Here's that bomber tutorial I promised. This lesson comes complete with annotated images and a trackfile you can download here. When you play the track file, make sure manual control is set to OFF so you can see the various views as they occur in real time.

Please note: You will need to click on all the images below to see the full-size version. If your browser is set to automatically re-size the big image to fit into your browser screen, be sure to click on the image to get the full version; that way, the text won't be blurry.

Image 01: We're at 7,200 feet and doing about 200 MPH. We've just turned onto the bomb run. The first thing we need to do is set our combat flaps and then our throttle so it'll keep a steady speed. I use 69-percent throttle and that seems to keep me at a steady 190 mph. Now we need to make sure we are perfectly lined up.

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Image 02: While still in the pilot's seat, we switch to the first "glass" or no-cockpit view (see manual for key command). This is the view with the analog guages. Using full zoom-in magnification, we can just make out the target airfield ahead. Good recon photos and diligent study of such photos will be critical aspects for getting your plane lined up on the target this far out as recognizable details will be few. So, what are we doing in this view? The next image shows how we want to get our plane lined-up.

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Image 03: Click on this image for a larger version and read the notations that explain how to line up your aircraft. Once we get our aircraft lined-up, we need to hit the key we've set to engage the "Level Flight" auto-pilot. Next, we go to the bombardier seat by pressing the "C" key.

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Image 04: Here we are in the bombardier's chair. No time to gawk at the view, we've gotta get busy setting the automatic bombsight computer.

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Image 05: To look through the bomsight, we press SHIFT + F1 to get this view. What we see here is the bombsight looking straight down at the ocean below us. Not much use to us in this orientation, we have to tilt the bombsight forward to see the target.

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Image 06: In this image, I have used the key combo I set to "Increase Bombsight Distance". At 59 degrees, the front edge of the target airfield comes into view. Still need to angle it up some more. Remember, the plane is moving forward all the time so we gotta move fast. On to the next setting: velocity.

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Image 07: Now we have to set the bombsight's velocity.

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Image 08: Here I use the key combo I set to match the bombsight velocity to the aircraft's velocity. See the larger image for notes on how to find your TAS or True Air Speed.

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Image 09: Now we set the bombsight's altitude. Again, this all has to happen very quickly as the target is drawing ever closer. In fact, the crosshairs have moved past the target, but we can use the bombsight's DECREASE DISTANCE key to move the crosshairs back in front of the target after we set the altitude. No time to dilly dally!

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Image 10: I've picked my spot and toggled the auto-mode for the bomsight. Everything is out of my hands now: the bombsight has locked onto the spot I've picked and will determine the best time to release the bombs.

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Image 11: Bombs-away!

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Image 12: Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and 500-pounders dropped from 7,200 feet! Not a direct hit, but pretty darn close considering the difficulties presented in level bombing. And this was without enemy fighters harassing our plane. Can't imagine the difficulties involved with flak and enemy Zekes thrown into the mix, but we will add that to our upcoming missions and report back later.

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Key Commands Summary: These are the keys you need to map in your controls:

1. Level Flight
2. Increase Bombsight DISTANCE (swivels the bombsight forward)
3. Decrease Bombsight DISTANCE (swivels bombsight downward)
4. Increase Elevation
5. Decrease Elevation
6. Adjust Right (used to compensate for crosswinds. Rarely used)
7. Adjust Left (used to compensate for crosswinds. Rarely used)
8. Increase Velocity
9. Decrease Velocity
10. Toggle bombsight auto-mode (this locks the bombsight onto the spot in the crosshairs).


Here endeth the lesson.