how are they doing it

[julrichh]

I see pilots take off and climb at a 45 and catch up to bombers at 10k feet. Ive also seen tanks taking out moving tanks that are not even in visual range yet.
   How are these guys doing this? Ive stripped my aircraft down and even in a zero with 25% fuel I cant climb and catch up to bombers that fast. and with my visual range settings at full I cant see let alone hit tanks that are a full quadrant away.

[BaldEagl]

Take a faster climbing plane.  Some will climb as fast as 4000 ft./minute with WEP on.  That's 2 1/2 minutes to 10K.

As to the GV thing, turn ground detail to max and object detail to min.

[Hap]

Weight is a HUGE factor.

Take a P47N with 75% fuel and no ord with the standard 8 fifty-cals and 1700 rounds of ammo.  Climb out.

Now try it with the 6 fifty-cals with 267 rounds per gun.  That's the smallest ammo package.  Put in 25% fuel and two drop tanks.  Jettison one DT before taxiing.  Climb out.

Take a 109K4, 50% fuel and a DT.   Climb out.

Try a D Pony.  50% gas and 25% gas.  If you want a nice 15 min or so base defense thing with the Pony.  Take 25% gas and DT's.  Lose one DT before taxiing.

Try an FW-A8 with the BIG guns.  Try it with the two 20mm next.

You get the idea.

[Spikes]

It is all about weight. Take an LA7 up with 50% fuel on autoclimb. Now take a P-47 up with 50% on autoclimb. LA7's are one of the lightest planes in the game.

[Lusche]

Originally posted by julrichh
I Ive also seen tanks taking out moving tanks that are not even in visual range yet.

Hit Shft-F4  for Ground Visual Range Mode
(Shift-F1 for standard Full Range View Mode)

Originally posted by julrichh
  Ive stripped my aircraft down and even in a zero with 25% fuel I cant climb and catch up to bombers that fast.

Bad Idea. The Zero is way too slow for trying to climb catch up with bombers. Go to http://gonzoville.com/ahcharts/index.php and compare the Zero with some other dedicated interceptors like 109K-4 for example.

[Condor]

The issue of not seeing ground vehicles that can see me has baffeled me.  It seems like enemy GVs sometimes have an invisibility cloak.  I've heard it's done by changing video settings but had no idea how.   I'm surprised that some can get a big advantage over others this way but it is what it is.

Lusche - what does shift-F4 vs Shift F1 accomplish?  I tried it off line and did note I could see trees further out on the hills with shift-F4 than shift-F1.  But that was way out.  Does it also enable seeing objects that are closer more clearly?   Is this explained anywhere?

Bald Eagle - What do you mean by setting ground detail to max and object detail to min.  The extremes of the object detail slider are "detail" and "faster".  The extreme settings for ground detail are 3 miles and 0.5.  

Thanks

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Condor
Bald Eagle - What do you mean by setting ground detail to max and object detail to min.  The extremes of the object detail slider are "detail" and "faster".  The extreme settings for ground detail are 3 miles and 0.5.

Set ground detail to 3 miles and object detail to faster.  This allows maximum range visibility without object clutter (trees, shrubs, small hills, etc.) which allows you to see an enemy GV dot at considerable range.

If you shoot at him, you still need a clear "line of sight" (i.e. you will still hit anything between you and him even though you can't see it).

Also, objects nearby will still be visible and obstruct your view.

[Latrobe]

Take a yak, they climb fast! No wep and stil climbs at a 4,000ft/sec! Plus you have that 37mm once you get up there.

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Latrobe
4,000ft/sec!

Wow! 240,000 feet /minute... Wow!

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Latrobe
Take a yak, they climb fast! No wep and stil climbs at a 4,000ft/sec! Plus you have that 37mm once you get up there.

4,000ft/sec...

But as this is the Help&Training forum, where it is pobably nto a good idea to leave such jokes uncommented:

The Yak-9T is actually an average climber. 3,000 ft/min up to 10k, then dropping off quickly.

[Krusty]

Agree there. Yaks are not great climbers.


Also, while weight makes up a factor in rate of climb, so does DRAG.

If you have the choice of a 109K with 50% and a DT, you save some weight on internal fuel, but you are carrying more fuel than you saved in the DT, and on top of that the wind resistance drag seriously hinders you.

So you have to balance your needs. If you REALLY need to get up there fast, 100% and no DT in a 109K will help you more than 50% and a DT.

Spitfires, on the other hand, don't have too much drag from DTs. P51s and P47s do, so again it's about balancing what you want and need.

[Spikes]

Originally posted by Latrobe
No wep and stil climbs at a 4,000ft/sec!

[MjTalon]

Originally posted by Latrobe
Take a yak, they climb fast! No wep and stil climbs at a 4,000ft/sec! Plus you have that 37mm once you get up there.

hell, that beasts my F22... just barely .

[kilz]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
Take a faster climbing plane.  Some will climb as fast as 4000 ft./minute with WEP on.  That's 2 1/2 minutes to 10K.

As to the GV thing, turn ground detail to max and object detail to min.

great lets teach him this cheep way of GVin.

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by kilz
great lets teach him this cheep way of GVin.

He asked how it was done.  I simply answered.  I'd rather see him have the same advantages/disadvantages as everyone else than to keep him in the dark by keeping it some sort of secret.