One of the most rewarding things to do in AH is fly with a skilled wingman. Winging with someone is not just flying in the same general area, it includes close communication, target identification, and coordinated attacks and defences. I have a few rules I like to follow.
1. Establish close communication. I like to switch my VOX to just my wingman, and use text to communicate to the rest of the squad.
2. Use the .Wingman command to easily find your wingie if you get separated.
3. Don't HO. The idea is to stay alive, don't gamble your life away on a HO. The most frustrating thing is to get to altitude, get in position, then your wingman goes down with the first bandit that comes on the scene because he went for the HO shot. YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT A WINGMAN, so don't do it with one!
4. Your wingman gets the kills. Your thought should always be to use the other guy. Don't furball with a bogie and expect your wingman to be able to support you. A successfull wingman will let his wingman get the quick and easy shot as he leads the bandit to him.
5. One target at a time if possible. Identify the biggest threat, and eliminate it together. That is why your flying together in the first place isn't it?
6. Never the same target at the same time. Attacking the same target doesn't mean to go chasing after the target together. It should be a tag team effort. One makes the attack, the other watches for threats and positions himself for the follow up attack. If the attacker misses the attack, don't turn with the Bandit, break off and save the energy, now it is your wingman's turn. He should have been watching, and getting in a good position for the follow up attack. Often it is the second or third attack that nets the bad guy.
7. Don't follow a bandit if he dives away and there are enemies in the area. Let them go, your wingman is not superman, and cannot clear the 4 La-7's you picked up as you followed that bandit across his friendly air base.
8. Try to stay within D 2.0 most of the time, and never get outside of D 4.0 when under attack or while attacking. You might as well be flying alone then. Sometimes you can break this rule if your trying to decieve or trick an enemy, but only if you can do it safely and the other wingman is not in danger of becomming engaged.
9. When in trouble, always break back toward your wingman. Don't panic and dive away leaving your wingman hopelessly unable to catch up to you. If your going 450 miles an hour, how is your wingman supposed to help you if your not at least moving toward him? Drag the bandit under your wingman, then slowly go up. This should set him up nicely for your wingman.
10. When it gets real nasty, retreat together, and in the same direction. It helps to have a fast bird at this point. I usually call a direction, then watch my wingman. If he is dragging a couple of badguys, I will dive on them, and make ALL OF THEM at least turn. I don't care if I kill em or not. Once you have cleared your wingman, he should immelman back around, and do the same for you, until you can both safely continue on course to safety.
11. Finally, Land together. Best part about flying together is to help your winman land more kills than they usually do, and letting him post it in the buffer together with you.
I am sure there are plenty of other suggestions the more experienced fliers could post here. Let me know what you do when flying with a wingman.
