As Ishmael says, this is not a software modification; it is a hardware modification. :)

To make a bomb sight, you'll need a piece of clear plastic, such as an overhead projector transparency, that is large enough to cover a substantial portion of your computer screen. You'll also need a ruler, a few markers, and some clear tape.

First of all, install a gun sight that has a "+" or other marking in the exact center of the screen, like the one on the Air War gunsights page (see Gunsights); this will help you line up your bomb sight accurately each time you need to use it.

Next, go into the Solo area, get into the plane you'll be flying as a bomber, and go to the F1 view (the view where you can see your cockpit instruments). Hold your transparency up to the screen and mark the center on it (i.e., trace the "+" or other marking from the gunsight), trying to keep the mark as close to the center of the transparency as possible.

Next, place your transparency on a flat surface and, using your ruler, draw a line from bottom to top directly through the center, making absolutely sure the line is perfectly straight (if it isn't, your bomb sight won't work!).

Finally, make "notches" on the line you just drew at some regular interval (e.g., four notches per inch).

You now have a bomb sight! The next step is to "calibrate" it. Note that you will have to calibrate for each type of bomber you'll be flying, so you'll probably want to use a different color marker for each one.

Attach the bomb sight to your monitor using a few pieces of clear tape, making sure to line up the center mark with the center mark on your gunsight, so that it is aligned properly.

Take off and climb to the altitude you wish to calibrate for. At first, I suggest calibrating for 3,000 feet (or 1,000 meters) and gradually moving higher as you get better (it will take practice to get good at this). Note that the lower you are, the easier it will be for you to hit targets, but the more vulnerable you will be to anti-aircraft and enemy pursuits.

Head for a target with autopilot enabled (Shift-a). I suggest a friendly airdrome at first, since airdromes generally have large structures, and so that you won't have to deal with anti-aircraft fire at first (it's murderous down at 3,000 feet).

When the target comes into view, adjust your heading so that the structures are directly ahead of you. Press F4 and use the Enter key to pivot your view directly behind and slightly above your aircraft, so that your bomb sight line passes directly through your aircraft, bisecting it into two equal halves. Looking forward, the line above your aircraft marks your course; if it runs through one of the structures, you're all lined up! If not, go back to the cockpit view, hit a to exit autopilot, gently alter your course, and go back to autopilot with Shift-a. Check your course with F4, and repeat until you are lined up. (This is the hardest part to get right, so don't worry if you have to make a few passes before you get it.)

Once you're all lined up, go back to the F4 view, zoom all the way out (using x), and pivot your view again so that you are looking directly down on your aircraft from above, with the line continuing to run directly through your aircraft as in the previous step. You should now see the ground moving slowly underneath you.

When your target structure comes into view, it should be coming straight down the bomb sight line (if it isn't, you didn't get lined up right). Choose a notch approximately one-quarter of the way down the line and remember which one it is; then, when the structure passes directly under that notch, release a bomb by pressing a followed by b followed by Shift-a, in rapid succession (it is necessary to leave autopilot temporarily to drop a bomb, unfortunately, so you might want to map this key sequence to a button, if you have a joystick that allows you to do this).

Now, watch the ground for an explosion. If the bomb impacts ahead of the target, that means you released the bomb too early; on your next run, you will need to release later (e.g., a notch or two below the point at which you released this time). If the bomb impacts behind the target, that means you released the bomb too late; on your next run, you will need to release earlier (e.g., a notch or two above the point at which you released this time).

Repeat this procedure until you hit the structure (it may take some time). When you score a hit, make a mark on the sight line at the exact point at which you released the bomb, and make a note of the altitude at which you are calibrating.

Your bomb sight is now calibrated for this aircraft at this altitude; repeat for any other aircraft and/or altitudes you wish to calibrate for.

These instructions are based heavily on the instructions distributed to bomber pilots during Ishmael's Historical War, and were posted with Ishmael's permission.

Last modified: August 20, 1999 by Hartney