Jeffu

11 hours ago, =VG= Acro1 said:

Gaming is not impossible on Ubuntu and other Linux distros, but you'll run into several caveats likely. Performance is almost always lower especially for non-linux titles. Support for graphics cards and peripherals is not always available or free of bugs. Each game specifically will have quirks that may not play well within Linux, so you won't always know which titles are playable.

Gaming on Linux has largely turned to virtual machines. It is possible to hand a GPU over to a virtual machine to allow it to play games and use hardware acceleration for programs at native performance.

I used both VirtualBox and VMWare when I still used Windows. VMWare came across as a more polished product, but either will work fine for what you need it to do.

I don't see a problem with it if they become active in the community and are showing progress in learning the game. The only basic game requirements that I can think of would be to know how to map and test your controls, and to be able to get into 3D.

Here's my proficiency rating proposal, complete with appropriate manual references for future training purposes. It might be interesting to have an accompanying document reader that could interact with the list.

The levels can be renamed or reworked. Please chime in if you see something missing or think something is in the wrong place.

A-A

Bronze
Basic knowledge of FCR: Range-while-scan, Targeting, Antenna elevation (-34, 1.4.4)
Basic employment of AIM-120 and AIM-9 with radar targeting (-34, 2.1)
Basic missile defense, use of countermeasures (Chaff, Flares) (-34, 1.7)
Engagement: RWR, Fight or Flight, Target sorting (-34, 1.4.4.1, 1.6.1.4 to 1.67)
Aircraft Identification using TGP (-34, 1.10.7.5.1)

Silver
Intermediate FCR, sorting and assigning datalink contacts (-34, 1.5.5)
IFF Basics (-1, 1.16, 1.16.4.2)
Engagement: Threat Assessment
Missile launch cues (-34, 2.1.3)
Intermediate missile defense, ECM (-1 1.2.1.8), (-34 1.7 )
Dogfight master mode, helmet radar sighting (-34, 1.11)

Gold
Advanced FCR, all modes (-34, 1.4.4.1.3)
Engagement: Knowledge of common weapons and flight profiles of threat aircraft
Group BVR tactics
Basic Dogfight Proficiency
Full A-A Datalink Proficiency (-34 1.5)

A-G

Bronze
A-G FCR (-34, 1.4.5)
TGP Basics (-34, 1.10)
CCRP and CCIP(-1 1.4.5.2)
Dumb bombs
Cluster munition settings (-1 1.4.5.2)
GPS/JDAMs/SDBs (-34, 3.4)
Basic HARM, HAD, HTS pod (-34, 3.3)

Silver
Marking target areas with Steerpoint Lines and Pre-Planned Threat points (in map)
TGP Lasing (-1, 1.2.3.1) (-34 1.10.4)
Laser guided bombs (-34, 1.10)
Adv HARM, WPN Page (-34, 3.3)
Basic Mavs, without handoff (-34, 3.2)
AG Datalink cursor (-34, 1.5.6)

Gold
Advanced TGP features: LST, Buddy Lasing, Frag Circle (-34, 1.10.7.4, )
Mavs w/ handoff (-34, 1.10.8, 3.2.8, 3.2.9)
Advanced bomb delivery: Popup, Toss
Markpoints (-1, 1.3.10)
AG Datalink Steerpoints (-34, 1.5.6)
Low level delivery of retarded weapons (Mk82 Air, Mk82 SE, Mk84 Air, BLU)

F-16

Bronze
Working IVC (Technical Manual 18.1, 9.1)
Maintain contact with flight lead after takeoff
Singleplayer basics: Training TE01 (Training Manual Mission 01) (BMS Comms-Nav Part 1)

• Ramp Start (-1, 2.1)
• Communicating with tower using radio presets, (Technical Manual, 9.1), (-1, 1.3.13, 1.3.14)
• Taxi (-1, 1.13)
• Takeoff, Departure
• Steerpoint Navigation (-1, 1.3.4, 1.4.3, 1.5)
• Contacting approach, Landing (-1, 1.5.3, 1.13, 2.3)

Silver
Basic airmanship: Level turns, speed control, loose formation, formation knowledge
All the Controls (-34 1.1.1.4)
Recovering from a hot start (-1, 3.5)
Learning the instruments (-1, 1.2.3.2 to 1.2.3.22)
Visualizing the Bullseye
ILS Basics (-1, 1.3.5)
Advanced Radio Management & Controls, entering manual frequencies, verifying and changing presets in-flight (BMS Comms-Nav Part 2) (-1, 1.3.13, 1.3.14)
DED (-1, 1.3)
Using Master Modes (-34 1.1.2), (-1 1.4.18)
MFD Controls, Pages (-1 1.4)
Datalink basics: modes, sending information (-34 1.5.5.1, 1.5.7)

Gold
Advanced airmanship: Tight formation, flying as #1, leading a flight
Deep Stall Recovery (-1, 4.4)
Flying on instruments, inclement weather approach and landing, HSI proficiency (-1 1.2.3.14-15) (-34 1.3) (BMS Comms-Nav Part 3 & 4)
Aerial Refueling
Advanced recovery: formation landing and overhead break (BMS-Comms-Nav 1.4.1, 1.4.3)

I think a proficiency rating system for different combat roles and aircraft would be good. Something like a bronze, silver and gold for A-A, A-G and for various aircraft would help people track their progression in the game as well as help instructors with what topics to cover.

Server restarted, still day 5. I'll let Semler make his campaign changes and reset it to day 1 whenever he has time.

Restarted, currently on day 6.

New version came out in April: https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?35505-Falcon-BMS-4-34-Full-Installer

What exactly do you guys need from a guide? I made a stripped down ramp start video in 4.33 a few years ago but never made it public.

It covers the basics of starting the jet and powering up the systems as well as radio basics.

It needs revision, doing the throttle movement part in 4.34 will lead to engine failure on startup. In 4.34 it needs to be kept stationary until the throttle detent is clicked.

Hello, I've been flying in the FO event as well. I'll have to try and hop on with you guys.

Click the Comm Plan button and read the briefing. Ground control is UHF 2, Tower is UHF 3, Approach/Departure is UHF 4, AWACS is UHF 6, AI flight members are on VHF 15.

1 minute ago, =VG= Kavelenko said:

You can transfer the logbook file across ok without issues, and keep your previous missions data.

My old key file seems to work at the moment but I don't know what's new in 4.34 yet I assume all the old controls will work as before and that there could be additional new ones?

I think all controls from 4.33 are still present. The main issue is that there are older legacy callbacks pre-4.33 that have been removed in 4.34 and this could cause issues with the game.

You can transfer the keyfile, but you will need to set almost everything else up from scratch.

Some mods or changes to the game will affect the files that contain data for aircraft, most servers will not allow modified files to help prevent cheating.

Do you have any mods installed? Have you made any changes using the Avionics configurator?

No, the AI exist just to make things explode when they feel like it.

Hello, I don't think mouse control is possible because it's used to look around and click cockpit buttons. Keyboard flight controls can be set in-game, in section 6.03. Double click on the binding you want to change and press whatever key you want.

The F-16 drains centerline tank first by default.

Know and love the Fuel QTY SEL panel, the switch toggles external tank behaviour, rotating the knob will display the amount of fuel remaining in whatever you select using the needles on the fuel indicator.

17 hours ago, =VG= Kavelenko said:

That's very generous of you Sandstorm, Death has a Thrustmaster HOTAS 4, so if anyone has a profile or keyfile that will help him get airborne quicker that would be appreciated.

I use the HOTAS X, basically the same stick, with mouselook and a separate program called joy2key to map the lever on the back of the throttle to the airbrake. Keyfile is attached (BMS - Basicnew.key).

In this image (template from a forum somewhere), the first command for each button is in the normal state, the second command is used by holding the pinky switch on the back of the throttle. I also overrode some of the default keys (numpad is ICP, Enter and . work to enter and delete data, + and -  for data up and down, spacebar activates the maintenance light when battery is on)

The only thing I don't have on here are toe brakes and landing gear (I use racing wheel pedals for differential braking, and I've had one too many incidents accidentally lowering gear at speed), but this should keep him on the stick 99% of the time and not having to reach for the keyboard.

BMS - Basicnew.key

Other than bullseye, everything looks fine. The majority of squadrons still have plenty of aircraft after normal combat losses. Even the Harrier squadrons look topped off, I would normally expect a few to be missing given how easy they are to crash.

It meant that the AGM-88 Datalink mode isn't supported. The Datalink is covered in the -34, section 1.4 and is pretty straightforward. It's used it to transmit aircraft position as well as A-A and A-G targets.

To initiate A-A datalink, hold and release comms left for a single update, or press "ASGN" first in the A-A FCR to change to continuous mode to run repeating updates. A-A datalink will allow you to manually assign targets to flight members (1-2-3-4 on A-A FCR) as well as show contacts from other flight members automatically.

A-G datalink (comms right) can either be used to transmit A-G FCR cursor position when FCR is selected, or to transmit your current steerpoint whenever your HSD is selected. When receiving steerpoints, they're automatically stored as steerpoints 71 through 80, and the message on the HUD when you receive one will tell you which number to switch to (MKPT# DATA, see page -34, page 43).

4 hours ago, =VG= Kavelenko said:

@SemlerPDX  - Good instructions, followed them and they worked fine, I'm ready to try communicating without TS.

Ah I did notice one point that you may wish to add and that is even though we set the preset 15 to Tower, those frequencies are not set in the cockpit until we upload the DTC via the MFD.

Otherwise its perfect!

Yes, another thing to add would be to not check in with your flight until the DTC is loaded, so you don't get into contact and then wonder why the radio stopped working.

Other great things to add would be enabling loudness = 1 in the IVC.ini file, as well as learning to check for a stuck mic.

11 hours ago, Sarge55 said:

I'm getting the ACData error when trying to join the server.  I've uninstalled all the other theaters I had and I don't have any mods installed.

Any suggestions?  I sure don't want to do a clean install if I can get away with it.

Try opening the Avionics Configurator and setting everything to default. Select each jet on the left side and click "Set Default" under the Edit menu for each one. I've also exported my default profile, you can try loading that instead.

default.ACfg

33 minutes ago, =VG= Kavelenko said:

Ok I'll do that training mission first then try it again on my own Harrier package which flys out of Kangnung Air base and targets the unprotected Kumgang bridge across the demarcation line.

So I'm assuming the GBU-16 a general purpose bomb and it will operate using CCIP mode?

I think he means becoming proficient at dumb bombing before using GBUs, as using laser guided weapons involves several additional steps as well as use of the targeting pod (TGP).

To go from dumb bombing to LGBs I would recommend learning, in order:

• A-G Radar
• Dumb bomb CCRP on A-G Radar target
• Using TGP to see and refine a selected A-G radar target
• Dumb bomb CCRP on TGP target

Interacting with the A-G radar and the targeting pod is simpler than some people make it out to be: Radar cursor to move, TMS Up does things, TMS Down undoes things, Pinky Switch to zoom/change FOV (which is required for the TGP), and DMS Down to switch between MFDs. The jet will attempt to lase a target automatically after weapon release, so no interaction required there.

Once you learn how to use the targeting pod to aim and drop a dumb bomb, dropping a laser guided weapon isn't difficult and only requires arming the laser, setting it to combat mode through the DED (LASR page) and optionally setting your laser code (which has to be done through both the 2D loadout screen and the DED page).

I might make a video and/or a separate thread about this and similar topics if there's any demand for one.

2 hours ago, =VG= Kavelenko said:

I've got a little bug creeping in when I rampstart the Harrier. any ideas would be helpful.

When I power up the right MSD, and load the DTE, after a while the MSD for the HSD switches off for some reason.

Now admittedly I'm only getting this problem with a package I set up myself so it might be something to do with that.

Make sure there isn't an "OXY" caution light on the bottom right cluster (not to be confused with the one on the front panel), stuff switching off sounds like a classic air source problem.

For takeoff and landing, I just try and figure out what works and stick to it as consistently as possible. It's probably better to think about the nozzles as flaps. In real life VTOL operations would be limited by gross weight, air temperature, remaining water, etc. and takeoff and landing would more than likely be nozzle-assisted rather than VTOL.

I haven't needed external views for anything. I don't like the tendency for the jet to bounce on vertical touchdown, so I'll probably switch to a slow rolling landing instead.

More Harrier tips:

• Landing is basically the reverse of vertical takeoff, gear down at 250 and exhaust 40 degrees down until 140 knots, skip the 60 and go straight to 80. 90 will hover but slows you slightly.
• Landing is complicated by the fact that the jet tends to bounce on touchdown and can nose over. I hold the nose upwards a few degrees just in case, but I've found that a very slow rolling landing seems to help minimize bouncing.

If you get good at pure VTOL you can clear yourself to and from the ramp. I landed backwards once and looped the plane though, I don't know if that's a common occurrence.

• Enable loudness = 1 in /Bin/x86/IVC/IVC Client.txt, which enables audio compression mainly to overcome issues with engine volume and voice comms but it also helps with hearing voice comms over AI background comms.
• Jet seems to pull right for me when taxiing with symmetrical loadout, need help reproducing.
• When starting from the ramp, right toebrake is mapped to the left, left toebrake is mapped to both. Known bug.