Orbiting altitude and distance.

[BluesmanSF]

Hello!

 

For the last couple of weeks I have been practicing furiously and studying different parts of this huge sim and I feel I've just scratched the surface, and the only thing I know I master, is flying straight and level. Well it's a start..

 

Anyways, I tried some of the missions on which, if you're able, the best method of finding the enemy seems to be making a large orbit around the target area. I've been testing a couple of different altitudes and distances from the target and found out that at around 15.000ft AGL, making orbit with a 5nm radius at 260-270TAS, (half a throttle, to save the fuel) the bank angle is therefore settling at about 6-7 degrees, is for me, a good start point. The AP in ALT mode will keep the bank angle constant and you can concentrate getting hands full of setting the co-ords, finding the target or whatever, sing a song if you're in the mood. Of course there's a plethora of variables which will affect the mentioned settings, including fuel, armament, temperature, WINDS, etc.. AND, this was a result of a fairly quick test.. =D 15.000ft AGL is because at that elev, you can pretty much stay above the SA-9's, SA-13's and MANPAD's envelope, and of course, Shilka's.

 

I wonder if anyone of you has similar methods of finding and acquiring targets, and I'm utmost curious because this is all very new to me and I know next to nothing of the different variations of performing CAS missions.

 

Educate me, please, share your thoughts!

 

6S_Blues

[Cibit]

Thats pretty much how I do it. Near the target area go into orbit and be patient, bit like fishing really:P

[Sarge55]

That's what I do as well but .... just want to clarify that you should not orbit the target but establish an orbit in a safe area.

 

If you orbit the target you will also over fly the enemy FEBA and enter their air defences. Unless of course it's an isolated location or there is no SAM threats.

[Zenra]

What Cibit and Sarge55 said. I'll just add that I tend to offset at a range suitable for the weapons I extend to employ once I have the targets marked. That way I can start my run once my orbit has me pointed directly at the target area; AP off and increase speed while I lock on the MAV (or other weapon of choice).

[RodBorza]

BluemanSF,

I do the same.

If it helps, check in my channel for the missions I recorded. You may want skip to Part 2 or 3 of each video to see the most interesting parts. I usually stablish a orbit in a safe area, Mark the targets with the TGP and then push to make the attack.