Struggling with the Tomcat!

I know I’m opening myself up to the RTFM brigade here, but I am struggling with the Tomcat.

After many years of flight simming, I am, for the first time, unable to get to grips with an aircraft.

I’ve read the manual, done the training missions and watched endless YT videos, yet still remain bogged down.

Let me put one simple scenario question.

In a A2A gun situation with a couple of enemy aircraft at, say, 40 miles away, how do I see them in the pilot seat on WCS or HUD, or transfer the RIO tracking info to the targeting system?

At the moment, I am only using F10 map and the RIO ‘4 o’clock high’ type commands to try and seek out the bandits.

On the right hand vertical console, there's a switch to mirror jester's TID display in the front seat. (I'm not at my PC right now so I can't remember the name on the label of the switch)

although you will only be able to see what your RIO sees.

Additionally, you can use the Data Link and set an AWACS as host. Let the AWACS be your eyes.

You can switch the VDI display to the camera view and see what's locked, and switch the HSD display to the RIOs radar. My issue right now is dogfighting. I'm getting shot down by Su-24s. Albeit, it is 8 vs 1. :) The really funny thing is I didn't even know they had guns.:megalol:

Also you wont get any symbology in the HUD showing where they are unless you're in AA mode and have the aircraft in a Single Target Track.

Thanks guys, but I'm looking at a much more basic level here!

Tell me what your process is in the scenario in my post #1. From initially seeing the bandits on the RIO radar, to locking them in and seeing that lock in the pilot seat HUD. Then, the process from there to downing them.

I'm even confused by the RTGS. Sometimes I think I've got it by firing when the pipper is on top of the (locked on) diamond, and that works, but other times that is way off. And, I'm not even sure how the diamond locks on to a target in the first place! Videos and training missions suggest using PLM to lock, but I can't get that to work either.

It sounds like you need to get up to speed with some of the pilot locking modes. I have great success with vertical scan High/Low and PAL.

I am having same problem I assume the Bandit is locked only to hear Jester tell me he has lost the lock. and It seems as though the missile isn't even going near the target locked. I've got cargo planes out running missiles lol.

If AWACS tells you there's a bandit, 40 miles, 20,000 ft, hot:

Turn the nose to point directly at the bandit's bearing.

Tell Jester to scan higher or lower using the Jester menu.

Confirm the correct scan volume by mirroring the TID onto the pilot's display (switches next to the HUD master mode switches, right side under the arresting hook).

If the bandit is still not showing up, I personally hop in the back seat and do it myself. Pulse Doppler search, Pulse search (if not super long range). Narrow the search field as much as possible by adjusting bars and azimuth scan zone.

Once in the front seat, with targets showing up on the TID in TWS mode, you can fire Phoenixes as soon as they're in range (flashing symbols).

Or, tell jester to STT lock a bandit and attack that way.

Don't forget to turn on the master arm and MSL PREP switches!

I am having same problem I assume the Bandit is locked only to hear Jester tell me he has lost the lock. and It seems as though the missile isn't even going near the target locked. I've got cargo planes out running missiles lol.

Jester is performing far better with TWS radar modes at the moment what that means is you don’t need to ask him to lock targets. In fact you don’t need to do anything you fly toward the enemy aircraft mirror jesters radar display on your vdi and you will see by the symbology how he has locked the targets simultaneously by looking at the number on the right hand side. For example there is a flight of four enemy aircraft ahead you may see four contacts with 1 2 3 and 4 next to them. If you have pheonix missiles selected and master arm off you can launch them one after another, you will know if you have run out of lost locked targets because the hot rig light in front of you won’t be illuminated any more and your missiles won’t launch. Sometimes then I ask him to go into STT mode to pick off remaining targets that were not hit with my missiles in TWS mode and I admit he often looses lock in STT mode. So often then it becomes a BFM merge with sidewinder or guns.

Thanks guys. However, it’s not so much missile modes and locks that are getting the better of me, it’s in a guns only scenario as I said in my posts.

An example is the guns air to air training mission. Easy to shoot down the first aircraft, but then I have the issue with the 2 F-5s at WP2. What is the best way to track and lock them?

You can switch the VDI display to the camera view and see what's locked, and switch the HSD display to the RIOs radar. My issue right now is dogfighting. I'm getting shot down by Su-24s. Albeit, it is 8 vs 1. :) The really funny thing is I didn't even know they had guns.:megalol:

Yep they carry the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23, same gun as a Mig-31.

Thanks guys. However, it’s not so much missile modes and locks that are getting the better of me, it’s in a guns only scenario as I said in my posts.

An example is the guns air to air training mission. Easy to shoot down the first aircraft, but then I have the issue with the 2 F-5s at WP2. What is the best way to track and lock them?

I'm having the same problem with the F-5s. I simply don't know how to find them apart from an approximate location.

Thanks guys. However, it’s not so much missile modes and locks that are getting the better of me, it’s in a guns only scenario as I said in my posts.

An example is the guns air to air training mission. Easy to shoot down the first aircraft, but then I have the issue with the 2 F-5s at WP2. What is the best way to track and lock them?

No easy answer to this, with the way that currently spotting and keeping track of aircraft is broken in DCS. (Likely won't be fixed anytime soon either) I generally see bigger fighters okay, but the F5 is really tricky to spot.

I use PLA mode to lock one of them up, then zoom in for visual and switch to the TCS to check their aspect. Works quite well for me but if I take my eye off them for one second it's extremely hard to find them again.

If I do lose them I generally fly at a 90 degree bank circle using VSI HI mode to until I get another lock. There is no shame in using your radar to find enemies even if you are going for a guns kill. :)

Yep they carry the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23, same gun as a Mig-31.

Wow, I had no idea.

Yep, I hate those "RTFM brigade" types. Nothing worse.

Thanks guys. However, it’s not so much missile modes and locks that are getting the better of me, it’s in a guns only scenario as I said in my posts.

An example is the guns air to air training mission. Easy to shoot down the first aircraft, but then I have the issue with the 2 F-5s at WP2. What is the best way to track and lock them?

I switch back to sidewinders and use one of the ACM modes... then switch back to guns. I wonder if you're supposed to be able to use ACM radar modes with the gun selected?

I switch back to sidewinders and use one of the ACM modes... then switch back to guns. I wonder if you're supposed to be able to use ACM radar modes with the gun selected?

They work even when selecting the gun, however the symbology is absent from the HUD.