F29 RETALIATOR (?) (?)

SOME CHEATS:

As with most combat/flight simulators, F-29 Retaliator takes time to get to grips with. Here are some helpful tips for this brilliant flight sim.

If you can lock onto targets and blow the enemy away with no trouble, only to find out that you run out of missiles or just cannot land, here are a couple of tricks to help you out:

Load up and start the game, entering your name as 'THE DIDY MEN' (including the spaces) when you enrol. Click on the COLONEL icon and press RETURN. Select the battle area and then select Mission Control. Accept a mission, (without selecting one) then go back and select one as normal. Now start the game and play as normal. When you have completed the task and it`s time to land all you have to do is press ENTER on the keypad and you`ll land on automatic pilot.

Now those of you who are having trouble with the limited amount of weapons on most of the missions. Just enter your name on the enrolment screen as 'CIARAN' and load up your pilot`s log. The name should now read OCEAN OK. Now you can fly on any mission you want with infinite weapons and cannons.

SOME HINTS ON FLYING:

TO TAKE OFF:
This isn`t too difficult to manage once you get the knack - as long as you remember a few simple rules:

  1. Always kick off your brakes before starting. Travelling with the revs in excess of 70 rpm will seriously damage your landing gear.

  2. Push the thrust up to about 90% before taking off, and try to leave the ground at around 200-220 knots.

  3. Always pull the gear up before you hit 320 knots, otherwise they will buckle.

  4. If you decide to use your flaps then take care when travelling at high speeds. The flaps will start to warp (and possibly fall off) as you reach 360 knots.
FIGHTING AT SEA:
If you just sit back and decide not to participate in sea battles, then the battle between enemy and allied ships will continue without you. On the other hand it is a good idea to get involved, as you stand a good chance of securing a victory for your side. To take out enemy ships, just fly across the bows of the ships and drop a MRASM. Sooner or later you will have inflicted enough damage so that the craft sinks into the sea.

BATTLING TANKS:
As in the case with sea battles, tank warfare will continue whether you are involved or not, but again it`s a good idea to try to swing a victory yourself. Speed is of the essence in this scenario, since the allied tanks will be slaughtered if you`re not quick enough. The trick with tanks is to fly low and fire CSWs at their formations. The 20 warheads in each bomb should clear them up quickly enough!

ENEMY AIRCRAFT:
There are two types of plane that you will have to deal with: The Mig-29 Fulcrum and the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. Both planes look pretty similar, but the Flanker can withstand substantially more hits than the Mig. Migs are usually assigned to waypoints or patrol areas and are equipped with four air-to-air missiles as well as cannons. They also have chaff and flares which they tend to use if you fire sidewinders at them. Favourite Mig tactics are to either fly in huge patrol groups (with each plane carrying double payloads!), or use the `Out Of The Sun` technique. This involves the enemy flying into a position above you and then diving down onto you.

BOMBING UNNECESSARY TARGETS:
Bombing such emplacements as hospitals, churches, allied emplacements and other civilian targets doesn`t prompt a favourable response from the powers that be. You will most certainly lose points and the computer may even crash your plane!

DEFENCE:
No matter how much of a whiz you think you are, you`re bound to find a SAM latching onto your tailpipe at some point. Trying to outrun it? Well forget it. It just won`t happen! Instead, there are two other ways you can use to save yourself.

  1. Slam yourself down low and weave around hills, buildings and bridges. Your chances are still slim, but if you are quick enough you may just get the missile to crash into another obstacle.

  2. The most effective way is to scream into a dive, then turn quickly to the left or right - remembering to fling out loads of chaff as you do this.
LANDING:
This, of course, is very important. If you don`t land the aircraft, you don`t complete the mission!
Firstly, get yourself roughly in line with the airstrip while it is still out of range (using the map and direction indicator) and line yourself up with the middle of the runway when you are about 20 or 30 miles away. Pull your speed down to about 300 mph and descend to around 500 feet. As you approach, pull the speed down to 200 mph and drop to 250 feet. Descend slowly, keeping more or less flat whilst gradually decreasing speed to about 100, then put down the gears. As soon as you touch down, drop the nose, slam the thust to zero and put on the brakes. This will now safely end the mission.

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