Finding a white runway on a white map

[bongotastic]

Are there ways to locate a dirt runway on the winter map? My career airfield has very little landmarks, and once there is a bit of snow, seeing the tower on time for a landing is a crapshoot. I guess based on parking spots and AAA, but not very well. Asking for a (dead) pilot friend.

[BlitzPig_EL]

It just comes with more seat time.

 

 Navigation on the Eastern Front was difficult, especially in winter.

Also, it might have to do with your graphics settings, but with enough time you will more easily be able to pick out the runway from the vast white wasteland.

[AEthelraedUnraed]

If you fly without icons like me, you should constantly be on the lookout for landmarks. Towns, forests, rivers and lakes are usually good ways to find out where you are. Then learn to estimate distances, and how they relate to the map. With a bit of practice, you should be able to locate the airfield just fine, indeed using parking spots etc, and start the approach. Then when you're on final, you should be able to see the runway.

[TFR_Geronimo]

10 hours ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

If you fly without icons like me, you should constantly be on the lookout for landmarks. Towns, forests, rivers and lakes are usually good ways to find out where you are. Then learn to estimate distances, and how they relate to the map. With a bit of practice, you should be able to locate the airfield just fine, indeed using parking spots etc, and start the approach. Then when you're on final, you should be able to see the runway.

 

Exactly correct. When looking at your mission plan look for landmarks along the way to verify you're on the correct path. Also identify a backstop such as a river crossing or a large town you can easily identify to know you have overshot your target, also use a backstop for return trip. If you are having trouble identifying what river/town/lake you are looking at, look for very unique shapes such as an island in the middle of the river or a unique bend or curve. Flying by landmarks will ensure you always know roughly where you are.

[R33GZ]

Lol. Glad others have had the same experience. Mostly it comes down to experience with the AO and properly studying your flight plan before takeoff . As for landings, once I have located the airfeild, I tend to do a short 45 degree final and drift onto the threshold, that way I usually keep the runway in view right up untill the last minute.

 

Ive had a few instances where I've tried to fly myself off the map because of following visual cues instead of my compass - which is sneakily hidden under the gunsight in the yaks. 

 

[bongotastic]

I think that starting the PWCG in March (BoS) made it a bit harder because I had never seen the airfield before. I need to wean myself of navigation markers and target enhancement soon, but these are/were helping when figuring out stuff like... you know, landings. I am surprised that I can now loosely do formation flying without AI. 

 

April has arrived, snow is gone, and Gromoslavka will soon be overrun. 

[PatrickAWlson]

4 hours ago, bongotastic said:

I think that starting the PWCG in March (BoS) made it a bit harder because I had never seen the airfield before. I need to wean myself of navigation markers and target enhancement soon, but these are/were helping when figuring out stuff like... you know, landings. I am surprised that I can now loosely do formation flying without AI. 

 

April has arrived, snow is gone, and Gromoslavka will soon be overrun. 

 

I have never been able to do that.   Maybe if I flew more I would be able to navigate, but right now it all just looks the same to me.  Without nav markers  I am probably parking my 109 in a field just outside of Moscow.  The only reason I am not parking it in the middle of Red Square is because the game won't let me.

[Irishratticus72]

2 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

I have never been able to do that.   Maybe if I flew more I would be able to navigate, but right now it all just looks the same to me.  Without nav markers  I am probably parking my 109 in a field just outside of Moscow.  The only reason I am not parking it in the middle of Red Square is because the game won't let me.

Plus, those City centre parking permits are seriously expensive.

[firdimigdi]

On 6/19/2022 at 3:43 PM, bongotastic said:

Are there ways to locate a dirt runway on the winter map?

 

Watch out where the russkies go,
And don't you eat that yellow snow.

[Avimimus]

I can't help but think that my experience as a Canadian driver makes this less of a challenge for me. Slight differences in layers of textures, dependent on the angle of the sunlight  

[bongotastic]

 

4 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

I have never been able to do that.   Maybe if I flew more I would be able to navigate, but right now it all just looks the same to me.  Without nav markers  I am probably parking my 109 in a field just outside of Moscow.  The only reason I am not parking it in the middle of Red Square is because the game won't let me.

 

Since I often lose the flight leader, I often have to fly without nav markers back home. The day I'll disable the self-icon on the map, I may just ending up invading Germany.

18 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

I can't help but think that my experience as a Canadian driver makes this less of a challenge for me. Slight differences in layers of textures, dependent on the angle of the sunlight  

 

Having grown in Quebec, I'd agree. However, in Nova Scotia and on the coast, it's all black ice!

Edited June 21, 2022 by bongotastic
formatting.

[Avimimus]

2 hours ago, bongotastic said:

Having grown in Quebec, I'd agree. However, in Nova Scotia and on the coast, it's all black ice!

 

Yeah, my father's stories of the Gaspésie though...

[TFR_Geronimo]

19 hours ago, bongotastic said:

Since I often lose the flight leader, I often have to fly without nav markers back home. The day I'll disable the self-icon on the map, I may just ending up invading Germany.

 

I always check for landmarks identified from the flight plan while in formation flight to the target just in case I do lose the flight leader (which often happens during dogfights)

As you spend more time based out of the same airfield you will start to learn what the terrain looks like and won't need to check the map as much. Also if you can equip a Bendix it will guide you home. I believe it is Requiem that has a video explaining how to use it. It is a skill that comes with practice, and I often play on expert MP servers where flying by terrain association is a vital skill. At the end of the day I will never attempt to force someone to play a single-player experience in any way other than the way they choose although I highly recommend attempting it and seeing if you enjoy it! I find it to be interesting on the few times I do get lost after a prolonged dogfight or if I am being lax in my SA.

[bongotastic]

I watched that Requiem video and a few others on navigation. Didn't realize that the RPK-10 in my Yak-1 is essentially an avionics for NBDs. Training wheels are coming off tonight. This being said, it is good that IL2 provides so many training wheels at first. I plan to play on expert MP in due time, but my gaming time is not jiving with most humans so SP must work well.