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Flight Simulation

Challenging virtual flights : the interception of aircrafts in flight simulation.

An interesting challenge for flight simulation enthousiasts consists in searching and intercepting virtual aircrafts that are flying randomly: those without any known flight plans.

The degree of difficulty varies accordingly with the intercepted aircraft and the interceptor.

The screen capture below shows a relatively simple interception since it is not too difficult for the AV-8B Harrier to modify its speed according to the high cruising speed of a Beechcraft B350.

Virtual Beechcraft B350 aircraft intercepted by an AV-8B Harrier.
Virtual Beechcraft B350 aircraft intercepted by an AV-8B Harrier.

In order to increase the difficulty, the flight simmer could attempt the interception in flight of a relatively slow aircraft with a military jet.

A challenging virtual flight can be executed by using a CF-18 and adapting its speed and altitude to that of the intercepted aircraft while flying in formation for one minute. In order to succeed, it will be necessary to set the CF-18 in a slow flight configuration with the wheels out.

Virtual Cessna C208 aircraft intercepted by a CF-18
Virtual Cessna C208 aircraft intercepted by a CF-18

This type of interception is sometimes done in real life when an aircraft accidentally (or not) enters a restricted zone. A military jet must then take-off, reach the unknown target, get very close and make the appropriate signals ordering it to follow him to the closest military base.

Once in flight, do not forget to take a screen capture! Good luck and have a good flight!

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Screen captures

Intercepted!

Harrier intercepting a twin turboprop
Harrier intercepting a twin turboprop

The screen capture that you can see here has really not been planned. It is about the interception of a light twin engine aircraft by a Harrier military jet. After subscribing to an English virtual flying magazine, I received, as a welcome gift, this virtual military jet. As I was “in flight” familiarizing myself with the jet, I saw a little white dot moving in the distance. It was one of the numerous virtual aircrafts generated by the Microsoft Flight Simulator (FSX) program. The idea to simulate an interception and fly in formation with an unknown aircraft was just too good to resist. In few minutes, both aircrafts were in sight of each other. It was now a matter of adjusting the speed of the Harrier exactly with the other aircraft’s speed and progressively get closer. The picture represents the end result of this little meeting. The countryside under the planes is an ORBX creation.