I'm hoping to fly Standby CSAR tonight. Slots for 6 A-10s. Anyone interested?

This is a fun mission that I've flown a couple of times already, however, never with successful completion. The last time we tried it we made it very close (I believe) but the pilot ended up surrendering to a fuel truck that got by us (that bastard :). I'd rate it at medium on the skill level/difficulty.

This mission occurs in the mountains with low level clouds. Lots of visual (Mk-1 eyeball) target identification (think FOB Vetka). High altitude threats outside of the kill box. Low altitude IR SAMs and AAA in operations area.

SUMMARY INFO:

We're tasked with locating and providing support for a downed pilot until rescue choppers can arrive. You fly in to the last known position with two 3-ship groups. Flight lead on each group has a beeper that indicates if you're within a certain range of the pilot. Fly search pattern until pilot has visual, at which point he drops smoke. Find the smoke, drop a markpoint to remember location, then provide support until rescue arrives.

Loadout is mostly unguided munitions. Comfort with TDC, markpoints, CCIP unguided delivery, smoke rockets, and TAD data linking is likely needed. I could go either way on TARS, a 6-ship is manageable without it if anyone has a preference.

MISSION INFO: Link w/ images

• Weather: Mostly cloudy skies, varaiable cloud base/ceiling. Coastal fog.
  
• Threats: Low radar/IR SAM threats in area of operations (AO), high SAM threats in areas west, north, and east of the AO (see tactical map). Expect mobile AAA (ZSU 23 and 23-4) and armored units. Enemy helos are high probability.
• Loadout: 2x AGM-65D 6x Mk82 2x CBU-87 7x M-156 WP Rockets TGP, ALQ-131 CM Pod

BRIEFING:

Coalition air forces are operating south of Maykop this morning against enemy ground and air units scattered throughout the area north of the Georgian border.

Sandy 51/52 and Sandy 71/72 are flying standby/airborne CSAR patrol off the coast, southwest of the coalition area of operations.

Co-op 4 player (we have a 6-ship edit). 2-2.5 hr flight time. Mission built with randomized scenarios for re-playability, as well as over 30 voice-over radio messages for immersion (thus the large 8MB mission file size).

Should CSAR support be needed, command will notify CSAR flights with last known coordinates of a downed aircraft to begin a grid search for the pilot(s). Be prepared to accept L/L coordinates.

Sandy aircraft should 1) locate the pilot, 2) secure and defend the pilot from incoming threats, and 3) facilitate safe ingress/egress of SAR helicopters for extraction of pilot.

Sandy 51 and Sandy 71 are uniquely equipped with the AN/ARS-6 airborne search and rescue transceiver. Both A-10s will be able to use this system independently to perform a search for a downed pilot. The system is on by default, and will provide distinct tones/messages at a 6000m radius, 3000m radius, and 1000m radius from a downed pilot. Simply follow the tones into the pilot and the pilot should then confirm their position and "visual" via radio message, flares, and/or smoke. A good technique for a search is to begin at initial coordinates and make increasing circles away from this point until tones are found.

Sandy 52 and Sandy 72 are NOT equipped with the AN/ARS-6 system, though they will hear the tones of their lead's system during the search operation.

NOTE that downed pilots are instructed to not use flares and/or smoke until they have visual confirmation with friendly aircraft in close proximity. Thus, do not expect pilot(s) to use these marks unless you are at a low-enough altitude (typically under 10,000 ft).

Tentative Drivers (2 slots remaining some alternates in case someone can't make it)

• funkyb/dudeandagun
• Graywo1f
• AlphaLima/Alpha
• Ironystrike/Iron