Tactical Formation
Flight Procedures
Air-to-Air Data Entry
During preflight, after you have
completed the interactive BIT and
Select A/A GUN
entered the altimeter and field height
(Figure 15), set the weapons
selector to GUN A/A for the air-to-air
guns master mode of the HUD. The
air-to-air display initially appears in
Press DATA
the lead angle computing (LAC)
submode. Select the real-time
gunsight (RTGS) submode by
depressing the MODE button on the
Previous Wingspan
HUD data entry panel (DEP). To
Displays
verify the target wingspan setting,
depress the DATA key. The scratch
pad area displays the default
wingspan of 31 ft, the T-45A
Enter New Value
Press ENT
wingspan. Press ENT to accept this
value or enter a new value for the
wingspan of the bandit and then
press ENT. After completing the air-
Press ENT
to-air data entry, set the weapons
selector to OFF in order to return the
HUD to the navigation mode for the
Figure 15: AIR-TO-AIR DATUM ENTRY SEQUENCE
flight to the operating area. Once in
the operating area, place the
weapons selector to GUN A/A, press the GUN select switch, and place the VCR switch in ON or
AUTO, as briefed.
HUD Air-to-Air Symbology
In the air-to-air mode, the aircraft symbol is displayed on the waterline, and heading, true airspeed,
and bank angle indicators are not displayed. Because you are maneuvering in relation to the other
aircraft, heading and specific bank angle are unimportant; the pitch bars will still be displayed and
you can use them as a bank angle reference. The selected submode is indicated by LAC or RTGS
displayed just above GUN on the right center of the PDU. An “X” over GUN indicates that the master
armament switch on the weapons selector panel is set to SAFE. The “X” is removed when the
master armament switch is set to ARM.
The wingspan setting you entered sets the diameter of the reticle in both LAC or RTGS. With the
bandit’s wingspan set, the reticle can be used to estimate range. At 1,000 ft, the bandit’s wings fill
the inside diameter of the reticle. The center of the A/A aiming reticle, the pipper, indicates the
computed impact point. Each submode computes the impact point differently. The reticle flashes if
it reaches the edge of your field of view.
In LAC, the pipper indicates the impact point of the round at 1,000 ft, but you need to track the target
for at least 1 second to get a valid aiming solution. Therefore, LAC is used for a mildly maneuvering
target.
(11-98) Original
Page 24
Previous Page
