Mission 16: Wayback

Project Wingman’s campaign has 21 missions in total, with each mission averaging around 10-15 minutes to complete. On a good run without restarts, accidents, or grinding, you may finish the entire campaign more or less around 5 hours. Of course, accidents will happen and you may encounter challenges but don’t worry! We’ll do our best to help you.

While we’ll offer pointers and tips, ultimately, the pilot behind the plane is still you so if you’re having problems completing a mission, try a different plane or approach, or even swallow your pride and attempt the mission on a lower difficulty. In this page, we’ll discuss how to complete Mission 16: Wayback, including the recommended aircraft, strategies, and more.

Mission Overview

This mission starts automatically with the plane you’re using from the previous mission, 15: Consequence of Power. However, if you have started this mission, quit, then restart again, you should be able to select an aircraft from your hangar. This mission will make you face a boss and elite squadron so bringing in a fighter or prototype with AoA Limiter module is strongly recommended. The Chimera can be used in this battle but using a more agile and faster aircraft can make the upcoming battle a bit easier.

Mission Walkthrough

At the start of the battle, just fly straight until you find the Rowsdower AFB in your visual and radar range. You don’t need to land; instead, just fly over the base and wait for the mission update. Shortly after passing by the base, the bounty hunters will arrive.

Frost will be leading this flight of mercenaries and she’ll be piloting the X-PF. The other four Master Goose members will be flying F/S-15s. All of them are using the AoA module so expect them to perform really tricky turns and maneuvers. Frost will also have three health bars, with her attacks change and increasing in intensity as you deplete her HP bars. It’s important to try avoiding fighting at low altitude since the enemy planes can have erratic movements that may cause you to crash if you follow them.

You’ll need to take out the F/S-15s first so you can focus on Frost later on. They’re very tricky to hit with missiles so the best way to increase your chances of connecting your shots is by flying fast and keeping up with their sharp turns. They’re most vulnerable right after performing a sharp turn or when they’re about to turn. Maintaining close distance will allow your missiles to reach their target at the closest time possible and to prevent the enemy from reacting. Furthermore, as long as you’re able to match their turning speed and direction, you can even lead your shots to rip them to shreds with your guns.

Once all Master Goose members are down, you can apply the same strategy to Frost. Keep matching her movements then pepper her with gunshots and firing your missiles one at a time. After depleting her first HP gauge, she’ll start releasing multiple volleys of micro-missiles. Thankfully, these missiles have lesser tracking capability compared to standard missiles. However, the sheer volume and frequency they’re released makes them function like airborne traps. To avoid these, avoid flying in a “straight” or continuous pattern. Try to roll while turning to minimize the chances of the small missiles of hitting you. The same strategy applies here; keep tracking and matching Frost’s movements then shower her with gunfire and missiles. You have to be aggressive in “chasing” after her to maintain the advantage.

Finally, once she’s down in her last HP gauge, Frost will start releasing her micro-missiles at very short intervals now, flooding your HUD with missile warnings. As discussed above, roll while turning or make quick, sharp turns to avoid most of the missile barrage. Frost will also always attempt to gun you down if you try to break away. That’s why maintaining the aggressive attack will keep her moving and trying to outmaneuver you (while also releasing her missiles).

Keep up the attack and if you still can’t seem to hit her, try releasing your missile after making a sharp turn even if you don’t have a visual on her. As long as you have a lock, your missiles can still track her as she makes her turns. After finally defeating Frost, wait for the chatter to finish. The mission will be complete after the long following “feed” conversation back at the base as well.

Mercenary Difficulty

There are no changes in the enemy team composition or behavior.