BeachAV8R Posted April 2, 2013 Posted April 2, 2013 It is about four hours after our last (unsuccessful) search for the missing Kurshev. While other units continue to search, our mission is to expand the search area to a new location. The weather is still poor, so close attention will be needed to spot vessels at sea. The voice over the radio provides details of the search while the text contains just a brief summary. Low altitude and medium speed are the orders for the day. Despite the A-10C being the new darling of the DCS lineup - I have to admit the Black Shark is still the ground breaking product. Anyone that has flown the A-10C that hasn't gotten to know the Ka-50 is missing an awesome experience. As I go through the systems I'm overjoyed to see that the maintenance crew has been hard at work. I see the autopilot, dampener channels, and ABRIS are all working and functional for this sortie! Other flights come and go as the search for the missing ship continues. As I pull away from the coast toward the search grid I take a glance at my fuel gauge. The campaign designer recently hinted to me that the weapons loadouts are meant to be flown as they are presented. If I were doing a naval search and rescue type operation, I would probably opt for some external fuel tanks, but the mission editor has us going in a clean configuration on this mission. The ABRIS shows the search grid. Fortunately I'm able to slave the autopilot to the ROUTE mode of the autopilot which makes the flying a 100% easier than the last mission. I set the autopilot and adjust the pitch trim and collective to hold around 150 meters and 170-180 kph. The radio indicates that we aren't the only ones out searching. Apparently the Georgian forces have taken an interest in our search as well. As I work my way toward the search grid, a shape emerges from the gloom. I deviate from the search pattern slightly to have a closer look. It is a tense moment because you never know whether you are closing on friend, foe, or the missing ship. At any time I'm expecting a missile or gunfire to come flying at me. As I orbit the ship it is identified as a friendly vessel.. I enter the first leg of the search grid.. Soon another shape starts to emerge out of the fog and it is time to inspect another vessel. Cont...
BeachAV8R Posted April 2, 2013 Author Posted April 2, 2013 Each leg of the grid pattern takes about 15 to 18 minutes to fly. With the autopilot functioning, it is much easier than the last mission and the ABRIS track shows the flying is far steadier. I do some rough fuel calculations and know we will be low on fuel by the end of the search, but not critically so provided no exceptional activities take place. I come across another ship and for a moment I'm excited because she looks down in the stern. I think perhaps I've found our missing ship foundering. But alas, it is just a bit of swell causing the ship to rock back and forth and it is not the target of our search. As I continue the search grid I see the unexpected sight of a convoy of ship ahead. I approach carefully, aware that this is an ominous sign. Indeed, it is a Georgian surface group and I wonder how they will respond to my close overflight. I hover near each ship in the convoy, taking time to identify each one. The ID process goes without problem and soon I'm finished with my grid. The mission director radios that the search has been called off, leaving me pondering the fate of the Kurshev. I set my ABRIS for the airport waypoint and head for home. Upon landing I have enough fuel left, but could not have stayed out much longer to search. A long flight for sure, 1 hour + 30 minutes. With the autopilot and dampeners working it was not nearly as taxing however. The shroud of mystery behind the disappearance of the Kurshev remains. This duty station certainly has its variety of missions and there seems to be ever present danger. It must be similar to how forces on the Korean DMZ must feel - always alert to potential conflict. BeachAV8R
LazerPotatoe Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Thanks for these Chris. Excellent as always LP modules: F5-E / A4-E / A-10A / AJS-37 / SA-342 / UH-1H / Ka-50 / Mi-8 / CA would buy: OH-58 /AH-64A / AH-1 / Sepecat Jaguar / F-111
Stealth_Eagle Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Very good report. Maybe someday I'll be half as good as you in my campaign that I'm running in a different game. I've been following your reports for a while on SimHQ but I don't have an account there (age restrictions) and they all are quite good, expecially the ones with Falcon 4 BMS. Would love to see those again (I remember you did one in 2003 if I remember correctly that commented on how long that game has been around. Now it's 2013 and people still play it but I'm not too sure if I want to join in it but I want a dynamic generator for DCS) I think you also convinced an A-10C pilot to try to get Blackshark but I plan to wait for the next sale to do it. Eagle
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