Also bare in mind RTS (STT in anything not sufficiently Hornet) is horrifically bugged right now.
Any more news on the F/A-18C Recce Mode features - ATARS /TAWS/TFR & FLIR - AN/APG-73 Radar features to be implemented at later date that I missed or is it not going to happen?
Online info - AN/APG-73 Radar Features
Higher throughputs. Greater memory capacity. Improved reliability
The re-programmable AN/APG-73 radar responds to new threats and accommodates future modes and weapons through software changes rather than hardware retrofit.
The APG-73 is an all-weather , coherent, multimode, multiwaveform search-and-track sensor that uses programmable digital processors to provide the features and flexibility needed for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions. It is an upgrade of the APG-65 that provides higher throughputs, greater memory capacity, improved reliability, and easier maintenance without associated increases in size or weight.
Phase II of the APG upgrade completed development. It incorporates a motion-sensing subsystem with reconnaissance software , a stretch waveform generator module, and a special test equipment instrumentation and reconnaissance module. With these enhancements, the F/A-18 aircraft will have the hardware capability to make high-resolution radar ground maps comparable with those of the F-15E and the U-2 aircraft, and be able to perform precision strike missions using advanced image correlation algorithms.
The APG-73 is operational in the U.S. Navy F/A-18 C , D, E, and F; the U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 A+, C and D; and in the air forces of Finland, Switzerland, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada.
Link - (404 - Page Not Found)| Raytheon
It will come handy flying low night missions -
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrai…warning_system
- Forward-looking infrared - Wikipedia
- Terrain-following radar - Wikipedia
- Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System - Wikipedia
Well if it ever reaches that level of implementation to thoroughly enjoy low level terrain masking and reconnaissance i’m certainly a happy camper.
@Hangar200 Furbals are the heart beating moments of a real fighter pilot be it an f-14 or f-18 
Just flick master arm on switch then pull the stick back, keep your eyes on the bandit, do the hick maneuver, put the nose in lead pursuit line up the funnel fire away and become an ACE - Top Gun - “Sierra-Hotel” 
Right now the APG-73 does RWS, RTS, FLOOD and the various ACM Modes. ED’s focus seems to be on working out the bugs in their new underlying radar model before moving on to adding the more exotic air to air functionality (TWS, LTWS, VS, Az/El, etc.) Once that’s done I’d imagine you’d see a pivot to the AG functionality.
ATARS is a Marine only program, and is/was only fitted to select F/A-18Ds in lieu of the cannon. The F/A-18C never really filled a traditional recce role like the F-14 or the SHARP equipped F/A-18E/Fs. If anything you’d be doing NTIR with the ATFLIR, if that.
No air to ground radar functionality outside of Air Ground Ranging is in yet, so now TAWS. Even then TAWS is absolutely not TFR like you’d find in the F-111 or LANTIRN suite of electronics. The Hornet isn’t designed to do all weather NOE penetrations of enemy air space, that’s pretty much only the domain of the F-15E these days.
FLIR is not provided by the radar, but is located in fuselage adapter for the ATFLIR pod. Expect more on that when that system is developed.
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You have to be really quick to trim it on AoA when you put out the flaps, if you get that right you have a small window to put yourself back on the numbers.
Yes…but I can’t seem to get to these modes!!!…of course I haven’t read the manual yet…hmmm…perhaps I should put this rant on hold for a while…please disregard. 
That’s one way to do it. The other way is to roll inverted before putting out the flaps. 
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They’ve changed something. I last flew it a few weeks back and since somewhere this Spring (I think) the Mirage smoothly transitions to a more traditional plane feeling at low speeds. Too tired to think of the right words to describe physically now, but it is more like a Cessna at low speeds now.
Unless they changed something since a few weeks back that is…
RWS: Default/Only search mode atm
RTS: What you get when you lock something
FLOOD: “Holy ■■■■, Bad Idea” Mode. The radar poops out energy through a separate antennae as a last ditch method of AIM-7 guidance, the missile will guide on the strongest return. This is activated by either launching a Sparrow with no current radar lock, or if your lock is lost before the missile has timed out and if the target is within a certain range.
ACM: Use the Castle Switch (TDC Priority, the thing on your stick), and press it in the direction of the screen your radar is displayed on. Once you see the TDC Priority Diamond in the top, outermost side of the screen, press Castle Switch Forward, and the radar will enter ACM mode. You will default into Boresight, from here Castle Switch Left will give you WACQ. Castle Switch Back will give you VACQ. Pressing the undesignate button will return you to normal usage.
That’s still not really what the Hornet’s FCS is doing in PA mode.
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I believe the Mirage uses flight control laws that are similar to the Airbus in terms of trim: G demand at moderate to high speeds and AOA demand at low speed/high AOA. This is what makes it feel natural (or Cessna-like) on landing. I haven’t flown it since spring though. I did just fly the Hornet after a long break. It seems much easier around the boat now. Before I recall big increases in drag with small AOA increases which could quickly spiral into a very low speed state. Now the drag curve seems much more predictable.
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Honestly, I don’t worry about the Bug’s AA capabilities currently. I’ve used it primarily for playing around with light strike, usually incorporating all the carrier ops in a mission and relegating AA to self protection. This is where it really seems to shine at the moment and practicing high altitude bombing is just cool.
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Hmmm…that may explain how I shot down my wingman. My understanding this the switch to FLOOD is automatic for the reasons you expressed above. The first timeI saw FLOOD pop up I thought I was going to hear “Birdhouse in Your Soul” (10 points for those playing at home if you can name the group.)
Found the ACM foresight mode but not the other two…definitely the gouge (Navy slang for good to know info). He could start a whole new thread of TTP (Tactics Techniques and Procedures) pre and post merge with regard to radar usage. I prefer to try to keep visual and go to boresight to lock him up. But there is something to be said about going to VACQ…
Having read this thread I know they are working the current modes before they go to TWS…we really need TWS…I hope they are successful quickly.
I’ve got some screen shots showing my earliest “experiences” with the Hornet over in 2.5 Screenshots. EDIT: Well I will have them over there as soon as I get done with this and start posting them.
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“We’re the wingman… and you know we never miss…”
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The funny thing is that I got vectored to him. It was close - about 13 Nm. Of course without TWS I locked up the first thing the radar saw. It fit the vector from the E-2D…I never got a “Buddy Spike” call…so I pulled the trigger. The next thing I hear is my Wingy shouting “Missile in the Air”…that was bad because we were going after Backfires. He must have pumped chaff to break lock because I’m pretty sure I went to FLOOD…which gave the Sparrow the return it needed…a fireball and pieces of jet every where…and Mister Wingman is no longer answering up on the frequency…no parachute.
Did I mention that this would NOT have happened if I had TWS! For the love of country and all things good… brave, valiant AI wingmen are dying out there…Blue-on-(virtual) Blue…Friendly Fire…for gosh sakes this is Fratricide …all for the want of TWS…
“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Just say’n 
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Next you’re going to be asking for Link, and HAFU, and a working IFF! 
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Which brings me to a question that I’m pretty sure has been discussed to death in this thread, but for which I just need a simple “Yes” or “No” answer.
I start up the jet by the book, yet I still get a lot of BIT “stuff” to include WEPS DEGRAD…they work fine. Is the mainly due to things not yet “installed” (like IFF)?
Or am I missing steps that were not in the book?
OK, thats two questions. But if “Yes” to the first, I’ll just ignore and move on. Sure its annoying to see the BIT error code on the left MFD and get Master Caution on take off (yes, I pressed the TO Trim button, Seat Armed Wings down and locked…um…most of the time on that last one) ADV- BIT is the only code showing.
…and if an answer is in this thread, just let me know and I’ll go searching myself.
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Maximum realism over the War of the Falklands 2018 19 20!
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The BIT is programmed to test against a full up F/A-18… Which we don’t have. Really the only thing to need to do is go into FCS-BIT, hold Y for two seconds (this is the key for the FCS-BIT consent switch) and press the DDI button for the bit. This tests your FCS and gives the plane a warm fuzzy.
The TO trim is probably happening because your not setting proper trim for a CV takeoff. The trim button applies 12 degrees of trim, which is proper for a field takeoff. CV ops require between 14 and 16 degrees. There’s a chart in here somewhere. You can check trim setting on the FCS or CHECKLIST page
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Thanks for te answer. I’ll stop trying to fix things that aren’t there.
Re Master Alarm on TO…that’s what I do. L MFD is ADI incase the HUD goes out. R MFD is checklist (both for TO and landing) I thought I was seeing 14 deg…perhaps not…so set TO trim and then bump up the trim a couple more.
EDIT: @near_blind - Nope it was setting 12 I followed your advice, set it to 14-16 deg and no Master Caution…which is a good thing. As it was always going off when I added thrust I started to ignore it…and launched with my wings still folded (splash).
I’ve got a Thrustmaster Cougar 2 x MFD set up for the L-R MFDs - makes life a lot easier. The FCS test is easy since I can actually use the mouse on the R Wall switch and hit the MFD button. I also think it is cool that the FCS scree has the X’s where te flight controls have been “resting”.
I have seen the up coming features announcements and videos. Is there a site with a “here’s what you got so far” listing?
Make sure your stick is neutral. If it doesn’t go away, just keep bumping the trim up a little bit more each time.
ED can’t be bothered to write down what actually makes it into a given patch half the time. Suffice to say there is not such a site.
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Well…If I have some free time, I’ll review this thread and poke around the cockpit a bit and try to generate an unofficial list. 
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Question: If you suffer battle damage, can you review it on the BIT screen?
Answer: No. I’m either punching out or am already dead.
Seriously…does it?