Using Recon Target in IL2 FMB to terminate missions

Using Target Recon to Terminate Missions Quickly Proper termination of missions is especially important issue for campaign builders.

This article should explain how efficient the Target/Recon can be used within campaigns. Terminating missions can be a problem, especially in campaigns. Proper termination of missions is critical for proper accounting of kills for the player during the missions as well as moving onto the next mission.

The campaign builder will usually want to keep the player moving efficiently through the campaign and provide a complete accounting for all player kills. The campaign builder will also want to provide enough immersive materials and situations to keep the missions viable and interesting. For example, the campaign builder may want large numbers of aircraft landing at the same airbase as the player. This can be a problem, especially if the player has to negotiate a landing in a large group of landing aircraft.

The campaign builder wants to keep the missions moving, therefore the Target/Recon is a great tool for making this happen. The graphics at the bottom of this article describe how this is done.

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The Target/Recon is a specific type of control, which is best explained logically. Here is how it works: If the player is airborne when inside the area designated as Target/Recon within the time specified the Target/Recon triggers for the event, if landing is not checked.

If the player is airborne when inside the area designated as Target/Recon within the time specified, and is flying in autopilot mode, the Target/Recon does NOT trigger the event.

If the player enters into the area designated as Target/Recon within the time specified, landing is checked, and the player is not in autopilot mode, the Target/Recon will trigger the event if the aircraft lands or comes to a full stop inside the Target/Recon area.

If the player is airborne at anytime inside the Target/Recon designated area, within the time specified and is in AUTOPILOT the Target/Recon does NOT trigger any event.

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If the Target/Recon is set as a PRIMARY TARGET and the player is airborne inside the Target/Recon area within the time designated a MISSION COMPLETE event will be triggered.

If the Target/Recon is set as a PRIMARY TARGET and LANDING is checked the player must land within the time specified, within the area described by the Target/Recon designated area for a MISSION COMPLETE event to be triggered.

If the Target/Recon is set as a Secondary Target and the player is airborne inside the Target/Recon area within the time designated a Mission objective for entering the Target/Recon area will be completed. Some of the graphics below will further illustrate how the Target/Recon works.

The below method of creating a small Target/Recon area at the end of the airbase is a very efficent method for terminating missions, and getting a Mission Complete. This way all the player has to do is pass through the small designated Target/Recon area while airborne, even if there are 20 additional planes are in the landing pattern trying to get clearance to land. This saves alot of time because the player doesn't have to actually land his aircraft to move on to the next mission. I like the small area, because it does allow the player to take off manually (not autopilot) without triggering Mission Complete, and it also does require the player to make an effort to at least enter the landing pattern area to acquire a Mission Complete.

The below graphics describe how it would appear from the HUD as the player is on final headed for the end of the airbase where a small Target/Recon area is desginated. As player is Pre-Approach and headed towards the small Target/Recon area described as viewed from the aircraft.

 As player is On-Approach just before passing into the small Target/Recon area described above viewed from the aircraft.

As player has entered into the small Target/Recon area described above viewed from the aircraft.