Com-Central.net

- JG300-Stoopy

GOOD GRAVY that looks great!!!!!!

Can't wait to give it a whirl!!

(Shhhhhh!!!..."mum's" the word, but rumor has it that Bob Hope may be showing up on the tarmac somewhere...)

GOOD GRAVY that looks great!!!!!!

Can't wait to give it a whirl!!

Looks great !!


fled

Good move on the X-box! And things are moving along nicely now...I'll try to get a version uploaded for you guys to test in a day or so.

I'm afraid there will be a frame hit, but I'm not gonna' water it down. I have what is a very modest three-year-old setup by today's standard (much in need of upgrade) with an old 128Meg FX5200 card and with 768 MB RAM and I find it definitely flyable, but a bit jerky at certain angles.

My solution is to upgrade my system. If you've something hotter than mine (likely), then it should not be a problem.

Here's a nice view I like:
(kept in photobucket so it won't get downsized on the forum)
img.photobucket.com/al...nside2.jpg

- JG300-Ascout

I thought niggling little intrusions like these were why we were bringing gunships?

Certainly for any solicitors coming to the door (and taking a shotgun to the ringing phone is an unfulfilled fantasy I've had for years)! But, you don't wanna try shootin' my dawg, he'll just grab the gun barrel in his jaws and crimp it flat (Husky/Pit mix). Plus the poor ol' fella is getting on in years now and besides getting a bit grumpy, he's also got "urgent bladder" syndrome...so when you put the two things together with those Jaws of Doom he's got, he's a little ornery about being let out when he needs to go, and I aim to keep my extremities intact....

Just got th'boy XBox Live so the 'puter is more freed up these days at least!

- JG300-Stoopy

I'll suggest that some aspects of immersion are compromised by real life - kids, dogs needing attention at key times, phones ringing, doorbells going off,

I thought niggling little intrusions like these were why we were bringing gunships?

Well, where I am on this effort is as follows:
The other scenery for smoke effects etc. is done, which also includes the navaids which the (optional) flight plans would use. On that note, absolutely I agree that use of navaids, GPS and fightplan is a matter of personal taste and preference, also dictated somewhat by each pilot's own skill set - many of those participating won't have the same amount of time to reconnoiter (sp?) the full area of ops as in real life. And, having participated in more than a few lengthy multiplayer group flights, I'll suggest that some aspects of immersion are compromised by real life - kids, dogs needing attention at key times, phones ringing, doorbells going off, running to the "back of the plane"....so since the navaids and flightplan had to be generated to test the flight times and other key elements, I'd like to still include them for those that choose to put them to use.

It's somewhat of a moot point for the helo pilots anyway since you can't snap these helo's on autopilot and walk away.

Anyway, I have a little work to do on the README and like Ascout, I'm on travel status (not internationally, but very long days that preclude being able to get much if any progress done right now). However I envision this being completed quite soon, dovetailing with Ascout's proposed schedule.

So, we will be in the air before you know it and also please count me in for the rotary-wing segment. I'll fly anything, would proudly fly an OH-6 on fr8ycat's wing or a UH-1 with Ascout, or can take a CH-47 if you want someone flying the troops.

- Kitform

Someone mention Pink...

and Helo's...

Hmmm, I need a computer...lol

And Fled, no need to be sorry, part of the excitement about this mission is it's inclusive to both fixed wing and rotorcraft. I know it would be awesome to see some skyraiders come screamin over the hilltops just as I'm sure it would be cool for the fixed wing guys to see helos circling the LZ. The combo of both is what's gonna make this mission unique.

can fly C-47's, Skyraiders, sorry to say I'm not that good with them flying Egg beaters

Someone mention Pink...

and Helo's...

Hmmm, I need a computer...lol

I'm in and either fixed wing or chopper, makes no difference...

- JG300-Ascout

I would love to see a "Pink Team" in the air somewhere...

You talkin just LOH's or LOH's with a gunship?

I think this might add a nice touch to the mission if we get enough helo pilots. That being said for now to help get things established I'll take a Loach............like nobody saw that coming :wink:. I'll take lead, need a trail.

Any fixed wing guys in?

Fr8ycat....
Well, where I am with this mission is...I head back from Brasil tomorrow and getting Phu Bai finished and tested is priority one. Won't have "domestic considerations" for the following week, so a few days will do it...maybe just 2-3. I am going to test a low and hi res version to see if it matters. Al told me he thought "my" Hill 180 was not a big issue for mesh/no mesh and to leave it in both versions. I'll see if it matters in the mesh version for frames. It's essential for the no mesh version because otherwise, nothing is there.

I think anyone trying this mission will find some terrain features/LZ's unidentifiable without mesh, so either figure on following somebody, or better yet...get the mesh installed so you see the point of the thing (the free mesh is highly realistic).

I plan to fly a UH-1, DB's 1969 Huey Slick with no navaids and take on a lead if anyone wants to join my flight, since I know the "targets" and flight patterns (like diversionary landings, etc.) I would love to see a "Pink Team" in the air somewhere...and a CH-47 on a supply run or insertion/extraction of a heavy team someplace. I will have mesh installed and will make higher res maps available to Stoopy for the final package so others can download and study/kneeboard them.

I'd like to see this mission flown beginning with an early AM departure or a later afternoon so as to end about 30 minutes before last light for dramatic effect. Proabably oughta' go for "fair weather" so no one gets lost in the weather, but we have clouds.

That's my $.02!

So where we at with this mission? Just wonderin.

And I was thinking the same thing Ascout. From what I have heard there were always areas within a certain radius of bases that were frequented and scouted/operated quite often or on a regular basis and as such were well known by pilots. No way of enforcing and to each his own but think it would add a challenge and make it a little more realistic by using only what would have been available at the time. The GPS flight plans are great to become familiar with the mission routes but mission day should be GPS free. I imagine all the materials for the mission would be available for all wanting to join before hand allowing individual or even MP "familiarization flights".

And just a suggestion, maybe we should "sound off" now and start getting the groups together that will want to attend. That way as a whole we could try and figure out the different aircraft wanted/taken, the best time to accommodate schedules and maybe get some individual group MP's going for practice.

Outstanding, Fr8ycat! I may now have to install the 85th (I think) hospital to put 16161 in front of in recognition of the events of a certain day in Jan. 1971 at Phu Bai.

Im going to beg the indulgence of the admins to grant space for 2-3 uploads/downloads of Phu Bai. Im going to prepare a hi-res version with all the bells and whistles for those wishing that level of detail...a low res version for the MP mission, and maybe one without Hill 180 installed for either those with mesh, or as part of the MP option assuming all participants HAVE the mesh. Eventually, Ill do one with/without mesh to accomdate all and specify the features of each.

Personally, Im going with the hi-res version for all but the MP mission. And I always use the mesh for SEA flights.


ALSO, A NOTE FOR FLYING THE MISSION:

Regarding navigation and Stoopys excellent navaid features. GPS, of course, did not exist at the time of the mission, nor did many navaids for anybody not in tacair or B52s. As a practical matter, there were only NDBs at Da Nang, Phu Bai, and Quang Tri this far north so the only use for outbound was as reciprocal headings on these radials that got you in the neighborhood. In real life, it was largely dead reckoning based on map study and familiarization flights in the area of operations. Out of Phu Bai, conditions were considered VFR if you could see Hill 180, and IFR if you couldnt. More than a few aircraft were lost to controlled flight into terrain in the mountains when conditions deteriorated. Many critical missions either could not be flown, or ended badly due to weather. I intend to fly this mission the same way Id recommend others do it....1.: Obtain the maps and study them. 2.: Fly the areas of operation several times in single play to become familiar with the look of the important terrain features. 3.: Be able to get there, and back, in decent weather without any navaids other than a compass...because once in the mountains, that (and your eyes) is all youve got.

It was not in the least unusual for a mission to require a bit of orbiting an area to find smoke or other signals (including transmissions from someone like myself saying "I can hear your rotors approaching/departing...as the case may be") to know you were getting "warm". I think we should eschew the use of navaids in the interest of "immersion"...and keep in mind that the helis will be flying relatively low....2-3 thousand feet for the long legs, decending to a few hundred feet AGL from 5-10 miles out from a final objective, depending on the mission. (avoid early detection, and passing overhead at speed makes AA have only the briefest of shots).
No "Ride of the Valkyries" blaring in this dealie....

Anyway, a spot of challenge in finding your final objective is realistic...as is flying out to visual range of the objective a day or two before to verify you can find it....pre-spot your LZs and the like...standard practice. NO pilots flew missions like these fresh to the area...everyone took "familiarization flights" first and I suggest you do the same.