A-10 Armament - 11/10/2007


Loading Weapons:
----------------

The GAU-8A gun barrel is automatically loaded at startup. All you can do is
empty the barrel while shooting like a fool on each cow you gonna have on sight!


To load external stores:
------------------------
Available ordnances and special loads:

- AN-ALQ-131:     It's an ECM pod.
                     (Pylon #0 only.)
- Dual AIM-9:     Air to Air infrared guided missiles.
                     (Pylons #0, 10.)
- LAU-68:         7 WiliPete rockets dispenser.
                     (Pylons #1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9.)
- Single MK82-LD: 500lbs common Low Drag Bomb.
                     (All pylons.)        
- Triple MK82-LD: 500lbs common Low Drag Bomb. 3 bombs per pylon.
                     (Pylons #2, 3, 7, 8.)

To choose a set of weapons: Menu Equipement > Fuel and Payload dialog.

You can load a set of weapons, apply the dialog, then call the dialog again
and change the choice you made.
But once you have selected a pylon on the armament panel, trying to change the
set, or just re-apply the load via the dialog can produce unexpected results as
submodels reloading is not handled yet.

The Fuel and Payload dialog and the loading of ordnances is independant of the
aircraft state, that is you don't need to start the engines or any electrical
stuff to load a weapon on a pylon.

Note: selecting external tanks on pylons #3 and 8 can interfer with LAU-68 loads
on the same pylons, expect unexpected behaviour when using an external tank and
LAU-68 on the same panel :) (FIXME).


Enabling weapons use:
---------------------
After having loaded a set of weapons via the Fuel and Payload dialog:
- You first need electrical power on the armament system, that means having at
least the APU running and the APU generator set to on. Note that the gun
remaining rounds (blue lighted) will show up when the armament panel is powered.
- Then switch the armament systen on: Master ARM switch - up position.


Using the gun:
--------------
That should be impossible when being still on ground, that is with Weight on
Wheels (WoW). But as we are still working on it, it is exceptionally permitted
until further DoD decision.
- Switch the gun switch on, (up position). A green 'Gun Ready' light should go
on. (Located above the RWR).
- press 'e' key to trigger the gun.


Using the external weapons:
---------------------------
As for the gun that should be impossible when being still on ground but it is
also exceptionally permitted until further DoD decision.

To select (arm) a weapon you first need to activate the armament panel, then:
- Select one or several stations, (provided they are loaded with the
same type of ordnance) by clicking on the pylons buttons.
- Selecting a new station loaded with a different type deselects the former
ones. Selecting  an already selected station deselect it.
- The stations will be reased in the order you selected them. This handy to keep
your roll balance.

The lights on each station button have a different behaviour depending on the
type of ordnance attached to it.
- AN-ALQ-131: ECM pod, the error light will go on if selected.
- Dual AIM-9: 2 missiles, 2 green lights go on. They indicate that 2 missiles
are available. AIM-9s needs also the AIM-9 knob to be set to 'set' in order
to be selected (armed). that activates also the search sound.
- LAU-68: 7 rockets, 1 green light. It indicates that there is one or more
available rocket in the dispenser.

Excepted the case of an AN-ALQ-131 load, the error light means that there isn't
any ordnance loaded on the selected station or that all ordnances on this
station ave been already released.

LAU-68 and MK82-LD ordnances are released in ripple. The quantity
is settable on the armament panel left side counter (when set to 0, one ordnance
is released as when set to 1). The time interval between releases is set on the
right counter wich is msec x10.

To release a selected weapon, press 'E' key.

That's all folks, enjoy !