HPG Documentation

# Firefighting - Start Fire (Anywhere)

# Synopsis

In this mission you and a group of friends may fight one or more constantly evolving fires.

Wildfires are a serious threat to lives, property, and the environment. They can spread rapidly and unpredictably, fueled by dry vegetation, strong winds, and human activity. To combat these fires, aerial firefighting is a vital and effective strategy that involves dropping water, or fire retardants from various fixed and rotary-wing aircraft..

Helicopters are especially well suited for aerial firefighting, as they can maneuver in tight spaces, hover over hot spots, and access remote areas. They can also use a variety of tools, such as the bambi bucket, a collapsible container that can scoop water from lakes or rivers, or the heli-torch, a device that can ignite controlled fires to create firebreaks. Helicopters can also work in coordination with ground crews, providing them with air support, reconnaissance, and transportation.

# Mission Key Features:

  1. Firefighting with realistic fire spread dynamics based on wind and terrain
  2. Single player or multi-player online
  3. Bambi Bucket firefighting or Heli-Torch operations to proactively reduce fuel on the ground
  4. Ground Crews that inhibit fire spreading in their area of influence

# Requirements

Type Download
Aircraft

Required		 1. H145 Base Pack (opens new window) and
2. H145 Action Pack (opens new window)
Minimum Version Required: H145 Build 435.

# Installation

  1. Install H145 and H145 Action Pack. Follow the instructions here (opens new window)
Community\
          hpg-airbus-h145
          hpg-airbus-h145-ap

# Setup

This mission is pre-installed and does not require any mission files to be installed.

You need to prepare a binding on your controller for TOGGLE YAW DAMPER. This key will be used in two ways:

  1. Click: When you are over land and the cargo object is touching the ground, clicking will attach or detach the object.
  2. Hold: When you are in the air or over water, holding down the button will open the valve and release the water or diesel.

# Start the mission

Fly this mission using the Firefighter variant of H145.

  1. Select the Missions app on the tablet.
  2. Select the Library section of the mission app. If you have a mission already in progress, you'll see a red Abort Mission button instead of the library. Aborting the mission will go back to the library.
  3. Navigate into the HPG Missions Firefighter folder
  4. Select the Start Fire Here v2.x mission.

You'll now see the mission setup.

# Choose Online or Offline game play

After you launch the mission you will need to decide if you want to play offline or if you will connect to the server and use a room there. Offline game play is single player only.

You can create and manage rooms at any time, by visiting Hype Multiplayer Management (opens new window).

When you choose to play online:

  • UserName: This is arbitrary and used as a friendly name to identify yourself. Defaults to your MSFS ATC call sign.
  • Room: This is the room name selected when creating a room.
  • Password: This is selected in the Security area of the management website.

# Choose to become the mission host or continue as a player

One player must become the host. The host aircraft will conduct fire spreading calculations and manage the fires. The host must not disconnect or abort the mission.

  • Become Mission Host: You will become the host and have access to fire controls
  • Wait for Host (I am a Player): You will still need to wait for the host to join

NOTE: When playing offline you will not be asked as you must always be the host when playing alone.

# Choose your firefighting attachment

Now that you have set the mission up, you may land your aircraft and choose to attach the bambi bucket or heli-torch.

The object will appear in front of your aircraft after selecting the option in the mission.

# Start a fire

The fire isn't started yet, you won't see any fire icons on the tablet or DMAP just yet.

You can start a fire multiple ways:

  1. Using the web client, click on the map and then click Start a fire.
  2. Using the aircraft, click on the map and then click Start fire
  3. Using the aircraft heli-torch, hold down TOGGLE YAW DAMPER to start new fires. It's best to use ground crews to manage these fires instead of allowing them to spread.

# Fight the fires

Once you've attached the bambi bucket, you're ready to hover over a water source and fill up.

Fill up your bucket:

  1. Enter a hover and slowly descend to about 20 feet
  2. You'll see the bucket start to fill a) on the tablet notification bar and b) on the VMS:DATA display on the MFD.
  3. If you are too heavy, you can bleed off water by holding down the TOGGLE YAW DAMPER button to bleed off some water. It's recommended to use no more than 30% fuel while doing bambi operations.

Now you may fly over the fire (don't get too close as it can damage your aircraft) and hold down TOGGLE YAW DAMPER for the entire time you want to drop. You can hold down the button just long enough and reserve water to drop again.

# Managing the mission

Using the web client you may manage the mission by establishing and removing ground crews, monitoring activity and creating more fires.

← Cargo - Heli Logging Revelstoke →