DCS: F-15C - First blood - Training flight gone wrong.

This mission was similar to our last mission.  We had planned on practicing formation flying and brevity, etc.  However, this time we decided to patrol very close to the border.


Our flight (Enigma as flight lead, myself as #2) took off and climbed to 20,000 feet while trying to keep a speed of 350knots.

 We performed some more formation practice.  Everything was going pretty normal at this point.  We eventually made a turn that put us parallel with the Georgian/Russian border.

 Over the radio, we heard a friendly F-16C in a fight for it's life.  Our RWR showed it as a MiG-29 or Su-27.  We decided to turn north, head up to 35,000 feet, and see if we could assist our fellow fighter.  As you can see on the radar picture below, the friendly F-16C is on the left side, while the enemy is jamming our radar so we didn't know what it was yet.  Over on the right side, there was a slow moving bogey at 6k feet.

 For a moment it looked the the F-16C was taking care of business.

 However, the F-16C decided to get the hell out of dodge.  Maybe it was out of weapons, or just needed to get to safety.

 As we continued toward the engagement area, my radar suddently picked up the Su-27 at 34,000 feet.  I wasn't expecting it that high.  I looked very hard in the distance and did finally notice the contrails.  The Su-27 was only 20nmi away!  Immediately I had missile inbound warning.  I'm not sure if Enigma had him locked or not at this point, so I had to make a quick decision to fire back or turn immediatly to avoid the enemy missile.

 Su-27 firing at my F-15C.

 I decided to lock him up and fire.  This was going to be close.  At this point flight lead had him locked as well, and shortly after fired at the Su-27.

 As I made my turn to evade the missile, I glanced over and saw my flight leads Eagle getting ready to launch a AIM-7 Sparrow missile.

 The enemy Su-27 did a quick turn and dive to avoid our fire.  You can see our contrails in the distance.  My contrail is on the right side, and you can see I've already made 90 degree turn and getting the hell out of dodge!

 With the missile still incoming, I started pumping out flares and chaff.  This will be very close!

 A moment later, my F-15C was struck by the enemies missile.  Shit!  No chance to eject, as the missile fragments must have breached the cockpit and killed me.  Ouch.

 Another view of my F-15C after getting hit by a missile.

Unfortunately, our missiles missed the Su-27.  But they did send him running away fast and hard.   Enigma gave chase, but could only go so far without any support from friendlies.  Once he was safe we called it a day.  It's too bad I died, but that will not stop me from making my next patrol.  That's the wonderful thing about being a virtual pilot!

Moments before a gun kill!

This DCS: F-15C shot was taken a fraction of a second before my Vulcan gun shredded apart an Su-27 Flanker.

DCS: Black Shark 2 - Clear Tkvarcheli (SP Mission)

October 26, 2014

The mission is to clear the city of Tkvarcheli of any threats to a friendly armor unit heading into the city.

The major threat to my flight is a Hawk SAM site, which is very lethal to the KA-50.  My plan was to head north until I can get into a position north west of Tkvarcheli.  I needed to create some distance and use the hills for concealment, so I can hide from, and then take out that Hawk SAM site.  It will not be easy!

I am flying with just one wingman today.  I hope he will be enough.  For anyone familiar to DCS series, the AI wingman aren't the brightest and most useful units.

I lifted off and immediately turned north to get into position north west of Tkravcheli.  

Friendly T-72's and BMP's start up their engines shortly after I lift off.  They are headed to Tkvarcheli with one goal in mind, clear the city of any and all enemy units.  The goal of my flight is to soften up the target area as quickly as possible for our friendly armor to advance into Tkvarcheli.

The Raytheon MIM-23 Hawk (Homing All the Way Killer) medium range surface to air missile, in the middle of Tkvarcheli.  The MIM-23 missile is very deadly for any aircraft.

An American AH-1 Cobra leaves Tkvarcheli to engage our flight and our armor.

Shortly after I spotted the Cobra, it takes a hit from a SAM located at our friendly FARP.  Good thing we had good anti-air coverage.  The KA-50 is a difficult helo to engage air threats.

I finally made it into a good position to take out the cities front line tank defenses.  It wasn't difficult to spot them, however I needed to stay low to avoid the Hawk SAM.

I fired four Shkval air to ground missiles at the first armor I spotted and took them out one by one.

Shack!  Still more targets to take out.  It didn't take long to aquire and engage the enemies armor defenses.

I ordered my wingman to cover me.  Since the wingman in this simulation are kinda crap, the 'cover me' command is usually the most useful task I can give him.  If ANY targets threaten me, my #2 will immediately engage, if possible.

Another missile on it's way to an unfortunate enemy tank.

Just north of Tkvarcheli, peaking from behind a hill, I spotted another SAM and took it out.  So far so good.

Friendly T-72 tank finishing up what's left of the enemies front line of defense.

Once the armor threat looked clear, I set my sights on the Hawk SAM site.  With sweaty palms I gripped by HOTAS  and did a quick pop-up attack on the missile launcher.

Just as I hit the second missile launcher, the Hawk tracking radar found and right after a missile was on it's way to take me out.  At this point I knew I had to take out the tracking radar.  I should have done that first!  

Hawk SAM headed my way.  I quickly dropped back down behind a hill about 8km north east of the SAM site.

I got lucky and managed to evade the first MIM-23 missile.  I popped up from behind the hill and quickly locked and fired another Shkval at the tracking radar for the Hawk SAM.

Boom!  Hawk SAM site out of action.  With no radar, the missiles are rendered useless.

I turned around and created some distance so I could asses the situation.  

With very little enemy armor and other potential threats to my friendly armor, I decided to make a run towards the city and see if I'm was missing anything.  And sure enough, I missed a SAM.  I wasn't sure what fired it, but I was able to evade the missile.  That was very close.

With no missiles left, I decided to sneak in low and slow and try to engage with guns.  

I managed to get an enemy HUMVEE, but that SAM was probably still there and I didn't want to risk  my life again.  With no enemy armor left, I decided to let my friendly ground units mop up the city.  My job is over.  I turned south and headed back to base.  Mission complete.

F-15C Training flight with Enigma (DCS: F-15C)

October 18, 2014

DCS: F-15C Training flight, practicing formation flying.

After a quick walk around, the exterior looked good.  Enigma and I are flying from Senaki Airbase, in Georgia.  We are currently at a high state of alert, however this mission we are focusing on formation flying, and just flying together in general.  We don't expect much trouble, but there is a possibility things could get worse.

As you can see from the solders face, the mood at base is not that bad today.  He will probably be sticking around for our return.

Getting on the taxiway with Enigma's F-15C up ahead.  What a great day to fly.

Off we go.  Taking off is a lot easier than landing :-)  Once we get going it's almost impossible to see the rain.

Enigma is taking flight lead, I'm #2.  First things first, climb up and get to where the Eagle's like to soar.

Climbing to 20,000 feet.  At full afterburner, the F-15C doesn't take long to get there.

It took me a little longer than I thought it would to form up.  I'm still a bit rusty.  I decided to keep my distance a bit at first out of fear that I may hit my flight lead.  Colliding with another player is probably the most embarrassing thing you can do.

After a few minutes of flying in a loose formation, I tried to tighten it up.  It's pretty difficult at first, but once you get used to to it, you get more comfortable.

We each took turns as flight lead, so we could both practicing formation flying as the #2.

Turning and keeping formation is difficult, but again, you get used to it and more comfortable as you do it.

As flight lead, I decided to take us up to 30,000 feet.  The contrails can easily be seen this high.

Shortly after I took us right down to the deck.  Enigma stayed with me the entire time, good flying sir!  I ordered trail formation and challenging my #2 to follow me through the mountains and valleys, which he did.

Shortly after our little game of catch-me-if-you-can, we ascended back up to 20,000 feet and headed north.  Our first encounter with an enemy SAM.  Looks like an SA-6 (Kub) search & track radar. Pretty dangerous, so I took us east and away from the threat.

Missile launcher for the SA-6.

Once we were safe distance, we did some more formation practice.  The mission didn't go entirely without some action, as eventually, we ended up north again, and spotted a bogey on radar.  We decided to pursue the target.  

Once we got close enough, Enigma classified it as an AN-24 cargo plane.  After a quick discussion, we decided to take her out.  Why not?  The Russian's had nothing in the air at the time.

Unfortunately for the landing AN-24, Enigma got to it before it landed and launched an AIM-9 sidewinder, which resulted in a spectacular crash!  

With fuel running low, we decided to head home.  Some more formation practice on the way.

Getting lined up to land.

Just before touchdown.  With Enigma taking flight lead.  I could have got closer, but I decided on safety and piece of mind. :-)

Back in the barn.  Mission complete.  Great flying Enigma.