See you all in the CT today (11-22-2005 2PM EST (21.00 Eastern Europe Time))

[SASMOX]

ALL!

See you all in the CT today.

We have separate our forces to two teams:

RED TEAM (CO Blauk) (Bishops)

BLUE TEAM (CO Kanttori) (Knigths)

Both teams have their secrets mission to carry out.

Everybody are free to join our missions. Come to CT 20.50 Eastern Europe Time and report to Blauk or Kanttori. They will give the orders.

We are going to fly without enemy icons (Friendly icons only). We hope, that you will too.

[Krusty]

Sounds interesting. I just saw this and I might be able to join you in 1 hour (which is the proper time, if I have my time zones right)

[dedalos]

I would, but I always and up on the Green team with the red team on my tail and the blue team nowhere to be found

[Krusty]

Heh, no kidding... La5s (4 of us) going up well past normal LA5 altitudes (20k I think?) only to be attacked by 9 or so enemy, 4 of which latched onto me as I dove away (BlauK's orders: "Disengage, Krusty!"). I tried getting some alt back but a couple of the tails didn't break off with the reast, so I lost a flap and decided "screw it" and headed for home. About 20 seconds later my PC froze up (stupid AH/PC incompatibility!!!)

The effort was well appreciated, the results sucked big time.

EDIT: I don't think all the enemy had "friendly icons" set, just going by a couple of pilots' actions in the short film I got.

[kanttori]

Krusty, All Finnish had "Friendly Only" icons on tuesday. We have practiced it very much in the SEA and CT arenas during the last two years. It is not so difficult especially you can see your friends' icons. Those without icons are the bad guys and you must shoot them...

For ex. Grendel (who took many kills in this evening) has flown without icons almost ten years in the War Bird and IL2 simulators. He really can see the dots against the ground, which is sometimes impossible to me!

Actually we have played sometimes with "Icons Off" and THAT is difficult, because you must at first identify the planes before you shoot them. But if the plane setup is limited, you can learn it.

As I said I usually cannot see the enemy planes against the ground, but we are flying as teams and everybody tells in the radio where the dots are. Our tactic is also go sometimes to lower level and look the enemies against the sky as it was in the real aerial war, too!

[LLv34_Snefens]

I can see why the non-finns got frustrated by the setup. Like Krusty said he was getting into a disadvantage fight without even knowing why.

At the same time north we were two yaks escorting a lone Boston in NOE recon mission, and it was only when we popped up over target deep in enemy country that the enemy started looking for us. Boston got home alive and I engaged the enemy who was below me. I got two kills, both of which I believe the no icons greatly contributed to, as one started evasive actions too late and the other not at all.
At that time I could have rtb'ed but decieded to stay around for a bit of fight. Multiple enemies arrived and now the icon settings got ME killed as I failed to see a 109(?) before he was already opening fire.

Then I was told to go in IL-2 to take out a vehicle base. There were only 2 IL-2's and two escorts but those managed to tie up the enemy so me and Sasmox could unhindered take out the V-base. Sasmox got killed on the way home, but I slipped away and landed safely.

Now, I at least had an idea what the missions were, although WHY that exact base needed recon and the other to be taken out was unclear. Knowing the mission makes it easier to accept getting outnumbered one place, since you know you are helping out another place.
If I hadn't I would probably have left frustrated as well.

[Krusty]

I would have re-upped, but the rate my PC locks up inside AH is really annoying. My latest leads point to a weak power supply unit, but I cannot afford a new one.

[kanttori]

Krusty, take care of your computer and welcome to fly with us on next tuesday!

Ps. On the next tuesday we are flying with normal icons.