Much of the mission is based on some reading I did on Operation Iraqi Freedom (@AndyE mentioned he was reading these and I asked for the info so I could buy and read the series):
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01DPPPYO8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o05?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have since started in to the books from the series relating to the Harrier (ODS/OEF/OIF) and I will also have to get in to the ones regarding the F-14’s due to the relationship with the Hornet in OIF.
If we have the mission ready (@Franze has it in the works) and a crowd ready to run it - then you can expect to have quite the workout in your aircraft knowledge.
Some of the design concepts include:
- Heavily restricted F10 view - you’ll be relying on aircraft navigation systems, your eyes & your sensors to navigate and search for targets.
- A front line area for close-air-support (CAS) aircraft [Harrier & Warthog] to work with combined arms players as JTAC.
- A vast rear area for strike aircraft to hunt down the enemy - Battlefield Air Interdiction (BAI) sorties.
- Longer flights - lighter payloads will be a big benefit, and make sure you have the gas on station to use the weapons you bring.
- The above two points will make the use of a FAC(A) such as F/A-18C loaded with only a pod, fuel and defensive missiles OR a F-14 (with human RIO) in a similar config OR a Warthog very helpful as they can also perform the Strike Coordination And Reconnaissance (SCAR) role. This means you ideally don’t have to burn up your gas hunting and go home without finding a target.
There will be more to this as well but it’s something I’m looking forward to trying as it will allow us to have more players without needing so many units the server stops syncing properly or a massively defended “citadel” design where everyone gets shot down repeatedly because the barrier to entry is high.
Anyways - this is just one potential mission we can hopefully run. The collections of @Franze and @WreckingCrew have quite a variety including the perennial favorite Erl Sis from WC, and the competitive Jumeriah Keyhole - where we split in to two teams and fight to score points flying through a hotel, if the other team doesn’t get their say in first!
WC also has a new Syria map scenario in the works, which I’ll get some more details on soon.
We’ll try to tailor to the crowd to a degree to maximize participation since this is also very much a social event that we think would be a helpful break from the social isolation that COVID has brought on.