Hi folks!
The Mirage air-to-air rework is under way. This time, we start with the general description of the radar and its limitations.
Feel free to consult the attached pdf to see the draft.
2021-12-07 12:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
RAZBAM has recently pushed yet another update for the Mirage 2000 (again). Let's hope this update will be the last one... because I've been re-writing sections of this document for more than four years. Time flies, doesn't it?
On the bright side, the radar simulation is much better and closer to the real thing... but on the flip side, many functionalities have been re-done from scratch. This means new radar modes, new symbology, new terminology and an overall metric crap...
2021-12-01 12:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
The Tomcat guide now has its own LANTIRN section, including a JESTER-specific procedure to use GBU-12 laser-guided bombs. I've also fixed a number of small errors here and there and updated the digital EIG (Engine Instrument Group) panel. Furthermore, I added a note on the need to flash navigation lights for night carrier takeoffs.
Hi folks!
This time, we explore the JESTER integration for use of the LANTIRN targeting pod.
Feel free to consult the attached pdf to see the draft.
2021-11-20 12:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Here is the first part of the F-14 guide update on the LANTIRN targeting pod. This time around, I've decided to go a bit more in-depth about different modes and capabilities of the pod.
Feel free to consult the attached pdf to see the draft.
2021-11-16 12:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
The Mosquito guide is finally released. I know very few people are likely to care about it since it's an old plane without all the fancy gizmos of modern warfare, but I just had so much enjoyment out of the whole experience. Some might say I've poured an unreasonable amount of time and effort into a module that's not incredibly popular... but I see it in a different light. I think... sometimes it's more about the journey than the destination.
Now... what's ne...
2021-11-11 15:01:51 +0000 UTC View PostGreetings, everyone!
The Mosquito guide is finally here. It took a while, but I found the whole process of researching old, arcane systems a lot of fun. This is one of these projects that mean a lot to me on a personal level. It may not have the popularity of modern multirole jets, but the Mossie was certainly an incredible engineering achievement back then. As I looked for information about various topics, I encountered many interesting people during this journey, people who were kind ...
2021-11-09 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi folks!
"Oboe" is a blind bombing system that is pretty much one of the darkest, most mysterious feats of wizardry I've come across in a flight simulator. It's one of these systems that you often hear about but never really see how it works in practice.
Before someone says it... yes, Oboe was not used with our Fighter-Bomber variant of the Mosquito; it was used by the Bomber var...
2021-11-04 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
This has been probably one of my favorite sections to write so far: navigation. Why? Because the Mossie finally brings us some old school, World War II era tools for the job. I've wandered countless times in aviation museums, looking at these dusty radio sets... how on earth could they work? Well, after much research... I finally have something to show.
Direction finding is int...
2021-11-01 11:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Let's explore the radios together. We won't touch on the D/F (Direction Finding) functionalities yet, but there's plenty of stuff when it comes to the communications side of things. I thought it would be fun to include a "what if" scenario where you have to use the trailing antenna. It's theoretically possible in DCS to create scripts to have certain units (like ships. tanks, etc.) respond to radio calls, and I thought that the comms aspect could be interesting to explore in a...
2021-10-27 11:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Let's see how effective the Mossie can be when it comes to weapons. In terms of firepower, it is probably one of the deadliest WWII aircraft around with its four .303 machineguns and 20 mm Hispano cannons. Aiming is quite straightforward since they are all mounted to fire along the same lateral axis.
The bomb load is nothing to sneer at either; four 500 lbs bombs can make a single run very destructive. I've included the dive bomb procedure, but I hope we can get the dela...
2021-10-23 11:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
This is a smaller segment regarding speed limitations of the aircraft.
For fun, I added a few pages on the physics of flying a twin-engine propeller aircraft. Pretty arrows and stuff.
<...
Hi folks!
Last time, we talked about the engines and how to keep them running. Another important aspect of the Mossie is that it had an incredibly long range. Its internal fuel tanks could hold up to about 450 imperial gallons, not including 50 or 100 gal drop tanks... and not including an extra long-range tank of 60 gal (which isn't available at the moment) installed in the 20 mm cannon bay. Mossies were sometimes sent as pathfinders for the night bombing raids of the Royal Air Force, ...
2021-10-14 11:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
I have been working on the Mosquito guide for the last few weeks, which has been great. However, I must admit that progress has been slower than expected. Annoying. Real life often gets in the way, and last month has been no exception. I had less time than I initially anticipated, and with the upcoming DCS updates later in 2021... I can see a scope-creep-shaped giant iceberg heading right towards me.
2021-10-12 21:36:06 +0000 UTC
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Hi folks!
The Mosquito is quite interesting in terms of engine management. Losing an engine in a single-engine fighter generally means ditching or bailing out... but the Mossie can still bring you home! In this section, we'll explore the engine controls of the Merlin 25, a variant optimized to operate at low altitudes. The controls are pretty simple, but the feathering system brings an interesting dynamic.
2021-10-08 11:01:02 +0000 UTC
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Hi folks!
In this post, we see how to takeoff and land in the Mossie. The procedure is pretty straightforward but a bit tricky, especially on takeoff since both engines rotate in the same direction. Two methods are explored, which are both based on pilot accounts. The Mossie was an aircraft that was very unforgiving if something went wrong in those critical phases of flight. I read about some accounts where the navigator's parachute got tangled up by mistake on the fuel cock handles (lo...
2021-10-01 11:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Let's fire up those Merlins!
Feel free to consult the attached pdf to see the draft.
2021-09-28 11:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
I had to dig up a few pilot manuals, technical manuals, documentaries and even technical drawings to figure some of this stuff out. The Mosquito is a mysterious creature, full of weird intricacies and british-isms. After doing all these guides on modern fighters, it feels great to see a pre-1950's cockpit where no design convention seems to exist and pilot and navigator comfort is merely an afterthought. There are switches, levers and buttons crammed everywhere... even behind ...
2021-09-21 13:37:00 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
The Mosquito is finally here! This feels like Christmas in September. Time to stock up on coffee and get cracking.
Last month, I managed to slip a few revamped sections for the Harrier's Maverick and part of the Mi-8 radio navigation section. There are a few minor items remaining on my to-do pilot of things to f...
2021-09-17 17:42:36 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks,
In the recent months, there has been an ever-increasing number of guide downloads on Mudspike. As some of you may have noticed, the website has suffered some technical issues, mainly due to the server getting hammered with downloads. I didn't think I'd ever have to deal with these sorts of issues, but here we are.
The numbers don't lie. Some of the biggest up-ticks in traffic on...
2021-08-31 18:53:41 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Eagle Dynamics recently implemented an alignment procedure to the JHMCS. Therefore, I decided to add it to both the start-up procedure and the JHMCS Sensor section. This may be one of the last Hornet guide updates of the sort before I concentrate on other more urgent matters.
Since this addition forced me to re-do most of the bookmarks, I thought... I may as well bit the bullet ...
2021-08-21 14:05:41 +0000 UTC View PostOne of the questions I'm often asked by members of the flight sim community often goes like this: "What is the most realistic sim?"
In my mind, there is no clear cut answer. The definition of "realism" is often interpreted differently from person to person. Is it a matter of visual fidelity, aircraft system depth, "feeling" of flight, using standard operating procedures (SOP), weather effects, air traffic, aircraft component malfunction, damage model, sound effects... or is it something...
2021-08-20 11:01:33 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
As some of you may know, summer is soon coming to an end. With the first iteration of the Hind guide released, I can now take things a bit slower before concentrating on other ambitious projects. Overall, I'm satisfied with the result and I have learned many lessons which will prove useful once the Apache gets closer to release.
I was happy to learn that the 2021-08-17 02:11:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Greetings, everyone!
The Mi-24 guide is finally here. After intense weeks of work, we now have 430+ pages worth of material. There will be more eventually as the module exits Early Access and delivers the few remaining features like the R-60 and Ataka missiles.
Happy reading everyone.
2021-08-10 16:23:44 +0000 UTC
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Hi folks!
This is always one of my favorite parts to write: the powerplant. Eagle Dynamics' manual has very little descriptions of the the engine systems, but luckily they did some great documentation for the Mi-8's engines... which are almost identical to the ones installed in our Mi-24.
As a bonus, I also added a bit of meat with various ancillary systems like the fire protection syste...
2021-08-08 11:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi folks!
The Mi-24, despite its design that screams agression, has a relatively gentle handling due to its automatic flight control system and autopilot. It reduces significantly the workload of the pilot. However, some autopilot modes should be considered merely as "assists" rather than full flown autopilots. The Hover Control Mode is a great example of this philosophy; the pilot is expected to settle the helicopter into a hover first, and if the attitude is set, only then will he be ...
2021-08-06 11:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Today, we talk about the radio and navigation systems. It's interesting to see how flexible the Mi-24 is in terms of navigation equipment. It is capable of tracking Non-Directional Beacons, but also home on distress radio signals with the ARK-U2, R-828 and R-852 systems. While the Mi-24 was primarily employed as an attack helicopter, it was also capable of performing SAR (Search & Rescue) missions. This allows you to fly a good variety of different operation types.
<...
2021-08-04 11:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Let's explore the countermeasure systems of the Hind. While chaff and flare employment is pretty basic, the Co-Pilot can still select a few countermeasure programs. We will also see the SPO-10 Radar Warning receiver, which is a valuable upgrade compared to the Mi-8. Those of you who fly the MiG-21 will feel right at home.
Feel free to consult the attached pdf to see the draft.<...
2021-08-01 11:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostHi folks!
Time to wrap up the weapons section with the 9M114 Shturm missiles, also known as the AT-6 "Spiral" missile. I've included three methods of using it:
2021-07-29 12:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Hi folks!
I decided to create a section specifically for the periscope of the Hind. It may seem like a rudimentary device at first sight, but it is heavily integrated with the missile system and has some dependencies that need to be kept in mind when operating the periscope for observation purposes. The periscope is also subject to certain limitations that require strong cooperation between the pilot and the co-pilot.
2021-07-26 18:49:41 +0000 UTC
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