Author Topic: bombing from wing points (Read 487 times)

apcampbell · « **on:** August 22, 2007, 12:58:14 PM »

n00b question for the experts, how does one bomb accurately from a wing loadout? I like to fly the A-20G, and have the strafing pretty much down, but can't hit the broadside of a barn with a 500 pounder. Is there a simple way to do it?

Blooz · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2007, 04:37:56 PM »

It just takes practice.

Get some good altitude. Get a good dive angle. Get up some speed. Sight the target just over the cowling (you'll need to find a good aim point in the A20, I don't dive bomb with it) and pickle off the bombs just as you hit max dive speed. Pull up and go home for more bombs. Repeat.

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2007, 05:05:53 PM »

Drop too low and they won't arm. Have to drop high. That's the only trick.

Heck in the A20 you have F3 view, right? That helps tons!

Auger · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2007, 06:03:35 PM »

I usually manage to hit with at least 50% of the bombs in an A20. Some things to remember:

Start with at least 2000 feet of air between you and the target. It gives you time so you don't have rush the alignment. 3000 to 4000 feet is better.
Combat trim is your friend. I use it mostly to make sure the ball is centered in the slip indicator. If you're skidding it will mess up the shot.
You want a dive angle of at least 60°, but not more than 80°. You can go shallower, but you have to aim higher to compensate for gravity.
The aim point should be just beyond the target. I put the target at the bottom of the aiming ring or a little lower if the angle is shallow.
Keep your wings level. This can be tough to gauge when all you see is ground. Use the forward and up view to check the horizon, or check the attitude indicator.
Drop no closer than 400 yards. Bombs have to travel 1000 feet to arm, and the change from 400 to 200 happens at 300 yards, which may be too close.
Don't let your speed get over 400 KIAS. The A20 likes to shed wings if you yank on the stick at high speed, and you will probably have to yank coming off a bomb run.

Once you get the hang of the basics, you can get a little sloppy and still score hits. Sometimes if the line just isn't there I can kick in excessive slip with the rudder and get a kill. You'll learn the aim point for different dive angles. When a Panzer just has to die, change the salvo to 3 or 4 and let 'em rip. That's usually plenty.

Coshy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2007, 11:27:29 PM »

Go into the training arena. You can enable a Lead Computing Gunsight that will show a green + pipper. That is the impact point of the weapon you are using at the time (wether its rockets, bombs, 20mm, 30mm, 37mm, 40mm, .50 or .303).

To save yourself some time, up from A1 and bomb the town nearby rather than going to the divebombing range at the upper right of the map. You wont see the bomb exploding, but the explosion isnt really what you need. Just release when the + gets over your chosen target (I use either the church or the big round fuel tank).

You can do this to get a feel for when to release, how the plane looks and feels at the release point and what to do after you release so you dont end up giving away proxie kills.

Serenity · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2007, 11:54:41 PM »

Honestly? Experience. If you do enough level bombing with a bombsight, you learn about where bombs go. Then just start practicing without one. Take say a ju-88 just because of the bomb count, and pratice low-altitude level bombing without a sight, to ge the basic ranging experience. Then, start off on your A-20 and just compensate for the wingtips. With practice, a few weeks worth at most, you should be bombing like a pro!

Bruv119 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2007, 12:35:51 AM »

Patience is always a good bit of advice. I find in the rare occasions I do miss a drop, its because I've rushed it and not set it up properly.

Make sure you have enough alt and speed. At first before you learn to lead your drop at shallower angles. Get directly above your target and just drop down with your throttle back put them in your gunsight or just underneath it.

Once your confident that you can bomb straight down start trying it from different angles.

Serenity · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2007, 12:41:34 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bruv119
Patience is always a good bit of advice. I find in the rare occasions I do miss a drop, its because I've rushed it and not set it up properly.

Make sure you have enough alt and speed. At first before you learn to lead your drop at shallower angles. Get directly above your target and just drop down with your throttle back put them in your gunsight or just underneath it.

Once your confident that you can bomb straight down start trying it from different angles.

I can nail an ord. bunker at 500 feet and 500 mph level in a P-40E on the first try, but I couldnt hit a BH with a Stuka diving. Its quite sad, but true

Traveler · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2007, 07:05:14 AM »

If dive bombing is your thing, come fly with the 113th Lucky Strikes. They have an 85 to 95% success rate for dive bombing. They specialize is taking out hangers in one pass. They use the P38L, fly as Knights and are in the Late War arena Saturday nights after 7PM EDST. Check out the web site http://www.113thluckystrikes.com. it has some dive bombing films.