I made an odd analogy the other day.
I have been deployed for awhile and haven't flown in over a year. I recently got back in the game (love the additions and new TA!) and have been slowly reaquainting myself to the changes and my lack of skill. I never was a "good" pilot but, flying with JG3 Udet in the past and for as long as I did made a fair pilot of me.
I noticed the other day that confidence has a great deal to do with flying well. I usually found myself judging my descision to engage an aircraft based on my lack of skill and the knowledge I have of what the "other guy" is flying. Well I had a few drinks, and you know how inhibitions go when that starts, and decided to jump in the cockpit. I started landing multiple kills everytime I went up. I was applying some manuevers I had recently researched off this site and was amazed that, while applying these manuevers helped, I had lost that inhibition and "doubt" in my ability to successfully engage an enemy. Instead of asking "Can I take this guy?" I was telling myself "Oh, you've got this!" I enjoyed that night more than any other on the game so far.
Grant it, I am not promoting drunken flight, I am pointing out a strange simularity between confidence and skill application. I am a Corpsman in the military and rely heavily in my confidence of skill to perform my job well; and just found it odd that it could apply to this simulator as well. I would encourage others to research, practice, and have confidence in the application of what YOU know versus what the other guy may or may not.
~Doc
