User Guide

For the first couple of missions, Stern, the commander of the Wildcats, will assign you a wingman.
As you become a more experienced pilot, you may choose your own wingman.
After the briefing is finished, the weapon loading screen will appear.
Loading Your Weapons
On the weapon loading screen, you will see your F-16 parked in the hangar (or in front of the tent, if
you’re at the strike base) and several racks of weapons. Some weapons won’t become available until
later in the game, so don’t worry if there isn’t a wide selection at first. Use this screen to customize
the loadout your plane will carry into battle.
To load weapons. Select a weapon from the rack with your left mouse button. Weapons are added
to your plane’s inventory in pairs to ensure balance.
To remove weapons. Select a weapon on the plane with either mouse button, or a weapon on the
racks with the right mouse button. As with loading, weapons are removed in pairs.
Loadout Limitations. Your plane has eight hardpoints for carrying weapons. Each type of
hardpoint can carry a limited number of weapons. At the tip of each wing is a rail that can carry
either a Sidewinder-9J or a Sidewinder-9M. Underneath each wing, closest to the end, is a light
hardpoint. Light hardpoints can carry only air-to-air missiles: either a Sidewinder or an AMRAAM.
In the center of each wing’s underside is a medium hardpoint. Because they are able to carry both
air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, medium hardpoints are the most versatile. They can each
hold:
The innermost hardpoints are heavy hardpoints. Heavy hardpoints can carry any of the weapons
carried by the medium hardpoints except air-to-air missiles.
Returning to the Base. If you decide after the briefing that you need to check your ledger or catalog
to purchase more weapons, or even if you just need to hear the briefing again, you can return to the
hangar by clicking along the top of the screen.
If you wish to have the briefing repeated at that point, click on the F-16 again, and you’ll go back
through the briefing and the weapons loading screen.
Flying the Mission. If you’re satisfied with your loadout and have a clear understanding of your
mission objectives, click on the cockpit of the plane to fly the mission.
• 2 AMRAAMs,
• 1 GBU-15E,
• 2 rocket pods,
• 1 Sidewinder (AIM-9J or -9M),
• 3 Mavericks,
• 3 Durandals,
• 6 cluster bombs (Mk20’s) or
• 6 Mk82’s.
27
LAU-3
GBU-15
AIM-9M
Return to Base
Cockpit
(Begin Mission)
MK.20 Rockeye
AGM-65D Maverick
AIM-9J
Durandal
MK 82
AIM-120
AMRAAM
Weapon Loading
Screen