Current best practice for fuel planning in campaign missions?
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Hey all.
Been flying Balkans and Korea SP campaigns and using Falcon4 Fuel Calc to get a “close enough” estimate to how much fuel I should load on a particular mission.
- Is it realistic to have to external tanks and only have them filled 25% each? Since jamming pods only fit centerline instead of a tank…it seems thats the only option (for missions that require even slightly more than the ~7200lb internal capacity)
- Is there a better utility/practice to get a more precise FOB number?
I’m not sure if this is “realistic” (not that it really matters but I digress), and was wondering for anyone who is in military aviation whatsoever:
- What IRL flight planning would require, and how the FOB would actually be decided? Assuming it would be similar to civil aviation (distance, winds aloft, TOC/TOD calculations etc), plus some aerodynamic calculations for the loadouts of the aircraft.
And lastly, what’s your opinion on the best solution for BMS? What are you all doing?
Thanks!!!
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I’m actually referring to the briefing tab which already has calculations for minimum required fuel at all PPT’s. WDP helps to look at this as well (formatting the kneeboards before the flight). But it basically means taking a good look at the flight plan and surrounding dangers, gauging it this way. I mean, if it’s a straightforward bomb-and-back flight, no need for anything fancy and you don’t plan to loiter, then I guess an almost minimum is enough. However missions without any tanks are rare, for me at least.
Wrt to partly filled tanks, I don’t see why not. But this may have to do more with take-off weight and conditions. Probably not only Harriers have this as an issue. So, I’m pretty sure situations like taking off light and tanking up later happen, especially in warmer climates.
Thank you for the fuel calc tool link!
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@jstnj said in Current best practice for fuel planning in campaign missions?:
t planning would require, and how the FOB would actually be decided? Assuming it would be similar t
Flying with a full a/g loadout, no tanks, jammer and sniper, refueling after takeoff, sipping fuel if able, hunting a ways past the FLOT, playtime 25-35 mins, then FARPs as necessary. If I’m lucky, I drop all ordinance before refueling at all, and have fuel to climb and to a simulated flame out at home base! Maybe drop the jammer in favor of a centerline if there is low risk.
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@depapier said in Current best practice for fuel planning in campaign missions?:
I’m actually referring to the briefing tab which already has calculations for minimum required fuel at all PPT’s. WDP helps to look at this as well (formatting the kneeboards before the flight). But it basically means taking a good look at the flight plan and surrounding dangers, gauging it this way. I mean, if it’s a straightforward bomb-and-back flight, no need for anything fancy and you don’t plan to loiter, then I guess an almost minimum is enough. However missions without any tanks are rare, for me at least.
Wrt to partly filled tanks, I don’t see why not. But this may have to do more with take-off weight and conditions. Probably not only Harriers have this as an issue. So, I’m pretty sure situations like taking off light and tanking up later happen, especially in warmer climates.
Thank you for the fuel calc tool link!
↑ What he said!
But also, paying attention to the speed and altitude of the plan along the way. It’s so common when new to burn through too much fuel (even if not chasing a flight leader and trying to stay on his wing). You don’t even need to burn to take off always - depending on your weight and the length of the runway, MIL could be sufficient for massive fuel savings there. Press the ICP 5 (CRUS) and cycle through the various pages displayed on the DED to help remain on target - just don’t chase that carrot burning fuel to keep up, if you’re off by several minutes, just factor that in and remain off by that same consistent time for the rest of the steerpoints.
For most missions that may include any amount of loiter time, it’s most important to set your Bingo appropriately in the DED through the ICP, so to have enough fuel to return home and land (without flameout). When Bingo starts beeping, it’s time to turn around and head home.
Personally, I use the BMS Kneeboard and Planner App (for Andriod) to calculate Bingo for a flight, it’s never let me down (yet): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oldgoat5.bmstacticalreference&hl=en_US&gl=US
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For me personally in BMS I think speed is a weapon, and speed needs fuel.
… offensive and defensive!So I flew mostly with 2 bags and made sure to know if AAR is available.
I found myself often doing an AAR after my bombs hit their target(s),
then go hunting MiGs at high speed!Cheers,
LS -
@semlerpdx said in Current best practice for fuel planning in campaign missions?:
Press the ICP 5 (CRUS) and cycle through the various pages displayed on the DED to help remain on target - just don’t chase that carrot burning fuel to keep up, if you’re off by several minutes, just factor that in and remain off by that same consistent time for the rest of the steerpoints.
For most missions that may include any amount of loiter time, it’s most important to set your Bingo appropriately in the DED through the ICP, so to have enough fuel to return home and land (without flameout). When Bingo starts beeping, it’s time to turn around and head home.
Personally, I use the BMS Kneeboard and Planner App (for Andriod) to calculate Bingo for a flight, it’s never let me down (yet): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oldgoat5.bmstacticalreference&hl=en_US&gl=US
Thanks for explaining your usecase. I actually have no issues with actual fuel planning…I use WDP to set my BINGO based on the estimations from my first post above, and regularly use CRUS to make sure I’m adhering to important TOT times…I’m more trying to poll people to see if there’s a more “realistic” (relative term) way of planning fuel specifically. Thanks again!