Falcon 4 BMS

[Threadfin]

You're welcome, happy to help.

I didn't realize you were a pilot candidate, if you mentioned it earlier my apologies. You're in the the Air Force now?

Our group has seemingly taken a summer hiatus and our server has been inactive since July or so. But I'm sure we will get going again sometime soon. If you're interested in flying multiplayer let me know. Also, please consider visiting the SimHQ F4 forum, and of course the BMS forums as well. I am DBond at both places.

People often say that you'll learn more flying with others than flying alone and it's true.

If you have any other questions fire away.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Threadfin

I didn't realize you were a pilot candidate, if you mentioned it earlier my apologies. You're in the the Air Force now?

I'm not a pilot candidate yet. I am a contracted AFROTC cadet that's going to be applying for the rated officer selection. A couple weeks ago I took the first step of many towards turning in my packet. So hopefully within 2 years I will know one way or another if I've been selected.

If you're interested in how that works shoot me a PM.

Our group has seemingly taken a summer hiatus and our server has been inactive since July or so. But I'm sure we will get going again sometime soon. If you're interested in flying multiplayer let me know. Also, please consider visiting the SimHQ F4 forum, and of course the BMS forums as well. I am DBond at both places.

I would LOVE to fly multiplayer sometime, but I need to learn the game first before I hop into that.

People often say that you'll learn more flying with others than flying alone and it's true.

That's true for more than just gaming.

If you have any other questions fire away.

I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Do you have a skype or a steam I can add you on for easy communication?

[Threadfin]

No worries. Recently there was a thread at the BMS forum about getting more folks involved in the multiplayer community. I commented on how I find many guys want to fly MP, but also want to learn everything first, before they venture online.

Understandable indeed. However, there is just so much to learn, and even knowing what to do isn't the same as actually doing it when you're 30 miles over the FLOT, with seemingly every tone in the library chirping on the RWR and a four-ship of zero aspect Flankers closing at 1200 knots

It's a rewarding journey though if you stick with it. As an aside, I also play and teach guitar, and I see many similarities believe it or not. Most folks want to jump in and either rock out or start blowing stuff up right away, as the case may be. But that just isn't going to happen.

So some give it up and move on to something else. Others stick with it, seeing the value, reward and satisfaction in learning something complex. This isn't a reference in any way to you Red October, and if you're aspiring to be an Air Force pilot I can safely conclude you enjoy challenging yourself.

If you need to contact me for anything feel free, a private message is probably best. I don't hang around subsim all that much these days, but check in regularly. If you are a member at SimHQ or BMS I am on those boards more frequently. We could always hook up for some private hops, and I have a fast machine and connection and host no problem.

[Skybird]

I recommend to search for and find the manual for the Realism Patch 5 or 3. Not every detail may be matching with BMS, but all in all you get an idea, also on background and sensors. It were these manuals by the RP group that got deep into F4, more than anything else. But it is quite a read, though an exciting one. Back in those days, manuals of this size were unknown.

Do not give up too early, its worth it.

With DCS, system studying can become even "worse".

P.S.

https://sites.google.com/site/falcon4history/files

Superpak SP 3 or 4 should help, too.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I would LOVE to fly multiplayer sometime, but I need to learn the game first before I hop into that.

Thats the correct order. Its like in racing sims. First you leanr alone, track and car - then you join MP to mess up the day of others as well. I hate it if newbies who visit some traxck for the first time ever, immediately start that in MP. Do 15-20 laps on a track alone before MP.

With flying, its comparable. You should know the basics and essentials before joining MP.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I recommend to search for and find the manual for the Realism Patch 5 or 3. Not every detail may be matching with BMS, but all in all you get an idea, also on background and sensors. It were these manuals by the RP group that got deep into F4, more than anything else. But it is quite a read, though an exciting one. Back in those days, manuals of this size were unknown.

Do not give up too early, its worth it.

With DCS, system studying can become even "worse".

P.S.

https://sites.google.com/site/falcon4history/files

Superpak SP 3 or 4 should help, too.

Thank you very much! I haven't looked into any of the manuals yet, I'm in a bit of a rush today. Is there a quick-reference key binding guide anywhere? I have been looking for and found a button-map file for my HOTAS that i've downloaded to get started. Plan is to dive in this week. Read some of the manuals this week and then start flying next saturday.

If there are any checklist pages or quick-reference guides I can print out and have with me at my desk, that would be great.

Originally Posted by Skybird

Thats the correct order. Its like in racing sims. First you leanr alone, track and car - then you join MP to mess up the day of others as well. I hate it if newbies who visit some traxck for the first time ever, immediately start that in MP. Do 15-20 laps on a track alone before MP.

With flying, its comparable. You should know the basics and essentials before joining MP.

This is exactly true. Racing is easily compared to flying, definitely. I wouldn't put the burden of my lack of knowledge onto my wingmen.

Nobody likes a Blue Falcon.

[Skybird]

I have one folder full of checklists, I think they came with one manual for SP3 or 4, or any of the earlier realism patches RP 3,4 or 5. Such a list you most likely need for the engine start procedure. If you play frequently, after having gone through the procedure several times, you do it my memory then.

There was much stuff out there back then, and I assume most of it still can be found somewhere. Maps, addon terrains, separate cockpits - the modding went hot over Falcon4.

[Threadfin]

I've found these videos to be very helpful. They are well done, complete and concise.

https://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showt...g-Falcon-4-BMS

You might have to be registered at the BMS forums to view them?

[XenonSurf]

The F4 simulation I used to play in the past was F4 Allied Force which is roughly similar to F4 BMS which I don't like because it hasn't so many settings for modifying the campaign, also you in F4AF you can play various world scenarios like Desert Storm, Taiwan, Middle East, etc.
I had to stop playing it because there are no widescreen cockpits in 1920x1080 , only 4:3 ones, otherwise I would cheerfully stick with this legendary sim. A pity.

BMS is way too realistic for me and too difficult playing with a joystick or HOTAS, it doesn't reflect modern fly-by-wire electronics in modern planes anymore as far as radar systems, satellite tranmission technology etc. is concerned, so it's rather a simulation of the end 20th century fighter planes, but with nicer grafics all compatible with 16:9 or 16:10 resolutions.
Real pilots nowadays have however quicker and better response times when handling planes and their systems...They can concentrate doing their job instead of purely flying the plane...In fact, you would be surprised how real subsystems, radars are 'simplified' compared to BMS so pilots get infos and results quicker.

An alternative to BMS is FreeFalcon 6 or 5.5 for which I have combined the files to get past of some bugs. It has better playable CV operations etc, but you may struggle finding all the files and cockpits to download - the project is not active anymore.