Starting up with Falcon 4 BMS

[persius]

Hello everybody.
It’s been a few years since I flew and now I have the time to commit relearning this great sim. I have everything installed and downloaded all the manuals but I’m scratching my head regarding one matter and that is, which manual is THE manual to retrain with?
I have the following in my directory.
-BMS Training
-F4 BMS Manual
-Falcon 4 Manual with Tee Square notes

I have BMS 4.33 installed and I simply would like to ask which of these manuals do I want to use for training? I want to have the manual printed up so rather than spending money on all of these I would prefer to have one. After looking through the Tee Square version and the F4 Manual I’m not sure which one I should go with. The Tee Square manual has keyboard shortcuts while the F4 Manual does not, it seems to rely on the console alone.

As stated already, I would like to hop in and start from the beginning (a refresher course for myself) but I also want the most up to date instructions for this version and it would make it easier for me to have the keyboard shortcuts available as well.
Which manual should I go with please?

Thank you.

[shisabandit]

-34 -1 and BMS training missions and BMS manual
also checklists.
those are your starter points.
There is no one single manual that is going to cover it all.

[Quasi_Stellar]

The documents you seek are found within the Docs folder in BMS. The BMS Manual will help you set up the sim (what all the tabs are for etc.). The -1 will get you familiar with the pit and switches… the -34 will further your experience with avionics and weapons systems… finally, the training manual can be used in conjunction with the -1 and -34 to put it all together… There are other jewels added in the folder for you reading enjoyment. Hope this helps.

To save on paper and ink, I only printed things to have at my side while learning 4.33. I uploaded all the docs to my Drive so I could read them anywhere on my tab/phone…

Quasi

[Mower]

What is this Falcon 4 manual with tee square notes?

[persius]

Hello all.
Thanks for your replies. One final question. I found the keyboard shortcuts as well. Are they applicable to the current version?

As for Mowers question, the tee square notes is related to the Falcon4 manual where somebody took the time and added updated notes to the current version of BMS. It has all the new shortcut keys and adjustments for the simulator. That’s all it is.

Thanks again for your help.

[Red Dog]

The Dash-1 manual is like the handbook of your car, it teaches you everything you need to know about flying the BMS F-16C (block50/52)
The Dash-34 manual will teach you how to use weapon systems and some specific weapons avionics system. Basically it won’t teach you to fly, but it will teach you how to fight
The BMS manual is all about the software side, install, setting up, maintaining, creating TEs, views, etc etc. All software side related

Exactly as quasi_Stellar said

The training manual and the associated training missions are what you need to start with, IMHO
The missions are starting in the beginning and evolves to more complicated stuff. The training manual chapters, relevant to each mission, will walk you through every step needed and where necessary will reference the chapters you need to read from the Dash1 and the Dash 34

IMHO, drop that old manual from Falcon 4.0. It will confuse you more than it well help you
It’s antiquated to BMS 4.32 when BMS had no related full manuals. Since 4.33 it’s been addressed with a native manual suite

The key file are relevant to the 4.33 and you have multiple options, start simple.

Have fun

[gbeauw]

RedDog,

I seem to be having some trouble using the TF TE to learn how to use the TF radar. One several occasions I’ve flown that TFR TE. When I do, I generally bring up the TF in the MFD and activate it as soon as I drop into the pit in the TEeven though I’m still at a high altitude.

The problem is that as soon as I do that, Bitch Betty starts yelling, “Pull-Up, Pull Up” and doesn’t stop. That seems really strange at that altitude as I’m waaayy away from the ground. At that point I try to shut-off the TF via the MFD (so I can get Betty to be quiet) and I can’t seem to get it turned off.

• What am I doing wrong?
• Why would the TF go crazy like this? Is it a bug in the TF code in BMS in the TE?

I used to use TF back in the days of Falcon AF and it seemed to work fine. It seems to be broken in BMS 4.33 latest update or I just don’t understand how to use it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

G. Beau “Willy” Williamson

[Quasi_Stellar]

Check to see if your Radar Altimeter is on…

[eurybaric]

@Quasi_Stellar:

Check to see if your Radar Altimeter is on…

That. And to shush bitchin Betty if you ever mess up, you need to engage FLCS Reset button. It’s way back to your left. (sorry forgot what that part of the cockpit is called).

[Red Dog]

Hey Willy

The TFR training mission start on the ground no?
You’re supposed to ramp the jet and set the TFR settings on the ground during ramp.
During the ramp the Ralt switch should indeed be ON
Then fly out and test fly the TFR between steerpoint 2 and 3 where the SWIM check is also tested (inducing RALT check)

It’s all explained in the training manual covering that TE, if you start the TE in the air, you miss most of the point of training with the TFR.

My guess are:
Radar altitude switch error
WX mode on TFR - further down the route you go through inclement weather and rain disrupt the TFR, you have to counter that with the weather mode of the TFR (that would depend on when you start the TE in the air, hence why it’s not recommended)

There is no need to use the FLCS reset in any way in that mission.

Just bear in mind that there are a full chapter in the Training manual to cover each step. If you guys overlook the manual, you might miss a lot and end up thinking the TFR is broken in 4.33
but it’s not

[Mower]

@Mower:

What is this Falcon 4 manual with tee square notes?

? Cheers.

[johku]

@Mower:

? Cheers.

This?

https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?p=378650

[gbeauw]

@Red:

Hey Willy

The TFR training mission start on the ground no?
You’re supposed to ramp the jet and set the TFR settings on the ground during ramp.
During the ramp the Ralt switch should indeed be ON
Then fly out and test fly the TFR between steerpoint 2 and 3 where the SWIM check is also tested (inducing RALT check)

It’s all explained in the training manual covering that TE, if you start the TE in the air, you miss most of the point of training with the TFR.

My guess are:
Radar altitude switch error
WX mode on TFR - further down the route you go through inclement weather and rain disrupt the TFR, you have to counter that with the weather mode of the TFR (that would depend on when you start the TE in the air, hence why it’s not recommended)

There is no need to use the FLCS reset in any way in that mission.

Just bear in mind that there are a full chapter in the Training manual to cover each step. If you guys overlook the manual, you might miss a lot and end up thinking the TFR is broken in 4.33
but it’s not

Thanks RD for the info.

My problem has been that when I tried it, I was short on time and was just trying to demo TF at a Sim Convention. Therefore, I just launched the TE while in the air and then I enabled TF at altitude. (That should be possible in the real F16 as far as I know. It was in Falcon AF.) I’ll try again and check the Radar Altimeter though I’m pretty sure I had it on and it was reading 5,000’ or maybe higher where I dropped into the mission.

I’ll also go grab a cup of coffee and sit back, relax and take some time out of pit builder to read that section of the Training Manual.

Having said that, I would think that there should be a way to reset that situation in the air if you make the sort of mistake that I did. Using FLCS reset would seem like too drastic of a thing to do while in flight for a real F16. (Or is it something real F16 pilots can do?) If it turns out that the Radar Altimeter is on, then I think there is something else wrong. When Betty was “bitching” none of the buttons on the TF would respond. That’s why I was thinking there is a bug as I couldn’t change a thing on the TF via the MFD.

I’ll read up and do some more experimentation. If you have time to repeat what I did by engaging TF for the first time while at altitude (with RAlt on) and you get the same “stuck” and repeating Betty messages and the TF MFD buttons don’t function, then you will have repeated the situation.

BTW, at one of the conventions, I demo’d this problem to Chris “String” Link who flys BMS more than I do and he tried doing the same TE, dropping in at altitude and then turning on TF. It did the same thing for him and TF wouldn’t respond on the MFD and Betty was stuck “bitchin”. We just had to abort the sim to get out of it.

[Red Dog]

Arghh, way too many confusing factor in there

My problem has been that when I tried it, I was short on time and was just trying to demo TF at a Sim Convention. Therefore, I just launched the TE while in the air and then I enabled TF at altitude. (That should be possible in the real F16 as far as I know. It was in Falcon AF.)

I have no clue why you use Falcon AF, but you seem to compare the AF behaviour with BMS. Sorry to say but that’s like comparing apple and pears
It’s definitely possible in the F-16, but just like in BMS if your switches are not set correctly (Ralt or TFR mode) you’ll get flyups as well

I’ll try again and check the Radar Altimeter though I’m pretty sure I had it on and it was reading 5,000’ or maybe higher where I dropped

again, that’s inconsistent. The radar altimeter can’t read 5000. Your altimeter reads 5000 on the pressure settings it’s set to. The HUD at 5000 is barometric unless your HUD panel switch is specifically set to Radar ALT.
if it’s set to AUTO (default position), it will read barometric unless you’re very low and then it will switch to radar alt. and that limit is way under 5000. Out of memory it’s below 1500 or even 1000 feet
So simply looking at your altitude readout you can’t tell if your Radar Alt is ON or stby or OFF. The Ralt switch is a mistakes many BMS pilot do and you woudn’t be the first to report a bugged TFR because the Ralt wasn’t ON

Having said that, I would think that there should be a way to reset that situation in the air if you make the sort of mistake that I did. Using FLCS reset would seem like too drastic of a thing to do while in flight for a real F16. (Or is it something real F16 pilots can do?) If it turns out that the Radar Altimeter is on, then I think there is something else wrong. When Betty was “bitching” none of the buttons on the TF would respond. That’s why I was thinking there is a bug as I couldn’t change a thing on the TF via the MFD.

There is a way, but not using the FLCS reset which fixes a FLCS fault. Here what you’re trying to fix is pilot error And there’s no reset pilot button in the F-16
What you need to do is paddle override (and that one MUST be programmed correctly as a /Hold feature or even better a DX feature) to regain control, fix your switches and then release your paddle and maybe reset the TFR. Most of the time it’s press paddle, keep it depressed, correct the issue, release paddle and you’ll be fine
The FLCS reset has really nothing to do with the error you saw indeed it’s way too drastic (and won’t fix your issue if the Ralt switch is OFF - of if your TFR is outside operating limits)

I’ll read up and do some more experimentation. If you have time to repeat what I did by engaging TF for the first time while at altitude (with RAlt on) and you get the same “stuck” and repeating Betty messages and the TF MFD buttons don’t function, then you will have repeated the situation.

I do it all the time, did it three days ago while reviewing the TFR mission. from 2500feet engaged the TFR and the thing just went to set altitude and started following terrain with no issue at all.
The betty call you have is because your TFR is going bananas and induce flyups to keep you safe. There are multiple reasons the TFR goes bananas (see the limits in the training manuals and checklists and you’ll cover most of them)

BTW, at one of the conventions, I demo’d this problem to Chris “String” Link who flys BMS more than I do and he tried doing the same TE, dropping in at altitude and then turning on TF. It did the same thing for him and TF wouldn’t respond on the MFD and Betty was stuck “bitchin”. We just had to abort the sim to get out of it.

you probably are both doing the same mistakes

[Darkman]

It gets even more exciting when you start practising attacks using the TFR. The first time you try Roll & Pull in the dark when you get a TF-FAIL really gets your attention

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you first start using the TFR in a combat or even practice scenario, which is why there really is no substitute for reading up on the -34 and Training Manual chapters first. When you can prosecute your attack at night, even when it’s raining you will be pretty satisfied though.

Remember the BMS LANTIRN system is modelled as closely as currently possible to the real thing, with input from guys still using this system for real. It may not be as intuitive as you’d like it to be or behave as it did in previous Falcon versions, but it is the closest you can get to doing it for real without putting your life on the line.

[LorikEolmin]

@Darkman:

without putting your life on the line.

Depends who you use BMS with.

[gbeauw]

RD,

No, I don’t fly FalconAF any more. I’ve been spending most of my time pit building since I quit flying AF a long time ago. (I’m sure you’ve seen my posts on VP as I build.) However, I’m starting to get close to a built state that will allow me to start flying my pit with BMS and learning it. Since I’m approaching that state, I’ve just starting to spend more time on this Forum to better understand BMS.

Just had a couple of cups of coffee and spent more time in the manuals your recommended as well as the Dash-1 and Dash-34 manuals. :munch:

WOW!! I now see that BMS is SOOOO much more realistic than AF!!! :woohoo: :hail:

Obviously I need to spend a lot more time in all the manuals in the BMS Doc directory. Basically I guess you could say :rtfm:
:rofl:

I will RATFM – Read All the Fine Manuals – a lot more. It is now clear that what I knew via my experience with AF a long time ago is often just largely wrong. I know I’m going to really enjoy going through all of these BMS Docs, reading them and flying the Training TEs. I just hope that I get my pit completely built so I can focus on flying a lot more before this damn super aggressive Brain Cancer that I’m fighting kills me.

Again, thanks for the advice. Very helpful.

G. Beau “Willy” Williamson

P.S. I probably should have set up my Account here with a Username of “Willy” so it more closely matches what I’m using on other F16 Forums.

[Red Dog]

Great news Willy ( I know it was you )
I’m glad you had a glimpse of how different and more accurate BMS is compared to your past experience

Flying the pit in BMS is all what it is about the attention to detail is amazing but the consequence of that is the steep learning curve
You will enjoy it big time and you know where I am if you need help

Cheers

[gbeauw]

RD,

BTW, it was the advances of BMS several years ago that was what launched me into pit building.

Way back when BMS first announced support for MFD displays on other LCD’s, I was like YIPPPEEE!!! I’m gonna build me a pit with MFD’s!!!

That building lead to a desktop instrument panel but I wasn’t completely happy with that, which got me into building a full sized cockpit of wood and then now to the metal “real” F16 pit using a lot of the real F16 items. All of that has taken years to get to where I am but I’m getting close to actually starting back to learning and fly BMS. To do so it is obvious that I need to do a lot of reading of posts on this forum (just started that) and reading BMS docs and flying.

Thanks again.

Willy

[gza036]

I wouldn’t throw out that old original F4 manual just yet
yes, ignore everything in there about keybinds and avionics technical details, but it’s got a lot of interesting stuff on basic tactics, maneuvers, planning, and the like. It’s a good read. Written by Pete Bonanni (Art of the Kill video)