How are they gonna do the whole BLC thing? They’re gonna need a straw and burritos…
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Short question: How do you get a custom skin into a mission of a Pay-DLC-Campaign, which you can’t save…?
Before you start he mission there should be a briefing screen. At the center bottom of that there should be a large button that says “Mission Planning” or some such. Click that and you’ll see a map with your aircraft on it. On the right side there will be info about your flight, and the option to change loadouts amongst other things. You can change your skin in the load out page.
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I see myself as a rather competent virtual A-10C pilot, it is the module I have by far the most hours in, and I do practice some of the more obscure procedures in it now and then.
Still I am reluctant to fly that campaign. It may shatter my confidence…
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Yep…that’s it…!
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For BFT-03 - we will take to the air and follow the instructions to fly a traffic pattern - sounds easy enough right?
The start-up flow is coming along nicely. I’m forgetting less things each time - this time I think I got everything done correctly…
That is one worn out looking plane…
Once airborne, I head to waypoint #2 to rendezvous with the instructor…
Once I reach WP2, the performance checking starts. I’m given some airspeeds, altitudes, and headings to fly before I’m eventually told to contact the tower for approach vectors. There is a good bit of using the radios in these missions, a nice feature that adds some task loading to the rest of the flying.
The mission triggers in this campaign are really, really well done and this entire, very complex mission unfolded flawlessly.
The first pattern is a level pattern at 2,500’ while we wait for some departure traffic to clear out.
The precise flying in response to the instructions is really fun - for a non-combat mission, they are pretty intense and you feel like you have to concentrate 100% of the time.
I’m given vectors around the traffic pattern to give me an idea of what it should look like…
The mission designer did a fantastic job of mixing in a ton of other traffic - wandering away from your heading or altitude would definitely cause a traffic problem.
After the first pattern, I’m told to fly my own duplicate pattern at 2,500’ before I’m broken out on the downwind to receive vectors from ATC. This is a great mix of scripting and stock ATC that flow together perfectly. Very well done.
Cleared to land!
After landing, I realize I can give myself a bit of additional time on the ramp by cleaning up the aircraft after stopping upon exiting the runway. That way, I don’t have to scramble to get the entire shutdown procedure done in two minutes. The debriefing is the best I’ve had yet in this campaign - all tasks were “Qualified” with no “minus” - so a perfect hop! I was actually quite proud of that…!
Looking forward to BFT-04…
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Today we’ll fly a structured approach and landing pattern - taking cues from the Instructor Pilot.
During my cockpit startup “flow” - I hit the ON switch on the ILS nav radio and get an immediate admonishment…whoops!
Off we go to WP2 to meet up with the IP…
After climbing up to 7,000’ and taking some vectors from the IP, he goes over a few educational items and then turns me loose to contact Batumi Approach for a vector to the initial (visual) approach point…
Again, the mixing of mission triggers with the default ATC (and other traffic) is very well done and must have been a nightmare to script…
This approach goes well - again, it isn’t a tutorial, so you have to know to put your gear and flaps out at the appropriate time.
After a successful touchdown, we are immediately sent around on a touch and go…
Once again we climb up away from the field, take some vectors, altitudes, and speeds, and get boxed back around for another visual approach.
Another successful touchdown. I was admonished once for being a bit high in the middle of the approach, which I assume resulted in my Qualified-Minus rating in that area…but the rest of the flight check went well…!
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@BeachAV8R these campaigns do look very well done.
I’m not sure I could do them without getting super frustrated. I feel like much of starting something like that is technique as part of your own flow, as long as it complies with published procedures. I think I might lose my mind if I failed a mission because I started X system before Y if it wasn’t explicitly required.
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Our next flight will be one with some basic maneuvers.
As usual, the airfield and surrounding area is a beehive of activity - a nice feature of all the missions…
The flying in this mission is fun…with lots of airspeed changes and trim change requirements that keep your HUD scan going pretty fast. The FPM really does make maneuvers in fighters a bit easier than the rapid scan of a “six-pack” that most of us have to use in our civilian planes.
Slow flight is required to demonstrate the low speed handling qualities of the A-10C…which are very docile…
Nailing the headings, speeds, and altitudes is fun…and a nice change of pace from just dropping stuff on stuff…
There is some nice commentary throughout…
I’ll blame this deviation on my son…he wanted juice and he wanted it NOW!
After some fun maneuvering (leaves your shoulders a little tense) - it as time to check out some of the basic features of the autopilot…
Then back to the field…
The ratings came in pretty good. I had to repeat one slow flight circle because I think I started the maneuver too soon (prior to the instructor saying to proceed) and as a result, when I finished the maneuver, I wasn’t set to start the actual graded maneuver. I was pretty happy with it though. After all of the work you put into the start, the flying, and shutdown, you sorta want to at least make that Qualified or Qualified Minus grade. Unqualified is a bummer…
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Today’s hop will include some “advanced handling” - which should be interesting. In reading the mission description I was brought back to the sweat drenched uncertainty I felt when I was trying to learn some of these maneuvers and perform them in front of a grizzled FAA designated examiner who was smoking in the airplane as I fumbled my way through them decades ago. I assure you, they were as ugly today as they were that day over 95 degree Conway, SC…
Per usual, the full startup is on the menu - don’t miss an item Cadet…!
Off we go to rendezvous at WP2…
Time to break out the beer and porn - we’re in the MOA…! Oh wait…maneuvers, yeah…
Where’d I put my sick sack? Looks like it’s gonna be a @smokinhole type of day!
There are a lot more voiceovers that I don’t show in these AARs - lots of good tips, advice, and parameters for the maneuvers…
Next up - a spin…! Which goes well…
Net up a spiral dive…again, the triggers and messages are perfectly constructed in these missions. I’m impressed…
Performing lazy eights - fortunately the parameters for judging appear fairly liberal, because mine weren’t the sharpest lines in the skies for sure…
After that - we do a duel flame-out deadstick landing. The divert airfield in the brief is the abandoned field, even though the much larger airfield of Kobuleti is below - but we’ll stick with the plan. It isn’t until I’m halfway down that I realize I can start the APU and use the APU gen to get my avionics partially back…duh…
I end up a little hot and high close in (typical for an engine out procedure) and touchdown a bit warm, then can’t remember where the emergency brake is until I’m about to barrel of the end of the runway. Into the grass I go, I flip, and still I manage to Qualify. Since part of the briefing was “you can eject if you have to”, I guess a broken airplane is just as good…
Hey…uh…is someone gonna get me out of here??
Fun mission with some fun maneuvers.
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This looks like fun! I hope you can sell mugs as well as you can sell modules Beach! 
I’m downloading the A-10C and Maple Flag campaigns now …
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Man…having a very difficult time with BFT-07 - Aerobatics. I’m just horrible at them in the A-10C…too sloppy to get a passing grade. Reverted to the practice mission twice after failing the graded mission…and still no luck…
This guys does them well - I might need to switch to VR to get this mission passed since I don’t have my TIR setup and I think it helps enormously for aerobatics…(video starts 18 minutes in - the point where you start doing the maneuvers)
Failed this mission again… #3
I don’t want to pick on you but the guy in the video does not seem to use TrackIR. Heck he doesn’t even use snap views. 
I have the same vision problem that “Wash Out” has…
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It’s OK though. Up before the sun. Mudspike coffee mug brimming with Costa Rican misty mountain brew. Sitting down on my desk with a kneeboard strapped to my leg, my Vibram Five Fingers shoes to provide that extra rudder authority, and some Nomex flight gloves. I’m going to play a little Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone” quietly in the background, and aim the fan at my face.
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You can do it. I wouldn’t have passed the first mission of the campaign.
You cannot fail with support by Kenny.
I have flown #07 and Speed is the Key. Hope that helps.
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