C'mon...
I dropped by the TA the other day, first time since I came back. I grabbed a plane and grabbed a little alt (completely different from the rest of the crowd). I circled, figuring that if someone wanted a fight they would climb after me.
Soon someone did. As we were at 5K (waaaay above the rest of the planes) we were left undisturbed. We then went through a few maneuvers. I wouldn't shoot him because I knew that would be it and he might not come back up, but I practiced avoiding his bounces and lining up shots. He asked how I did things, and I told him. By the end of it all he was able to pretty much control that furball as he desired.
I got into it a little too- I usually land, and the first guy to strafe me on landing is the guy I will pick. Sure enough, along comes a fellow who whacks me on the runway. I asked if he cared if I shot back, he said "sure!" Four kills later I felt like a bully and pulled off of him.
I know this doesn't directly address your problem, funked, but I know you know that you have to be a bit diplomatic in there, as these guys are the newest of the new. Expect every kind of irratic behavior known to AH, and then some.
As for veterens being in the TA, how in the world does a veteren practice new techniques? Thought that is what the TA was for, a place to learn? I was sea-level furballing in a P47-D25 against Spit IX's, something I definitely wouldn't try in the MA. Funked was in a 202. Hardly whacking on newbies!
