Posted By: BeachAV8R
LOMAC/FC: Training Mission #06 - 12/22/06 06:17 AM
As basic flight and systems training draws to a close I’m looking forward to starting on weapons and tactics in future mission reports. Prior to starting this important phase of training however, I’ve been invited along on a sortie to show me what the training is all about. One of the more experienced attack pilots asked if I’d like to fly along on a typical “attack” profile that I might see out in the field upon completion of my training. I figured I’d take the opportunity to learn a little bit from this combat veteran and agreed to tag along on the flight.
Download this mission here: http://www.mudspike.com/lomac/simhq06.zip
During the briefing the lead pilot stresses to me: ”Stay glued to my wing. Do not lose me. Things will happen fast - - but whatever you do - - do not fall off my wing!” I was convinced. It felt strange strapping into an aircraft that didn’t sport the high visibility training squadron colors and my heart was pounding in my chest.
This particular mission starts airborne. Though not my preference I kept it that way in order to not mess up the mission timing. Also note you will have to cycle to the wingman aircraft and use the 'ALT-J' command to jump into the wingman position.
Coming down the valley we are shielded from enemy eyes and ears as I keep a close eye on the flight lead and try to mirror his every move.
At the termination of the valley we take a hard left turn, increase airspeed and drop even closer to the ground as we storm across the flat coastal plain. The flight lead is calm and cool as we hit our waypoints and the coast rushes ever closer. He pops up a couple of times to do a visual scan and I have trouble matching his maneuvering. Several times I lose sight of him as he is obscured by the frame of the cockpit and I have to roll aggressively and desperately search in order to pick him up again.
As I acquire him visually to my left and a bit below me I dive down onto him and pop my speedbrakes out to avoid an overshoot. Just then I see smoke and flames shoot from his aircraft. Flares? Oh shi#...flares!! If he’s popping flares there must be a reason!
I too pop some flares and reef my jet around into a hard right turn – pulling G’s and feeling the aircraft burble on the edge of stalling out. I ease off the stick a bit, glance at the AOA meter, and kept it bouncing around near redline (critical AOA or stall). Looking back up out of the cockpit I scan desperately looking for my flight lead but can’t spot him. All around me however things are blowing up and I can see tracers and shells crisscrossing the fields all around me.
A dramatic battle is taking place before my eyes as enemy and allied forces race at each other in a lethal barrage of artillery and armor piercing tank rounds. The hulks of burned out tanks sit glowing on the battlefield while other buildings and structures smolder and power transmission towers lay crumpled across the ground.
Cont…