"Nail 1-1, Wolf lead, how's it look?"
"Wolf lead, Nail, looks clear. No vis on bandits, strike zone is quiet"
"Roger Nail. Thud 3-1, Wolf lead, you're cleared hot on hangars and guns. North-south runs with a west pull-off. How copy over?"
"Loud and clear Wolf. Thud is rolling in hot!"
Conversation between several groups attacking an enemy field.
Ever wonder what that cryptic talk is between pilots? Here's where to find out. Below is the entire phonetic alphabet and some common radio terms. There is also some info on how to use radio talk correctly.
The phonetic alphabet can be used to spell things, as names for flights, and even for abbreviations. Though it's rarely used for group names, as pilots prefer something more inventive. Calling yourself "Charlie 2-2" doesn't sound all that interesting. So they usually take names with a bit more meaning. Wolf, Viper, Thud, etc... all sound better than some phonetic title. One thing to remember is that troops on the ground have changed the phonetic alphabet a little. The letter J was Juliet, now it is Joker and D was Delta but they changed it to Damn. If you want to jerk your flight leader around use a call that is swear words. This starts a yelling contest, which usually results in the flight leader coming around and shooting you for screwing around on a combat patrol. You might notice that Quebec (kay-bek) is missing, and has been replaced with Quaker. How come? After hearing someone ask "Is that with a C or a K?" for the ninth time, I figured it was time for a change. Quaker (or Quick, if you want) actually sounds like the letter "Q." Quebec doesn't, something you can pin on the French.
| A = Alpha |
B = Bravo |
C = Charlie |
D = Delta |
E = Echo |
F = Foxtrot |
| G = Golf |
H = Hotel |
I = India |
J = Juliet |
K = Kilo |
L = Leema |
| M = Mike |
N = November |
O = Oscar |
P = Pappa |
Q = Quaker |
R = Romeo |
| S = Sierra |
T = Tango |
U = Uniform |
V = Victor |
W = Whiskey |
X = X-ray |
| Y = Yankee |
Z = Zulu |
Radio calls can be made one of two ways. The first is typed calls via the text buffer, while the other involves you talking on a mic. Both types are listed below. Also given is a short example of how this lingo works in actual combat.
"Operator, I need to make a collect call"
Always say who you want to talk to first, then who you are. This way you can get in contact a lot faster. If you want to report something then say who you want to talk to, who you are, and what it is you want to tell him/them. E.G. "Wolf lead, this is 3, 190's our right 5 low, heading away" You just told the flight commander there are German aircraft at your 5 o'clock low and they are heading away. Notice something slightly different from what you've always been told there? "right 5 low" just doesn't look right does it? Ahh, but here is where the beauty of vox comes in. Nearly everyone is used to being "talked" into looking at a given spot. Saying left or right along with the clock position talks someone's eyes on target faster. Sometimes people (including me) get confused or swap the clock around by accident. A couple times I've been told "check 3 high, two bandits" and instead of looking right, I looked left. Saying "right 5 low" automatically tells everyone to look right, back near the tail, and wiggle around some so the target can be seen. For the most part, anything between right 5 and left 7 low will be under the elevators.
If you hear "Thud 2, Wolf 4 is comin through!" then get the hell out of his way. Odds are he's got an enemy fighter on him and is attempting to loose him. Generally a good time to rack up boot licker points by saving him. You might get a promotion. Another thing to remember is don't yell. Yelling makes the speakers crackle and it's a lot harder to understand you. Not to mention the rather loud settings pilots like to set their speakers on.
Flight leaders sometimes have the number 6 after their name. At other times it's something with a dash in it, like "2-1", which would indicate more than one flight is up and around today with the same handle. Whatever their numerical name might be, to everyone in the flight they're simply "lead". Which indicates them as the boss. Other aircraft can be numbered 1 through 5 per group with number 6 being the group leader. When reading off numbers, like compass headings, you say each number instead of just reading it normally. Which is clearer over a radio? "Wolf flight, lead, snap three hundred and twenty" or "Wolf lead, flight, snap three six zero". The second one. Saying each number individually is a lot clearer, and leaves less room for confusion. The number nine is spoken a bit differently, as you've probably heard. It's niner. Sometimes five is used the same way, but there's no real reason to. Unless you want to confuse the crap outa someone.
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