F-14 Tomcat Syllabus

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Pilot

The goal should be to fly the F-14 alongside a human RIO to reach its full potential. However, In order to train effectively on your own, you as a pilot must be able to use Jester. Therefore you should be able to complete everything described in the Pilot "Basic Section" below with Jester as RIO.

Basic Section

Radio/SRS

• Set Transponder code (SRS)
• Transmit/Receive on Itercom (PTT)
• Power ON/OFF and transmit/receive in both MNL/PRESET MODE using:
  • Radio 1 UHF (SRS)
  • Radio 2 VHF (SRS)
• Basic Comms as part of a flight (not as lead)
• Tune ATIS-freq. Listen to and understand ATIS Information.

Basic Flying

Startup

• Cold Start, p.341-353 in manual (ask mentor or in #Tomcat-channel on discord for quickstart checklist)

Takeoff

• Setup aircraft for takeoff
• Takeoff-procedures

In-flight

• Standard Climb (Military Power, use pitch to maintain 5 units of AoA)
• Economy Cruise (adjust throttle for 8.5 units of AoA)

• Navigation

- Visually navigate between two points using for example terrain objects as guidence (the compass and an empty F10 map may be used)

- Follow several waypoints in succession (flightplan) using information provided by the in-cockpit instruments or projected on HUD/HSD.

- Navigate To/From or in reference to a TACAN using (Radials) and the courseline on HSD

• Autopilot

- Engage Attitude hold.

- Engage Altitude hold.

• Fuel quantity indicator:

- Set Bingo quantity

- Read Total/Wing/Ext. fuel quantity

• Fence In / Fence Out procedures
• Emergency Jettison

• On-speed Flying

- Level Flight (Pick an altitude, dirty up and go on-speed maintaining altitude)

- Turning (Perform ~30 degree bank turns maintaining altitude)

- Careful climbing and descending (around 500 feet/minute)

- Quickly going from ordinary flight (around 350 kts IAS) to on-speed flying.

Landing

• Landing (~500-700 feet/minute, no flare)

- After touchdown apply back stick for aerobraking and steer the aircraft with stick instead of rudder

• Overhead break (Approach in runway direction, 300 kts IAS, 1500'. Break over runway (Throttle -> IDLE, Airbrake -> OUT, G≈1% of IAS), enter downwind, get "on speed" and land as explained above) http://wiki.masterarms.se/index.php/Fil:OverheadBreak.png
• Traffic Pattern Touch'n'Go Practice (maintain on-speed, climb to 1500', turn downwind to end up ~1.5 NM from course line, turn final and descend when wingtip passes runway threshold)

Basic Combat

Basic Air-To-Air

• Radar

- Understand the doppler filters MLC/ZDF

• ACM-mode

• Activate ACM-mode
• Acquire lock on single maneuvering target (MiG-21) using:

- PLM

- VSL

- MRL

• Use ACM Jettison

• Gun

• Hit single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

• AIM-9 Sidewinder

• Fire in:

- Boresight-mode

- SEAM-mode

• Hit single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

• AIM-7 Sparrow

• Fire in:

- Boresight-mode

- Normal-mode

• Hit single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

• AIM-54 Phoenix

• Fire AIM-54 Phoenix (clearence from RIO) in:

- TWS

- PD-STT

- P-STT

• Hit single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

• Crank and Short skate maneuver

Basic Air-To-Ground

• Gun

• Obtain rounds on static target

Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdaBRMG5yN4 (Start from 8000', roll in, ~30 degree dive angle, 400-500 kts, fire short burst at ~3000' and pull up)

• Unguided bombs

• Low drag

- Release in Computer Pilot mode.

- Hit static area-target

Examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVuLCGKKqvI (Start from 8000', roll in, ~30 degree dive angle, 400-500 kts, drop at ~4000' and pull up)

Basic Defence

• Reading the RWR (Further from center means more danger)
• Deploy flares
• Evade enemy missile by putting it on your 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock (Evaluate in TacView)

Advanced Section

Aerial Refueling

• Use radio menu to contact correct tanker
• Locate and form up on tanker's left wing (echelon left formation)
• Hooking up and receiving fuel, straight and through turns
• Moving to right side after refueling (echelon right formation)

Carrier Ops

• Learn CASE 1 Recovery
  • Jabbers Youtube Video, explaining how to fly a CASE 1 Recovery.
  • Aim for 40+ score, no 1-wires and no settle in Bankler's CASE 1 Recovery Trainer, a DCS mission giving you feedback on how well you're flying the pattern.
  • Perform ball call
• Learn CASE 1 Departure (fly BRC at 300 kts IAS 500' until 7 NM before climbing and forming up)
• Learn to fly the full CASE 1 approach as a wingman, holding formation through approach, port-hold, commencing and initial
• Learn to fly the full CASE 1 approach as a lead, including communicating with Marshal and Tower
• Learn CASE 3 Departure
• Learn CASE 3 Recovery

Flat Spin Recovery

• Full rudder in the direction of the spin
• Full MIL on the engine in the direction of the spin, idle on the opposite engine. If able, unlock symmetrical engine thrust limiter
• Stick fully forward. If aircraft is oscillating in pitch, rock with the aircraft to get the nose down

Radar Intercept Officer

Basic Section

Radio/SRS

• Set Transponder code (SRS)
• Transmit/Receive on Itercom (PTT)
• Power ON/OFF and transmit/receive in both MNL/PRESET MODE using:
  • Radio 1 UHF (SRS)
  • Radio 2 VHF (SRS)
• Basic Comms as part of a flight (not as lead)
• Comms towards Ground/Tower/Control etc.
• Tune ATIS-freq. Listen to and understand ATIS Information.

Basic RIO

Startup

• Cold Start, p.354-360 in manual (ask mentor/in #Tomcat-channel on discord for quickstart checklist)
• Enter waypoints and HB as briefed. (Other reference points as needed)

In-flight

• Setup Datalink in both 4A and 4C mode.
• Fence In / Fence Out procedures

TCS:

• HCU stick function in TV-mode

TID:

• Symbology
• Change NAV-modes
• Change display:

- Modes

- Range

- Elements

• HCU stick function in TID CURSOR-mode

Basic Combat

Basic Air-To-Air

AN/AWG-9 Radar and Detail Data Display/Panel (DDD):

• HCU stick function in DDD-/RADAR-mode

Basic use of:

• PD-Search
• RWS
• TWS

and when to use the different modes.

Weapon deployment:

• AIM-7 Sparrow

• Fire in:

- Normal-mode

• Keep track untill hit on single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

• AIM-54 Phoenix

• Fire AIM-54 Phoenix in:

- TWS

- PD-STT

- Active (PH ACT)

• Keep track untill hit on single maneuvering target. (MiG-21)

Basic Air-To-Ground

• Unguided bombs

- Low drag

Basic Defence

• Set and execute Selective Jettison
• Drop Chaffs and Flares
• Reload countermeasure

Advanced Section

(WIP)

Aerial Refueling

As a RIO - do all the comms with Tanker Calling out fuel level during refuelling. Performing quick and dirty fuel calculations (estimating playtime based on remaining fuel and fuel flow).

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Intermediate Navigation

Navpoint Handling Creating Navpoints Give BRA(A) calls Bullseye usage Reading own and cursor bullseye position in Radar Rudimentary Navgrid usage

Nav fix

• Visual
• Radar
• D/L

Intermediate Carrier Ops

Understanding your role and what you can do as a RIO to help the pilot when performing CASE 3 Departure & CASE 3 Recovery.

Intermediate Combat

Intermediate Air-To-Air

• AIM-7 Sparrow

• Fire in:

- PD-mode

BVR Timelines [Advanced]

• COMMIT
• Correlation
• Tactical Call
• Meld
• Crank
• Skate / Short Skate
• Banzai
• Abort
• Recommit
• Leave

For detailed explanation of the BVR timeline, see this page.

How to handle Radar in BVR and WVR

• Positioning of the aircraft depending on
  • Enemy Alt/Speed
  • Weapon system to use

Intermediate/Advanced Air-To-Ground

Lantirn

• Joystick mapping the essentials
• Manual/Auto Lasing & Laser codes
• Switch between
  • Waypoints
  • Target point
• Area/Point
• A/A & A/G modes

Bomb

• IP Bombing (pre-planned waypoint)

Resources for further studying

F14 CheatSheet BVR Timeline