Ordnance and Drop Tanks

Using Ordnance

Different aircraft can carry various combinations of ordnance (bombs, rockets, torpedoes, etc.). In some scenarios, this will already be chosen for each unit. In others, you will be able to select what ordnance you carry, if any.

Some aircraft can carry multiple types of ordnance. When this is the case, you will be able to select which ordnance you wish to drop first. This is done with the Selected Ordnance Cycle control, which is the Backspace key by default.

For planes that have bomb bays, you will need to open them with the Toggle Ordnance Bays control (Shift + B). Press once to open, press again to close.

Now that you've got your ordnance selected, the bomb bay open and the bombs pickled, only one step remains. Fire (or drop) your ordnance with the Drop Ordnance control (Joystick Button 2).

Ordnance Controls

SETTING
DEFAULT
DESCRIPTION
Release Ordnance =
B
Deploys the ordnance whether that is dropping a bomb or firing a rocket.
Selected Ordnance Cycle =
BACKSPACE
Cycles through the available ordnance racks, such as between bombs and rockets.
Select Ordnance Rack [1 - 12] =
(unmapped)
Selects a specific ordnance rack.
Toggle Bays =
ALT+B
Opens and closes bomb bay doors.
Ordnance Mode Cylce =
SHIFT+BACKSPACE
Switches between Single Release Ordnance, Salvo, and Pickle modes.
Single Release Ordnance =
(unmapped)
Releases a single piece of ordnance.
Salvo Ordnance =
(unmapped)
Releases a group of ordnance simultaneously.
Pickle Ordnance =
(unmapped)
This releases all ordnance at once.
Increase Salvo Count =
(unmapped)
Increases the number of orndnace pieces in a salvo.
Decrease Salvo Count =
(unmapped)
Decreases the number of orndnace pieces in a salvo.
Increase Salvo Interval =
(unmapped)
Increases the time between the release of ordnance within a salvo. Interval is in seconds.
Decrease Salvo Interval =
(unmapped)
Decreases the time between the release of ordnance within a salvo. Interval is in seconds.

Drop Tanks

Some planes can carry extra-fuel in 'drop tanks' that hang from their main fuselage or wings.

When your aircraft is carrying a drop tank, it is wise to use that fuel first, because you will need to drop it before entering combat. The Select Fuel Tank control (Forward Slash ( \ ) key) allows you to choose which fuel tank your engine draws fuel from. Be careful to switch to a non-empty fuel tank before dropping your tanks. If you let the drop tank run completely empty before switching, or if you drop it while the engine is drawing from it, your engine could easily seize up when it draws in air instead of fuel. If you do forget to switch in time, you can still save your engine if you reduce throttle and RPMs before restarting the engine. If the engine has already seized, however, you had best starting looking for a place to set down.

To release the drop tanks, use the Release Drop Tanks control (Shift + D).