NightCAP for GSC's Hornet Korea,  by Rob Hight 8/98

NightCAP Training:

I've prepared a couple of short training missions to familiarize you with flying a race-track CAP pattern, and to practice dodging A/A missles in a fun 2v2 scenario. When these were prepared, I was anticipating that frustration may cause a few to abandon the mission, since you can spend 13 to 14 minutes in the air before the action starts, with a possibility of being downed soon after that. If you're an accomplished player you can probably skip the 2_VS_2 mission, but please read the RACE_CAP description below, and follow orders (it will add to your enjoyment of the mission, believe me). 

2_VS_2.MSN

This is a short, start in the air mission, intended for missle dodging practice. Again, you are the wingman to Hornet2's lead. Accelerate to 280 KIAS and assume the right echelon position. Wait for Hornet2 to call "Talley ho" before turning for the engagement. It would be easy to cheat on this mission, in order to get a successful mission, but that is not the point. It has been contrived so that the bogies fire first, this is what you want. What you want to do is figure out how to recover from being fired on first, evade a missle and maneuver for an advantage. It has also been contrived so that you can be the HERO, shooting down both bogies and getting your leader out of a tight spot! There just may be a promotion in this for you!  ;-)   Since I wanted to close the distance before the fireworks start, all the players have been dumbed down until the appropriate time. Therefore, if you go against orders and boss your lead around before he is ready, he may not have the intelligence to dodge any missles thrown his way. Also, don't play above AI=5 or that will upset the timing. I've had plenty of fun on AI=5, and as you can see on the replay, the lead bogie dodges FOUR missles before taking a few bullets. Remember, the point here is for you to get good at dodging A/A missles too. To increase the challenge, don't fire on the lead bogie until you have downed the trailing bogie, as the trailing bogie will be the one firing on you, while the lead will be occupied with Hornet2. See if you can still bail Hornet2 out under this condition. 

RACE_CAP.MSN

I have no knowlege of how two planes actually enter a race-track CAP pattern, and so I imagined how it might be done and programmed the waypoints in that fashion. The best, workload reduced way to fly this pattern is with the Autopilot (A/P). As you all know, the A/P will give you a flat turn with a 45 degree bank. This frees you to monitor airspeed, adjust throttle, and monitor your radar and RWR. Hornet2 will advance the A/P to the next waypoint 0.5 nm before he reaches the waypoint that he is currently flying towards. In order to keep in step with him, be advised to do likewise. 

You'll start in the air as the wingman to Hornet Two's lead. Accelerate to 280 KIAS. Assume a fairly tight right echelon position (behind and to the right). The reason for this is that you are better able to see your lead's turning cues, although you can simply rely on your programmed waypoints as a guide. It may help to be at a slightly lower altitude (25-50 ft) so as to eliminate any possibility of collision during the turns. At Waypoint 1 (WP1) you'll make a slight starboard turn to line up perpendicular to the mid-point of the pattern. This is so that, when you split from your lead, you will both have the same angle to turn to enter the pattern, in order to maintain your timing relative to each other. At WP2, Hornet2 will turn to port, you will turn to starboard, increasing throttle to maintain constant airspeed through the turn. Continue on to WP3 with A/P engaged, 0.5 nm from WP3 advance waypoint to WP4. Continueing on to WP4, you should see Hornet2 on radar approaching you on the opposite side of the "track".  Now, 0.5 nm from WP4, methodically Waypoint Cycle through WP0, WP1, and WP2 back to WP3. That's it.

