hi all,

i was wondering how realistic navigation will be at the most realistic setting. are we able to navigate by VOR or Tracan or other navigation aids? or do we just follow pre-given waypoints. i'd love "real" navigation like possible in fs200x.

regards, lennart

From Flanker... you plotted points on the map before the game starts, with altitude and speed... once you get into the cockpit and look at your MFD you see the way points and runways in NAV mode... but you don't manualy get to tune to NAVS and ILS... the ILS is built into the MFD when you select a runway... and there are no nav aids like VORS, fairly simplistic realy


*Stealth is for Wimps*


Message Edited on 09/15/03 02:24PM by MEGILE

I was wondering the same thing myself. If we had nav frequencies to dial in we could use the VOR's to go to each airport. Even do a reverse course with the auto pilot, and VOR approaches. That would have been nice.

About the only way I can find my base is to cheat using the map page then steer towards it. Unless you all know of a more realistic way.

Thanks

Yes nav points are set before mission start and cannot be moved. The "tilde" key - "~" let's you sycle trough them, and cycle runways as well, but that's it.

@ Bluedog: to find your runway when in nav mode you need to press "1" once more to change to RTN mode (wich leads you to ILS approach,) and once more to enter LNDG mode (wich sends you more directly to the last part of approach for visual landings) in russian planes, or "1" once to enter ILSN mode in US planes. No need for F10 view.

Note that any change back to nav mode from a combat mode automatically goes to NAV and not RTN/LNDG/ILSN. This should be easily visible in your hud.

Keeping in mind that this is only good on the Russian jets. The US aircraft's "RTN" point is the runway itself. Sometimes you might even fly a course preventing you from seeing the airport until you fly over it. When you do know where it is- you must estimate a heading that will provide you with enough airpace to turn in, line up and execute a proper approach.

Seems that mission makers rarely compensate for the terrible U.S. NAV modeling of LOMAC by simply placing another waypoint in the approach area, so it pays to know understand the system fully. (for what it is) Know exactly where you should be flying to land, etc. Especially online- no externals or map views for noobs, and people really get ****ed off when you crash on the runway. (debris kills- often can't see it until it's too late)

Yep, never underestimate the value of taking 1 or 2 minutes to study the map before clicking "fly." It almost always makes the time you spend flying afterwards much more rewarding. There is a simple but brilliant little tool built into the map that let's you measure distances and headings from/to any place on the battlemap; simply right-click and move your mouse cursor to draw up a line, and in the lower right corner screen info on distance and heading will be displayed. Great for setting you up with basic info for finding your way from target zone to target zones for instance when you are not able to set your own waypoints (as is the case online, for instance.)

quote:

Originally posted by bluedog737:
About the only way I can find my base is to cheat using the map page then steer towards it. Unless you all know of a more realistic way.

Udat and Konny have alreay given great info, but I'll add a small point.

If you are flying at night and without overcast or fog, just climb, climb, climb. With altitude, you'll see the landing lights of the air bases from miles away. For a large amount of the Lockon map you'll be able to figure out where you are and how to get back to your base.....