Operation Dark Skies - North Korea

A fictional reconnaissance flight set on 5 April 1997. From Osan you climb out over the Yellow Sea, then record Kaechon and Pukchang in one straight pass, then Onchon and the surface area of an underground complex, and return to Osan.

Objectives

The objectives come one at a time, in this order. Each one shows its direction on screen. How the gates and strips work is under Missions.

1. Take off: met at liftoff, within 2.2 NM of the start.
2. Yellow Sea climb: fly within 14 NM of the point. Depart westward and climb over the Yellow Sea.
3. Climb above 40,000 ft MSL: stay above 40,000 ft MSL for 5 seconds. This objective runs beside the route: keep following the waypoints while you climb.
4. Northbound sea transit: fly within 12 NM of the point. Continue north and prepare the camera view.
5. Northern approach: fly within 10 NM of the point. Make a broad turn toward the Kaechon set-up point, 30 NM before the strip.
6. Set up - Kaechon and Pukchang: fly within 2 NM of the strip entry point, lined up on 167° true.
7. Kaechon and Pukchang: fly inside the strip, 26 × 4 NM on 167° true, above 40,000 ft MSL for 60 continuous seconds.
8. Complete - Kaechon and Pukchang: fly within 2 NM of the strip exit point before you turn.
9. Set up - Onchon: fly within 2 NM of the strip entry point, lined up on 180° true.
10. Onchon: fly inside the strip, 20 × 4 NM on 180° true, above 40,000 ft MSL for 45 continuous seconds.
11. Complete - Onchon: fly within 2 NM of the strip exit point before you turn. Follow the 50 NM lead-out and the broad turn in the route.
12. Set up - Underground Complex surface area: fly within 2 NM of the strip entry point, lined up on 090° true.
13. Underground Complex surface area: fly inside the strip, 20 × 4 NM on 090° true, above 40,000 ft MSL for 45 continuous seconds.
14. Complete - Underground Complex surface area: fly within 2 NM of the strip exit point before you turn.
15. Clear the final target: fly within 8 NM of the point. All targets are recorded. Continue clear, then turn south.
16. Southbound return: fly within 10 NM of the point. Check the remaining fuel.
17. Recovery transit: fly within 10 NM of the point. Descend toward Osan for a full-stop landing.
18. Return to Base: land within 2.2 NM of the field. The mission ends 15 seconds after touchdown.

Tips

• The route has 50 waypoints, with long straight lead-ins and lead-outs. They give you room to turn: follow them rather than cutting the corners.
• The first strip is 26 NM long and needs 60 continuous seconds: line up on the set-up point and keep the wings level through both targets.
• Osan is a default MSFS airport: it is not part of the U-2 package. The COM 2 presets hold an Osan frequency.

Related pages: Missions · Sensors · Targeting Points