185th VFS - Sunday 22nd December

on 13 September 2026

All Forums

Tactical Engagements, Dogfights & Campaigns

Sunday Mission Synopsis - PUBLIC

Sunday 22nd December - Xylophone

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Vosene

United Kingdom
4594 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 22 Dec 2013 : 21:09:42

Flight leads in this Sunday's official mission, "Xylophone" are requested to post a debrief of their flights actions by Tuesday, including any lessons learned or that should be learned by others.

Please put the following information at the top of your post:

Flight Role: (SEAD, ESCORT, STRIKE, Etc..)
Callsign11: "Pilot's name" AA=X AG=X RTB,MIA/KIA,EJT
Callsign12: "Pilot's name" AA=X AG=X RTB,MIA/KIA,EJT
Callsign13: "Pilot's name" AA=X AG=X RTB,MIA/KIA,EJT
Callsign14: "Pilot's name" AA=X AG=X RTB,MIA/KIA,EJT

Mission Outcome: MS,PS,MF

Crowebar

UNITED KINGDOM
1473 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 22 Dec 2013 : 22:07:57

Flight Role:Sweep
Callsign11: Crowebar AA=1 AG=0 EJT
Callsign12: Elmo AA=0 AG=0 KIA
Callsign13: Vosene AA=0 AG=0 EJT

Mission Outcome: PS

Once airborne we became aware of fighting at the front of package immediately on tuning to U13, but pushed ahead as no immediate impact on us. We referenced steerpoint 4 and pushed for caret but as we merged flight paths with Falcon from our right, we joined between their 1st and 2nd elements and so slowed to tag on behind. We remained behind caret for remainder of flight in order to maintain position behind Falcon.

At around steerpoint 7 / 8 I was engaged by an SA-2 as I crested a hill but no factor as it lost me on my decent. 2 & 3 were not engaged by this SAM.

As we approached the vicinity of Manpo Falcon flight veered off to our left, I was unsure why, but then hit Manpo area carrying too much speed and understood. Took Fury into a left hand turn to gain spacing behind Falcon for landing.

As we climbed to do this Elmo in #2 called mig-29's hard locking him. Cleared to engage 2 & 3 sorted and fired, one also engaged once turned to face contacts from our North. I had to go immediately defensive without supporting my missile, and managed to trash the missile. Meanwhile 3 & 2 were re-engaging the first flight. By now a 2nd flight of SU-30's were engaging us from the East and we were in a pretty hopeless position. I lofted a slammer at the 2nd group before once again going defensive 'archer'. At this point #3 was calling for a delouse. I was defensive and unable and called this. #3 had no other response and joined me on the silk.

#2 took a chance and got himself on the ground at Manpo. But unfortunately almost as soon as he took off one of the SU-30's got him, no chance to eject.

That was the end of Fury.
On reflection, as flight lead I would have been more aware of the vicinity of Manpo and slowed us down, lined us up for Manpo on reaching steerpoint 9. With a straight in approach we would probably have got down before the migs got us. We may well have cut in before Falcon in doing this, but we would have ben alive, until the takeoff.

An enjoyable mission nonetheless. Thanks Vaughan.

Griffin

UNITED KINGDOM
5068 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 22 Dec 2013 : 23:10:07

Flight Role:Sweep
Falcon11: Griffin AA=0 AG=0 EJT
Falcon12: Vaughan AA=0 AG=0 RTB
Falcon13: Floyd AA=2 AG=0 RTB
Falcon14: Flying Stone AA=0 AG=0 RTB

Mission Outcome: PS

Took off and after SP 1 we had to burn some fuel to catch the caret. We were in the weeds with radar off and stayed that way until we got to the pick up point. We got into a bottle neck so circled for a slot to land. Unfortunately some Mig 29 spikes grabbed our attention so we had to engage. We got tow shots off but not before attracting the attention of an SA5 and an SA10.

We turned and landed, albeit badly for Vaughan who bent his aircraft.

After refuelling and picking up our passengers we taxied in sequence but I did a noobs trick of tipping my aircraft when entering the runway. I still managed to get air borne but I was taken down by two R-77s from loitering Su30MKKs.

Floyd will be able to complete this story.

utopic

ROMANIA
577 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 23 Dec 2013 : 09:10:29

Flight Role:Sweep
Panther11: Utopic AA=3 AG=0 RTB
Panther12: Homer AA=2 AG=0 RTB
Panther13: Zipgun AA=0 AG=0 RTB
Panther14: AI AA=0 AG=4 RTB

Mission Outcome: MS

We took off a bit early and up to steerpoing 2 we were 2 minutes ahead of caret, while flying behind Lobo flight. After STPT2 we immediately were 2 minutes behind (?) and by the time we arrived to Manpo, we cut the difference down to 1 minute.

From STPT2 to 3 we had a group of Mig17s on the nose and fired at them lofting the missiles from low altitude at ~10nm. We took out the lead element but didn't hang around, continuing on the flight plan.

No incidents from STPT 3 to Mandumi, except that on finals we had multiple 29 spikes. Also, we were too fast and misaligned for the runway when following the flight plan, but managed to make it, with Zipgun circling around and getting down after Lobo.

We took off from Mandumi, followed the plan, and thankfully the remaining 29s and 30s were cold or shot down by this time. We had a group 29Gs low level where I and Homer sorted and shot beautifully taking them out, then on the way home we ignored a group of chopper who, although visual, weren't showing on FCR... (bug?)

For us, the flightplan ended at STPT15, with 16 looking like an alternate on HSD, unlike the briefing, don't know why, perhaps it's a limitation of Falcon (it doesn't allow more than ~15 wayoints?).

There, at 15 we had a group of 25s to the west, and thinking we were over home plate, I called to do an in-place 90 right, with the intent of beaming them and gaining some altitude and separation for better odds. When turned hot and calling out the bandits' bullseye, we had a reply that they were being engaged.

We disengaged and started looking for the airport, thinking we were first and wondering what-in-Santa's-dotted-shorts was going on as we didn't have any airfield in sight. Crowebar came to our rescue and called on victor(?) that home plate was at STPT16. So we ended up landing last.

Very nice mission, definitely out of the ordinary. I'm curious, what was the level of the AI planes?

I have no idea how our #4 had so many kills when we ordered him home??

Floyd

Germany
1357 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 23 Dec 2013 : 10:24:23

Falcon flight passed a group of four choppers loitering near the flight path,
but i decided to leave them alone. Sometimes they call in more fighters when
under attack and being so close to base i wanted to bring the flight back.

Getting closer to the base i saw two contacts on radar that were identified as
hostile 25's. We were flying at 600 knots, so our missiles had a good start
and took the bandits down.

After that, getting too low on fuel for another engagement, we landed safely.

One thing though:

our flight plan was set at 28k feet with fixed 450 knots on the ingress. I'm sure
one can't make the TOT, because after unlocking the speed tab in the editor and
setting altitude to 100 feet, the speed capped at 650 knots (can't be done with tanks).

vaughan

UNITED KINGDOM
245 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 30 Dec 2013 : 13:20:04

Thanks to everyone who flew this mission. I took a recording and have been putting a video together over the last week.

It's just finished uploading and is on youtube at http://youtu.be/VPSmKS3JwoY.

Enjoy!

Floyd

Germany
1357 Posts
Status: offline

Posted - 30 Dec 2013 : 13:56:02

Great video!

utopic

ROMANIA
577 Posts
Status: offline