Blackdog_kt
Jun-30-2012, 15:07
Hey everybody. Seeing as we got new methods in the scripts to place objectives for level bombing, as well as the Ju88 now having a working directional gyro, i was wondering if they fixed the bombsights too.
I'll probably hop on the server tonight, so maybe we can do a test run or two if any of the other bomber pilots are around. In the meantime though, if anyone has tested the sights it would be good to know and save some time. Otherwise i'll probably just spawn, fly inland to be free of enemy fighters and do a low altitude run against an empty field in France to test it out.
Another thing i'm curious about is if the symbology on the sight is also corrected. What should happen is that adjusting alt and airspeed (possibly the angle/distance too) moves that carat marker around (the one on the "inside" of the scope circle). That is the calculated release point based on the parameters we input to the sight. Then, once engaging automation and the sight starts tracking the target, there is another carat (on the outside of the first one) that starts moving downwards. The idea is that when this "tracking" marker reaches the inner one, the bombs automatically release. You'll ask, what would we need it for if the sight drops correctly? Well, if the symbology is correct it lets you know when the bomb release is imminent. In other words, we need this functionality if we want to drop in formation: if the leader doesn't know when the bombs are about to drop, he can't accurately command his flight to release.
I assume that when all is corrected (if it isn't yet) that's the way we will probably be level bombing, a leader flying via autopilot through the bombsight and the rest flying on his wing and releasing on command. To take this further, the leader can also communicate his bombsight alt/speed settings to the rest of the flight. If you have the same alt/speed setting in the sight, you can take advantage of the bomb interval settings. These are not in seconds, but in meters between bomb impacts, meaning they are calculated by the bombsight based on the alt/speed you input. So, even if dropping manually on the lead bomber's command, you could input the same alt/speed settings as him and then the bombsight will correctly calculate the bomb intervals. This lets us drop in a suitable pattern depending on the target.
For example, against a rail yard or factory building we would probably use a tight spacing between bombs (no more than 5 meters or so), while against an airfield we could use a wider one. This could be done by dividing the airfield's approximate length on the axis we are approaching it from, by the number of bombs we carry. Then we could set that number as the bomb interval in meters, aim at one edge of the airfield and watch the bombs crater the whole thing all the way to the other edge :thumbsup:
I have also noticed a small change and a bug with the latest beta. The bug might be because i'm running slightly outdated drivers for my Ati, when looking through the scope of the Lofte (in "gunsight view") i don't get the black surrounding margin anynore. Instead, i get a semi-transparent one with clouds showing through it. Also, the water disappears and you can see the sand on the sea floor :D
In any case, it's still possible to see where the coast ends and where the targets are, because terra firma displays properly.
As for the change, it is now possible to adjust the sight with automation enabled. Previously, if you wanted to make corrections to your aim you would have to turn off automation, place the crosshairs on the target and re-engage it. With the latest beta patch it is possible to move the crosshairs without turning off automation. This makes it easier to fine tune your aim and calibrate your ground speed while the sight is tracking the target. You can immediately see the effects of our inputs and focus on getting the sight to track a point on the ground (by giving it the correct alt/airspeed values), then simply recenter the crosshairs on the target.
Finally, another question. What's the deal with wind drift? Le's say i'm drifting to the right of the target. Should i move the crosshairs left to keep them placed on the target, or should i move them right and maneuver the bomber left (with the autopilot) to realign with the target?
Thanks in advance, hope i'll see some of the regular bomber guys online tonight so we can further test things out.
If we get workable bombers and the new triggers in the mission script, we're one step closer to having a proper BoB scenario to fly on :thumbsup:
I'll probably hop on the server tonight, so maybe we can do a test run or two if any of the other bomber pilots are around. In the meantime though, if anyone has tested the sights it would be good to know and save some time. Otherwise i'll probably just spawn, fly inland to be free of enemy fighters and do a low altitude run against an empty field in France to test it out.
Another thing i'm curious about is if the symbology on the sight is also corrected. What should happen is that adjusting alt and airspeed (possibly the angle/distance too) moves that carat marker around (the one on the "inside" of the scope circle). That is the calculated release point based on the parameters we input to the sight. Then, once engaging automation and the sight starts tracking the target, there is another carat (on the outside of the first one) that starts moving downwards. The idea is that when this "tracking" marker reaches the inner one, the bombs automatically release. You'll ask, what would we need it for if the sight drops correctly? Well, if the symbology is correct it lets you know when the bomb release is imminent. In other words, we need this functionality if we want to drop in formation: if the leader doesn't know when the bombs are about to drop, he can't accurately command his flight to release.
I assume that when all is corrected (if it isn't yet) that's the way we will probably be level bombing, a leader flying via autopilot through the bombsight and the rest flying on his wing and releasing on command. To take this further, the leader can also communicate his bombsight alt/speed settings to the rest of the flight. If you have the same alt/speed setting in the sight, you can take advantage of the bomb interval settings. These are not in seconds, but in meters between bomb impacts, meaning they are calculated by the bombsight based on the alt/speed you input. So, even if dropping manually on the lead bomber's command, you could input the same alt/speed settings as him and then the bombsight will correctly calculate the bomb intervals. This lets us drop in a suitable pattern depending on the target.
For example, against a rail yard or factory building we would probably use a tight spacing between bombs (no more than 5 meters or so), while against an airfield we could use a wider one. This could be done by dividing the airfield's approximate length on the axis we are approaching it from, by the number of bombs we carry. Then we could set that number as the bomb interval in meters, aim at one edge of the airfield and watch the bombs crater the whole thing all the way to the other edge :thumbsup:
I have also noticed a small change and a bug with the latest beta. The bug might be because i'm running slightly outdated drivers for my Ati, when looking through the scope of the Lofte (in "gunsight view") i don't get the black surrounding margin anynore. Instead, i get a semi-transparent one with clouds showing through it. Also, the water disappears and you can see the sand on the sea floor :D
In any case, it's still possible to see where the coast ends and where the targets are, because terra firma displays properly.
As for the change, it is now possible to adjust the sight with automation enabled. Previously, if you wanted to make corrections to your aim you would have to turn off automation, place the crosshairs on the target and re-engage it. With the latest beta patch it is possible to move the crosshairs without turning off automation. This makes it easier to fine tune your aim and calibrate your ground speed while the sight is tracking the target. You can immediately see the effects of our inputs and focus on getting the sight to track a point on the ground (by giving it the correct alt/airspeed values), then simply recenter the crosshairs on the target.
Finally, another question. What's the deal with wind drift? Le's say i'm drifting to the right of the target. Should i move the crosshairs left to keep them placed on the target, or should i move them right and maneuver the bomber left (with the autopilot) to realign with the target?
Thanks in advance, hope i'll see some of the regular bomber guys online tonight so we can further test things out.
If we get workable bombers and the new triggers in the mission script, we're one step closer to having a proper BoB scenario to fly on :thumbsup: