Chartgouge

Chart Gouge

 * This page holds information on each chart used during the core syllabus of VT-86. Please add to this page any further information, tips or tricks you discovered while flying these routes through training.  Descriptions of points, correlation points and good intermediate checkpoints are described below.  For radar correlation points, distances are given from the turnpoint to the correlation point.
 * Links to satellite imagery are provided when available. If satellite imagery is currently available, the turnpoint description will be a link.  If you have satellite imagery that is not on this page, please upload it and add a link for others.
 * As always, Live by the gouge, die by the gouge. Make sure that all points listed on this page coincide with the points found in the most recent version of the Strike Planning Guide.  This is all supplemental information, do not just copy straight from this to your charts.  In order to help others while still promoting each student does his/her own work - all distances and times for corrolation points and intermediate checkpoints are approximate in order to give you an idea of where the good correlation point is.  Again, do not just copy this into your chart!  HONOR COURAGE COMMITMENT.

NPA12
The first half of the NPA12 has better turnpoints than the second half. Approaching the first target, the second student will give the two-minute-prior call from the back of the jet. After the first student bombs the target, the pilot will turn to the second student's outbound heading for the next leg, students will conduct a seat-swap and the second student will fly his/her route.
 * Point A: Bayou La Batre
 * Mustache Island - 2nm left, 1nm up
 * Point B: Bridge
 * The bridge at Bravo shows up very well on the radar.
 * Point C: Wiggins Dam
 * Pumping station - 7nm right
 * Point D: River bend
 * The river bend is a late-breaker, but is easily identifiable. Be careful not to mistake it with the similar river bend to the North.
 * Town - 15nm down, 4nm right
 * Prison - 2nm up, 5nm left
 * Point E: River bend (Dog's Mouth)
 * IP for the first half of the route.
 * Another late-breaking turnpoint, but very distinguishable.
 * The "mouth" of the dog's mouth does not show up well in the jet, but shows up very well in the sim.
 * Town of Monticello - correlate
 * Town of Columbia - correlate
 * Point F: Dam
 * Target for the first half of the route.
 * TOT: 31:44
 * Town of McComb - correlate
 * Town of Magnolia - correlate
 * Point G: Hazelhurst
 * It's a large town, not many good correlation points
 * Point H: Smokestacks
 * This is very hard to find, especially in the sim.
 * Point I: Power Station
 * Town - just to the right
 * Point J: Lake
 * Town of Ellisville - correlate
 * Point K: Leakesville
 * IP for the second half
 * Lake - on course, 13nm prior to the turnpoint
 * Prison - it's not on the TPC. Get the Sectional and brief with it.
 * Point L: Power Plant
 * Target for the second half
 * This is a late-breaker, look for the distinctive bend in the river
 * TOT: 41:55
 * Town - 2nm left of course, halfway through the leg.

IR37
End of Block Add to your chart the admin legs from the target to alpha, and a new page of alpha to bravo. The turn radius will cause the outbound heading from alpha to be different. Also, add to the chart an admin leg from the target to bravo. In the event you are below mission completion fuel at the target, you will then be able to cut directly to bravo and save fuel.
 * Point A: Dam
 * Helen Keller dam, easy to see
 * Point B: Road Bridge
 * Inferred Substation - 3nm left, 3nm down along the river
 * Town - 6nm right, 8nm down
 * Point C: Leakesville
 * Look for the far shore brightening of the river BEHIND Leakesville. Your turnpoint is the bright spot on the near side of the river.  The circle town on the far side of the river has grown since the TPC was made and is a false turnpoint.
 * Prison - on the SECTIONAL - 3nm left
 * Point D: Hessler-Noble Airport
 * This is a late breaker. The towns near it have grown and the amphitheaters show up on the radar.
 * Satellite imagery - the cooling ponds show up very well on the 5nm scope.
 * Town of Ellisville - correlate
 * Town of Laurel - correlate
 * Lake - 7nm right, 5nm down
 * Point E: River bend
 * This is the same river bend from the NPA12. Again, do not mistake your turnpoint with the very similar river bend to the right.
 * Prison - 6nm up
 * Sawmill - 4nm right
 * Point F: Lake
 * IP
 * Town of Picayune - correlate
 * Town of Poplarville - correlate
 * Point G: Airport
 * Target, this is a late breaker. Study the Airport diagram in the Approach Plate.  Know which portion of the airfield you plan to bomb (runway, tower, hangars, etc) and which type of weapon you plan to use.
 * Look for the backwards "F" of the magenta town and know where the airfield is in relation to it.
 * TOT: 34:38
 * Piers - 3nm right. These piers show up like beacons pointing to your Target
 * Island tip

IR40
Check Ride Add to your chart the admin legs from the target to alpha, and a new page of alpha to bravo. The turn radius will cause the outbound heading from alpha to be different. Also, add to the chart an admin leg from the target to bravo. In the event you are below mission completion fuel at the target, you will then be able to cut directly to bravo and save 350lbs of fuel.
 * Point A: Peninsula
 * Mustache Island
 * Point B: Dam
 * Helen Keller dam, this turnpoint shows up very clearly and acts as its own correlation point
 * Point C: Citronelle
 * Look for far-shore-brightening
 * Smokestacks - 5nm right, 7nm down
 * Point D: Waynesboro
 * Power station - 10nm down
 * Dam - left of the turnpoint
 * Point E: Hessler-Noble Airport
 * You saw this on the IR37
 * Lake - 9nm down and right of course
 * Town of Ellisville - correlate
 * Satellite Imagery - Cooling Ponds
 * Point F: Richton
 * Smokestacks - 8nm right
 * These smokestacks show up extremely bright in the jet. Do not mistake them for your town!
 * Inferred substation - 2.5nm left, 4.5nm down
 * Point G: Leaksville
 * IP
 * Again, get the sectional for the prison!
 * Look for the far-shore-brightening behind Leakesville and do not bite off on the circle town or the prison. You should see three bright returns.
 * Point H: Bridge
 * Target
 * TOT: 32:26
 * Towers - up and right
 * Inferred Substation - up and left
 * These correlation points are decent, but really just look for the shape of the river.

Low Levels
From this point forward, the order in which the low level, strike, and comp routes are flown is up to the OUI. Call your instructor the night before and inform him/her of your choice of routes for primary and backup. Similar to the NPA12, the second student will give the two-minute-prior call on the first student's target leg. Upon completion of the first half, the pilot will pop up and orbit while the students conduct a seat swap. The first target becomes the second student's entry point. Keep in mind the intermediate checkpoint times should be approximate as each student may have time differences of a few seconds along the route. When looking for a little circle town, look for trailers and church steeples.

VR1021
Canned Route: NPA 554
 * Point E: Tunnel Springs
 * 2+20 - Primary road crossing
 * Point F: Hwy Overpass
 * 6+00 - 474' Tower on course
 * Point G: Forest Home
 * 10+10 - 300' Tower 2nm Left
 * 11+30 - 1799' Tower 2nm Left
 * Point H: St Clair
 * Follow water to primary road at 15+20
 * 17+15 - Road/Powerline crossing 1nm Right
 * Point I: Billingsley
 * 20+18 - Primary Road Crossing
 * 24+00 - 349' Tower on course
 * Point J: Dam
 * IP
 * Look for the fire tower with a red-ish top just past the dam
 * 26+20 - 283' Tower
 * 29+15 - 310' Tower
 * Point K: Dam
 * Target
 * TOT: 30:13
 * Look for the water coming in from the right
 * 2+30 - River bend 1nm Right
 * Look to split the two river bends and you should be on course
 * 327' Multiple towers on course two miles prior to Point L
 * Point L: Road Bridge
 * 6+00 - 340' Tower 2nm Left on a primary road
 * Look for the river coming in from the left
 * Point M: Road Bridge
 * 10+48 - Choctaw 2nm Left
 * Point N: Fire Tower
 * Point O: Tower
 * 19+30 - Primary road crossing
 * Climb to 1500' for the noise sensitive areas and the lock and dam is easily visible
 * Point P: Dam
 * 25+45 - Wilcox Airport on course. Runs perpendicular to course.  Good for course and timing information.
 * Point Q: Deer Park
 * IP
 * 30+10 - 303' Tower 1nm Right
 * Point R: Calvert
 * Target
 * TOT: 32:19

VR1023
Canned Route: NPA 552
 * Point A: Peninsula
 * Same entry point as the IR40
 * 1+30 - Highway CPA 1nm Right
 * 1+42 - 320' Tower 1nm Left
 * Point B: Sawmill
 * Look for a white steeple. The sawmill is rusted out.
 * 5+18 460' Tower 1nm Right
 * 7+55 - Road Crossing, split the two intersections
 * 8+06 - 1543' Tower 2nm Left
 * Point C: Road Intersection
 * 11+30 - 350' Multiple Towers 1nm Left
 * 13+15 - 300' Tower on course
 * Point D: Road Overpass
 * Look for the Tower just past, it's a big overpass. Also the funneling feature of the small road coming in from the right
 * 17+06 - Powerline crossing 1nm Right
 * 17+20 - Powerline/Road crossing 1nm Left
 * Point 1D: Lake
 * There are several peanut lakes in the area that are not on the chart
 * 21+40 - 500' Tower on course
 * 21+45 - Powerline/Road crossing 1nm Right
 * 22+45 - Railroad perpendicular to course
 * Primary road funneling feature into the IP
 * Point 1E: Progress
 * IP
 * Churches and approx 12 buildings. Nothing much to see.
 * 25+50 - 500' Tower 2nm Left
 * 27+55 - 306' Multiple towers on course
 * 28+45 - Road
 * Point G: Pine Grove
 * Target
 * TOT: 30:14
 * 315' Tower in the town
 * Primary road snakes in under the black line and into the town.
 * There is a wreck yard to the left of the town, and turkey farms on either side of the course into the target.
 * 1+05 - 280' Tower on course
 * Point H: Walker
 * 6+45 Road intersection on course
 * Point 1I: Independence
 * 10+55 - 315' Tower 1nm Left
 * Point J: Clifton
 * 14+05 - 348' Tower on course
 * Point K: Angie
 * Look for the river on course between 17+20 and 17+20
 * 19+15 - 265' Tower 1nm Right
 * Point L: Road Junction
 * 23+15 - Primary road
 * Look for the huge towers to the left of the IP
 * Point M: Fire tower
 * IP
 * 27+35 - 320' Tower, Road/Powerlines
 * 28+15 - Primary Road
 * Point N: Vancleave (School)
 * Target
 * TOT: 30:06
 * There are two schools, check the satellite imagery and pick which school you want to bomb and brief it. One school has a large baseball field.  Also look for school buses.

VR1024
Canned Route: NPA 553
 * Point A: Peninsula
 * Same peninsula as the IR40 and the VR1023
 * 2+35 - 656' Tower
 * 4+05 - 330' Multiple Towers on course
 * Follow the highway up to the bridge
 * Point B: Road Bridge
 * 6+55 - Road
 * 9+15 - Road/Powerline crossing
 * Point C: Wiggins Dam
 * 12+00 - 350' Multiple towers 1nm Right
 * 12+25 - 270' Tower on course
 * 13+50 - 300' Tower 1nm Right
 * Point D: Road Overpass
 * 17+40 - Powerline crossing 1nm Right
 * 17+55 - Fire tower 1nm Right
 * 19+10 - River
 * 19+35 - Road
 * Point E: Fire tower
 * 23+50 - 305' Tower 1nm Right
 * 25+00 - 470' Tower 2nm Right
 * Point F: Goss
 * IP
 * Satellite imagery of Goss area
 * 28+30 - 305' Tower 1nm Left, on a road
 * 29+45 - 320' Tower 1nm Left, on a road
 * Point G: Mount Olive
 * Target
 * TOT: 31:31
 * 1+50 - 260' Tower 1nm Right
 * 3+25 - River split 1nm Left
 * Point H: Grain Elevators
 * 7+00 - Powerlines
 * 8+35 - 349' Tower on course, multi-lane highway
 * Point I: Desoto
 * 12+55 - 265' Tower 1nm Left
 * 14+25 - 420' Multiple towers on course
 * Point J: Dam
 * 17+10 - River/Powerlines crossing 1nm Left
 * Point K: Tower
 * This is the only tower in the area
 * 19+15 - Road/Powerline cross 1nm Right
 * 22+00 - 348' Tower 1nm Left
 * Point L: Tower
 * IP
 * This is a horrible IP. There are many towers along that road, so pick one and if your timing looks good... call it your tower and turn.
 * 25+30 - 410' Tower 1nm Right
 * 26+05 - 300' Tower on course
 * Point M: Railroad Bridge
 * Target
 * TOT: 27:32
 * Your target is the western bridge. It is a railroad bridge that can rotate to allow ships to pass through.

VR1031

 * Point F: Railroad Bridge
 * Point G: Millerville
 * Radar leg
 * Ridgeline - 9nm down
 * Point H: Rockford
 * Radar leg
 * Circle town - 2nm left, 2nm down
 * Look for the X of the lines of communication
 * Point I: Billingsley
 * Radar leg
 * There is a large return just past Billingsley and to the left where there is a large power plant. Do not bite off on this.
 * Point J: Dam
 * Visual leg
 * 18+15 - 349' Multiple Towers 2nm Left
 * 18+40 - Fire tower 2nm Right
 * 21+50 - 349' Tower 1nm Right (with a strobe light on top)
 * Look for the fire tower with a red-ish top just past the dam (same as the IP from VR1021)
 * Point K: Sawyerville
 * Look for Railroad and Road with some small buildings.
 * Point L: Magnolia
 * Huge smokestacks 2nm Right
 * Check course against river near smokestacks
 * 30+10 - 370' Tower on course (may be under your black line), Multilane Highway, follow primary road
 * 33+00 - Airfield 2nm Right, runs perpendicular to course. Good for timing and course info.
 * Magnolia has a large trainyard in it. Also, get eyes on the 703' Multi towers 3nm Right
 * Point M: Butler
 * Radar leg
 * Target
 * TOT: 40:34
 * Use the distinct shape in the river as a correlation point - shows up well on 10nm scope.
 * Pumping station - 3nm up
 * Bridge - 3nm right, 9nm down
 * If flying this route as a Comp, the town of Butler has two blue water towers. Bomb the one with the smiley face on it.
 * Check the Strike Planning guide for the point to file to after the target.

VR1032

 * Point A: Road Bridge
 * It's along the levee. There are three bridges - you want the middle one.
 * Point B: Sondheimer
 * Radar leg
 * Tip of the "C" shaped lake left of course is easy to pick out.
 * Oil tanks left of the turnpoint
 * Point C: Radio Tower
 * Visual leg
 * 9+30 - 625' Tower 1nm Right along the road/railroad
 * Point D: Bonita
 * Visual leg
 * 12+20 - Road crossing
 * 13+10 - Powerlines
 * In Bonita, there is the lake and some silos. Look for the road and railroad with some minor development, check the time and turn.
 * Point E: Huttig
 * Radar leg
 * Use the peninsula in the lake as a correlation point
 * The 2000' tower up and right from the town shows up on the radar
 * Point G: Bridge
 * Ensure the 2000' tower is in sight
 * 21+00 - 256' Tower 1nm Left
 * There are two bridges in Mono Bay. You want the first.
 * Point 1H: Hamburg
 * Radar leg
 * Lake - 13nm down and to the right
 * Pumping station - 9nm down, 5nm left
 * Point 2H: Parkdale
 * Visual leg
 * 30+40 - 430' Tower 1nm Right
 * Point I: Oil Tanks
 * Radar leg
 * Distinctive bends in river
 * Check satellite imagery of oil tanks, they show up well on the radar
 * Point J: Road Bridge
 * Visual/Admin leg

VR1050

 * Point 1A: Dam
 * Point B: Natural Bridge
 * Visual leg
 * 3+00 - 360' Multi towers on course
 * Point 1B: Dam
 * Radar Leg
 * Point 1C: Bridge
 * Radar Leg
 * Self-correlating
 * Point 1D: Waynesboro
 * Radar leg
 * Look for the X of the lines of communication
 * Point 1E: Riverbend
 * Radar leg
 * Town of Savannah - correlate
 * Point E: Bethel Springs
 * Visual leg
 * 29+00 - 420' Tower 1nm Left
 * 30+10 - Airfield perpendicular to course. Good for timing and course info.
 * Point F: Pocahontas
 * Visual leg
 * 32+30 - Powerlines/Underground Pipline 1nm Right
 * Point 1G: Dumas
 * Visual leg
 * 35+20 - fly between the 350' Towers, primary road crossing
 * 38+15 - 382' Tower on course
 * Point 2G: 500' Tower
 * IP
 * Visual leg
 * 40+00 - 400' Tower 1nm Right
 * Point 1H: Bridge
 * Target
 * TOT: 45:13
 * Radar leg
 * Town of Fulton - correlate

VR1059

 * Point A: Saluda
 * Point 1A: Railroad Bridge
 * Radar leg
 * Bridges to the left of the turnpoint - correlate
 * Point 2A: Washington
 * Radar leg
 * Sawmill - 3nm up, 2nm left
 * Point 1B: Warrenton
 * Radar leg
 * Town of Thomson - correlate
 * Point 1C: Road Intersection
 * Visual leg
 * 16+15 - 370' Tower on course
 * 17+00 - intersection 1nm Left
 * 18+00 - Road crossing
 * Point 1E: Munnerlyn
 * Visual leg
 * 22+00 - Road/Powerline crossing 1nm Right
 * 23+30 - Road intersection on course
 * Point 2E: Road Bridge
 * Visual leg
 * 27+15 - Multi towers
 * Point F: Tower
 * IP
 * Visual leg
 * 32+30 - Road and Railroad
 * 33+45 - Town/Railroad/Highway crossing 2nm Left
 * Point 1G: Sawmill
 * Target
 * Radar leg
 * TOT: 39:38
 * Large town down and left - correlate

Comps
For all of your Comp charts, terrain will be a huge correlation feature. HIGHLIGHT the terrain on the chart and give it a name for whatever it looks like, it will be easier to remember and correlate off of it.

IR083
This chart is only used in the sim for your CST-1 Make sure you get the TRUE headings from Falconview or you will fly out of the corridor on the sim.<BR>
 * Point A: Dam
 * Town of Toccoa - correlate
 * Point B: Dam
 * Correlate off of the terrain to the right of the turnpoint - it makes a large 3
 * Point C: Dam
 * Correlate off of the carhood just past the turnpoint
 * Point D: Sylva
 * Range out to the 80nm scope and look for the H at Point F. Put your cursor on it and then fly around the towns, just be sure to stay in the corridor.
 * Point E: Canton
 * Point F: Hill 6684'
 * The terrain at Point F makes a large H. Put your cursor on the H after Point C and refine as you get closer.
 * Point G: Dam
 * Look for the terrain (the "slapper" and the "grabber") to correlate.
 * The dam is the flat edge of the lake.

IR723
This chart in only used in the sim for your CST-2<BR><BR> Make sure you get the TRUE headings from Falconview or you will fly out of the corridor on the sim.<BR><BR>
 * Point A: Factory
 * Correlate off the bends in the river
 * Point B: Gauley Bridge
 * This is a very long leg with very little to correlate off of.
 * Anchor your cursor until you can see some sort of correlation point.
 * Point C: Dam
 * There is a little piece of terrain 5nm down from the turnpoint
 * Color it in with an orange highlighter and it looks like a tiger.
 * Follow the river to the bridge if you are a little early.
 * Point D: Narrows
 * Correlate off the saddle between the two ridgelines
 * You will also be able to see the terrain behind the town
 * Point E: Wytheville
 * Correlate: Nike swoosh down from the down.
 * Note the large ridgeline and highlight all of it that lies inside the corridor.
 * If you are not on the black line, this ridgeline will help you get back on it
 * Point F: Power Plant
 * Point G: Hill 4710'
 * Look for the "six-pack" - six hills in the same area.
 * The turnpoint is the closest of the "six-pack" to your black line
 * Point H: Dam
 * Use the terrain just past the turnpoint.
 * Color it in, it looks like a shark.
 * Point I: Peninsula
 * This is the Target from the IR083
 * Use the "slapper" and "grabber" again to correlate
 * Point J: Dam
 * The terrain around the target points directly to it.

VR189
For the remainder of the Comp charts, the OUI gets to choose all the turnpoints. The suggestions here are based on the AP-1B points, and are commonly used turnpoints.<BR><BR> You may enter at any of the AP-1B entry points, you do not have to enter at point A.<BR><BR>
 * AP1B B:
 * The dam on the lake.
 * AP1B C:
 * There is a saddle where a chicken's foot of the lake comes through the ridgeline.
 * AP1B D:
 * There is a firetower on top of the ridge near the point.
 * AP1B E:
 * There is a dam there, it is a late-breaker but a decent turnpoint.
 * AP1B F:
 * Another dam.
 * Terrain to the left that looks like a snail.
 * AP1B G:
 * A firetower on top of the ridgeline
 * You will see the two ridgelines to the left and right and the split between them
 * Point H: Bridge
 * Target
 * Fly around the terrain - not over it. Terrain masking.
 * Pick up the small creek to the left of course and follow it loosely into the target.
 * Ask the pilot to "pop" on the target if you have time, it will be easier to see.
 * You will land at FSM, Fort Smith, Arkansas.
 * The FBO has great sandwiches - for $1 you get a sandwich, chips and a cookie.
 * You can order ahead of time on the radio

VR1182
Enter this route AT LEAST two mintues early so you can do the river-run!<BR><BR>
 * AP1B A:
 * There are two dams, on it earthen and harder to see.
 * You can follow the road up to the dams.
 * Copy the sectional on a color copier and paste it in your chart.
 * AP1B B:
 * This is a long leg. Suggestion: break it up with a 1A somewhere.
 * There are some towers along the way. Just make sure it isn't in a valley so you can see it.
 * The riverbend at B is usually chosen as a turnpoint.
 * It is a late-breaker.
 * AP1B C:
 * Lock and dam
 * Do the river-run on the leg from B to C
 * Keep track of your position by checking EHSI heading in relation to the heading for the leg.
 * There are two bridges along the river - check what time you should pass abeam each if you are on the black line. Write these times on your chart. This way, when you fly over those bridges you can check the clock and make sure you still have time to burn on the river-run.
 * The quarry before the last turn of the river is huge cuts (big enough to park a school bus in) out of a rock cliff on the left.
 * AP1B D:
 * Most OUIs choose a place along the river as a turnpoint.
 * AP1B E:
 * There isn't a very good IP choice on this route
 * There is a 293' red and white striped tower
 * AP1B F: Dam
 * Target
 * The bath-tub shape of the canals behind the target show up on the radar.
 * There is another lake down and to the left. Do not bite off on it.

VR1056

 * AP1B A:
 * Most OUIs choose the dam, same as the target for the 1055
 * AP1B B:
 * Bridge over the lake. It's further than 6nm, so must be labeled 1B.
 * You can follow powerlines to it
 * AP1B C:
 * Not much to choose from here.
 * AP1B D:
 * Most OUIs choose a point along the lake somewhere
 * AP1B E:
 * Potentially a very long leg, break it up as you see fit.
 * Riverbend would be 1E
 * AP1B F:
 * Most OUIs choose some point along the chicken foot of the canyon
 * AP1B G:
 * The most ideal IP is actually a nuclear power plant which must be avoided.
 * Some instructors may allow you to choose it as long as you avoid it.
 * Other instructors may require you to remake your chart if you use it.
 * Point H: Plant
 * Target
 * Very hard to see.
 * Some say it look like a rusted out Warner Bros tower.
 * Even the pilots have trouble finding it.
 * Land at CHA, Chattanooga, TN.
 * There is no food at the FBO, so plan for time to go out in town and eat.

VR1055
The terrain of this route makes choosing good turnpoints pretty difficult.<BR><BR>
 * AP1B B:
 * Several points to choose from along the lake.
 * AP1B C:
 * A dam along the lake
 * AP1B D:
 * Microwave tower on top of some terrain
 * AP1B E:
 * Do not choose the firetower in the middle of nowhere. It is no longer there.
 * AP1B F:
 * 500' Multi-towers make a decent IP.
 * AP1B G: Dam
 * Target
 * Follow the powerlines into the turnpoint.
 * If you choose to fly over the lake, you must fly at 1000' per AP1B. This is not tactical.