Copterdrvr asked what the different flare colours mean. So this will be searchable, I started it in a new thread.

From the pamplett 'Fighting in the Air', Appendix A , issued to RFC/RAF flyers in April 1918.

Red Flares mean 'Rally on me'.
Red was used by the flight leader to collect his flight if they had taken off individually and form up for the mission. It was also used by the Flight lead to reform his flight after an engagement. It could be used by any flight member during a dogfight to signify they're in trouble and need other flight members to rally to them.

White means 'Return to you aerodrome' (Flight Leader only)
If White was fired by the flight leader in friendly territory, flight members were free to break off and make their own way home. If white was fired in enemy territory, the flight was expected to stay in formation until the lines were crossed.

Green means 'I am forced to return to my aerodrome'
If green was fired by the flight leader, the next pilot in the chain of command would take over the flight and continue

Spoon

Thanks Spoon, the info's appreciated.

Wonder if they have the same meaning in ROF?

Bueller, Bueller ??????

I don't think flares have any meaning at the moment in ROF. AI pilots certainly don't seem to react to them.

Spoon

The flares you can shoot off in ROF are purely cosmetic, nothing more than that.

Thanks guys.

As they're useless for signaling, wonder if shooting one in a balloon would set it off-hey that sounds like a challenge!!!

I've bounced a half dozen flares off a balloon. ROF isn't Flyboys...



Spoon

Before take off on a mission I generally see a green flare fired off ... why and what is the reason if green means 'I am forced to return to my aerodrome'

If green was fired by the flight leader, the next pilot in the chain of command would take over the flight and continue



vK ~

Actually,

In the beta career, as a flight leader, the flare commands do seem to work. I think

Anyway, if you issue the Command to rejoin formation (or whatever it is called in the HUD menu), your pilot fires a green flare, and the AI wingmen stop what they were doing and form up on you.

If you issue the Return to Base command, your pilot fires a white flare.... and say goodbye to your wingmen, they are headed home.

The green, white and red flares fired by the airbases are triggered by proximity and/or timer triggers....

I believe at the start of a mission where you see a green flare signaling the command to takeoff, what has happened is a timer (which began ticking when you entered the mission) triggered the flare, and also triggered the command to takeoff (for AI aircraft). I believe the white flares you see fired by the airbase when you return from a mission are triggered by the lead aircraft's proximity to the airbase (after completing the waypoint route).... And red flares fired byt the airbase to indicate "incoming bandits" are also triggered by proximity of the bandits to the airbase...

Or this is how it appears to work when opening up career missions with the mission editor

Best wishes.

Not true. Assuming you are the senior pilot.

When you hit resume formation, a flare fires automatically and everyone forms on you.

Same with return to base. A flare fires and your wingies drop ordnance (if they have any) and head for home (they don't form up on you).

There may be others but those are two I use regularly and when I do, a flare automatically fires and the flight does what it's told.

Hi,
maybe OT (WW2) just read a book about a Stuka (Ju 87) squadron written by one of the pilots. When attacking Malta a shot-up Ju 87 had to emergency-land on allied Lucca, all AA shooting at it. The pilot fired 3 red flares and a green one, after which the british fired a white flare in return, indicating he was free to land, and the AA immediately stopped. So .. were or are flare signals international ?
Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

Its not the flares the AI are reacting to, its the command.

Issue the 'Return to Base command' and you fire a white flare and your flight goes home. Now reload the mission, and fire white flares for as long as you like and your flight won't react.

Its the same with the 'Rejoin Command'. It fires a green flare and the AI rejoin but if you just fire a green flare by itself, they do nothing.

Spoon

Exactly

Thinking out loud here. If I assign a macro to a key press to fire a flare AND issue the appropriate command, it should have the desired effect.

Will try later and report back.

WB.

Except that a flare is already fired by default when you issue a command. Again, the AI is responding to the command, NOT the flare.

Ooops should have thought about it a bit more. I'll get my coat!

WB.