Fighter Bomber

FIGHTER BOMBER



doc from Alien of The Pompey Pirates

Text retyped (from Pompey's disk, using STEEM emulator) and adapted

ZX Spectrum needs by Aleksandar Lukic on 14th March, 2005.



QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE



FLIGHT controls

Q/A = pitch

O/P = roll

Z/X = rudder

Ca.Sh.+1 = 10% thrust, press again to cut engine(s)

Ca.Sh.+2 = 20% thrust, press again to cut engine(s)

...

Ca.Sh.+0 = 100% thrust, press again for afterburners

? = fine thrust control

B = air brakes

W = wheel brakes



VIEW controls

Sy.Sh.+1 = cockpit view

? = look around view (keys as View plane)

? = weapon view

? = enemy aircraft view

Sy.Sh.+4 = control tower view

? = rear view

? = left/right view

? = satellite view

? = track view

? = view plane (pan L/R, U/D, zoom...)



WEAPON controls

Ent= change weapon

Spc= fire weapon

S = select Air target (Sidewinder, Aphid)

S = select Ground target (Maverick, Kerry)

C = chaff

F = flare



INFORMATION windows

U= alter window mode (weapons, waypoints, off)

N= next waypoint



MISCELLANEOUS

Sh+E = eject

H= disengage fuel probe from tanker

R= change radar range (3, 6, 12, 25 miles)

P= pause on/off

? = go back a level during menus

sh+T = accelerated time (free flight only)



CREW BRIEFING



An expectant hush fell over briefing room as the powerful figure of

Major Lance 'Deadeye' Mulchay took the stage. Glancing around the

unusually crowded room, he leant his enormous, battle-scared frame

against the edge of his lectern. With a tap on the microphone, and

the nod to his staff officers standing at the back he began.



"Don't worry fellas, I ain't gonna sing." How many times he had said

that, he wondered, and at how many briefings. The war was long time

ago, but he felt every minute of it. "Ladies and gentlemen, and you

flyers at the back there, welcome to Ellsworth Air Force Base." A nod

to his left, and a series of slides began to appear on the screen

behind him.



"This is annual Strategic Air Command Bombing Competition; 10 years

ago, the awesome collection of firepower out there on the tarmac

would have been an unthinkable sight on a US Base. But in this days

of detente, and goodwill to all meneven the Russkies," he paused for

a laugh befitting a man of his seniority, "ha, ha - only kidding

comrades; where was I? Oh yeah - in this days when cold war is

becoming a fading memory, we of the free world can welcome pilots

from all over to join us and test their capabilities against the best

competition a defence budget can buy. This doesn't mean we're gonna

let them out again, though, eh boys? Ha, ha."



The Soviet contingent merely smiled, content in knowledge that in few

hours they were going to get chance to wipe smile of ageing ace's face

for good. The Major continued.



"Behind me you can see an aviation legend - The Lancaster Bomber.

Without that baby he map of Europe might well be different today.

An enormous beast, it could deliver payload of staggering weight

and destructive power. But it had one major problem - it was just

too darn BIG. Little Messerschmitts used to creep up behind it and

blow it out of the air. So we have to guard it, with other fighters

like the Spitfire here, and Hurricane. This was the same with all

those big guys - the Wellington, the Stirling, our own B-17 and so

on. Near the end of war it become obvious that what we want was both,

all in one plane. So we had the Mosquito, and later F-100, and the

British Lightning, that began to combine the speed of fighter with

the payload capacity of a bomber, and all in a much smaller package."

Deadeye paused, for dramatic effect, and to smooth his moustache for

the ladies. Both worked - the audience was his.



"And now we have the bunch of death machines you see outside -

Multi-Role Combat Aircraft from all over, from Soviets Mig 27 to ur

own F-15. And in few hours you will see just what those babies can

do. They will flly against each other in mock battle, they will take

out strategic targets around this and neighbouring states - without

any warheads, I can assure you," he added for the benefit of few

front-benchers who had begun to look worried about the idea of armed

MiG 27s flyinfg over Mid-West.



"Oh, I don't know Chief," came a voice from thje back. "There's a few

parts of Montana I guess we wouldn't miss."



"OK Kowalski, very funny - now button it, or you're peeling potatoes

all next week." One thing Majoor Mulchay hated worse than smart-ass

flyer, it was one who got a bigger laugh than himself. But he

recovered.



"So fellow officers, welocome guests, and members of the press,

prepare yourselves for a display of combat flying that'll knock

your socks off, and may the best man win," he said peering at the

Curtis E LeMay Trophy that stood in pride of place, waiting to won

by the top team of the day.



"As long as it's us, of course," he whispered quietly to himself.



Some of the most spectacular scenery is set here - Mount Rushmore,

the famous monument to the four historic presidents, Devil's Tower

national monument, plains and towns of American Mid-West.



In FIGHTER BOMBER you're the pilot who tries to be Ace of Aces.

First you must be ready with a series of trainig misions.



THE CURTIS E LeMay TROPHY

prize that every aspiring Bomber Squadron hopes to gain, is presented

in honour of the retired Commander in Chief of SAC. It's 1st victor,

in 1958, was 92nd Bomb Wing of the USAF in a B-52D. From 1977 to 1982,

USAF FB-111A stod victorious, while in miost recent years the trophy

has been snatched twice by British 617 and 27 squadrons, both using

Tornado.



AIRCRAFT SELECTION

7 different aircrafts :

* McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle - USAF [#1]

* McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom - USAF

* General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark - USAF [#1]

* Panavia Tornado IDS - RAF

* Panavia Tornado IDS - Luftwaffe [#1]

* Saab AJ37 Viggen - Royal Swedish Air Force

* Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Flogger D - Soviet AF (CCCP)



[#1] Not implemented in ZX Spectrum version



Information on the ability of each of these aircrafts can be found by

clicking on INFO. (not totally accurate!) These planes are displayed

for selection as soon as game is loaded. A 2D and 3D presentations

are available to you along with historical and technical information.

Later missions will expect from you to recognize the kind of aircraft

you're engaging.



ENEMY AIRCRAFT SELECTION

Uniquely FB allows you to select kind of enemy you'll encounter in

various missions. Each enemy plane will respond to you differently

and you'll learn which will represent the greatest challenge. You can

fly against :

- F-14 Tomcat - United States Navy

- F-16 Falcon - USAF

- F-5 Tigershark - USN/USAF

- MiG-29 Fulcrum - CCCP

- Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker - CCCP

- Dassault Mirage 2000 - France

- MiG-31 Foxhound - CCCP



PILOT'S LOG

Enter a new pilot on the roster screen. Type in name and press ENTER.

Then select a pilot. Every time you fly, your progress is recorded

and filed against your flight log.



MISSION SELECTION

For 1st flight in FB, we recommend FREE FLIGHT. (to familiarise

yourself with the flight controls and become proficient at some of

the more complex manoeuvres you'll need to master) It differs to

every other stage of FB as it's onlty option that alows you to choose

where you start from, and use ACCELERATED TIME - skip uneventfull

flying! Start-point options are as follows:

MT RUSHMORE Allows the programmers to show off [#1]

ON RUNWAY Runway at Ellsworth

AT 30000 FT Practice high altitude manoeuvres

ABOVE BRIDGE Practice bombing runs

OVER CITY Fly over Rapid City [#1]

BEHIND TANKER Practice in-flight refueling [#1]

LINED UP Practice landing procedure



[#1] Not implemented in ZX Spectrum version



Once you are accustomed to your controls and environment, then you

can attempt the 1st of qualification missions.



THE MISSIONS



Each mission is only available when the previous one has been

completed. To start, onlt operation 'Sleeper' is available under

COVERT.



Once a mission has ended, the mission briefing screen will appear,

allowing you to examine the route flown and your mission report. To

continue click END, then select NEW MISSION...



*** Remember this is simulated war, if you get blown out of sky...

pilot doesn't die, you just get another unsuccessful mission in log.

If you want to look at not eligible missions, type as your name

"HOORAY FOR MICK". You can then play any mission but you're stuck to

that name!! Other 'interesting' names are: "KYLIE", "SO WHAT IF I

DO" AND "BUCKAROO". ***



MISSION BRIEFING

(Original manual MISSES this bit entirely !!!) ***

Options are:

MISSION TEXT Mission brief, read carefully and remember !!

AREA RECKON Check map area from a camera aircraft

TARGET RECKON Check any target from camera aircraft

TARGET INFO Tells you what any target is

OK Commence mission ***



MISSION DESIGN

Options are:

SELECT AIR BASE Select starting point, any of flashing diamonds.

It's not compulsory to land at that base - may land

anywhere that's got a runway!

ADD TARGET Select target and position it on map

REFUEL POINT Select altitude and position of the tanker

DELETE LAST Clears the last entered target

RECONNAISSANCE Allows you to view target areas in order to aid

area & target recognition. Info can be obtained too.

MISSION TEXT Allows you to enter description of mission.

DISK MENU Load/Save missions.

TEST MISSION Fly the mission, after which you get briefing,

and are then returned to designer mode.

END Leaves the mission designer.



*** to save design, you need a separate blank disc ***



ARMING



After choosing mission, you must arm your aircraft appropriately.

Weapons are selected by clicking over graphics and dragging it to the

small underside view of plane. If a pylon is available, it will flash.

Not all pylons are suitable for all weapons, some can carry multiple

weapons e.g. 3 Mavericks.



AUTO ARM will arm machine with a suitable payload, but it's often

better to choose yourself. One exception is with F-15E, manually

loading with Mavericks will give 13 in total, while auto arm gives 14

for some reason... ;-) Weapons available are:



1. 23/27 mm Cannon

Used for closed combat, either internally or as centrally mounted pod

taking up the centerline pylon.



2. Air to air missile (AAM)

AIM-9L Sidewinder / Bofors Rb-24 / AA-8 Aphid

Weight: 195 lb (88.5 kg)

Performance: Mach 2.5 in 2.2 sec

Range: 11 miles (17.7 km)

Mission time: 60 sec max.

Warhead: 25 lb (11.4 kg) blast/fragmentation with active laser IR

proximity fuse

*** yeah, all 3 exactly the same- eh... Activision? ***

Sidewinder is AAM guided to the target by locking on to the heat

emitted by an enemy aircraft's tailpipe. Afterburners make especially

attractive targets to such misslile! As the missile locks on to a

target, a rising growl sounds in pilot's headset until it reaches

peek intensity at which point it's lock on, and pilot should fire.

When the laser proximity fuse senses it is close enough to a target,

it explodes, sending out hundreds of performed rods into the target.



3. Ait to surface missile (ASM)

AGM-65A Maverick / Bofors Rb-75 / AS-7 Kerry

Weight: 635 lb (288 kg)

Performance: Classified

Range: Up to 25 miles after Mach 1.2 release at altitude

Warhead: 282 lb steel cased blast/fragmentation or 83 lb shaped

charge



AGM-65 is a video guided ASM. The pilot selects missile, causing it's

gyro to spin up to speed and light up a weapon ready indicator on his

control panel. The image from video camera is swung round on to the

target and the pilot engages lock mode. He then uses either video

display or his head-up display sight to lock on to the target. The

weapon is then released,remains locked on to image of target and

intelligently tracks it, even if it's moving. In event of interrupted

image, the missile will follow it's last known trajectory. Even if

the warhead fails to detonate, the heat caused by the impact would

kill or disable a tank's crew for instance.



4. AGM-88A HARM

Type: Anti Radiation missille

Weight: 796 lb (361 kg)

Performance: Mach 2+

Range: About 11 miles (17.7 km)

Warhead: Fragmentation with proximity fuse



Developed as a direct result of everincreasing technology used in

modern air warfare. The missile uses radiation emitted by a ground

radar tracking station to home in on. The pilot, suspecting an enemy

is in the vicinty, can fire the missile 'blind'. If the enemy emits

any kind of EMR, the missile will lock on.



5. Mk 13/18 Paveway II LGB

Type: Laser-guided unpowered bomb

Weight: 1,030 lb (467.6 kg)

Performance: Freefall

Range: Dependent on release altitude

Warhead: High explosive



Laser-guided bomb is system designed to improve the accuracy of

conventional bombs. The target is illuminated with laser light,

either by launch aircraft, a second aircraft, or even friendly

ground troops. A ring of sensors around nose of the bomb detects

the reflected laser light and by passing signals to the movable

controls surfaces of the bomb, keep it aligned with target. The

system cheap, effective and requires no modification to the aircraft.



6. General Purpose Bomb

Type: Unguided unpowered bomb

Weight: 1,000 lb (454.6 kg)

Performance: as for LGB

Range: as for LGB

Warhead: as for LGB



The accuracy of these babies has in past soley dependent on skill of

crew, wind, etc. Coimputer in today's modern aircrafts take over

calculating velocity, altitude, wind-shear, etc. the pilot is told

when to press button and the computers do the rest.

*** But not in this game! we're reduced to guessing when to drop the

damn things... take my advice and never use the useless pieces of

junk!! ***



7. JP-233 MWI - Airfield Denial Weapon

Type: Submunition dispenser

Weight: 11,200 lb (5080 kg)

Payload: Various bomblets



For parachute retarded payloads which include pavement cratering

bomblets and anti-personnel mines with or without delayed action

fuses. It's main use is for denying enemy forces airfields.

*** Bomblets spread in a generally broad pattern, so cutting a

swathe across all the nice clean tarmac! But, seeing there are no

missions requiring runway denial, you'll never need this weapon.

Another cockup from Vektor! ***



8. BOZ-100 ECM Pod - Chaff and IR Decoy flare dispenser

Weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg)



*** such devices are often fitted internally, but this is an

externally carried one. It enables the aircraft under attack from

missiles to defend itself in 2 ways: An IR guided missile follows

strong heat emissions, so flare will fool it into tracking flare

instead your tailpipe; and chaff - hundreds of strips of metal, will

create an attractive radar target (for radar guided missiles).

Don't worry about running out of either chaff or flares - you have

infinite supply!! :-( ***



9. Durandal - Runway Penetration Bomb

Weight: 430 lb (195 kg)

Warhead: High explosive



Simple but effective method of cratering/rendering useless enemy

paved landing strips. The weapon is released as low as 185 ft and

is immediately retarded by a parachute, causing it to point nose

down. The rocket motor then fires the warhead deep into the concrete,

from where it explodes upwards, creating a crater of up to 2,000 sq

feet! *** see note above about JP-233 ***



10. Rocket Pods

Mainstay of the ground attack arsenal since WW2. Pilot aims the

aircraft at ground target and fires a salvo of high explosive shells

direct in the line of flight, just like using the cannon. This is

particullary effective against mobile armour.



11. ALARM - Air Launched Anti Radiation Missile

Weight: 390 lb

Performance: Awful

Range: Abysmal

Propulsion: Two stage solid propellant motor

Warhead: Yes



British equivalent of the US HARM missile. It is fired in the general

direction of enemy positions (e.g. SAM sites) and climbs to around

40,000 ft. It then pitches nose down and falls slowly, under drogue

parachute, while searching for hostile radio/radar emmissions. As soon

as enemy 'switches back on', the missile locks on target and fires

it's secondary motor, homing in on the enemy position.

*** real range might be classified, but in game it seems to be paltry

2 miles!! I found it next to useless, probably better try Mavericks

and lock on visually - tricky as radar sites are so tiny, closer you

get, more likely you'll intrude in it's radar net... looks like they

have simulated it perfectly - the real thing doesn't work either, does

it? Ha ha! ***

--------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, that's the original manual, the rest of this is all my own work...



THE AIRCRAFT



F-15E Originally a dedicated medium/short range fighter. Modified

to 2 seat, and strenghtened to carry heavy ground attack

payloads. Fast, manoeuvreable and carries a seriously large

amount of weapons. Take it!

F-4E Ancient (1960's) but a good workhorse. Fighter, also adequate

as bomber. Used as such in Vietnam. Not particullary brilliant

in any respect, but certanly not lacking either.

F-111F Another golden oldie, poor manoeuvrability and sluggish

handling will put you in hot water when under attack from

other aircraft. It can carry large amount of weapons over

large distances - Libya raid couple years ago.

Tornado Bomber primarily, damn good, modified to ADV (Air Defence

Variant) which is RAF's equivalent of F-15. Payload is

excellent, responds well - good all-round choice.

Viggen The aerial Volvo. Tough, dependable, extremely good at

running rings around bandits. Payload not so... only light,

range not as for Tornado/F-15. Fuel conserving not good, use

motorways as landing strips in case of runways destroyed.

Flogger Oh dear... payload is limmited and fuel is another problem.

I'd go for this if all other planes had been nuked or

something...



And the opposition...



F-14 Oooh... you're in deep (you know what).. if one of these shows

up! Tough, fast, highly manoeuvrable long/medium/short range

fighter. It's size will give you an advantage if you engage at

high speeds - smaller aircraft turns tighter then F-14.

F-16 Fast, tiny, mega manoeuvrable and seriously bad if weighted

with bombs! If you don't get it on the 1st pass, you better run

F-5 Used by US Navy, to simulate Soviet aicraft (watch Top Gun).

Performance below F-16, but not much. Easy? Not so - speed and

ferocity with which F-5s attack in game has to be seen to be

believed!

MiG-29 Soviet F-16? Nasty at close range... hit him quick or...

Su-27 Wow, a gap in my knowledge... looks like tougher, possibly

long range variation of MiG-29/F-16.

Mirage 2000 Ha ha ha... a frog plane! Meant to be good all round

fighter but problems at low speeds and altitudes. Watch

out if he tries to sneak on you at high altitude...

MiG-31 almost definitly Soviet F-15 - large, heavy, not primarily a

dogfighter, it's more long range fighter. My favourite

adversary - it's so big, can't turn tight, ends up making

high speed passes and hoping for a good missile shot.



COCKPIT DISPLAY

*** nice one activision, leave out important bits! ***



ADI/Artifical Horizon: brown/blue ball shows attitude of your plane



Radar : switchable to ranges 25/12/6/3 miles. Some aircraft (Tornado)

have better radars. When locked on to an air target, target's blip

changes colour with better radars.



Target display: shows 'NO AIR/GROUND TARGET', the altitude, speed,

bearing of an air target or a zoomed picture of ground target.



Information window: switchable, shows current waypoint/weapon ammo



Undercarriage indicators: if green, wheels are ready to kiss concrete.

If grey/black, wheels are safely retracted. If any 'combination' shows

it's time to take a new career.



Stall light: if lights up - you're below point at which airspeed is

sufficient to keep you aloft. Aircraft will nose-dive, wait until your

airspeed goes up again to 120 Kts and then pull up to avoid ploughing

some farmer's field for free.



IR light: if lights, there is an infra-red homing missile coming for a

visit. Throw out some flares!!



RH light: Radar Homing missile is about to arrive. Use chaff or die.



Message window: major events e.g. 'CHAFF RELEASED', 'TARGET DESTROYED'.



Air brake light: ...

Wheel brake light: no doubt you can figure this one out.



Fire light: never had it... anyway, if... nice invigorating walk home

is recommended or stay and burn...



Fuel indicator: when it hits bottom, you're flying a glider!

Thrust indicator: engine's power... turns yellow when afterburner.

Airspeed indicator: dial... totally useless, use HUD!



Head Up Display (HUD):

Altitude - shown on the right, above 'FT'.

Airspeed - shown on the left, above 'KTS'.

Heading - shown at the top (HDG)

Current weapon: shown bottom left, if 'ARM' is above it, weapon is

ready to fire, if 'LOCK' it's lock to a target, if 'nothing'

there's no ammo left.

Weapon sight: shown in centre, if weapon has sight.



LANDING YOUR AIRCRAFT

(nope, nothing about this in the manual... would you belive it ?!?

Activision, what are you playing at??)



REMEMBER the landing instructions are given in the mission text. If

you're given a number for runway you need to land on, note it down.

If you are given discretion about landing, you can land any airfield

even civilian ones. To figure out what runway you need from number

given - Runway number/points: 36=North, 18=South.

Runway also have number on tarmac! It's actually heading needed to

land on divided by 10. Also in some missions you're told to use '36L'

or '18R', where R and L means left and right course.



Now, once you have got the runway in sight, drop thrust to 20% to get

your speed down. When at about 300 Kts, push it back up to 40%. Align

yourself with the runway you're going to land (you may find a Maverick

sight up will help). Point at the end of runway closest to you, drop

speed below 300 Kts and lower undercarriage. Keep thrust around 40%

to keep from stalling. you should be aiming for crossing the runway

threshold at about 100 Ft and 190 Kts. Once over threshold, pull nose

up level, drop thrust to 10% (if you cut the engine, you won't have

a second chance as you won't get the thrust to pull up), hit the air

brakes to drop speed around 140 Kts. Now you should besinking gently

onto the tarmac - keep nose straight now! The lack of airspeed will

cause altitude loss, so don't poiont nose down. When wheels hit the

tarmac (did you bounce? yes? you useless...), cut the engine, hit

airbrakes (if not on), wait a sec then hit the wheelbrakes. Wait till

you roll to a stop, and voila! Landing complete! On some missions you

are required to land at more then one airfield - to pick up and drop

secret cargoes at secret airfields. Just land and take off as normal.



INFLIGHT REFUELING



Incredibly tricky to start with! Practice option is of limited use -

to make some use of it, you'll have to alter your heading a lot and

get well off the perfect approach you're lumbered with! For the real

thing, you'll probably fly right past the tanker as it flies head to

head with you. So, hit airbrakes, pull round as tightly as possible

and follow it. Mach altitude as exactly as possible, keep wings level

and use the rudder to position yourself exactly behind tanker. Now

keep your speed at around 350 Kts and let the tanker crew to do the

work. the tanker should line itself up pretty well, and drift towards

you. When the refuelling basket is just about to hit your probe (or

even if it's just missed and you're about to overshoot), hit airbrakes

again. The probe should lock firmly into basket, and you are now

'snouting' successfully! Disengage when your fuel is full, and dive

away to avoid hitting the tanker. A tip: tanker always heads due South

when crew sight you, so try and get tanker heading to be 180, then

match the heading yourself.



AIR TO AIR COMBAT



When you first realise somebody's got their eye on you, turn hard

towards them to get into firing position quickly! If they're very

close or you can't see them even though radar says they're right

next to you, break hard away from their radar position - this means

they're very close - maybe even below you, that's bad news, collisions

aren't fun! If you can eyeball them, hit them quick with missiles -

but do wait for a good steady lock-on tone. Hear any beeps? Trouble -

somebody's REALLY got their eye on you - that's missile warning. Hit

the flares and break hard right or left - or even up if you are

desperateTrade altitude for speed to shake off any annoying bogies -

though F-16 and it's counterparts won't be held off for long by doing

these. Most important lesson: hit any bandits quickly, or you won't

be around to try again! If you think you have the time, try using the

enemy aircraft's view - the position your plane is shown in will help

you find enemy. Finaly never underestimate your opponent, or the risk

of collision - keep an eye on the radar at all times. If he's getting

close, dive as steeply as possible (or climb with afterburner). A tip:

if you're out of missiles and cannon, just keep using flares and go

home. The enemy will exaust his missile supply and just follow you to

annoy you. Then the only riusk is that he'll try a kamikaze run on

you!



WEAPON DELIVERY



Pretty streaight forward - only bombs, JP-233 and ALARMs seem tricky

to use. JP-233 spreads its bomblets well ahead of the point you

release it, depending on your airspeed. Use satellite view on free

flight to practice using it successfully. Unguided bombs are much the

same, but require even greater accuracy. ALARM (much like real thing

I'm told), is pretty useless. You've got to within 3 miles of an

active radar and you have to use it like a rocket pod - point the

plane at the target and then release the weapon. Only use ALARM if

you can't afford a Maverick! Flying at around 500 ft, Maverick can be

locked on to a target at around 16 miles, and fired immediately. Then

you can turn away and forget about it! If all else fails, go for a

low speed, low altitude pass with your cannon centered on the target,

and let rip. the cannon is remarkably good at its job in this game!



Air to air weapons are different - cannon is used in much same way,

but I wouldn't advise getting that close to a bandit - collision risk.

Instead take him out with a Sidewinder (or equivalent). Press S to

lock on to the target, manoeuvre so he's in your sights, wait for the

circle to lock on the target square, and when circle is red and you

get a steady lock-on tone, hit fire. Splash one MiG (or whatever)!



OK guys... that's all I can think of! If I've missed anything, don't

blame me - blame activision for supplying such a crappy manual!