Bomber Questions

[trap2000]

I'm trying to learn level bombing and have a few questions:

1) Can your AI wingman formation be changed in flight with dot commands?

2) Do your AI wingman automatically drop their bombs when the lead
(human) pilot does?

3) Any tips on getting the max effectiveness out of otto (drone gunners)?

4) After running out of fuel, I noticed my prop kept spinning. Is there any
way to feather in that situation?

Thanks &

[Lusche]

1) No

2) Yes

3) Don't fire when enemy is too far away. Bomber defensive guns have a convergence range of 500 (600??) yds.  Firing at ranges above 800 is usually a waste of ammo (you never have enough).

Sometimes you may hop into a drone's gun position (ctrl + number keys on keyboard to do that) to get a better view if your enemy attacks from certain angles

Also, make use of your rudder while in gunners position to control your plane. You may for example want to hold your enemy at your 6 o clock position, or maneuver to wreck an opponent's target solution on you.

4) Reduce RPM's to reduce drag from spinning props ( I think it's mapped to + and - on numberpad by default)

[Rich46yo]

I'd say there are a few exceptions to not gunning past 600 yrds. #1 is a bogey thats flying at your altitude directly in your "6". Once you learn the drop its fairly easy scoring hits at 1,000 yrds. Ive dropped quite a few fighters from that range. The belly guns are difficult to hit long from however. The top turret is easier tho the angle might be hard.

                     Another exception is a heavy Jabo thats loaded with guns and cannon. I dont let planes like the 110 or Mossie get within 600 of my bombers if I can help it.

                   Another exception is i just might shoot long to rattle an enemy, or, see If I can rattle them.

                  Another is with the B-26 which has 1,600 rounds in the tailgun. Ive never ran out of ammo with it and always begin shooting at fighters in my 6 at 1,000 yrds.

               Lastly much depends on where your at in your mission. If your deep behind the lines, or inbound to your target, you want to be a little stingier with your ammo. Conversely if your close to home, with friendly ahead of you, you can afford to let loose a little.

                         One thing is I never take a shot that I cannot think I can make. The 0.50 cal is fully capable to kill an enemy at 1,000.

[Spikes]

Originally posted by Lusche
(you never have enough).

I would not say that...

Most bombers (B17, B24, B26) have lots of tail gun ammo...but some (lancs in particular) have limited ammo

[Lusche]

Originally posted by SpikesX
I would not say that...

Most bombers (B17, B24, B26) have lots of tail gun ammo...but some (lancs in particular) have limited ammo

While indeed the amounts of avilable ammo do vary, there is no abundance of it - you can easily run dry in every bomber, especially if you haven't got alot of experience in gunning.
So don't just blaze away - think about when to shoot.

[Spikes]

I usually don't fire until they are 400-600 out...then I open up...they think I am AFK...

[Lusche]

Originally posted by SpikesX
I usually don't fire until they are 400-600 out...then I open up...they think I am AFK...

Very effective if you see them crawling in at your low 6.

[Rich46yo]

Originally posted by Lusche
While indeed the amounts of avilable ammo do vary, there is no abundance of it - you can easily run dry in every bomber, especially if you haven't got alot of experience in gunning.
So don't just blaze away - think about when to shoot.

                            Overall this is very good advice. Most of all for someone new. And its true Ive ran out of ammo a few times, twice actually and paid for it both times.

                           However.

                           My philosophy is you cant take the ammo with you when you die. If you wait until 400 to 600 with some sticks you probably aren't going to live thru the engagement. I believe in preparing for the best sticks and being grateful when you get a noob.

                         I just survived an encounter with a highly ranked stick who was flying a Hurricane, "which is a very tough plane". I hit him pretty good at 1,000 and threw him off his groove. For the remainder of the attack he appeared unsure of himself and hesitant. He ended up breaking it off and running for a base with a shot up airplane. Honestly I dont know how that Hurricane stayed together.

                      I was IB over water 2 & 1/2 sectors away from home and there was no one else around. I used about 350 rounds from my tailgun fighting him off and shooting down another. There are times when you do want to throw a lot of lead out and it all really comes down to situational awareness.

                    There are fighter sticks who will kill all 3 bombers at 600 if you let them.

[Spikes]

I rarely bomb with lancs...only because of its lack of defense...really only 2 guns...and 460(?) rounds...

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Rich46yo
Overall this is very good advice. Most of all for someone new. And its true Ive ran out of ammo a few times, twice actually and paid for it both times.

                           However.

                           My philosophy is you cant take the ammo with you when you die. If you wait until 400 to 600 with some sticks you probably aren't going to live thru the engagement. I believe in preparing for the best sticks and being grateful when you get a noob.

                         I just survived an encounter with a highly ranked stick who was flying a Hurricane, "which is a very tough plane". I hit him pretty good at 1,000 and threw him off his groove. For the remainder of the attack he appeared unsure of himself and hesitant. He ended up breaking it off and running for a base with a shot up airplane. Honestly I dont know how that Hurricane stayed together.

                      I was IB over water 2 & 1/2 sectors away from home and there was no one else around. I used about 350 rounds from my tailgun fighting him off and shooting down another. There are times when you do want to throw a lot of lead out and it all really comes down to situational awareness.

                    There are fighter sticks who will kill all 3 bombers at 600 if you let them.

Two annotations:

1)
You can most of the time do a good estimate of your opponent's skill. The ones being able to take out all three buffs in a single sweep are approaching quite different than the usual crowd. The former ones stay outside guns range and set up a proper attack, preferably with alt but always with angles advantage. In that case, you should shoot earlier.
The ones approaching you from low 6 are easier targets you shouldn't shoot too early. Conserve ammo and don't drive them away

2)
"I just survived an encounter with a highly ranked stick "
You should ignore the concept of ranks in regards to an enemy's capability or dangerousness. Some people with good ranks are extremely dangerous, skillful and bold, others are very cautious and reluctant to attack any target that migh defend itself in any way.
This is even more true the other way round: Some of the best fighters in this game have lousy ranks, just because they ignore aspects of the game which are a prerequisity rof ranking.

[Rich46yo]

Originally posted by Lusche
Two annotations:

1)
You can most of the time do a good estimate of your opponent's skill. The ones being able to take out all three buffs in a single sweep are approaching quite different than the usual crowd. The former ones stay outside guns range and set up a proper attack, preferably with alt but always with angles advantage. In that case, you should shoot earlier.
The ones approaching you from low 6 are easier targets you shouldn't shoot too early. Conserve ammo and don't drive them away

2)
"I just survived an encounter with a highly ranked stick "
You should ignore the concept of ranks in regards to an enemy's capability or dangerousness. Some people with good ranks are extremely dangerous, skillful and bold, others are very cautious and reluctant to attack any target that migh defend itself in any way.
This is even more true the other way round: Some of the best fighters in this game have lousy ranks, just because they ignore aspects of the game which are a prerequisity rof ranking.

                         Ive never checked anyones "rank" Lusche. When I say "highly ranked", and Ive said it a few times, I am referring to their skill levels. I guess I should have just said "very good stick" cause Ive ran into him before..

                        The ranking in the game clipboard means nothing. I know that. I have a short list of the sticks in the game I'd rather avoid.

                     And I did lose a drone to the guy. But being able to hit him from 1,000 out did pay dividends. Some fighter sticks will dance around you at 1,000 thinking they are safe. It can be very effective when you show them they are not. Ive killed a few pilots by shooting the cockpit with the top turret, 1,000 out, at high angles.

                   Another advantage to shooting long is you learn leads and drops quicker. And of course "conserving ammo" is sound advice, however, there are situations where you can let loose more.

                  One case where Id never shoot long tho is with a slashing attack by a fighter stick who knows what hes doing. In that case you have to wait till hes close and then make your shots count.

[CAP1]

Originally posted by SpikesX
I usually don't fire until they are 400-600 out...then I open up...they think I am AFK...

generally, i've noticed thatr when being attacked from either level, or an enemy climbing to me, if i just fly like i don't see him there, it seems pretty easy to get the badguy to come in REALLY close.....i've had planes within 200 that never fired a round.....till i did.....and at that distance, they're not gonna survive long enough to put any serious rounds into me. this only works on the first guy though if there's  multiple cons...after that, it's a free for all........but the others are much more csautious though.

[Rich46yo]

Originally posted by CAP1
generally, i've noticed thatr when being attacked from either level, or an enemy climbing to me, if i just fly like i don't see him there, it seems pretty easy to get the badguy to come in REALLY close.....i've had planes within 200 that never fired a round.....till i did.....and at that distance, they're not gonna survive long enough to put any serious rounds into me. this only works on the first guy though if there's  multiple cons...after that, it's a free for all........but the others are much more csautious though.

                               Thats the thing about flying thru furballs. Fighter sticks approach bombers like we are other fighters, forgetting we have all those rear guns. They want to climb into your Lap before starting to fire, as they would another fighter when they want to be assured of a kill. And not just that, but enemy fighter sticks will get really greedy when they see bombers in a furball. Ive seen them literally fly in front of each other, cutting each other off, so greedy for the bomber kills.

                           The other day I killed 4 in my 26s and damaged at least as many in a furball. I killed a Mossie who kept trying to belly climb me, and I kept using my belly attack tactics.

                        Furball flying can be fun as long as you can make your drop and then defend yourself. Just jump into the rear gunner, or top turret, and hit F3. When an enemy gets to close jump into the appropriate gun, in the appropriate plane, and let loose. Gunning in a furball is not a time to conserve ammo. Not when you have 5 fighters within 600 yrds. At times like that your interest should be on surviving the next 2 minutes and let 5 minutes from now take care of itself.