I’ve taken the ideas trialled in the Georgia map and put them into the Normandy map for some variation.
The airfield (Lessay) is close to the coast and not far from Jersey and Guernsey. I have set up a target range, consisting of three bullseye targets on a beach in Jersey. (Each bull has a container in the centre as a target; I don’t think it gets destroyed no matter how many times it is hit, but we’ll see.)
Aircraft Control Practice:
The airfield will have the same set up for practicing circuits as in Georgia. However, it will now be easier to locate where you are due to trial vertial landings and take offs as I have put in a FARP. A FARP has four helipads already marked out and a T showing you which way to approach from. I have set it up to be able to rearm and refuel aircraft, but you will only be able to take off and land vertically. The same system of flares is in place to let you know whether you have postitioned the aircraft successfully.
Aircraft Systems Practice:
This can be carried out over Jersey target range.
Weapons Practice:
This has been catered for by the Jersey target range
Processes:
This will be carried out over the English Channel with a Tanker that also has a TACAN Beacon. There will be a JTAC positioned on the Jersey Target Range.
Carrier Operations:
There are two carriers in the map, one static just off the coast by the FARP. The second is steaming around in the main body of the English Channel. This will allow for carrier practice in all scenarios.
Conditions:
At present the map is in good weather and around midday. I will make variations that have mist, cloud, rain, wind and night. This should give us a chance to practice in all conditions.
Air to Air:
I will be adding the BAe Hawk to the map for dissimilar air combat. We found the other day that they are relatively well matched in terms of specifications. We’re not talking BVR combat, and over Normandy there is little to no terrain masking, so it is all done by the Mk I eyeball…and AIM-9 Sidewinders! I can add the F-5E, Mirage and/or F-15C if people would like more options, but they might be getting a little too challenging unless we restrict them to
Regular training:
Both Flash and Topsy said they’d be willing to make one evening a training night. I probably wouldn’t go for the whole evening but maybe an hour on the OCU map and then look at something else. I’d suggest that maybe we post in advance on the WhatsApp group and the Forum what is that we’d like to do beforehand so that we’re all working off the same page; or we could put a weekly programme together now. I’m also hoping that we can get Simple Radio to work. This will allow for us to get used to using the radio in the Harrier and means we can have channels for different things that can be controlled without having to Alt+Tab out of the game.
At this stage I think that we all have the buttons assigned in a way that we’ll all be happy with, so we don’t need to go over that again - unless someone wants to. We all know how to start up the aircraft, though some could do it quicker; but it’s not a race. I think we could do with standardising rules around take off and landing processes though. At present it is all a bit too adhoc. So maybe this is where we should start on Monday at 20:00? I’ll make sure I have the map finished for then.
If I try and write down all of the processes that we devise then it can be written up and put into the EAF Wiki and on the forum. This could be useful even for those that don’t fly the Harrier as they will at least know what to expect when four or five Harriers approach the airfield.
I’ve added the Mirage and the Hawk for Air-Air practice. The target zones can be hit repeatedly and will not be destroyed. I am experimenting with triggers for bomb hits, but that needs some more testing. I’m thinking that this may be handy for the Mk-82’s as they are unguided. I won’t do it for the LGBs or Mavericks.