DCS F-14B Notes ================================================================================ Training Flight 2 - Night tanker escort -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goals: - Practice night operations - Evaluate dark cockpit mod - Practice TACAN navigation - Practice F-14 navcomp use - Practice formation flying - (stretch) Survive landing Pre-Flight Crew Discussion: - Rebind F9 in TrackIR software so it doesn't conflict with radio usage in DCS. - Mention the 'spacebar' thing w.r.t. the mission triggers. - Mention loading AIM-7 and LANTIRN pod in case Daniel wants to fiddle with them. - Daniel needs to select steer points using rotary selector to top-right of TID. - Explain TACAN usage. Who should handle it this time? - Talk about exterior lights and double-checking them as we transition each stage of flight. - Talk about interior lights and cockpit legibility mods. And talk about NVGs and flashlight. - Discuss airport-taxiway navigation, airport charts, and how to work together. - Pilot wants RIO checking wing sweep during taxi, takeoff, landing, etc. - Pilot wants RIO calling out speeds during takeoff roll. Explain how to properly read IAS gauge. - Walk through new pilot snapviews. Can do same for RIO. - Discuss pilot goals for this flight (listed above). - Does the RIO have any goals for this flight? Unanswered Pre-Flight Questions/Tasks: - How to use TACAN to fly a parallel but offset course with the tanker? - How to do TACAN yardstick with F-14 wingman? Mission Data Card: https://frostburg.subgeniuskitty.com/public/game-dcs/temp-mission-data-cards/nttr-redflag-night-formation-flying.pdf TACAN Station Callsigns: - TEX (Texaco) - LSV (Nellis) Getting Started Checklist: (mission is configured for hot ramp start at Nellis at dusk) - Set internal lights - Set external lights (and check with Daniel) - Tune tanker TACAN at 5X (offload radio control to Daniel if comfortable) - Setup HUD/VDI/etc for cruise/navigation - Instrument check and final setup (set indicator bugs, etc) - Sweep wings for taxi (and check with Daniel) - Release parking brake - Taxi to runway and hold short - Sweep wings forward (and check with Daniel) - Taxi onto runway and takeoff - Raise gear and flaps, set wing sweep to AUTO - Proceed to tanker after acquiring TACAN beacon on RDF compass New Procedures: - Wing unsweep for takeoff: -- Raise emergency sweep cover -- Raise emergency sweep handle -- Slide emergency sweep handle full forward -- Lower emergency sweep handle -- Lower emergency sweep cover -- Press MASTER-RESET for the CADC -- Wait, then verify wing sweep functions in manual and auto mode -- Remember to set flaps as desired once wings are fully forward - External lights -- Set desired light states on the RH control panel -- Toggle the 'master light' switch to enable external lighting. - Takeoff -- Engine at 90% for takeoff roll -- Stick back at 130 knots, rotation around 140 knots -- Wheels up before 250 knots New Keybindings: RAlt-P - Parking Brake Release RCtrl-P - Parking Brake Apply ; - Exterior Light Master Switch (toggle) N - Nosewheel Steering (toggle) 0 - Snapview, Instrument Panel 9 - Snapview, All Switches (zoomed out) 8 - Snapview, Left Switches (zoomed in) 7 - Snapview, Right Switches (zoomed in) New Training Links: - TACAN navigation tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SHlzJrpP2U - Airfield Maps: https://frostburg.subgeniuskitty.com/public/game-dcs/airfield-maps/ - Big NTTR Map: https://frostburg.subgeniuskitty.com/public/game-dcs/nttr-big-map.jpg - DCS ME Triggers: https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/DCS_editor_triggerBasics https://codex.uoaf.net/index.php/DCS_mission_making_-_trigger_actions_and_vehicle_movement - Airport/Runway Information (using Nellis as example): https://www.airnav.com/airport/KLSV - F-14 NavComp Training (both Pilot and RIO): https://youtu.be/nyYDVf0jAl0?t=1463 (direct link to "how to use steer points in flight) - Formation Flying the USAF Way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lsxDAAQ1vo&list=PLd5Qdmhmp3Y6ltDJ8GUzSoTJFFwT01_-M - F-14 Field Takeoff/Landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQrx5Z5GHgQ - Location of Information in Cockpit: https://www.heatblur.se/F-14Manual/general.html#navigational-displays Misc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Keybindings: LAlt+' - Rearm/Refuel Window RCtrl+Enter - Control Overlay RShift+H - NVG (+RAlt, decrease gain) (+RCtrl, increase gain) M - Mirrors A - Jester W/B - Brakes (Wheel/Air) G - Landing Gear H - Tailhook F - Flaps Down (+LShift, up) LShift+U - Catapult Salute \ - Comms RShift+K - Kneeboard (Use '[' and ']' to flip pages) LAlt+L - Flashlight Backspace - Toggle Visible Control Stick LShift+(N/M) - Tape Deck (Start/Stop) RShift+P - Toggle Visible Pilot Body LShift+(1-5) - HUD Mode (Takeoff, Cruise, A/A, A/G, Landing) Old Training Links: - F-14B NATOPS: https://frostburg.subgeniuskitty.com/public/game-dcs/natops-f-14b.pdf - Airfield overviews (radio freqs, etc): https://frostburg.subgeniuskitty.com/public/game-dcs/airfield-overviews/ - Heatblur Cockpit Layout (and F-14 User Guide): https://heatblur.se/F-14Manual/cockpit.html# - Chuck's DCS F-14 Guide: https://chucksguides.com/aircraft/dcs/f-14b/ - Snapviews: https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/Cockpit_Views Morse Code (for TACAN beacon identification): ++============++=============++=============++=============++ || 0: ----- || A: .- || K: -.- || U: ..- || || 1: .---- || B: -... || L: .-.. || V: ...- || || 2: ..--- || C: -.-. || M: -- || W: .-- || || 3: ...-- || D: -.. || N: -. || X: -..- || || 4: ....- || E: . || O: --- || Y: -.-- || || 5: ..... || F: ..-. || P: .--. || Z: --.. || || 6: -.... || G: --. || Q: --.- || || || 7: --... || H: .... || R: .-. || || || 8: ---.. || I: .. || S: ... || || || 9: ----. || J: .--- || T: - || || ++============++=============++=============++=============++ F-14 Waypoints in DCS Mission Editor: - Waypoints in the DCS Mission Editor must have one of the following names in order to automatically be programmed into the F-14's navigation computer. They are of two types and must be created differently. -- Type 1: Create these by creating 'normal' waypoints. Number 1-3 will automatically correspond to WP1-WP3 in the F-14's navigation computer. "WP1" - Waypoint 1 "WP2" - Waypoint 2 "WP3" - Waypoint 3 -- Type 2: Create these by selecting the airplane group in the ME, then selecting the "Navigation Target Fix Points" tab (looks like a three-level food pyramid). Click "Add", click on the map to add the point, then in the "Comment" field, give it one of the following two-character names. "FP" - Fixed Point "IP" - Initial Point "ST" - Surface Target "DP" - Defended Point "HA" - Hostile Area "HB" - Homebase (automatically set to spawn location) ACM Cover Notes: - Opening the cover makes the following changes: -- Engage "SW COOL", "MSL PREP", and "HIGH" gun rate. -- Shorten AIM54 and AIM7 launch time from 3 to 1 seconds. -- Enables boresighting of missiles via "missile mode" switch. - ACM Radar Modes: (mode) (pattern) (coverage) (range) -- VSL HI (vertical) (+55* to +25*) (5nm) -- VSL LO (vertical) (+25* to -15*) (5nm) -- PAL (horizontal) (+20* to -20*) (15nm) -- PLM (boresight) ('+' ADL) (5nm) AIM54 Phoenix Notes: - AIM54 A vs C: The C is a straight upgrade in every way. - Mk 47 vs Mk 60: The Mk 60 burns faster (roughly 20s vs 30s) and thus has slightly superior during-burn performance at the expense of slightly inferior terminal ballistics. - Visibility: The AIM54C Mk47 uses the mod1 motor, upgraded from the mod0 motor in the AIM54A Mk47. Primary difference is reduced use of aluminium powder resulting in reduced smoke trail. The Mk60 motors are from a different manufacturer and did not receive this upgrade. - Usage: -- Multiplayer : AIM54C Mk47 -- Singleplayer (<30nm): AIM54C Mk60 -- Singleplayer (>30nm): AIM54C Mk47 Airspeed Gauge: - The Mach scale slides over a fixed IAS scale. The fixed IAS scale is comprised of an outer scale from 0-200 kts and an inner scale from 200-850 kts. Airfield Landing Notes: - Max 250 kts for flaps and gear - Target 15 units AOA and -600 ft/min descent. - Use throttle to control descent parameters, ignore IAS, trim for neutral stick. - Put ADL in "E" brack when HUD is in landing mode. - Fly it into the ground, no flare.