Chapter 1 - Lucas' Abandonware - Free

120
Troop & Supply Drops
Troop and supply drops are necessary to replenish friendly ground
forces with both men and equipment. Such timely assistancecan turn
the tide of a battle.
Executing A Troop Drop
Once you’ve taken off, switch to Navigation mode - press M to
switch to MFD Navigation mode or I to switch to HUD Navigation
mode. Press N to select a troop drop point (TD) as your current
navigation waypoint.
Close in on the drop site at an altitude between 4000 and 5000 ft
(1220-1525 metres). Puttheaircraftinstraightand level flight-your
VSI should read 0. lfthe Instrument Panel iscurrentlydisplayed, press
W to hide it. When your aircraft is about 2 km from the drop site, press
2 to switch to an interior view of the aircraft’s tail. Hold down the Left
Alt key until the bay hatch opens.
Watch the navigation computer- when you’re aircraft is about 1 km
from the drop site, press the spacebar, the left mouse button, or
joystick button A to drop a troop. Once the troop is out of the hatch,
press the Left Amiga key to close the bay hatch. Press F10 to return
to the cockpit view.
Executing A Supply Drop
Once you’ve taken off, switch to Navigation mode - press M to
switch to MFD Navigation mode or I to switch to HUD Navigation
mode. Press N to select a supply drop point (SD) as your current
navigation waypoint.
Close in on the drop site at an altitude below 100 ft (20 metres). Put
the aircraft in straight and level flight. It’s critical that your VSI read
0 - you’re flying at such a low altitude that you don’t have much
room to descend before crashing! lfthe Instrument Panel is currently
displayed, press W to hide it. When your aircraft is about 2 km from
the drop site, press 2 to switch to an interior view of the aircraft’s tail.
Hold down the Left Alt key until the bay hatch opens.
Watch the navigation computer- when your aircraft is directly over the
drop site, press the spacebar, the left mouse button, or joystick button A
to drop your supply. Once it’s out the hatch, press the Left Amiga key to
close the bay hatch. Press F10 to return to the cockpit view.
Test Piloting
Test piloting is unlike any of the other missions you’ll encounter in
Birds Of Prey. The test pilot explores an aircraft’s design by pushing
it to the utmost limits. This is seriously dangerous work - as
dangerous as combat itself, even though no one is shooting at you.
Your choice of aircraft for this mission is limited. Side A can fly the
famous X-l 5 to the edge of the atmosphere; Side B can take up the
latest Soviet fighters, the MiG-29 and Su-27.
You begin the mission in the hangar of your home base. You’re aircraft
issecuredtothewingofa B-52 (Side A) or An-124 (Side B), which will
ferry you up into the air. You control the bomber for the first part of
the mission - it’s up to you to get it off the ground and climb to a
40,000 ft (12,197 metres).
Once you’re over 1,000 ft (tbd metres), press the Right Shift key to
release the experimental aircraft. A message appears telling you that
you’re now in control of the experimental aircraft. Press F10 to go to
the other cockpit.
Flying The X-l 5
You begin with your engines at 0% throttle. Press J, and press the
backslash key (\) twice to go to full throttle. At full throttle, you have
85 seconds of fuel. The object is to take the aircraft to very edge of the
atmosphere-point the aircraft up and let her rip! When you hit the
upper reaches of the atmosphere, you’ll begin to lose lift. The X-l 5’s
reaction control system (RCS) will automatically be activated to give
you limited control as you fly at the edge of space.
The X-l 5 reached a maximum altitude of 354,200 ft (107,960 m). If
you manage to break this altitude record, you can be happy, But your
job isn’t over yet - you still have to somehow’ get you and your
machine back down...
Mid-Air Refuelling
Mid-air refuelling extends youraircraft’s range infinitely and-since
you’re free of any external fuel tanks - allows you to carry a full
weapon load.
121