~30 % of downed pilot / emergency landing / ship sinking missions get no exact marker — only a
search SECTOR (blue dashed ~4 km circle on F10) + an NDB beacon (search missions always carry one).
- Navigation and the F10 marker point to the sector center, not the victims. NDB info gives the bearing (same as the ADF needle) but no distance.
- Procedure: tune the ADF and fly the needle, or sweep the sector (expanding square) looking for smoke/flare/wreck.
- Closing under ~1.2 km the survivors are SPOTTED: exact marker pops, smoke + flare, the circle disappears.
- Reward ×1.4 (score multiplier). The AI rescue helo never takes search missions — they are players-only.
🌊 WATER RESCUE
Ship sinking missions now truly take place on the water:
- No landing possible — pickup is HOIST ONLY (10–45 m). Helicopters without a hoist (Gazelle, Mi-24, Bell-47) may improvise from a very low hover < 8 m.
- Survivors drift with the wind (~4 % of wind speed) — the marker refreshes as they drift; the NDB beacon stays at the sinking point.
- Hypothermia: time limit ×0.75. Reward ×1.25.
- Can combine with search mode (ship + sector) — then you chase the drift inside the sector by ADF.
Based on the pilot guide (mission BETA2.99.21). Post your questions and experience in this thread.
🔍 SEARCH WITHOUT A MARKER
~30 % of downed pilot / emergency landing / ship sinking missions get no exact marker — only a search SECTOR (blue dashed ~4 km circle on F10) + an NDB beacon (search missions always carry one). - Navigation and the F10 marker point to the sector center, not the victims. NDB info gives the bearing (same as the ADF needle) but no distance. - Procedure: tune the ADF and fly the needle, or sweep the sector (expanding square) looking for smoke/flare/wreck. - Closing under ~1.2 km the survivors are SPOTTED: exact marker pops, smoke + flare, the circle disappears. - Reward ×1.4 (score multiplier). The AI rescue helo never takes search missions — they are players-only.
🌊 WATER RESCUE
Ship sinking missions now truly take place on the water: - No landing possible — pickup is HOIST ONLY (10–45 m). Helicopters without a hoist (Gazelle, Mi-24, Bell-47) may improvise from a very low hover < 8 m. - Survivors drift with the wind (~4 % of wind speed) — the marker refreshes as they drift; the NDB beacon stays at the sinking point. - Hypothermia: time limit ×0.75. Reward ×1.25. - Can combine with search mode (ship + sector) — then you chase the drift inside the sector by ADF.
Based on the pilot guide (mission BETA2.99.21). Post your questions and experience in this thread.