Time to get the DCS: F-5E out and about a bit after its recent upgrade. I’ve been making my way through some of the missions included in the jet to see how they hold up in the modern day. While the missions may be old, they can offer some fun. This one was memorable although it didn’t pan out the way I expected it to. Here’s how it went down for me!

You might be wondering…

…how I ended up here. Well it’s an interesting Flight Journal story but sometimes you have to jump to the end and then enjoy a few laughs as I recall how I got there in the end.

The plan

The mission setup was relatively straight forward. Taking off from a base in Georgia, we were to take our flight of F-5E’s and target an enemy AWACS flying near Sochi. My flight was tasked with going after the AWACS while a second flight would engage the enemy fighters and keep them busy. A third flight of F-4 Phantoms set out to engage the enemy air defenses to make the mission possible.

No plan, as they say, survives first contact with the enemy and as we powered our jets up, the Phantom flight set out first with their orders to engage the enemy air defenses.

As we taxiied and took off, the Phantoms made their way towards the enemy defenses along the coast. Things seemed to be going well.

We were ordered to head into the target area at an altitude of 6,000 feet and my flight of four F-5Es formed up behind me.

Then came word that the F-4E SAM attack mission had failed. All flights were to return to base.

And that would have been the safe sensible thing to do, however, I was ready to make the most of this mission and thought that we might as well make an attempt at the objective anyways. Mission was still on in my mind!

Surviving contact with the enemy

To get past the enemy air defenses, we needed to use the terrain for cover. Making a dramatic quick roll 180 degrees, I pulled the F-5E’s nose down and rolled out again dropping from 6-7,000 feet down to just 100 feet off the deck.

With trees and power lines wizzing past, I was surprised to see that my AI flight were managing to keep up just fine. The RWR lit up with reports of enemy air defenses ahead and I wove a narrow thread between them. At every opportunity I flew my jet along ridgelines, in between clearings, and over the snow covered ground.

The improvised plan was working! We cleared the air defenses and their symbols moved to the rear of my RWR display and then faded of the display altogether. This was looking pretty good so far. Now it was time to try and hunt down the AWACS which we knew was flying around near Sochi.

Staying in the mountains and keeping low, the RWR mark for the enemy A-50 AWACS stayed on the scope and I bore in on it while keeping my AI wingmates in tow. Above us I spotted the contrails of the defending fighters. A group of MiG-21s were on the briefing and sure enough that’s what the RWR was telling me as well.

We got underneath them and then initiated a rapid climb to intercept them. I still wanted to get to the AWACS but they were clearly in our way.

Rapid fire radio calls started to come as my flight spotted the bandits and engaged. The MiG-21s got a warning of our climbing attack and began to break formation. The sky became awash in MiGs and Tiger IIs and I spotted a group of MiG-21s still holding formation and heading for their AWACS. I hoped to get them before they spotted me and could get into position to defend their charge.

Full burners carried me up to their altitude and I closed in for a shot. The first MiG broke off to the left and the other broke to the right. I went right and closed in for a shot. My Sidewinder growling with a lock… and just as I was about to press the launch button the MiG exploded. My wingman had just gotten a kill! My kill! Or…. I guess it was his. All is fair!

I still had my two Sidewinders and all of my 20mm so it was time to get back onto the primary task again. And we were now in a position to intercept with the A-50, knowing that things were dire, began dropping flares and making a run for it. Meanwhile, the fight between my flight of F-5s and the MiGs continued to swirl around me.

Climbing up higher at full burner I reached the A-50s altitude and attempted to intercept. My wingman was ahead of me also positioning for a kill. He fired first and the Sidewinder went uselessly for one of the flares. I got a tone and fired next… and that Sidewinder went for another flare. I figured that Sidewinders weren’t going to work so I switched to the 20mm cannons.

Closing in I let loose with the cannons hitting and knocking a flap off the aircraft. Then another burst set an engine alight and then finally the third destroyed a wing and the A-50 went tumbling towards the Black Sea.

Time to get out of there

After the momentary jubilation was done, it was time to get out of there and try and get back home.

Three problems presented themselves. First, there were still MiGs around although the radio calls suggested that our F-5s appeared to be winning the battle. Second, those SAM sites between us and home were still in business. We’d have to bypass them on the way back too.

There was a third problem too… the Master Caution was lit and my left fuel tank was extremely low. I hit the crossfeed to keep both engines going (at least I think that’s how it works in the F-5) and decided it was time to make a run for it. At minimal throttle levels.

As I approached the SAMs I dropped down to the deck. This was going to cut into my fuel reserves, flying in the denser air, but it was that or face the SAMs head on and that didn’t seem like a good idea.

This time around we had missiles coming up at us and while just one was launched at me (impacting the ground long before it got into my sight), my flight had several launched. My one wingman, Dodge 13, dodged a few successfully and somewhat miraculously too.

I made it past the SAM batteries but my fuel was now critical. I tried to gain a little height without goosing the throttle too much but suddenly my engines cut out. I was a flying brick and one with relatively tiny wings.

The F-5 carried my quite a ways. I considered diverting to Senaki but it was also too far. I found a field and decided it was time to try and do a belly land. DCS World is notorious for being unforgiving with belly landings but I thought I’d give it a go.

Flaps full out, speed bleeding off, and a grassy open area ahead… this was my best chance. I pulled the stick back at the end just to bleed off a little speed and get a clean touchdown at stall speed. It worked! The F-5 skidded along the ground and then came to a stop.

Taking stock

All things considered, this went well. Our target was destroyed, the enemy lost several fighters, our unit suffered minimal losses, and my F- 5 was intact, on the ground, in friendly territory. Phew! What a mission and a very fun time with a jet that I’m glad to be back flying again.