Bomber business

[Rich46yo]

I'd like to start a discussion and get some of the experienced bomber drivers talking, hopefully getting some tips.

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?. Ive gotten rather smitten with the B-24. Why? It has a nice bombload, turns nice for a big aircraft, climbs fairly well, has a vicious defense, and Im able to approach targets well lining up F-6/8/look up/zoom.

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that? I normally have to approach slowly to find the runway and put the bird down. While Im having pretty decent improvements with my bombing and gunning, landing, is my biggest problem. Any tips?

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

                    Another thing Ive noticed is that after a drop, that I know hit, I check the target for damage and dont see any in the clipboard target list. Even after the drop felt good, and the puter told me I hit. So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?

                         Thanks...............Rich

[Ghosth]

Originally posted by Rich46yo
I'd like to start a discussion and get some of the experienced bomber drivers talking, hopefully getting some tips.

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?. Ive gotten rather smitten with the B-24. Why? It has a nice bombload, turns nice for a big aircraft, climbs fairly well, has a vicious defense, and Im able to approach targets well lining up F-6/8/look up/zoom.


In a word, Lancaster, 14 1k bombs.  

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

Nope, they have their place, its just not first place.

3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that? I normally have to approach slowly to find the runway and put the bird down. While Im having pretty decent improvements with my bombing and gunning, landing, is my biggest problem. Any tips?

Normally I'm dropping altitude 30 miles out from my landing field. Long shallow dives so I come over the field at most 1500 to 2k above ground level.

Slow your speed down before you come into full sight of the field. Also it helps to use the clipboard maps to know where the runway is. So when you line up on final you will line up on the runway.  This takes a lot of the worry out of a landing. Circling the field ducking hills and trees, while you figure out which way the runway is going is doing it the hard way.

Good bomber pilots have everything figured out in advance.

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

Avoid them.
Attack something else.

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

Turn, turn turn, small ones, yet even a small turn can mess up their combined attack. Also if I have 2 bogeys targeting me I'd probably be diving for home about then. Bombs or no bombs.

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

The "easy" way, is like this.
Once close to target, jump to ext view ie f3.
Line the plane up so that it flys over the target. I normally do this at the far far edge of viewing range. You can use Zoom to help a bit. Why, to give yourself time. So you KNOW your going to overfly the target. Now calibrate.

Normally I hit the bomb sight, and as I'm calibrating I'm pushing forward on the stick to bring the bomb sight forward. Once I can see the target I again verify that I'm on a line to hit what I want to hit. Cause if your not, fix it NOW.
Also the time is about right to stop calibrating once I get there. Before you leave calibration notice calibrated speed.

Exit calibration, stay in the bomb sight, pull out of zoom. If your doing it right you'll have a minute here to wait. So hit esc, bring up the clipboard, click on the E6b. Remember that calibrated speed in bomb sight? Now make your planes ground speed the same. RPM keys are my fav as they give finer control. Also throttling back just a smidgen or dropping rpm a touch before you calibrate makes it easier to match now. Once you've matched and are stable, esc to lose clipboard, Z to zoom, zoom all the way in, pick up your targets and NAIL them as you go floating by. Its as easy as that. If your going to turn and do another pass give yourself at least most of a sector to turn around and get lined up in. Ohh and yes, if your calibrated right X marks the spot. [/COLOR]

7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

13-15k prefered for the lancaster, some go higher, but that means more climb time, more fuel, more everything. Good pilot picking a good target you'll deal with 1 or 2 enemy fighters at your alt at most. If your running into more you're picking suicidal targets.

                    Another thing Ive noticed is that after a drop, that I know hit, I check the target for damage and dont see any in the clipboard target list. Even after the drop felt good, and the puter told me I hit. So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?

                         Thanks...............Rich

Watch the text buffer, if you drop on a airfield town for instance. Its possible to rack up 15-25 building kills in a single pass. Which will totally fill the buffer even in expanded mode. General rule is if you kill it you will get a host msg confirming it. However it does take a bit for bombs to drop and you do have to watch the text buffer carefully.

The other judge of how well you did, once you've landed, go to the hanger.
You'll see how many perk points you scored for the last sortie.  Lots of perks = good run, no perks = dud.

If you still have questions look me up in the TA someday.

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Rich46yo
I'd like to start a discussion and get some of the experienced bomber drivers talking, hopefully getting some tips.

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?.

Ki-67. Climb very fast up to their best altitude (20K), very fast cruise (>320 mph) and a 20mm dorsal gun make them difficult targets to attack. 8x100kg can do a lot more damage than many people think. Superb for pork runs.

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

As bombs are free, there is a understandable tendency to haul the biggest bombs you can get.


3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that?

I use my rudder as an airbrake while descending. Induces a lot of drag that help a steep descent, but watch your drones.

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

Speed and ALTITUDE! And plan your approach with clipboard maps to minimize time in the target area.

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

I try to minimize that risk by mission planning. If it happens, I turn alot to either have them on my six at all times, or to mess up their attack. I' am not above aborting my bombrun if things get too rough. But most fighter pilots are just too greedy to set up their attacks properly, especially at higher altitudes. They spend 15mins to get up to me, then they are too impatient to invest another 5mins to set up an attack

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

Usually I calibrate only once, on subsequent attack runs I adjust speed with throttle control or by giving up some alt.

7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?  
14-21K


                    Another thing Ive noticed is that after a drop, that I know hit, I check the target for damage and dont see any in the clipboard target list. Even after the drop felt good, and the puter told me I hit. So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?

Only if you attack strat targets you can use the clipboard to tulips your bombing succes. If you bomb hangars, ords, barracks on a field, clipboard will only tell you if you got ALL of them. Town damage isn't displayed at all. Watch you text buffer for individual hit messages.

[thndregg]

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?.

-B17's for thier durability and defenses, mainly. They have a high cruise alt ceiling.

-B26's for durability against CV 5" guns and enemy a/c.

-B24's for bomb load and defenses, although they are highly flammable.

-Ki67's for high climb rate, high cruising speed, great for pork runs. Defenses are a bit puny. The only gun with real punch is the 20mm top turret.

        2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

I use them for hitting base strat and sinking ships. They definitely have thier place. I have heard people ask my why I take 500# on pork runs. My answer is, you take only what you need to do the job.

        3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that?

What Ghost said: "Good bomber pilots have everything figured out in advance."

       4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

BE PATIENT, GET ALTITUDE. If you must bomb a heavily defended field, take off from a base with a good alt above sea-level, as in a 3K to 5K base. It cuts off lots of climb time. The higher you go, the less cons to kill you. Also, come into the target base on a course outside of the "furball freeway."

      5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

I'm no expert, but it takes lots of practice. I know some of them go for my bombers at the same time, and THEY pay atttention to who I'm firing at, so I try to counter thier thinking. I'll fire at the guy teasing my guns, but I'm always checking the closing distance of the other guy whenever I can, then switch to fire at THE REAL ATTACKER right away. Tends to irritate them.

      6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

I calibrate my bombsight at either a sector before target, or at the radar ring, with doors open. I have my E6B out. THE CLIMB RATE HAS TO READ "0" on your E6B. That is a good indicator that your true airspeed is settled enough to calibrate. After my initial drop, whatever I plan to hit next with the remainder of my ord REQUIRES me to recalibrate because my plane is lighter and faster.

      7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

I usually go for 15K if I can. On rare occasions I have been known to go to 30K (in B17's) if the cons are reported to be at 20K. For sinking CV's, 8K in B26's works very well.

      So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?

It most certainly does, but you have to pick your approach to the target that does the MOST damage in the LEAST amount of passes. Study your clipboard maps. Also, your bomb salvo has a lot to do with taking down a target, such as a fighter hanger. I usually go salvo 2 for 1000#bombs, and hit the release button just once over the hangar. Some people ask me what the .delay setting should be. I don't mess with delay.

[LYNX]

To answer your question in order I first must tell you of my style.  I don't as a rule bomb hangers (don't go there.  Whole new thread about why' and why not's) apart from VH's and much prefer the indiscriminate bombing of cities, factories, TOWNS and the occasional PORK bombing.  I never low level or dive bomb.  Every bomb I drop is calibrated.  I have considerable experience in AH where level bombing is concerned.  My views may contrast with others however.

1) Lancaster's because of the load out. Use 1K'ers mostly but will use 500's + the 4K cookie.  B17's for the durability.  Use 500's or 250's for PORK bombing.   B26 because of the lower alt speed and defensive ability.  Use 1k'ers for CV's.  500's and 250's  Hate b24's for the simple reason they catch fire to easy but use same load out as 17's.  AR234's my primary CV killer speed and load out.  Never use a CV bomber they are crap.  You can do more damage with a fully loaded F6f.  I only use the other level bombers when ENY'ed.  I find them either under loaded or to easy to be shot down.

2) 500's are very popular with many players.  Especially those that understand strat damage to load out.  To define that further in simplistic terms.  You can cause more damage with 12 x500's than you can with 8 or 6x 1K'ers. (watch this statement cause some debate).  If anything 250's and 50kg's are the most underused ords.

3)  There is a gamey was to descend 10k in 20 secs but I have never learnt it because it's GAMEY.  What you are most likely seeing or want info on is the use of RUDDER in an OPPOSITE turn.  This bleeds speed off very quickly.  It needs some practice because if you do it wrong you'll lose the drones.  Set throttle to zero and glide in a manuel descent turning right with left rudder and turning left with right rudder.  Practise this to a alt of 500 feet.  Do it in external view F3 making sure those drones don't swing out to far.  Once mastered you'll either be lined on a runway or in a position to get lined with a speed that allows the lowering of flaps.  I find it best to descend in my own air space rather than the looooong ride in.  Flap speed is under 150mph and if you don't have a rudder (pedals or twisty stick) A S D are the rudder keys.

4)  Time over damage = .  It's as simple as that.  You can go about things 2 ways.  The most common and the most UNSECCESFULL is low alt from nearest base to enemy base.  The most uncommon but the most SUCSESSFULL is high alt taking time to target.  Altitude is your biggest best est friend.  Use it well.  You can make 1 high alt trip and do your thing and keep every bit of damage in a "TIME" scale or you can make 2 or maybe 3 low alt trips and bugger the "TIME" scale totally IE Each town building that goes down stays down for 45 min then pops.  Each hanger stays down 15 min then pops.  We hate POPPERS don't we ?

5)  Very tempted to say you slapped the fat chick now it's time to ride the waves.  Anyways, irrespective of altitudes in this scenario your waist gunner is your bestest friend coupled with your ability to jump gun to gun whilst maintaining SA.  No 2 ways about it chap.....your in for a rough time until you take 1 or 2 guys out.  You can take a gunner on board but 1 tip is to use a guy you know.  He'll know whats what and has experience.  Nothing worse than one of those "anyone need a gunner" newbies.  They'll do one of a few things.  Piss ammo away, poor shots, have bad connection, leave without saying and worst of all DON'T communicate.  
Ide rather gun for myself than take a newbie.  If it goes tits up then there's only me to blame.  Death comes from above usually.  The fighter above you prolly knows his stuff.  A certain amount of jinking may help.

6)  I'll calibrate at least 3 times to the run into target.  1st calibration is as soon as I go level for a couple of seconds.  You'll notice the bomb site only follows a north axis until calibrated.  This gets the site in the right direction irrespective of your angel of approach.  2nd calibration is when I reach optimal speed, bombing speed.  Again for a couple of seconds.  3rd and final calibration is the bomb drop run.  Target is in view in bomb site when not in zoom "Z".  You have time now to line up.  Once lined I'll hold "Y" for a minimum of 10 to 15 seconds.  My bombs go out no longer than 5 seconds after final calibration.  Practice makes perfect and you'll soon get used to it.  As for the cross hair you are correct.  The X is where the bombs fall but the 3 bomb spread, assuming you haven't lost a drone, does allow for a margin of error coupled with the BLAST radius of the actual bombs.  If you use 250's at high altitude be sure to calibrate 15 to 20 seconds for accuracy.

7)  Most of my drops are around 20k.  Will drop from 14k if pressed or there's no dar bar.  Lancaster's because their under gunned, is suicide in my opinion below the cloud layer.  B26's I'll bomb at 7 to 10K and AR 234 I'll use 4 to 10K.

To you last point there are things not listed on the clipboard that you can destroy. Acks, shore batteries and towns are all destroyable but there's no way to tell other than a "system" message or an eyeball.

If your referring to hangers then ALL must be down before the system can confirm.  

TIP:- bring up clipboard HOLD shift and RIGHT click the field you just hit.  This will pop up the strat list for that field INSTANTLY.  It also lists the "strat" percentage for the zone IE ammo factory at 43%  City 100% and so on.

TIP:- bring up clipboard and RIGHT click it.  Go to "clipboard map" and view all the maps available.  However, all targets are on the map but not every targets has a name listed to it.  Best example is the 7th hanger on the large field.  It's on the map but not pointed out.

Good luck with your bombing.  I hope some of this has been useful and brings you greater fulfillment within the game.  If you need any other info please feel free to ask here on the boards.

[falcon23]

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?. Ive gotten rather smitten with the B-24. Why? It has a nice bombload, turns nice for a big aircraft, climbs fairly well, has a vicious defense, and Im able to approach targets well lining up F-6/8/look up/zoom.

 A. I almost exclusively use lancasters.Heavy load-out,and 3 sets of them can level one town.I am using the b-24's more foten lately,as the lances guns are weak,to say the least.


2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?


A.As was stated earlier,their is a time and place for them.Ords,radar,and town good examples of where to use them..


3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that? I normally have to approach slowly to find the runway and put the bird down. While Im having pretty decent improvements with my bombing and gunning, landing, is my biggest problem. Any tips?


A.Start slowing down before you see Airbase,use rudder to slow you down as you approach runway if needed..And I almost always land in f3 mode..

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

A.Know whats going on from allies if possible.Approach from an odd angle to AB as needed.Sometimes if allies are trying to take a town,in many instances,cons will be low attempting to take out gv's.and there may be 10 cons,but they will be mostly low,and you can bomb with impunity.

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?


A.High slash,turn.Low slash may not have to turn so much,but in both cases keep an eye on them in f3 mode..And do not ever be afraid to ask for a gunner.sometimes you get them,and sometimes you dont.and when you get bad gunners,remember who they are,and do not accept them afterwards.

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

A. I calibrate sometimes 4-6 times before hitting target.I do not use e6b,I just make sure that I have doors open and level flight at the radar ring,and/or one sector away from target.I do not ever adjust my speed for run,unless I am coming around for another target and feel the need.It is always full throttle.


7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

A.Minimum I like to be is about 7k.ABOVE target,will help with ack tearing you up too much.SO if it is a 2.8 base,I will want to be at 9.9-10k.In order to see enemy gv's. on gorund and you want to hit them,you will want to be at most 1.5k above ground level.someone please correct me on this if I am wrong.And there is a minimum for dropping bombs on ground targets as well.
 I like to be 15-20k.I have bombeed higher,but many times lately cloud deck obscures the targets on ground,so many times I will fly just below the cloud deck..

 
Another thing Ive noticed is that after a drop, that I know hit, I check the target for damage and dont see any in the clipboard target list. Even after the drop felt good, and the puter told me I hit. So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?



  A.Most definetly.


                                       Peace and Plenty,
                                                Kevin

[PanzerIV]

Too many people on AH are like this.



 Found it on Google.

[Rolex]

In addition to all the tips above,

- I generally fly the plane en route in auto-angle climb, front gunner, F3. I can steer and maintain formation with only rudder input, but still have excellent visibility against attack. I can also align with the target from half a sector away, steering with rudder only, after leveling.

- After I level, I reduce a few hundred rpm so as not to lose drones in any turn. I use rpm because I have a CH throttle and I don't want to risk moving the throttle while using other buttons.

- I have a wide and unobstructed view set for all gun positions, using the curser as gunsight. The max visibility for each gunner is set by default, and the gunsight is centered using the 8 NUM_PAD key (Look Forward) view to place my curser correctly.

- I have the Look Forward view set for the bombsight to give an unobstructed view out of the front of the plane. I can look forward using the 8 NUM_PAD key (after a quick calibration to set the bombsight), zoom in and do a fine alignment within the bombsight. After that alignment, I only need to do a final, long calibration close to the drop since I don't have to maneuver any more.

- Here are some numbers to consider. Using 1,000 lb bombs, you can carpet across a town exactly using a salvo of 7 with a delay of 0.78. Delay of 0.48 will carpet 500 lb. bombs perfectly.

I'm not into dive bombing with heavy or medium bombers. I like to destroy my target and land without dying. Landing is the same as a successful bomb run - you have to anticipate and plan far ahead of the plane. You should be thinking 10 miles ahead of the plane.

I'll do a bombing clinic in August and it will be posted on the training calendar. If you want to stop by the TA, any of the trainers can help you hit your target, and have you greasing your landings in no time.

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Rich46yo
1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?. Ive gotten rather smitten with the B-24. Why? It has a nice bombload, turns nice for a big aircraft, climbs fairly well, has a vicious defense, and Im able to approach targets well lining up F-6/8/look up/zoom.

Lancasters.  14 x 1000lb loadout at ~23K alt. or...
AR234's, 3 x 500kg loadout at 8-14K alt.

Alt is my friend in the Lancasters, Speed is my friend in the AR-234's.

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

I don't know how many use them so I can't say.  I use the loadouts listed above.

3, Ive noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that? I normally have to approach slowly to find the runway and put the bird down. While Im having pretty decent improvements with my bombing and gunning, landing, is my biggest problem. Any tips?

I either:

Begin descent WAY back already lined up and slow when I get there or...

Come in at 45-90 degrees to the runway turning into it to bleed off speed or...

Crank in a little rudder with opposite aileron to bleed off speed on final.

Watch your drones on these last 2 approaches.

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

Alt = Life.

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

Turn.  With or without bombs.  Watch your drones.

In a single Lancaster without bombs at altitude I've made multiple bogies burn off their entire clips trying to even hit me much less take me down by dog-fighting with them.  Lancs are strong flyers at alt... much stronger than most fighters.

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?

In Lancs I set auto-pilot while aligned on my target 2 sectors out.  1 sector to stabalize speed and the other to get calibrated correctly.

In the AR234's I do the same although I start 3-4 sectors out as they take longer to reach maximum speed and are going faster, covering more ground as I calibrate.

7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

23K in Lancs, 8-14K in AR234's.

Another thing Ive noticed is that after a drop, that I know hit, I check the target for damage and dont see any in the clipboard target list. Even after the drop felt good, and the puter told me I hit. So does a 3 bomber formation have an impact?

The text buffer tells you what you took out.  If hitting a town or strat expand the text buffer.  On a good strat run in the AR234's I can fill the expanded text buffer.  

If hitting airfields, vehicle bases, etc. you need to take down every similar target to disable that at that field (i.e. all fighter hangers to disable fighters, all ammo bunkers to disable ord, etc.)

[Rich46yo]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to print them out for reference so keep them coming. I admit Ive been getting thumped during my first week in the game. But its a lot to learn from scratch, and, Ive had controller/stick issues. Ive been getting thumped a lot, I admit, but I said to myself that while I'm learning this game I want to also attack contested targets so I can learn to fly,and fight, the airplanes.

                   Ive made some enemies pay mind you. And taken some targets out. I also had an opportunity to fly gunner in a mission that had escort fighters as well as a lot of 17s. Now that was fun. A big bomber formation with LR escorts can pretty much go where it wants. Fascinating how the game is so close to actual history.

                   Anyhoo, thanks, and keep the bomber talk coming.

[Rich46yo]

I'll do a bombing clinic in August and it will be posted on the training calendar. If you want to stop by the TA, any of the trainers can help you hit your target, and have you greasing your landings in no time.

                       I'll be there. And thank you.

[Avenger8]

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?.

TBM Avenger, because I like it in real life.

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

I usually carry 4x500lb

3, I’ve noticed some experienced pilots are able to descend very quickly and line the airplane up on runways for landing like it was nothing. How do you do that?

No Throttle, and full flaps

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

Launch from far away, and gain altitude. Watch TV during the boring ascent.

5, How do you deal with multiple bogies that you just know are setting you up for a high/low slash?

In the TBM Avenger, you prepare to die. You can dogfight in a TBM, but the other guy has to really screw up for you to win. If friendly fighters are around, it is possible to power-dive and get away if they clear your tail

6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site ?

Once, for 10 seconds. I usually drop all 4 bombs on 1 target so I’m reasonable assured of a hit.


7, What altitude, if you had to figure, do you, most of the time, drop from?

Above 15k.

[LYNX]

I note with some intrigue Ghosth your system for lining up and calibration as quoted below.


Ghosth
6, How often, and how long do you calibrate the bomb site? Am I right in noticing that the "X" has to be right over the target when you drop?
 
The "easy" way, is like this.
Once close to target, jump to ext view ie f3.
Line the plane up so that it flys over the target. I normally do this at the far far edge of viewing range. You can use Zoom to help a bit. Why, to give yourself time. So you KNOW your going to overfly the target. Now calibrate.

Normally I hit the bomb sight, and as I'm calibrating I'm pushing forward on the stick to bring the bomb sight forward. Once I can see the target I again verify that I'm on a line to hit what I want to hit. Cause if your not, fix it NOW.

Exit calibration, stay in the bomb sight, pull out of zoom. If your doing it right you'll have a minute here to wait. So hit esc, bring up the clipboard, click on the E6b. Remember that calibrated speed in bomb sight? Now make your planes ground speed the same. RPM keys are my fav as they give finer control. Also throttling back just a smidgen or dropping rpm a touch before you calibrate makes it easier to match now. Once you've matched and are stable, esc to lose clipboard, Z to zoom, zoom all the way in, pick up your targets and NAIL them as you go floating by. Its as easy as that. If your going to turn and do another pass give yourself at least most of a sector to turn around and get lined up in. Ohh and yes, if your calibrated right X marks the spot.



I believe I use an even easier way to line and calibrate.  Not saying it's any more accurate than your method just saying it's easier to get lined and calibrated.  You may want to check it.

As you know the big secret to accuracy is constant speed and constant altitude.  Having said that swinging bombers around for line up can screw the calibration on the "speed" factor.  Hence the importance for line up.

I use the "nose gun turn" from start to end of sortie.  Couple that with zooming into map you'll get an accurate line to start with.  

Once I'm roughly 1 sector (25 miles) but NO less than 3/4 sector from the target I'll go level to gain full speed.  For the time I actually reach the target.  Lancaster for example need space to reach full speed.  Once you have made top speed that's speed eliminated from the calibration equation.  One thing less to worry about.  You only need worry about the line at this time.  Simply make cause adjustments whilst zoomed relative on the map with the nose gun turn.

Once near the outside of the fields dar circle or roughly same distance from a Strat factory I go internal max zoom in the nose gun.  Here you can see the target and make finer adjustments.  Depending on your alt as the target seems to go under you gunsite you can open doors and go to bomb site.  You'll need to zoom out a little and and the target is either bang on line or just a shade to one side.  You make the final line up at this stage then go into calibration mode "u" holding "Y" for 10 to 15 seconds and press "u" again.  You'll notice it's all green with just a few seconds to drop.  If still slightly off line you have time to compensate in max zoom.  This will not effect speed as your already flat out unless of cause you've totally ballsed it up  and have to swing in wildly .

This method saves all the messing about with E6B, throttles, RPM or throwing the bombing site way forward with the stick.

With Lancaster's I'll make my turn back to target no less than the dar radius away.  Any sooner and the Lancaster will still gain speed as you re-calibrate and you may have a drone still forming up if you swung back to sharp.  

Oh, It's just occurred to me that some folks that may be reading this are wondering what the heck a nose gun turn is.  A NOSE GUN TURN is turning your bomber with rudder in the nose gun position.  You go into the nose gun but never move it on the horizontal axis.  I usually go nose gun and F3 external.  I only move the nose gun in it's vertical axis (up and down).  The reason being if you look at the map but have moved the gun left or right the map shows you where the nose gun is pointing.  It's vital for accurate line up to keep the nose gun in the line of flight.  Namely forward.

One of the pluses to this is the bombers will still maintain AUTO CLIMB and using the rudder you can turn the bombers climbing out.  A S D are the rudder keys if you don't have pedals or a twisty stick.

[windmill]

Originally posted by Rich46yo
I'd like to start a discussion and get some of the experienced bomber drivers talking, hopefully getting some tips.

1, What bomber/bombers do you like and why?. Ive gotten rather smitten with the B-24. Why? It has a nice bombload, turns nice for a big aircraft, climbs fairly well, has a vicious defense, and Im able to approach targets well lining up F-6/8/look up/zoom.

B-17: Big, well-defended (except for top gun), excellent plane.
Ki-67: Not a lot of bombs, but fast and will defend itself.  Also good for CV killing.
Boston/A-20: Fast, excellent dogfighters, get you out of dodge when you need to.

2, Do you think 500lb'ers are underused?

Yes, but that's because most people like to up lancs with the 14,000 pounds and just carpet bomb everything.  500 pounders are good for smaller targets.

4, Any special philosophies of approaching and attacking heavily defended targets?

Get up high.  Bring a gunner along for the fighters whilst you're in the bombsight, get in the guns yourself when you're not.  In my opinion, it's more fun bombing at the height of the fighters.  The game's more entertaining when you have a challenge.

[Stampf]

All your Bombers are belong to us.