Padlock Tricks

From The Air Combat Wiki

Contents 1 Padlock View Tricks and Other Undocumented Features 1.1 Double-Click and Save Time. 1.2 Padlock View Unlocked. 1.3 Double Your Snap Views. 1.4 Lock Your Snap View. 1.5 Instrument Flying. 1.6 But Wait! There's More! 1.7 That's Sick! 1.8 That's All Folks!

Padlock View Tricks and Other Undocumented Features

by Musketeer@FA

The Fighter Ace Manual is an often overlooked treasure of "how to" information on nearly every aspect of the game, from launching the game and navigating its screens to flight controls and keyboard commands. Also covered are basic to advanced aerial and air-to-surface combat theory and tactics. However, there are several features that do not appear in this manual. Some of these are well known while others are not so well known. I will cover a few of these in the following paragraphs.

Double-Click and Save Time.

Several screens in the game display a selection list where you click on the desired choice and then click on another button to complete the selection. One of these screens is the Select Existing Pilot (nick) listing that appears after the game first starts. You can double-click on the desired nick in order to make your choice and automatically advance to the next screen with that nick. This is the same as clicking on your nick and then clicking on the Play button. This same process works in the Arenas listing where you enter the arena by double-clicking on the arena name. When you click on the Create Arena button, you can then double-click an entry in the Select arena template listing to configure that arena. You can also play a film by double-clicking on a film title in the Films listings.

Padlock View Unlocked.

Now that you are in an arena and flying around, regardless of arena level (arcade, intermediate or realistic), selecting padlock does not limit your views. If your joystick has an 8-direction button on top, known as a Hat or POV button, you can still use these to get a snap view in the direction the button is pressed. If your joystick does not have this button or you have redefined it to different functions, you can use the keyboard number pad to accomplish the same thing. The number 8 is forward view, number 2 is back view, et cetera, including number 5 for upward view.

For example, if you press F4 and the view shifts to an enemy above you, you can press the Hat forward to get a snap view forward. For as long as the button is held forward, you get a forward look of where you are going. And as long as the padlock target exists (within visual range), the lock is maintained and the view will return as soon as the Hat is released. Except in Realistic rooms where only the cockpit view is available, you can use this feature to change from the cockpit padlock view to full (gun camera) view. If in this case the enemy is ahead of you and your instrument panel blocks part of your view ahead, pressing the Hat forward will instantly change to full view for as long as the Hat is forward.

Another scenario is where the enemy is behind you and you only see the pilot seat. In this situation, pull the Hat backward and you will get a full view behind you as though you were not in padlock view. This will allow you to see what the enemy is doing or to read the distance tag. A more important option is to press the Hat forward so you can see where you are heading while using padlock to keep track of the enemy on your 6 o'clock. This way you can "avoid the dirt" when terrain is nearby.

The Hat (or number pad keys) will work with all versions of padlock view: friend, ground object, and tank. So keep this in mind during these scenarios to keep better situational awareness (SA).

Double Your Snap Views.

You are already aware that the Hat and keyboard number pad keys provide the basic 8 directions of snap views. There are 8 more directions you can select. These are the same direction, but now 45 degrees up in that direction. Do this by holding down the keyboard Ctrl or number pad 5 keys and selecting a snap view with your Hat button or other number pad keys. Pressing the Hat to the left while holding down the Ctrl key gives you an upward left view of 45 degrees up. You can also select a snap view first and then press the number pad 5 key to get a 45-degree upward view; however, this does not work with the Ctrl key. If using the Ctrl key, it must be pressed first before selecting a snap view.

Lock Your Snap View.

There is a quirk in the view commands that we can take advantage of to lock the view to any snap position. As you recall, the Hat and number pad keys give you a snap view in the direction pressed; however, this view does not hold when the button or keys are released. The keyboard End key also falls into this group of "snap views" since it gives you a snap view of your cockpit instrument panel. Anyone who has flown in a realistic arena or in cockpit view, you can change your view to any direction using the mouse. Unfortunately this can be awkward while flying, especially in combat, or if the mouse sensitivity is too high or too low. The quirk I mentioned allows you to use your snap views to lock the view in a particular direction until another view is selected.

Let's say you are making an approach to a carrier for landing and the carrier is not directly ahead. Let's also say that at this time the carrier can be seen when you press the Hat forward left. However, you find it too awkward to hold this view and manage the process of preparing to land. In this case, temporarily hold the view in the desired direction and briefly tap the keyboard End key. Release the Hat and you will notice that the view is now locked. You can still use all of your snap views to keep track of your situation and maintain that "lock" view you just established. You can unlock this view by selection a different view command that is not a snap view or by pressing the Delete key.

Does this sound useful to you? How about formation flying where you want to lock your view to your 3 o'clock, but not lock onto your friend with Alt+F4. Press the Hat to the right and tap the keyboard End key and you're set.

Instrument Flying.

Pilots who fly in realistic arenas or in cockpit view know that you can use the mouse to view your cockpit instruments and maintain that angle of view. You can also use the keyboard End key to quickly view the instrument panel, but only for as long as the End key is pressed. Remember those snap views? Holding the End key down and then momentarily selecting a snap view will lock your view onto the instrument panel. Now you can fly while viewing nearly all of your instruments. If you cannot see more than just a few instruments, press Ctrl+9 (top row number key, not on the number pad). This will toggle the field of view between normal and wide-angle view.

But Wait! There's More!

With any of the locked views I just described or just the simple cockpit view, you can adjust or change the angle with your Camera Control keys. The first 6 top row keyboard keys will adjust your view for the duration the key is pressed or until the view limit is reached. 1 rotates the view left, 2 rotates the view right, 3 moves seat forward, 4 moves seat backward, 5 raises the view up, and 6 lowers the view down. The mouse can do the same thing as it is moved forward, back, left or right (hold the mouse right button down to move the seat forward or back with forward and back mouse movement). To reset your view to forward, press the Delete key.

That's Sick!

This next "feature" can cause some pilots to experience vertigo or motion sickness. So use it with caution. You already know that moving the mouse while in cockpit view allows you to change your view in the direction of mouse movement. Unfortunately, the mouse, by itself, will not give you these views while in the full view (F3). However, if you press and hold the number pad 5 key, you can use the mouse to view in any direction as though you were flying an invisible plane. Since you press the number pad 5 key and it is defined as view up (default), you will always start with an upward view.

With the number pad 5 key held down, moving the mouse backward will lower the view through the entire 360 degrees of arc, provided you have enough room to move the mouse in that direction. Forward movement is the same to give you a raised view through 360 degrees of arc. Left and right mouse movement does the same for rotate left or right through 360 degrees of arc. Caution: making these view changes while flying can induce vertigo or motion sickness in some pilots. How sick is that?!

That's All Folks!

I've covered quite a wide range of view options that you may or may not have known about, until now. Have fun giving them a try and I'll see you soon, hopefully before you see me!