Navigating in expert mode

[SCG_Darbzy]

Hi All,

 

Firstly, I apologize if this topic should be on a different thread, and secondly, if I'm asking a stupid question that has been addressed elsewhere. I've read most of the other discussions on navigation but the most recent is about 6 months old and I thought there may be some new developments.

 

At the moment I content myself with looking at the map during the engine start cycle, eyeballing a rough track to the target and then track crawl along the map. This means my head is down way more than it would be in real life. I also have no idea of the scale of the map so coming up with even a rough ETA based on my speed is next to impossible. Finding close targets is okay, particularly if they are next to a river bend or a town, but I like bombing and find it very difficult and frustrating to navigate to long range targets over relatively featureless terrain. Any tips?

 

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Happy Landings!

 

Darbz

[wtornado]

I find that on long run like on WoL when you have you plane location on the map I point the plane to the target and check the compass heading and try not to deviate from that heading until I am close to the target.

Edited September 9, 2016 by WTornado

[beepee]

G'day Darbz.

 

This might be of some help: http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/21919-il-2-mission-planner-online-flight-planning-tool-il2missionp/

 

I guess a pen and paper for headings and notes might be handy.

 

To be honest, I have not ventured too much in expert servers, but when I have I managed using the link above and the alt-tab keys.

 

It's a good challenge.

 

[Aap]

This mission planner tool is really great, but if you are in a lazy mood, like I usually am, then here are my quick-and-dirty tips.

 

 

 

I also have no idea of the scale of the map so coming up with even a rough ETA based on my speed is next to impossible.

 

To start with that, every square on the map is 10 km x 10 km. 

 

 

 

I like bombing and find it very difficult and frustrating to navigate to long range targets over relatively featureless terrain.

 

I look up a couple of easily recognizable waypoints on my way to the target that are not too far away from each other and fly from waypoint to waypoint. Just rough heading is enough, if the waypoints are not too far from each other. For example something like that:

1. First waypoint (let's say recognizable shape of a village) is 3 squares left and 2 down. So heading is roughly 125 degrees and in so short distance it does not really matter if it should have been 120 or 130, because you are still able to see the waypoint from the air.

2. Then second waypoint (triangle shape forest) is directly east for 2 squares.

3. The final target is about one-and-a-half squares left and one square north, so roughly 50-60 degrees and should come to sight soon.

 

Then if you are talking about higher altitude level bombing, you should find a landmark or two further away (initial point) that is in line with your final target. 

[Neil]

Yes, it is not easy to bomb when there are no landmarks

Anyway, on the map "o" key like Oscar, you should see the position of your plane, even in expert mode, if not press "i" (sometimes it does not work then wait a few minutes)

Take into account that your bombsight might be pointing left or right depending on wind (direction and heading)

when you know your altitude and the angle of the bombsight: you can see wich place of map your bomsight is pointing.

I hope it is helpful!

[SCG_Darbzy]

Hey Guys,

 

Thanks for the feedback so quickly!

 

There's no problem using the WoL server, because as WTornado said, there's always an aircraft icon to use which is dead easy. I haven't seen one on TAW server yet...

 

JG77Kemp, thanks for telling me the grid size! That's a massive help. I can now work out rough ETAs!!

 

MF-Beepee, I'll take a look at that link, cheers.

 

All in all, now I know the scale I can make a few rough notes on a piece of paper, use prominant land marks, too far features, ETAs and I may have a fighting chance of finding my way to and from targets.

Cheers all!

 

Darbz

MF-Beepee,

 

That mission planner looks great. I'll try and use it on my iPad next time I play (I only have one monitor) and leave some feedback for you.

Thanks,

 

Darbz

[Sokol1]

 

 

At the moment I content myself with looking at the map during the engine start cycle, eyeballing a rough track to the target and then track crawl along the map. This means my head is down way more than it would be in real life.

 

You should not "track crawl" over the map, but watch your heading in compass, and eventually look at map and terrain to assure be in the pretended route.

 

Latter you will fly over seas, and there is not possible "IFRR" (I Follow Roads, Rivers) navigation.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Sokol1

[busdriver]

I too enjoy low level navigation (30 meters in game) and dropping bombs. I'd offer a couple of "travelling tips" from my former profession. If you fly at an indicated airspeed that is a multiple of 60, then it is fairly easy to do the mental math to calculate time to a turn point or the target. That's if you're practicing your dead reckoning skills. Personally I don't think it's required, and in game I use pilotage.

 

Why multiple of 60? There are 60 minutes in an hour, and if your fly at 360 km/hr, how many km will you fly in a single minute? 360 km/hr divided by 60 min/hr equals 6 km/min. 420 km/hr works out to 7 km/min, 480 km/hr works out to 8 km/min.

 

Turns out that a Bf-110 with half fuel and the power set at approximately 1.2 ATA will cruise very close to 360 km/hr. So I can estimate it will take me a little more than a minute and a half to cross a square on a path directly E-W or N-S.

 

We have the good fortune that sim maps are fairly small. I work with basic headings...the four cardinal heading N-S-E-W and the four between NE-SE-SW-NW. As I'm flying along I'll adjust as required. This allows me to work from large features (lakes, unoccupied airfields, sun position at takeoff) and then refine my position. 

[Trooper117]

Good points...

[SCG_Darbzy]

Guys (and gals?)

 

I used this mission planner last night (http://forum.il2stur...ol-il2missionp/) on TAW and it transformed the game for me. Very quick and simple to use and you can access it any time in game by simply hitting alt/tab.

 

I had no problems finding my targets (I still usually get shot down by fighters! But hey...) and it made navigating FUN. Now I not only enjoy the combat and flying aspects of the game but getting there is fun too. Just set a course over your airfield, start the clock on your iPhone (or whatever stopwatch you have) and , hey presto, a VERY accurate elapsed time to target.

 

The cool thing is you can update your indicated airspeed on the planner at any time, so for example, if you are flying slower on your way to the target due to a heavy bomb load, you can change your speed on the way home and get a very accurate ETA. The only thing you have to remember is to hit the tit on your stopwatch at the start of each leg.

 

Brilliant tool. Well done to GIAP//curiousGamblerr for creating it.

[Habu]

Yes, it is not easy to bomb when there are no landmarks

Anyway, on the map "o" key like Oscar, you should see the position of your plane, even in expert mode, if not press "i" (sometimes it does not work then wait a few minutes)

Take into account that your bombsight might be pointing left or right depending on wind (direction and heading)

when you know your altitude and the angle of the bombsight: you can see wich place of map your bomsight is pointing.

I hope it is helpful!

It's false if the the server settings hasn't enable the GPS settings.

[Mesha44]

I didn't get a chance to post last night when I saw this (I was on my tablet and didn't have a link)  I have been using the download version of this tool http://il2map.info/ which does have a stop watch.

 

Here is a ling to the forum thread where there is a downloadable version you can save to your desktop.   http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/13908-map-stalingrad-web-browser/page-5?hl=%2Btool&do=findComment&comment=364717  

 

Good luck and have fun.