Awfully busy in for a long while but I at least have time to think...and to try and remember all my reading.
The recent thread here on fuel use/flight time had me pondering.
For B/R machines (in-game and in real life) the idea of “go here” drop bombs, take pics, register arty, is straight forward with a obvious mission end point. Drop bombs then return home. Not much percentage in a BE or RE hovering about in enemy airspace with mission complete.
Now in WOFF a typical fighter patrol is to fly here (a set point or course leg) for a set amount of time. Usually 20-25 minutes. Traditionally you end up with plenty of fuel when done and I, being a good boy, stick with the flight and return home.
And now my memory: Historically (for the RFC anyway and I’ll generally presume others) didn’t a typical fighter patrol last to the point of “enough fuel” to return home barring weather, mechanical issues, enemy contact, or getting lost and/or alone? All of which was not uncommon. I’m fairly sure this was the case.
I get, for a flight sim, why flying 60-90 minutes of no-contact in the clouds may not be desirable but is there a way to extend the patrol flight time in the game? Extending the patrol legs (by moving waypoints) is one option that pops to mind that would help a bit. Does JJJ’s ME provide some options? Something else to simulate history?
