In the Beginning....

[humble]

Anytime you begin to seriously explore a new plane it takes a while to learn various aspects of its flight model, stability at High AoA, recovery from unusual attitude both with and against torque and variations in control authority as various speeds and configurations. Most of the time when I'm fooling around with friends like Bat the word they'll use to describe my flying seems to be smooth. From my perspective learning "smooth" comes from familiarity with a particular plane combined with sound overall BFM. A number of people commented on Agents 109 flicks (which I agree 100% with). Agent is both an overall student of the game and a true 109 expert....the result: one of the "smoothest" guys you'll ever see. Never rushed, never flustered, never seeming to be out of control or without a plan.

So how do you get there, a tough question to answer. Speaking as a former trainer I'd say start with an understanding of what qualifies as fundamentally sound basic flight maneuvers (BFM). Once we have BFM then you need to understand how we select a particular BFM and incorporate it into a pattern of moves we label ACM.
Once we have ACM then we need to explore and examine the tactical choices we make and the soundness of the decision tree vs both the capabilities of the plane we're flying and the scenario that triggered the choice. You can review the decision both the actual result and the potential other outcomes. By looking for patterns of activity and result we can modify our mental programming so we lean toward more viable choices or more closely monitor the particular variables that are impeding success with a particular move.

I just started to seriously fly the SBD as a "fighter" over the last few days. Initial results are about what I'd expect (11-11 MWA & 14-15 LWA). Fundamental soundness in ACM give me an advantage on most initial encounters initiated from an advantage and a fighting chance when engaging from a tactical disadvantage. Issues arise as more cons arrive and/or as my ability to use the vertical erode due to lose of E. So the key to continued development ties into a better understanding of how to convert opportunity to an exploitable shot window and to maximize the time frame I can operate on an offensive tempo.

Here is a clip that highlights all the issues that need to be overcome. This is a 1 on 2 between an SBD and a Seafire & la-7. I should have killed them both and I ended up with no pelts and an L. Now this has nothing to do with the plane I was in and everything to do with subtle deficiencies in MY flying (and gunnery). But trust me, in a month or so I'll convert this type of fight into 2 pelts a high % of the time and my overall understanding of ACM will slide a touch higher...
http://www.az-dsl.com/snaphook/SBD.ahf

[humble]

Here's a 2nd clip thats a 1 vs 1 with a hurricane. I posted it to show some of the learning curve issues that are common...especially when your facing a quality opponent. I know from the opener he's setting up a loop fight to drain my E...at the same time my best fight is to force angles anyway so off we go. It's obvious early on that I'm not gonna gain angles faster then I lose E so i'm even though I've got angles early I'm losing them and really just waiting....I'm still "waiting" when the plane departs on me without warning at 1:16 into the clip. This then sets up a series of high reverses I have no answer to. Obviously this is a horrible match up but the departure issue is going to be universal and the wallow clay pigeon effect is an issue as well vs a lot of planes. So i'll need to continue to gain a feel for the planes handling while I contemplate other options before the situation deteriorates so badly...
http://www.az-dsl.com/snaphook/SBD%20vs%20Hurricane.ahf

[PFactorDave]

second link seems broken

[humble]

should be fixed

[humble]

OK...

So after my experiences with Lynx and others I'm discovering a few things that I need to overcome. Separate from any disparity in pilot skill I have identified a couple of generic weaknesses that I need to overcome if I'm to have any success beyond those where I start with the advantage (vs a quality stick). Obviously more items exist but for now the list is simple.

1) I do not have enough power or zoom to convert from lag to lead in a traditional 1 circle fight with a vertical component that denies me the use of high/low yoyo's

2) I do not have the ability to maintain "trail" in a lag position vs a bogie maneuvering in the vertical who then utilizes any form of double move to create a vertical reversal

3) I have pitiful control authority in a nose up attitude at low speed and at high AoA as well as significant low speed departure issues at unusual attitudes or at stall.

So having now spent a bit of time flying the thing I need to begin to envision the type of fight I can win (if any).

I cant contest the high ground, I cant convert angular advantage to lead and I cant climb into or manuever to avoid a con who goes vertical on me from a nose up orientation...so...
http://www.az-dsl.com/snaphook/the%202%20circle%20fight.ahf

Out comes the two circle fight. This one was a no decision as a lala jumped the spitty at the end (I later popped the engine on the lala and forced an auger on the spit)....

My goal here is to show how 1 person (me obviously) begins to evolve a fighting strategy for a particular plane. The fight here doesnt show any of the weaknesses of the earlier fight. That doesnt mean i'd have won or that a pilot of Lynxs caliber wont thrash me again but what I have done is take a step in masking my weakness (to the degree possible) and making the other guy fight to my strengths.