Today we move on to ATQ-08 where we drop some bombs on some things and make them blow up. What could be better? I used the ATQ-08 practice mission before flying the evaluation mission, and it was evident that I needed to brush up a bit on my A2G cockpit settings knowledge, so I fired up the original A-10C training mission to get a refresher. And I must say, those original ED A-10C training missions are still fantastic. The voiceovers, the guided button pushing, all of it is very, very well done.
So after getting some of the basic cockpit stuff back into my memory banks, it’s time to fly the evaluation mission.
As usual, we will be out on the Syph Range with marked targets and limited ordnance. In my practice mission, I was not able to kill all of the targets with bombs alone - you only get 4 Mk-82s and 2 CBU-97s. Theoretically, I think it is possible to pass the mission with just bombs, but you’d be hard pressed to kill the entire convoy of vehicles at the CBU-97 target area. But that is OK since the instructions say you are also free to use the GAU-8 to clean up any targets that remain.
Getting my weapons profiles set up while on the ramp and waiting for the EGI to finish aligning…
Off we go…
On the flight out to the range, the instructor reviews some of the weapons we will be using, the range safety parameters, and a few other items that keep the mission interesting…
As we pass the IP, the targets start to pop smoke on the range. It is important to visually ID the targets since there are other targets on the range that are not to be engaged.
The instructions are for a CCIP delivery on the first target area…
I get lucky and the first bomb takes out all three trucks (I was not able to do that reliably in the practice mission)…
The second target area we are instructed to use the CCRP delivery mode…
A nice hit on that target…
Target area three is a cluster of trucks and dealer’s choice on how to engage…
This is what happens if you press too low and break the range rules…(this was on the practice mission)
My first bomb lands well short because it released four seconds early for some reason (it left the rail when I hit the pickle button and I thought it was in CCRP mode…no idea why). The second bomb takes out two of the trucks, so I’ll have to wrap up target area three with the gun…
Target area four is a moving convoy with a mix of light armor and trucks.
I perform a CCRP delivery on the head of the column. The CBU-97 is just a fun weapon to watch work…
The first pass kills four or five vehicles…
The second pass kills another four or so, which leaves me a half a dozen more to clean up with the gun…
Once all the targets are dead, we check off the range and head back to base.
