Turning to the northwest I slew the TDC over one of the jamming lines and jam the lock button and a HOJ (Home On Jam) symbol comes up in the HUD. I’ve seen this mode in other sims, but how it works in the F-15C in LOMAC is still a bit of a mystery to me. Using only the steering commands and a range estimate derived from the AWACS I wait until I feel the target is in range before launching my first AIM-7 Sparrow.
After my missile leaves the rail I wait anxiously but nothing appears to happen. I think I’ve missed. The bearing quickly drops down the side of the scope and AWACS announces that I’ve “merged”. I turn my head side to side scanning for the target but the darkness precludes me from spotting him. I keep waiting for the enemy to fire on me but I continue to fly unmolested. I attempt two more intercepts on jamming targets and two more times my missiles are either spoofed or are launched outside of the proper parameters. Whatever the case, I finally achieve radar burn through on one of the targets at just outside of 20 miles and I quickly slew the TDC over the solid radar contact and designate the target. This time I have all the familiar symbols that I know so well from other sims: the steering dot, target designator box, dynamic launch zone, etc. I make a wish and jam the launch button once more.
Boom! That’s a hit! Finally! In my elation I almost fly into the ocean as I’ve dropped perilously close to the water.
Scanning through the other targets in the neighborhood I realize that what I’ve been fighting are cruise missiles! No wonder I wasn’t smacked down from the skies as I fumbled and bumbled around! Though some of the cruise missiles sneak through my wingmen and other flights are able to down a few of the sea-skimming missiles. I did have the wherewithal to release my wingmen to engage targets on their own. They certainly wouldn’t have accomplished anything with me directing them!
With AWACS reporting no other threats I continue following my navigation steerpoints and soon am lined up on the ILS into Suhkumi airfield. As I float down final and the tires chirp onto the runway I think to myself that those sneaky Russians sure know how to welcome a guy into the theater. The mission is rated a success (confession: I had to play it twice) which unlocks the next mission in the series.
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The second mission is titled “Walk in the Park” and is similar in concept to the opening missions in both Jane’s F-15 and Jane’s F-18 where you take the “grand tour” of the area and start learning the disposition of enemy forces. This mission is a simple navigation exercise to both get familiar with the area and to test the response of the enemy forces to the north. (This screen shot was taken before I applied the new menu textures that will be included in the pack.)
