FYI This is not a "HO":)

[Spatula]

LOL, i've had someone criticise me for taking "HO" shots like this before. Firstly, the name of the game is kill or be killed, and i will never give up a shot to end a fight to appease someone else sense of "fairness". I may choose to give up the shot if i think the bogey has a guns solution on me. E.G. if its a true HO (where we BOTH have a firing solution) then i'll tend to opt out and use that time for a lead turn attempt for the next and impending follow-up turn. I do this not due to any sense of "fairness", but purely from a self-defensive perspective and also from a tactical perspective (lead turn).
If i have a front-quarter high-deflection snapshot opportunity like this, it's simply because my opponent didnt manage to turn more and faster to do it to me. Whether they decided to or were unable to is immaterial. If they decide not to, then thats their choice, but anyone who knows ACM will realise that there is a high chance that by doing a low-g turn, your opponent takes the high-g turn it will lead them getting the snapshot as pictured above - they must realise this and have accepted it as a possibility and taken contengency measures to avoid it (eg getting out-of-plane etc). Its basic ACM, turn harder you win angles, but loose relative E; turn with less Gs you loose angles but gain relative E.  If they were simply UNABLE to turn around quickly enough and were actually TRYING too, but just couldnt match opponents turn rate, then they lost the fight fair and square: they were probably the victim of a lead-turn and/or poor speed-control.

I really cant see why people can complain about getting shot down in this fashion. Its not really a pure HO, its a front-quarter snap-shot where only one has the guns solution.

All this BS about 'fairness' and stuff is just that: BS. Why on earth should people fight a contrived and prolonged battle for your opponents 6 when there are plenty of opportunities to end it earlier than that?? And where do you draw the line between a "fair" snapshot and an "unfair" one? 90 deg? 91deg, 85.87989deg AOT?? There's no such thing as "fair" or "unfair" snapshots, just snapshots.

[Simaril]

Originally posted by SlapShot
i agree with kermit. the typical AH dream of being a good stick has died. i've been playing a year and the transition the game has taken in that time has been drastic and for the worse.

For the most part ... the "dream" was already dead before you joined.

I guess your reference to the "dream" must be from what you have read ... rather than experienced.

I wonder how much of this apparent "change" is simple dilution.

I mean, there are so MANY more players than at the start of AH. Lots of those are playing for the game experience, or to be with friends in a squad. Some get good enough that they're "OK", whereever "OK" is for them. Some want to get "good", and stop when they can consistantly land kills.


But are there really fewer people who "dream of being a great pilot"? I don't know, and I wasnt here back in the day.


I do know that I want to keep getting better. Not just at killing stuff, but better at knowing ACM. Knowing what works and what doesnt, thinking 3D in real time, mastering the envelope for the plane.

None of this comes naturally for me. Every stride I make comes because I worked at learning it, and probably got someone to teach it to me. Passion for flying keeps me going, and I can't forsee that changing. It'll take me longer than the guys like Pooface and Morpheus, but I think I'll keep getting better up till the limit of my physical reflexes and dexterity.

That dream isnt dead -- even if the guys who have it are like needles in haystacks, we're out there!

[Suave]

Nice HO, why the aversion to calling it that ?

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by B@tfinkV
its the more modest players like kermit, who kick arse all day and never get recognition.

It was not about recognition nor modesty, it was about "practice what you preach", or "why my shot is beautiful and your is cheap" in particular (in reference to Kermit's first post).

Perceived moral superiority is not an excuse for double standard.

Translation: Kermit's superior skills doesn't make him right in this case.

[TexInVa]

That was some better than average flying. I know this because I'm an average stick, and that was better than mine.

As far as I can tell, you flew smart and held your own against aircraft which had the advantage over you, with the exception of the niki, and it looked like he ran into the ack, which I guess would also be considered an advantage. I guess I don't understand where jhookt or Kermit see a problem. I do know that that was good flying.

Originally posted by Suave
Nice HO, why the aversion to calling it that ?

Because it wasn't Head On?

[Suave]

You can plainly see it was a face shot aka head on.

For as many HO whiners there are just as many "was not a HO" whiners.

[Bronk]

Head On is when BOTH  pilots have gun solution.

One in that pic clearly doesn't.

Bronk

[Suave]

No it isn't.

[Bronk]

Ok Suave please explain what is a head on?

This should be good.



Bronk

[Suave]

A head on is what used to be called face shooting. Basically shooting a guy as you merge.

[humble]

1st and formost as initially stated that is simply NOT a head on. The con had no shot opportunity and did not defend against my shot opportunity. Call it what you will, but dont call it a "HO".

With regard to "the dream". I've flown since AW on Genie (very briefly) and "fulltime" since AW on AOL (1992??). While far from the "top of the hill" I'm even farther from the bottom of the pile. I normally fly a hog of some flavor but you'll find me in a 205, P-40, P-47 or 109 alot more often them you'll find me in a la-7, spit etc. I'm much more of an angles fighter then an E fighter and never fly true B&Z. I often engage against greater higher numbers so these comments specific to me a are a bit ludicous. I've also spent time here as a trainer and still work with newer squaddies as well as others from time to time.

If anyone wants to review any clip i've put up you'll see I almost never take a questionable shot. I've got a spit9 vs ki-84 clip (schreck) were we come togeather in a "dueling merge"...we darn near collide but neither of us was worried about a "HO" (we khew it was "us").

For those interested here is the lala fight cut out in a seperate clip.

"HO"

[humble]

Originally posted by Suave
You can plainly see it was a face shot aka head on.

For as many HO whiners there are just as many "was not a HO" whiners.

[Suave]

And you're a Not a HO whiner.

[humble]

I go all thr way back to AW on Gwnie and that was no "faceshot". Watch the clip and comment. I set up a two crircle fight and he pulls into me and I avoid his front quarter set up (which might have met the old "face shot" criteria since it was technically a "remerge". If you look he's pulling back up and into me looking for a HO (just guessing) and i'm defending (nose in lead and out of plane) If I go vertical i'm giving him a vertical lead turn (doubt he had E but still). If I go straight i'm giving up my angles to no advantage. The shot was there and I took it. At no time in any dueling enviorment (let alone the MA) would this be construed as an unfair shot. He had the same obligation to defend his position as i did on the 1st "two circle" pass. If we were in a rolling scissors I wouldnt be expected to pass on my shot because he almost "got around"....this is the same exact fight in two circles instead of one.....

so not only wasnt it a HO....it wasnt a face shot either.

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Suave
A head on is what used to be called face shooting. Basically shooting a guy as you merge.

So any shot in front of your 3-9 line is a face shot then I'll guess.



Bronk