SU27 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SU27 FAQ v1.11 21/12/95
By Redshift
Questions, comments, suggestions? Mail to Redshift
This is unofficial. I have no affiliation with SSI or Mindscape.
*OR* Sukhoi.
=======================================================
Contents.
1. The manual mentions "x" but I can't get it to work.
2. When is v1.1 due?
3. What will the upgrade policy be for owners of v1.0?
4. Is ECM broken?
5. The detail settings seem broken.
6. I cannot get the lock key (TAB) to work.
7. There is no six o'clock view.
8. How do I get the HUD to show knots and feet?
9. It is jerky even on a P133.
10. I can't get Kh-29 air-to-ground missiles to lock on no matter what I do.
11. I get disorientated in padlock mode.
12. The Kh-31 antiradar missiles don't lock on.
13. The keyboard card is wrong.
14. How do I dump fuel / refuel?
15. How do I get the airshow SU27 into one of my missions?e missions to
fly? Or even a campaign?
=======================================================
1. The manual mentions "x" but I can't get it to work.
It seems certain features were planned but didn't make it into v1.0 in
time for Xmas.
Namely:
Clouds
Mirrors
Head to head
Grids on the map
SAM 1km circles on the map
3d object preview ("explore")
Presumably these will appear in v1.1
=======================================================
2. When is v1.1 due?
It seems it is planned for "January/February 1996". The DOS version and
WIN95 version will coexist on the same CD.
=======================================================
3. What will the upgrade policy be for owners of v1.0?
This remains to be seen. Mindscape (UK) have mentioned a free CD swap.
Patches should be available on BBS / Compuserve etc.
=======================================================
4. Is ECM broken?
No. Just the ECM indicator light is broken. ECM works as planned and is
toggled by the E key. You have to remember how often you have pushed it.
Sorbitsya ECM pods are automatic and switch themselves on and off. This
means you have 4 levels of ECM:
None
Sorbitsya only
Onboard ECM only
ECM and Sorbitsya
Not even the last combination is going to save you 15km away from an
S300 site. The above was determined by careful testing in controlled
conditions against 3 SAM types.
Some example ranges of engagement:
TARGET: inbound Su-27 at 2000m altitude, 1120km/h.
A) S-300PMU SAM system.
Range of engagement (SAM launch)
No ECM / No Sorbtsiya: 69.0km
Sorbtsiya but no ECM: 54.1km
ECM / No Sorbtsiya: 62.1km
ECM and Sorbtsiya: 45.5km
B) KUB SAM system
Range of engagement (SAM launch)
No ECM / No Sorbtsiya: 24.4km
Sorbtsiya but no ECM: 17.9km
ECM / No Sorbtsiya: 20.0km
ECM and Sorbtsiya: 14.7km
=======================================================
5. The detail settings seem broken.
The detail options are quite different from the two demos. The settings
only affect the amount of ground detail seen. Unfortunately, there is a
bug. The most detailed option is in fact "moderate" which shows
streetlights, powerlines and more vegetation.
=======================================================
6. I cannot get the lock key (TAB) to work.
You have to hold it down, sometimes for up to a second. (This is
deliberate, "realistic", not a bug.)
=======================================================
7. There is no six o'clock view.
We are told that this is because the real Su27 has no 6 o'clock view.
Fair enough. It is possible that v1.1 will extend the view angles
slightly aft, however.
=======================================================
8. How do I get the HUD to show knots and feet?
You can't. That realism thing again. The preferences option only affects
measurements in map mode. The HUD and instruments always show meters and
km/h. Note that the HUD shows true airspeed (TAS), the dial shows
indicated airspeed (IAS).
=======================================================
9. It is jerky even on a P133.
For an undefined reason (coding? Win95 "feature"?) even though the
overall framerate is smooth, there is a momentary hesitation every
second or so. Some notice it / dislike it more than others.
Suggestions to get rid of it include removing all network drivers,
resident virus checkers etc, and even turning off the clock on the
Win95 toolbar.
=======================================================
10. I can't get Kh-29 air-to-ground missiles to lock on no matter what I
do.
Kh29s do NOT lock onto a radar image. They are optical. Use the radar
mode 4 to find the target, then turn the radar OFF and move the round
circle with the dot on it, which represents your missile seeker's line-
of-sight, to the target either by maneuvering the aircraft or with the
direction keys. The MFD shows you what the missile is looking at. When
you see the target in the centre of the MFD, lock on with Tab, and away
you go.
=======================================================
11. I get disorientated in padlock mode.
That little mini-HUD that you see in padlock mode is always orientated
so that it is at the side of the screen closest to the nose of your
plane. Basically, you need to roll so that it is at the bottom of the
screen and then pull up on your joystick.
=======================================================
12. The Kh-31 antiradar missiles don't lock on.
This may be a bug. We shall see. They DO lock on but only to a radar
that has already locked you up (and therefore expect a SAM already on
the way). From a sufficient distance they are therefore useful. Close
to, you will probably die. EWR and SAM surveillance radars have not yet
been spotted on the MFD, nor can they be locked up by your Kh31s.
=======================================================
13. The keyboard card is wrong.
Yup. E is active jamming. A is autopilot. Ctrl-E is eject. And S cancels
accelerated time.
=======================================================
14. How do I dump fuel / refuel?
The L key dumps fuel whilst you are in the air, and refuels you whilst
you are on the ground. But it is realistic - it does so in real-time,
i.e. slowly. It takes about five minutes to refuel to 90% from empty.
Ctrl-A will accelerate this process, but meanwhile ......
=======================================================
15. How do I get the airshow SU27 into one of my missions? you wish.
Then save with another file name.
=======================================================
16. I have created my own mission, but I can't start it.
(i) You have to save it first before you can start it.
(ii) To fly yourself in the mission make sure that you have one Flanker
designated as "Me". You can only do this on a flight leader of "your"
side.
(iii) If you have assigned a start time after the default to "Me" you
will have to watch the "prequel" unfold before you automatically jump
into your plane at the designated time.
=======================================================
17. Where can I get more missions to fly? Or even a campaign?
Check out the unofficial Su27 home page on WWW:
http://www.nwlink.com/~mikej/
SSI have also come out with an updated mission suite, SU27_MIS.ZIP in
the Modern Combat section of FSFORUM on Compuserve, and on the above WWW
site.
Redshift
100255.262@compuserve.com
