KOTAR Map (from BMS Range Ops V22) updated for BMS 4.34
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I’ve never properly learned to fly the pattern for bombing runs at KOTAR. I was thinking about it recently, after flying with Stalker. He mentioned that he has a training mission for KOTAR, in which the members of the flight learn how to work the KOTAR range with the proper spacing, timing, etc… I’m looking forward to flying that mission and learning those skills … when my week doesn’t have extra work stuff added to it unexpectedly
At any rate, thinking about the prospect of flying Stalker’s mission got me to thinking about Red Dog’s BMS Range Ops v22 document. I knew I’d never learned the proper racetrack pattern for KOTAR, but I couldn’t remember why.
I pulled up the PDF of BMS Range Ops, and looked at the map on p. 3, while flying around KOTAR. Then I remembered why I hadn’t learned the pattern: The terrain tiles in BMS 4.34 don’t match the ones shown in the map in BMS Range Ops v22.
If a newer map has been made, to match the 4.34 tiles, I apologize for having missed it.
But, going on the assumption that there wasn’t a new map, I decided it was time to make one. I love making maps - long story - but I couldn’t figure out how to capture a top-down view of a large-enough piece of terrain around KOTAR. I find reconnaissance satellites interesting, and I was fantasizing about BMS having a “Satellite Tasking” menu Oh, well, I thought. There’s no magic satellite in BMS…
Wait a second! Like heck there isn’t! I remembered something I’d learned from Stalker on our flight: One of the views in BMS is “Satellite View”. Stalker reminded me that it’s good to know how to invoke it, if you need a top-down view of your aircraft at an unfamiliar airbase. So, I put a HUD markpoint on the middle of the southern edge of the town, and flew off to the north. I got lined up on the markpoint, directly north of it, and then used ALT HOLD, the heading bug on the HSI, and ROLL HDG SELECT to fly directly south over the markpoint, hands-off. I invoked Satellite View, and started firing off screenshots.
One very long evening of Photomerge-ing and annotating in Photoshop later, and I had a new map. The key here was to take the map from p. 3 of BMS Range Ops v22, and bring it into Photoshop. Rescale, rotate a little, make it partially transparent, and overlay it on the new “satellite photo” so that the features of the range register correctly. Then I could start annotating.
I know how to do this in Illustrator a lot better, and I don’t have a great love for the Line and Pen tools in Photoshop right now But no matter, we’ve got a new KOTAR map.
It also incorporates the two yellow lines from the picture on p. 4 of BMS Range Ops v22, indicating base distances of 1 Nm and 2 Nm.
Here’s a small version:
Here’s a link to the large version… I hope this is downloadable for anyone who wants it:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YPkqCukJAPgKPwwsEysXjkg69olAyJyw/view?usp=sharing
Now we can go out to KOTAR and locate the corners of the box along whose edges we’ll fly.
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The KOTAR range flight with multiple planes in the pattern was always my favorite training flight.
Focus on getting Base Speed, Base Alt, and Base Distance right first. Most of the other parameters flow from there.
Although your picture is a good representative update of what’s in the original range guide, I expect that Stalker will teach you to execute a Climbing Safe Escape Maneuver (CSEM) after each pass. In that case, your Extend and Downwind legs will be shorter …. at the ridge in the south, at most. Perhaps a bit shorter than that as you execute your downwind turn once your nose is up and throttle is back to MIL power. You can also use the ‘extend’ leg to manage spacing on the plane ahead of you if necessary … never do that on the Base leg (that is don’t change the position of the base turn or the run in turn to manage spacing. Take a dry pass instead if necessary and correct on the ‘extend’ leg.)
I always flew the downwind to cross over the flat plateau that is just inside of your downwind marking. That put the range, visually, just at my inside wingtip. A ‘target’ (the range, a runway, a target, etc.) just off your inside wingtip indicates proper turning room to that target … kind of like a pivot point.
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@Glacier……let’s do it.
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There’s also this Little nugget I learned from Flying BMS With a RL viper driver; “don’t over think it”. Also pertains to Tac Form/turns.
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@Glacier……let’s do it.
I’m definitely looking forward to it! :bounce:
I had really wanted to do it this week, either yesterday, today, or during the first part of tomorrow. But some unexpected work stuff came up. I need to see what Thursday afternoon looks like and check to see if I have Zoom meetings that afternoon. I’ll hope against hope that that afternoon is reasonably free. But if not this week, I’ll do my best to carve out time next week. Getting good at spacing, formation, roll-ins, and putting bombs on target would be sweet.
When I practice 30deg LALD CCIP deliveries alone at KOTAR, I find the trickiest thing is rolling upright with the FPM at the 30deg mark on the pitch ladder. It’s that upright roll, to get out of the inverted part of the dive, where my FPM bobbles around the most.
But the reward is so sweet, when I look over my shoulder and see those bomb impacts. So much fun!
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…. I find the trickiest thing is rolling upright with the FPM at the 30deg mark on the pitch ladder. …
Amount of turn (in this case ~90 degrees) + Dive Angle (30 degrees) = angle of bank.
On your run-in turn, bank 120 degrees (90 + 30) and roll upright as the target comes into view. You should be very close to 30 degrees of nose down as you roll out.
Another tip to help …… fly your pattern in CCRP. That will give your bomb fall line as a flying cue. When you roll in, follow the bomb fall line to the center of the HUD. Get visual on the target then flick over to CCIP (Missile Step), put the pipper on the target and pickle.
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Amount of turn (in this case ~90 degrees) + Dive Angle (30 degrees) = angle of bank.
On your run-in turn, bank 120 degrees (90 + 30) and roll upright as the target comes into view. You should be very close to 30 degrees of nose down as you roll out.
Another tip to help …… fly your pattern in CCRP. That will give your bomb fall line as a flying cue. When you roll in, follow the bomb fall line to the center of the HUD. Get visual on the target then flick over to CCIP (Missile Step), put the pipper on the target and pickle.
Everything my Old friend Agave_Blue (aka a good tasting fish call sign) said….and of course like everything Falcon/Fast Jet-wise as IRL…So much practice. If one is into arcade and instant let’s blow shit up mode…you’re kinda in the wrong place.
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Once back from holiday creating a static object overlay with all targets on KOTAR range for Tacview is on my to do list
Gesendet von meinem SM-G930F mit Tapatalk
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Range ops is usually our Go to mission by the Viperdrivers.
It’s also our standard guest flight to show the new candidate how serious and detailled such an easy hop is (well they think it is easy - before the flight )
It clearly tell us if the candidate did his homework before the flight and studied my range ops doc, which has been updated alongside BMS version (but I never updated the map)
And it clearly tells the candidate that BMS is far from a game and rather a study sim where every small detail has it’s importance.It’s by far one of the most difficult mission you can do if you want to do it right.
After the flight I usually debrief the ACMI and post results of parameters like this one:
It is always an intense flight although nobody is shooting at you. the tempo of this one with the sequenced radio calls is one of the best experience in BMS training
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Pure realistic.
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We had good teachers