Advise on recon flights

[Oorpii]

Just visited J5 Flugpark and flew a recon mission but need some things to be explained to me.

Apart from bringing a camera is there a specific height interval to be in and will a camera icon appear like it does in Rof?

I did not get any icon on 10k height.

[JGr2/J34b_Matthias]

Hi Oorpii, if you hover over any recon objective icon on our server you will see that it pops up a tooltip to remind you that the optimal recon height is 2100m as well as an absolute max of 2800m,  and min altitude of 1400m but be aware - the recon bounds are SPHERICAL.  So if you fly higher or lower than the optimal altitude the boundaries of the recon area are smaller and harder to hit.

 

Your altitude bands in feet:

Min - 4600 ft

Optimal - 6900 ft

Max - 9186 ft  > So yes -10k is TOO HIGH! 

 

While not ENTIRELY historical as some higher altitude cameras were in use by 1918, it does reflect the primitive nature of early camera equipment that did not have zooming and focusing functions on the lenses.  Regardless, we can't be having you rtb with blurry photos!  Also it gives the opposition a definite range band to search for you ;-).

 

I also have an extract of a British Aerial Service Journal from Nov 1917 that prescribes the standard photo recon observation height for all pilots as 6000ft, so I feel that I've been pretty generous in my definition of the altitudes for the mission.  -Interestingly enough, this same extract lists the standard patrol altitude for fighters as 15,000 ft.  That was more in line with a layered patrol top cover maximum, not a standard.  So I take their printed word with a grain of salt.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by J5_Matthias
Added some historical context.

[Oorpii]

Ok, got it, thanks!

[Oorpii]

Just to be sure, an icon will appear when I'm in the right position, or?

[J5_Gamecock]

2 minutes ago, Oorpii said:

Just to be sure, an icon will appear when I'm in the right position, or?

 Oorpii

  In a word, no.  The icon that we had in ROF was a 3rd party program. It will not work in FC, (at least that's what I've heard) On the J5 maps I believe Matthias has put in subtitles that tell you when you are in the area, and when you have the pictures completed.

[JGr2/J34b_Matthias]

Exactly as Gamecock said

Edited October 5, 2019 by J5_Matthias

[JGr2/J5_Baeumer]

On 10/5/2019 at 3:22 AM, J5_Matthias said:

, if you hover over any recon objective icon on our server you will see that it pops up a tooltip to remind you that the optimal recon height

If you hover over the icon on the map with your mouse, that is......?

[J99_Sizzlorr]

Can anyone upload a working group of a recon flight for the ME? I don't know how its done in BoX ME these days without Ankor's script... 

[JGr2/J34b_Matthias]

Just go download a copy of the current flying circus flugpark map.  Open the group called central photo recon or entente photo recon.  Pm me and I can explain how to close a small loophole that exists in that system for tournament and campaign play.

Edited October 9, 2019 by J5_Matthias

[J2_Trupobaw]

Matthias - there was huge gap between German and Entente lens and methodologies :). The altitudes now present are true for British, less so for German. The Halberstadt isn't exactly a high altitude recon, but below 3k she's Spad fodder.

[major_burns]

On ‎10‎/‎9‎/‎2019 at 12:32 PM, J5_Matthias said:

Just go download a copy of the current flying circus flugpark map. 

How would I go about this?  Where do I go?

[JGr2/J34b_Matthias]

On 10/17/2019 at 6:00 PM, major_burns said:

How would I go about this?  Where do I go?

 

1. Log into BOS > multiplayer > Join Server
2. Look for and join server called "Flying Circus Flugpark - visit www.jasta5.org and jasta5.teamspeak3.com"
3. Download the map the server is running.
4. Open your BOS map editor
5. Go to open file
6. Load .msbin file from your data/multiplayer/dogfight "AStQ_Dusk_Arras1918_191012.msbin"

[beresford]

I've tried a recon mission on Flugpark AGAIN, selected a recon, loaded a camera, flown over the target at exactly 2100m and..... nothing. Zilch. No icon, no text, no ability to initiate photography myself. Really frustrating when you've spent 30 minutes climbing to altitude and locating the target. I tried two targets, the second of which was definitely 'activated' according to in-mission text.

 

I don't know if it is an IL-2 problem or a Flugpark problem, but it would certainly to be handy to have some ability to interrogate the software and find out why you can't take a picture (no target, wrong altitude, wrong attitude, no camera, out of film, etc.).

[J99_Sizzlorr]

Are you sure you took the right plane labeled the same as the recon task you were trying to complete (e.g. Recon C - Recon C)?

[beresford]

18 minutes ago, J99Sizzlorr said:

Are you sure you took the right plane labeled the same as the recon task you were trying to complete (e.g. Recon C - Recon C)?

No, I wasn't aware this was a problem. Obviously having come from ROF any recon can go to any target. Should I have read this somewhere or have you found it by trial and error?

Edited October 21, 2019 by beresford
Wrong game ref

[JGr2/J5_Klugermann]

Well, it looks like you have this one sorted out now.

[major_burns]

On ‎10‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 9:39 AM, J5_Matthias said:

Load .msbin file from your data/multiplayer/dogfight "AStQ_Dusk_Arras1918_191012.msbin"

My BoS editor only allows .Mission files to be open.  No way to open or import .msbin files.

Am I missing something?

 

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

4 minutes ago, major_burns said:

My BoS editor only allows .Mission files to be open.  No way to open or import .msbin files.

Am I missing something?

 

You have to trick the editor by pasting msbin file name (if it's somewhere else with full path)  into open dialog

[major_burns]

Tried that but it said it couldn't find it.

 

[HiIIBiIIy]

23 minutes ago, major_burns said:

My BoS editor only allows .Mission files to be open.  No way to open or import .msbin files.

Am I missing something?

To open .msbin files , Click Files, then type *.* in the file name box, then click open. 

[major_burns]

Nice trick.  I need to remember that one.  Got it open.  Thank you!

 

[major_burns]

Is there a way to force the payload to include camera? Otherwise, human pilots might fly without one and complete the mission.

[J99_Sizzlorr]

Yes, there is a way to force it, but then you have to lock all weapon mods for all the other aircrafts as well.

[major_burns]

How?  I see no choice for camera loadout.

[J99_Sizzlorr]

Depends where you looking. In the ME you can set weapon mods for every plane. There you can set the photo camera to be equipped on the recon planes. 

[major_burns]

I see no way to set a camera.  Looking at the bristolf2bf3 for example, I looked at the weaponMods list and there is no camera.

Please be more specific.

[J99_Sizzlorr]

In ME click on plane - advanced poperties - weapon mods - pull down menu No 7 - set camera or radio to equipped.... 

[major_burns]

Think I have it.  Its called photo and not camera.  That confused me since they've added the photo in the cockpit option.  I thought it was that.  Thank you for the help.

[SvAF/F16_OndaAnkan]

So I tried te recon last night but the got the message i shattered the plates. Was it because i made a couple of sharp turns, or is it something else? 

[J99_Sizzlorr]

3 minutes ago, SvAF/F16_OndaAnkan said:

So I tried te recon last night but the got the message i shattered the plates. Was it because i made a couple of sharp turns, or is it something else? 

 

Your plates will shatter if you get killed or your aircraft gets critically damaged. Critical damage is f.e. enginge damage to a point where it quits or airframe damage to a point where the airframe collapses.

[SvAF/F16_OndaAnkan]

1 minute ago, J99_Sizzlorr said:

 

Your plates will shatter if you get killed or your aircraft gets critically damaged. Critical damage is f.e. enginge damage to a point where it quits or airframe damage to a point where the airframe collapses.

 

Weird, was not hit or damaged at all during the flight. Guess I have to try again!

Thanks for the fast reply. 

[J99_Sizzlorr]

18 minutes ago, SvAF/F16_OndaAnkan said:

 

Weird, was not hit or damaged at all during the flight. Guess I have to try again!

Thanks for the fast reply. 

 

Subtitles are very specific. Maybe you read that Recon X got aborted due to broken plates. But it was actually one of the other two recons flying at the same time? You need to pay attention which recon you are flying A, B or C and look for the subtitles of that recon flight. Because you will get the subtitles from the other recon flight on your side as well.

[Black_Bodkin]

Very interested in trying out this server and I’ve been trying to work out how cameras work in FC, but as far as I can tell, they don’t work, do they? While you can fit a camera to a Brisfit or Halberstadt, it doesn’t show up in the aircraft or from the observer’s position and there are no controls for ‘take photograph’ etc are there?

 

Recce is done by taking a suitable aircraft and flying around at a suitable height over a particular target and waiting for server scripting to tell you you’ve taken the required photos, if I’ve understood correctly?

[J99_Sizzlorr]

15 minutes ago, Black_Bodkin said:

Very interested in trying out this server and I’ve been trying to work out how cameras work in FC, but as far as I can tell, they don’t work, do they? While you can fit a camera to a Brisfit or Halberstadt, it doesn’t show up in the aircraft or from the observer’s position and there are no controls for ‘take photograph’ etc are there?

 

Recce is done by taking a suitable aircraft and flying around at a suitable height over a particular target and waiting for server scripting to tell you you’ve taken the required photos, if I’ve understood correctly?

 

Correct.

[Black_Bodkin]

11 minutes ago, J99_Sizzlorr said:

 

Correct.

? thanks ? 

[JGr2/J5_Baeumer]

Hit the V key over a recon Target.  It offers a whole new dimension to completing the all important photo recee mission.

 

PS Using your mouse scroll around and click the dials etc to get full experience.

[J99_Sizzlorr]

6 hours ago, J5_Baeumer said:

PS Using your mouse scroll around and click the dials etc to get full experience.

 

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

Advise on recon. If on line bring lots of escorts with you. Every one knows where the recons are now. They wait for you for the easy kill. Wish for every Thursday and Sunday they could be moved or recon birds have airstart so you can quickly get there and back home.