Good topic and interesting discussion, I'll add some to it if you don't mind.
I flew against a P51 at high alt, merged after minutes of trying to get the better position but he maintained alt and speed on me (this was around 18-20k) so it was difficult and I knew I wouldn't be able to disengage from this guy. However he came at me head on at one time, angled a little to my left but remained flying in a straight line so of course I took the shot I knew had a good chance of hitting and hit the cockpit/wing root area. I was in a 190D-9, my fav ride. He comes around again and do the same thing, this time more aggressive and try to hit me, misses and I take his wing off with a few 20 mm.
What response do I get? He message me: "It must really suck to have no piloting skills."
Right...
This is the kind of attitude I (and many others I hope) don't want to see in the game. If you can't take getting shot down you shouldn't play because it's part of the game.
I agree with what 4aces posted about this game being about advantage. It's about knowing when to fight and when to avoid the fight. If I'm in a 190 at 15k and see a 51 at 20k I know I'm in for a tough fight if that pilot has any talent/skill at all and knows how to shoot. Lucky for me not all 51 pilots know how to shoot.
However you can usually tell within seconds wheter an opponent is a good stick.
I'm pretty new in AH, flew Fighter Ace for years, since 97 I believe. Everything I've learned about ACM is what I've picked up myself and from books I've read. And I'll tell you something... in FA it took me well over 200 deaths to get my first kill. I was vulched, strafed, jumped, sneaked up on and HOed for what seemed like forever, but being the fanatic flying enthusiast I am I just wouldn't give up. I flew without a squad for about a year, basically taught myself and learned from experience.
Eventually gave up on FA because they changed the game and physics too much for my liking, stumbled across AH and loved it.
Today I consider myself being a good stick, but I want to learn more (who doesn't). I favor the 190D-9 and the 109G-10, for the hitting power and the 109 also for it's excellent climb rate.
When fighting I use the vertical whenever I can, the 190D-9 is very good in the vertical, and when angle fighting in the 190 I'm accused of being a HO dweeb from time to time by some certain ppl.
Of course I get owned by Spit's, La5/7's, N1K's and whoever can catch me low and slow. The 190 is an easy target when slow, more so than other planes because it's poor turn rate.
Anyway... I know my B&Z tactics well, what I want to know more about is pure dogfighting, turnfighting, anyone with enough skill and confidence in that area who'd like to teach me some moves please contact me ingame or pm me here on the boards.
One thing I've learned during all my online flying: No matter how good you are, or how good you think you are, there will always be someone better than you. There will always be someone that find a way to take you down, or get the opportunity to do so because of circumstances beyond your control. You will never be safe, play the game to kill and get killed.
See you in the skies, I fly more than read the forums.
=S=
