This scenario is designed to help new players understand the methods and nuances of Air-to-Ground bombing. Bombing in today's air forces doesn't carry the same glamour as the Air-to-Air (A2A) missions, but once the "Glamour Jockeys" get off their shining white chargers and realize that the world does not revolve around White Knights rescuing damsels in distress anymore, they recognise delivering ordinance to surface targets is why they exist. Disparagingly called "Air to Mud" or "Farming", Air-to-Ground targeting is generally of two types: Close Air Support (CAS), where ground troops are involved, or strike, where targets are located and destroyed independent of ground forces. There are several sub classes of each type, but we will focus on simple Strike missions with one aircraft each.

Most modern fighters are called "multi-role", indicating that they can do both the Air-to-Air role in an effort to gain air superiority and the Air-to-Ground role to strike ground targets. Some aircraft, such as the F-15C or the MiG-31 are strictly A2A. While some other aircraft are strictly Air-to-Ground, such as the A-10 or the Su-25, these "flying tanks" are largely focused on CAS with troops in close contact.

Today, we will use the F-16, one of the most prolific and versatile modern aircraft in use today. One could make a serious study of the various types of F-16 out there, but it is not important to this tutorial. The model chosen has the ability to use a wide range of munitions to demonstrate the game functions needed. If you wish to know more, you can always go here.

Don't worry, in future tutorials we will use other aircraft of Russian, European or Chinese manufacture so you can get used to these as well.

Enter the game and look around. You have an air base in Mali, and some targets all nicely lined up for you. There are no defenses arrayed against you in this scenario, so you are free to play around without getting shot at.

Enjoy learning this impressive game.

Note: This tutorial should take about 30-40 minutes to complete.

Created by Gunner98 aka Bart Gauvin.