Last week I found my copy of Lockon down the back of a bookcase during a post-christmas clear-out.

Well time and graphics cards march on so I loaded it up, patched it to 1.02, got track ir going and WOW! I'd forgotten how amazing this sim is. The work of a flawed genius.

So I've been flying it around my computer for a few days and thought I'd go online. Got it going on the UBI server and Hyperlobby just one very silly problem;

How do you start the engines?

Honestly, I cant find a key to assign! All the quick missions I've flown are airstarts. When I originally bought this sim I did the A10 campaign but for the life of me I just cant remember how to start the engines! Neither can I find anything in the manuals or pilot cards.

O.k, o.k, I'm quite prepared to admit I'm being stupid but please someone, help!

I've been flying IL2 online for about 4 years now but its getting a bit jaded and I think Lomac could be just the ticket!

Apologies in advance for being daft!

i think it was page up / down in 1.02

BTW- You won't get far on HL with version 1.02 . Unless described otherwise- the server will be version 1.12

Thankyou Kon. Yes I know most of HL are on 1.12.
Thats my next question really;
Can I buy Flaming Cliffs on cd in the UK still?
I dont mind downloading it but I see many posts about problems with payments, activation, etc. and I'm a bit skeptical about getting it this way.

I reckon I'd try to buy the CD at first, but I wouldn't mess with it for weeks on end. The download works fine, but they are apparently processing orders manually, so there is a delay between your order processing and your ability to install properly. You can download the files themselves from anyone who hosts it- such as to get a faster download than those russian servers- but the serial number is needed to actually run the install.

Thanks for the advice Kon.
You're right, I think I'll need about a months worth of flying this before it's worth spending lots of time online as I've got to relearn everything. Or perhaps unlearn IL2 would be more accurate!
Hey, I've just made your site a favourite!

Actually- I'd disagree with that. While 1.02 is perectly good for basic flight practice on simple flight model planes- there are a few things about LOMAC version 1.1x that are quite different. One of the biggest changes is the jamming /counterjamming environment. Completely different starting with FC(1.1) If I remember- jamming basically made you disappear in 1.02 and this is certainly NOT the case anymore. In fact- you might say it paints your plane in neon highlighter green and blasts the stereo on 10k watt Marshalls.

Point being- Staying on the old version sounds like a good way to "get ready" to play online but the reality is that other than the basic principle of flight- you are learning & studying some material that is literally the opposite in the later version.

.... like TWS mode for SU27S/K, Mig-29 vs. not
.... what the operation of jamming pods conceal & reveal
.... changes to RWR/TEWS/Beryosa function- alerts that you receive & send out based on your radar's status
.... A few Key assignment changes

more...

Plus- fighting stupid/cheating AI enemies is not going to do you much good against a human opponent. Even an average pilot is going to make smarter use of his electronic defenses, and while he may not have UFO turning ability like the AI- he's going to make much smarter choices sooner than the AI BVR scripts allow for..

Hmmm...gonna have to go back to school and study hard.
Thanks for the advice Kon.