as much as I can about how such an operation would play out IRL and what the modus operandi might be, thanks.

[Snoopy]

I'm making a mission in which a CAS flight is "on call" on the ground. If the commander of the task force attacking a town nearby calls for CAS, the flight will "scramble". The airfield is within 50nm of the task force's location and the flight can be at the target within 7 minutes. I'm wondering:

 

- Is this procedurally realistic?

- If so, are there any phrases, protocols or radio procedures I should know to emphasize realism?

 

In this instance, a runway start is not a lazy alternative to a cold, ramp start but an operational choice, as, with engines running and systems up, the flight is primed to be available to the ground commander pretty rapidly. I just need to find out as much as I can about how such an operation would play out IRL and what the modus operandi might be, thanks.

 

We don't ever have alert like that. In the past the only alert I have ever pulled was for CSAR. For something like you are asking we would already have jets airborne and ready to fly in hot if requested.

[Bahger]

Ah, ok, thanks Paulrkiii, hmmm...

[Shootist]

I guess no more "Ring the Bell and Run Like Hell!" these days.

[SonofEil]

We don't ever have alert like that. In the past the only alert I have ever pulled was for CSAR. For something like you are asking we would already have jets airborne and ready to fly in hot if requested.

 

Not so fast!

We kept two A-10's on alert at all times in Afghanistan for precisely the scenario Bahger is describing. We scrambled those aircraft many times. Not all battles have scheduled air coverage! I think our goal was 5 minutes from the scramble call to taxi. I don't remember all the details, but we did keep APU's running and systems initialized in certain circumstances. Sometimes they were hooked to ground power.

As for actual procedure and pilot communication, I can't be of much help. We'd hear a call over our maintenance radio "SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE!!", and off we'd run. More often than not a scramble interrupted a movie or foosball match. After the jets launched, back to the babyfoot table.

 

Bahger, I would love more realistic missions like the ones you're making! Keep up the great work!

[Snoopy]

Not so fast!

We kept two A-10's on alert at all times in Afghanistan for precisely the scenario Bahger is describing. We scrambled those aircraft many times. Not all battles have scheduled air coverage! I think our goal was 5 minutes from the scramble call to taxi. I don't remember all the details, but we did keep APU's running and systems initialized in certain circumstances. Sometimes they were hooked to ground power.

As for actual procedure and pilot communication, I can't be of much help. We'd hear a call over our maintenance radio "SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE, SCRAMBLE!!", and off we'd run. More often than not a scramble interrupted a movie or foosball match. After the jets launched, back to the babyfoot table.

 

Bahger, I would love more realistic missions like the ones you're making! Keep up the great work!

 

First I heard of this, when were you in afghani land? The crew chiefs in my unit that just got back haven't talked about any alerts just that the jets would fly 8+ hour missions.

[bluepilot76]

How about; The base is about to be overrun, gun battles at the gatehouse, Get them up and out of harms way. Air raid- KA50s coming over the horizon, peaceful UN station caught with its pants down. You go with what you've got, divert and claw back the territory over weeks of heavy multiplayer campaign. Bliss!

[SonofEil]

First I heard of this, when were you in afghani land? The crew chiefs in my unit that just got back haven't talked about any alerts just that the jets would fly 8+ hour missions.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=62511

You might recognize someone! (Actually, you might have a couple of our planes from when our squadron was BRAC'd in '05. Is 944 still a gremlin-plagued mess?)

 

In the 'stan we'd almost always have at least two in the air, usually more. And yes, they would fly looooong missions. I don't know what they were doing most of the time, but I heard "another f*cking convoy escort" plenty of times.

But we'd also have our "alert" aircraft configured and ready on the ground at all times. A scramble wasn't a usual thing, I'd say on average once every week or two.

Edited April 19, 2011 by SonofEil

[jeffyd123]

strong harm was telling me you can go into the plane using "prepare mission" from the ME and set the plane up the way you want it to be when the mission fires up.

 

I have tried this but with all of my planes set to "client" I couldnt get in a plane but it should work if you set them as "player".... maybe.

 

Sorry I dont have more info about it.

[cichlidfan]

strong harm was telling me you can go into the plane using "prepare mission" from the ME and set the plane up the way you want it to be when the mission fires up.

 

I have tried this but with all of my planes set to "client" I couldnt get in a plane but it should work if you set them as "player".... maybe.

 

Sorry I dont have more info about it.

When it is a "player" plane and you go into prepare mission it puts you in the cockpit of the cold plane. You run up what ever systems you wish...set switches and so on...then exit (Esc) and that will take you back to the mission editor and the plane is set the way you left it when you fly the mission. Very cool actually.

 

Now that I think about it, have to try this, you could even have the plane rolling down the runway when the mission opened...possibly not the best idea but...

Edited April 19, 2011 by cichlidfan

[Rainmaker]

First I heard of this, when were you in afghani land? The crew chiefs in my unit that just got back haven't talked about any alerts just that the jets would fly 8+ hour missions.

 

 

I can also confirm the alert birds. Before the A-10's staging area in Afghanistan was moved, the squads there had alert birds. It's primarily reserved for the fast movers(as an A-10 can't get anywhere fast), but it did happen. They were usually reserved for backup alert missions, but I have personally seen it as well.

[636_Castle]

The A-10 scramble normal procedures are in the A-10A flight manual available for free.

[jeffyd123]

Im wondering if you have to set up each plane as you want it for MP missions.

[Bahger]

When it is a "player" plane and you go into prepare mission it puts you in the cockpit of the cold plane. You run up what ever systems you wish...set switches and so on...then exit (Esc) and that will take you back to the mission editor and the plane is set the way you left it when you fly the mission. Very cool actually.

 

Now that I think about it, have to try this, you could even have the plane rolling down the runway when the mission opened...possibly not the best idea but...

 

So using this method, could I taxi the player Hog to where I want the player to start the mission -- let's say the ramp, but with the engines and systems running -- and, after escaping back to the ME, that's how the mission would start every time for the player, on the ramp, engines running?

[Rainmaker]

So using this method, could I taxi the player Hog to where I want the player to start the mission -- let's say the ramp, but with the engines and systems running -- and, after escaping back to the ME, that's how the mission would start every time for the player, on the ramp, engines running?

 

 

 

I was just about to make the same post asking for clarification. Thanks for being ahead of me. :D

 

 

This sound like a pretty useful feature if it is the case.

[cichlidfan]

So using this method, could I taxi the player Hog to where I want the player to start the mission -- let's say the ramp, but with the engines and systems running -- and, after escaping back to the ME, that's how the mission would start every time for the player, on the ramp, engines running?

 

Unless, I missed something you could taxi him down the nearest highway if you were so inclined...

 

You can preset any system...even in the air on autopilot...