What is "cursor-z axis" re HMCS missile BORE/SLAVE
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BMS-Manual.pdf page 32, 34, 84, 98
I had already found those descriptions and explanations quite a while ago. Let me ask the question a different way.
The cursor enable switch is used to:
1. toggles missile bore/slave modes
2. toggles HARM POS/HAS modes
3. toggles AGM 65 PRE/VIS/BORE submodes
4. Does pressing this switch inwards (as opposed to “down”) also “enables a cursor” in any of the displays or HUD?If not, then this minor bit of confusion is simply one of terminology (e.g. the button could have been called “toggle missile modes” instead of “enable cursor”) and perhaps an outdated (?) callback in the keyfile too (HOTAS-Enable Cursor).
Thanks,
f1 -
…think of it as similar to the CMS switch on a Warthog switch - yes; “in” = “down” for the Cursor switch. It’s the only “Z” you have.
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It’s hard to say if BMS has Maverick dome covers or not. Certainly there is nothing physical visible on the front of the missile nor falling off (even if it was modeled physically it would be pretty subtle visually). However in BMS there is absolutely a one-time thing a pilot must do to the missiles before employment which is not reset by any power cycling or similar. One can view this as removing the dome cover if desired but it doesn’t exactly correspond to the conditions or even effects of RL dome cover jettison.
One can think of the cursor switch as a 5-way switch: up, right, down, left, enable.
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It’s also used to blow the dome covers off MAV missiles…which took forever for me to figure out in FAF because in my experience nobody takes off with dome covers on MAVs because blowing them off in flight creates a FOD hazard to the section.
I haven’t fooled with MAVs in BMS yet, but I hope they nixed the dome covers…
In BMS, simply uncage (u key) the missile to start live stream video into the WPN MFD (after powering on the Mav, wait a few minutes for ready status in the SMS MFD, switch to WPN MFD). Watching the nose of the Mav during uncage indicated no animation or graphics of a nose cover blowing off the missile.
f1
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One can think of the cursor switch as a 5-way switch: up, right, down, left, enable.
Already understood this (z axis is a 5th way of the switch). But, what is being enabled, the “cursor”?? As I had already mentioned above, it’s probably a simple matter of confusing terminology.
f1
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Already understood this (z axis is a 5th way of the switch). But, what is being enabled, the “cursor”?? As I had already mentioned above, it’s probably a simple matter of confusing terminology.
f1
I should look before I guess at answer, but ….
… It looks to me like that button/toggle is labeled as “Radar Cursor / Enable”, as in “Radar Cursor” and "Enable … two different things.
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In BMS, simply uncage (u key) the missile to start live stream video into the WPN MFD (after powering on the Mav, wait a few minutes for ready status in the SMS MFD, switch to WPN MFD). Watching the nose of the Mav during uncage indicated no animation or graphics of a nose cover blowing off the missile.
f1
…maybe it’s an F-16 thing…I’m used to just selecting the station and the missile timing in - at which point I should get video; initially slaved to the FPM, I think. At least that’s how I recall it working when I was working Harriers…I read something in the FAF manual about dome covers, and had a laugh. Uncage - bingo…saw what I was expecting. That’s with IRMAVs - haven’t tried LMAV yet.
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I should look before I guess at answer, but ….
… It looks to me like that button/toggle is labeled as “Radar Cursor / Enable”, as in “Radar Cursor” and "Enable … two different things.
Dead right. As with many HOTAS buttons the ENABLE has multiple functions…depending on what you are controlling. Press for “ENABLE”…the switch itself is labeled “RADAR CURSOR/ENABLE” - X/Y is CURSOR, depress for ENABLE. But you have to know what is “under trigger” as far as ENABLE goes - different strokes for different stuff. Don’t get hung up on the nomenclature - just know what the button does when.
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Don’t get hung up on the nomenclature - just know what the button does when.
+1. Just like the range knob, that actually never control a range of any kind :mrgreen:
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I should look before I guess at answer, but ….
… It looks to me like that button/toggle is labeled as “Radar Cursor / Enable”, as in “Radar Cursor” and "Enable … two different things.
AH HA…I think you solved my last major BMS mystery for me…lol! I’ve never bothered to look at the function labels on a TQS (even the one pictured in this thread). So, my only point of view of any of these terms in their various forms had always been as seen from the documents (e.g. SimCursorEnable). It also didn’t help that there is a callback in the key files labeled “HOTAS Cursor/Enable” implying the existence of an actual cursor enable function. Imagine…all the years playing F4 trying to enable a cursor (kidding)!
Thanks guys,
f1 -
…maybe it’s an F-16 thing…I’m used to just selecting the station and the missile timing in - at which point I should get video; initially slaved to the FPM, I think. At least that’s how I recall it working when I was working Harriers…I read something in the FAF manual about dome covers, and had a laugh. Uncage - bingo…saw what I was expecting. That’s with IRMAVs - haven’t tried LMAV yet.
In BMS, the MAVs can be configured to auto power up relative to a steer point of choice in the MAV CNTL MFD or the Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC). So, by the time you are near the action steer point(s), uncaging should be all that is needed to generate MAV video. For programming the DTC, recommend you use Falcas’ Weapons Delivery Planner.
f1
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+1. Just like the range knob, that actually never control a range of any kind :mrgreen:
But it used too in models before EEGS, non-radar 700’ or 1500’. That’s where it got its name anyway. Cursor enable name probably because Gen Dyn engineer thought it sounded Star Wars or something. It’s also pretty unique as a name which is nice “enable for bore.” No confusion.
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In BMS, the MAVs can be configured to auto power up relative to a steer point of choice in the MAV CNTL MFD or the Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC). So, by the time you are near the action steer point(s), uncaging should be all that is needed to generate MAV video. For programming the DTC, recommend you use Falcas’ Weapons Delivery Planner.
f1
Yes - I saw that too. I have WDP and am just figuring it out…I know it can/will do a lot more for me than I have it doing at present. Fly and learn…
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But it used too in models before EEGS, non-radar 700’ or 1500’. That’s where it got its name anyway. Cursor enable name probably because Gen Dyn engineer thought it sounded Star Wars or something. It’s also pretty unique as a name which is nice “enable for bore.” No confusion.
Actually, I’ll bet “CURSOR” is a MAV operational leftover - from what I know of LMAV and IRMAV in RL. Or Walleye. Any weapon with a TV-based seeker.
As for the MAN RNG - I thought it still did/does something with radar Gain in A/G?..
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Yes, it does the fine control (about a 20% range) as a separate bias from the gain set on the MFD gain rocker switch and it’s done that for a long time. And we know it does TGP “smooth zoom” which is more recent (AAQ-??).
I wish I had a -1F-16A-34 to see what the controls did exactly originally. I remember the A-10A to C transition changed a lot of controls, the Mav polarity switch became exterior lights, countermeasure became autopilot, etc.