56thvfw of basic training 01

8/3/2019 56thVFW of Basic Training 01

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Open Falcon Basic Training

56th

Fighter Academics


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This lesson is intended as quick start training for various systems particular to Open Falcon.

Items covered are:

IDM (Improved Data Modem) setup & operation

Realistic Comms

Sniper XR Targeting Pod

HAD HARM display

To begin with well review some basics to include the UFC, ICP, DED and MFD functionality

and setup.

First please start a mission and make pit settings to your preference such as HUD font color

ect. Now save your pit settings by pressing and holding Alt and C. Let up and then press S.This will save your settings by creating a .ini file for your pilot. This is important because if you

dont do this and start using the DTC all your cockpit settings will be blanked and youll have to

set everything including MFD, and TWS ect from scratch! You can find your .ini file in your OF

installs config folder. Its a good idea to save a copy of this somewhere safe JIC you boo boo

and clear the DTC or something.


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The UFC (Up Front Controller), includes multiple systems for interfacing with the Vipers on

board computer systems. Using the separate parts of the UFC you can make various settings

and adjustments to almost every system on the jet.


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The ICP is a sub component of the UFC. Many of the buttons allow you quick access to

various options like ALOW and CRUS settings. The buttons are also used to enter the values

you want into various system settings.


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The DED (Data Entry Display) shows the various options, or pages, that you have selected

using the buttons on the UFC and ICP.


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Heres an example using the LIST option. Once selected, the LIST page is displayed in the

DED. Many separate options are shown, and each has a corresponding number that when

selected on the ICP, will enter the page for that option and is then displayed on the DED


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Here the MISC option has been selected by pressing 0 on the ICP. The DED now shows

the MISC page options menu.


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Data Command Switch (DCS)

The Data Command Switch (DCS) is the four way switch below the ICP. Its four

labeled positions and corresponding functions are:

The DCS is used to navigate around on many of the pages shown in the

DED as well as to exit out of any page shown in the DED. To exit out of any particularpage view, or return to the default DED view, click the DCS to the left to reset.


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Radio Tuning

The radio in Open Falcon is very realistic and gives a great amount of functionality, however

it can also give a lot of frustration if you dont know how to use it. This is a quick crash coursefor those that want to fly with the realistic radio tuning option enabled. Further detailed

discussion of radio operation and setup can be found in the BMS Dash 34.

First were going to go over a quick way to ascertain the tower frequency for any allied

airfield you may operate out of. There is also a tower frequency listing in the docs folder of the

OF 4.3 install. Finally well go over tower comm setup in the jet.


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The DTC (Data Transfer Cartridge) in OF models the real DTC that Viper drivers use. All

kinds of info is put on the RL DTC, and we have a lot of info we can put in our DTC as well.


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Never ever, ever press the clear button on the DTC!!!! This will totally wipe out all pit settings

and your jet will be blank when you hit the pit!!!!


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VHF can be selected from the Band drop down menu, and the tower comms for VHF

can be found out in exactly the same way as for UHF. You can also assign the towercomms to a specific preset in the DTC if you like.


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IDMIn the versions of Falcon youve flown up to now, the HSD display has provided a basic

approximation of the real life IDM (Improved Data Modem) & LINK 16 capabilities. In Open

Falcon a more accurate rendition of the IDM has been implemented.

The IDM is used to establish a connection or link between different pilots. This enables the

display of positional as well as other important info for flight and package members (actually

anyone on the link IRL). Its basically like us connecting to each other over the internet to fly

online. There has to be someone that host the connection, and every flight member has their

own ID number or IP if you will.

Once connection has been established the IDM in OF shows all the info youre used to

seeing, plus a whole lot more. Targets that members of your flight have locked, show on the

HSD and radar, and flight members are displayed on the radar as well as the HSD. In

addition you can now pass along A A & A G targets to specific flight members. They will get

a data message, and the target will be displayed on their HSD and radar with symbology

letting them know that you sent the target info.

To pass along an A A target just lock up a bandit on the FCR and then press the # along

the right hand side of the MFD corresponding to the flight member you want to assign to the

attack.

Only one person should initiate the IDM session for the flight/package. This will usually be

the flight lead, but it doesnt have to be. The slides following describe how to initiate the IDM

host.


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Flight members correspond to the numbers 1,

2, 3 &4. To pass along a target any pilot justpresses the number corresponding to the

flight position of the pilot he wants the info to

go to.


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All flight members except the person assigned to host the IDM session should stay

in ASGN mode.


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Press and hold Ctrl and the letter O on your keyboard for 8 seconds to initiate an IDM

session. You must stay in CONT mode to maintain the IDM host connection! If you cycle

back to ASGN mode the connection will be terminated.


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As the host you can assign targets just like everyone else. HOWEVER there is no need for

you go back to ASGN mode. If you do that youll terminate the IDM session! Just target and

send info the same as described previously.it works exactly the same as in ASGN mode


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Sniper XR TGP


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The Sniper XR pod is now modeled in OF. This targeting pod replaces the LANTIRN pod

youre used to using. The USAF is currently fielding the Sniper pod IRL. This pod gives greatly

enhanced capability. You can target both A G and A A, and this is modeled to a great degree

of accuracy in OF.

There are some differences that youll need to get used to when using the Sniper pod, but

once you understand the TGP operation its very intuitive to use. The BMS Dash 34 goes over

the Sniper pod, and its operation in Falcon, in great detail. However, the new terminology

used can make things difficult for the uninitiated reader to understand, especially as much of

the documentation is geared to the HOTAS/Cougar owner.

Basically you just need to understand how terms like TMS forward and DMS aft translate

into what youre used to doing, whether you own a HOTAS or not. TMS stands for Target

Management Switch. Think of locking and deselecting as well as stepping to the next target

when you read or hear TMS. DMS stands for Data Management Switch. Think of switching

between different displays or options in the jet when you read or hear DMS. For non HOTAS

usersTMS forward equates to designating a target. Depending on the keystrokes file you

have loaded in the in game setup, this would mean eitherNum 0on the keypad of yourkeyboard, orCtrl Up Arrow.To Deselect targetyou wouldTMS afton your stick or hit

Num .(Num Del), orCtrl Down Arrow.To switch SOI(just think of SOI as whatever

MFD/sensor you are using at the moment, FCR, TGP ect) you wouldDMS afton your stick, or

pressShift Num 2on your keyboard.


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The 3 middle OSBs at the bottom of each MFD are quick buttons that can be set for

whatever page/option view you like. Pressing one of these OSBs will take you to the page

listed. Pressing a second time will take you to the menu page where you can select variousfunctions.


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Lets set up a slot on one of the Quick Buttons for the TGP.


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At first the TGP will be in standby mode. In this case the TGP is also not the SOI. The

FCR is SOI and you can tell this visually by the presence of the green border drawn

around the FCR display in the right MFD. Not a problem. We dont need the TGP tobe SOI to set it up.


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We do want to get the TGP out of standby mode however. Press the OSB adjacent to the

STBY option on the TGP display on the right MFD.


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Once on the TGP standby control page, press the OSB adjacent to A G and the pod will

be activated and youll see the TGP display.


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Like so. Ive pointed out SOI here again. Thats to get you used to the terminology and what SOI

means. Basically in the case of the TGP, if you want to target using the FCR (meaning that the

TGP is slaved to your radar cursors) you need to make the FCR SOI. If you want to target using the

TGP only, you need to make the TGP SOI. As you become more familiar with the Sniper podsfunctionality, youll be using and switching SOI between both the FCR and TGP without a thought.


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Alright. Here you can see that Ive switched SOI to the TGP. Ive also pointed out that were in

WHOT viewing mode. WHOT is an IR display. You can switch between different viewing modes to

get a better view of the target. Sometimes WHOT will offer the best view, and sometimes another

mode would give better imaging. Click the OSB next to WHOT to cycle through modes.


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Heres the BHOT view


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And the TV view

Therere a few other things that are different with the new TGP. There are 2 basic modesavailable for targeting.


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Area Mode: Area mode is intended for use when targeting buildings and stationary targets.

The main difference from what youre used to, is the fact that in Area mode you do not actually

lock targets up. You just move the crosshairs over what you want to hit and they will stay in

place. You can adjust aim as the bomb drops to the target if you like. Whether you are

targeting with the FCR or TGP as SOI youll need to ground stabilize the crosshairs by goingTMS forward/designate target on your stick orNum 0 orCtrl Up Arrow on your keyboard.

If you dont do this the crosshairs will not be able to be moved. Remember that once you are

ground stabilized and have the crosshairs moving, that they will stay wherever you put them.

No more trying to lock a target and having the lock jump around. This is accurate to the RL pod

operation. For HOTAS users, going TMS forward and holding will command Area mode. Letting

go will automatically go to Point mode and if there is a target that Point can lock onto, itll stay

in Point. If not the pod will revert to Area. To command and stay in area HOTAS users need to

go TMS right.

Point Mode:Point mode is intended for smaller targets with well defined edges like vehicles,

tanks or aircraft. You will get a targeting box in this mode. If the target is moving the TD will

stay on, and track it. Buildings and larger targets will not be able to be locked in point! You get

to point track by first targeting in Area mode. For HOTAS users going TMS forward and holding

will command Area mode. Letting go will automatically go to Point mode. If there is a target that

point can lock onto itll stay in point. For non HOTAS users once you have the target under the

crosshairs in Area mode, just designate target on your stick, or press Num 0 or Ctrl Up Arrow

on your keyboard to get to point mode.

If you have any issues with not being able to ground stabilize ect., check the keystrokes

profile you have loaded. The BMS keystrokes should work well for non HOTAS owners as well

as the old SP keystrokes.

HARMS & The HAD


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The HAD is another new feature thats accurate to RL. If you go to pull up your HARMs in

OF youll probably think something's broken, as the normal HMS view is not used anymore.

Not to worry everything still works, just little differently thats all. You now have a separatededicated display for using your HARMs called the HAD (HARM Attack Display). All you need

to do is set up a slot for the HAD under one of the MFD quick buttons, and youll be set.

There is some new symbology associated with the HAD. This will be covered in the following

slides.


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Call up your AGM 88s


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Range is set the same as for the HSD. Youll notice that the targeting cursors are sideways from

what youre used to.this is correct symbology for the HAD. Youll also see a graphical depiction of

the WEZ for the AGM 88. This will change with your altitude and speed. Its not unusual to see

launch ranges within WEZ of 40+ miles. If your HAD range is set less than the WEZ range, the solid

white outline will become dashed to graphically depict this fact.


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Hopefully this training lesson has addressed some of the more difficult new


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features in OF. Once you understand how everything is set up, and how it works,

its a piece of cake. This lesson is just a very brief break down of high interest

items. For more details and in depth discussion please refer to the BMS Dash 34

located in your OF install Docs folder.

Good Luck & Happy hunting!

56thvfw of basic training 01

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