Trying something different this tour, and a <S> to HTC

[Baumer]

A couple of weeks ago I decided to try setting up Aces High to make it as realistic as possible, just to see how flying that way would be. I choose to focus on aircraft that I have the flight and training manuals for, going so far as to type up the checklists (yes, I know I don't have a life ) and use them on flights.

In game I made the following settings changes;

• my engine sound- 80%
• Stall Horn- 10% (tried at 0% for the first two weeks and needed a little wind noise before I hit the buffet, I hope to go back to 0% soon)
• Flaps- 10%
• Gear- 10%
• external engines- 10%

Also, I am doing the following;

• Trim- Manual only
• Fuel- Manual fuel tank selection only
• Auto Pilot- Only used on aircraft that had it

So far it's been quite an experience, it's almost like having to relearn the game. I had no idea I was so dependent on the sounds of flaps and auto fuel. I knew giving up the stall horn was going to be difficult but it's been a real hard to make the change so far.

I've run a fuel tank dry not paying attention in a couple of fights all ready. It's a whole new addition to my SA that I need to work on.

On a different note, I have to say I am really impressed with the engine modeling in AH. I've always wanted to have full control of the engine, i.e. separate mixture and supercharger controls or what ever that particular plane had. I just think it would add to the immersion of flying in AH (and still do). However, after doing some really boring testing, I am amazed at how well the AH engine model covers the entire range of engine operation. As an example, I have chosen the F6F-5 as the first fighter I was going to focus on, since I have the most documentation on it. (POH, Flight Instructions, Service Manuel's etc.) In Aces High doing a cruise climb as directed by the flight instructions, an F6F-5 with 100% fuel, 2 1000lbs bombs, and 6 rockets. I climbed to 14,000 feet and had a 2 hour endurance at cruise settings with a speed 220 IAS. That's exactly what the manual said, if you don't count the 2x fuel multiplier. The fuel consumption rates are not exact but very close most of the time. I can also see how much time, hard work and compromise has to go into selecting how the engine model is built.

So    HTC 

I can't wait to see how some of the other planes will come out after more testing.

My current list of aircraft I'm focusing on are;

• B-25C
• B-25H
• B-17G
• F4U-1
• F4U-1A
• F4U-1C
• F4U-1D
• F6F-5
• Spitfire Mk IX
• Spitfire Mk XVI
• Typhoon

So if you see me flopping around (more than usual) you'll understand why.

<S> Baumer

[Yeager]

Usually when I get bored like that I just take a few months off.

When I read your description of what you are trying to do I thought to myself, I thought "self, thats alot of work".

It would be interesting to see how many people would play in an arena that had all the automatic settings disabled.  The only other thing that would be interesting would be for realistic engine overheating and realistic engine degradation resulting from fluid loss, overheating.

Have fun Baumer. 

[DamnedRen]

If you really want to get realistic do like I do. Turn off your icons. It's fun!!! Why?

1) It makes you treat every plane as an enemy until his intentions are telegraphed by his actions.

2) Distance is what it is. When he fill the windscreen it's time to shoot him.

3) Unfortunately, unlike RL if yer in an Allied plane and you see an Axis bird (seeing how you got close enough to see him smiling at you), any bird has to be considered an enemy.

If you get shot down cause you looked like a deer caught in the headlights, trying to figure out what plane that is, at least you'll never get bored.

Ren

NIFA (No Icon Fighter Association)

[Baumer]

That's a good one Ren, I might try going with "friendly only" first.

It's an interesting idea, I wonder if my wife would let me get two more 52" monitors for the TripleHead2Go?   

I'm really having to relearn riding the edge of a stall, especially when it comes to the accelerated variety.

[DamnedRen]

That's a good one Ren, I might try going with "friendly only" first.

It's an interesting idea, I wonder if my wife would let me get two more 52" monitors for the TripleHead2Go?   

I'm really having to relearn riding the edge of a stall, especially when it comes to the accelerated variety.

Find a good buy on 2 for you and 2 for me and I might be in. It means I won't be able to get that M1A I was
thinking about....

Accelerated stall? Can happen at any speed as you know. Just make sure you use roll THEN add back pressure and you will limit it considerably.

Ren

p.s. I haven't seen many of HTC's posts lately. Do you think he might have stopped posting since there's spell check now? 

[Kermit de frog]

That's a good one Ren, I might try going with "friendly only" first.
...

Friendly Icons Only and Manuel Fuel Selection sound like fun.  I'll give it a try Baumer.

Disable "combat trim" in your Flight Options and that disables it completely, regardless if you turn it back on with <CNTRL> + X during flight.
I've been doing manual trim for ~4 years now.



Your sound settings seem to low in my uneducated opinion, for many of the items listed. 

[malpeake]

Ren, have you tried it in the MA's? i know you were doing it when you gave me a lesson in the TA.

I would imagine it works best in AvA. It sounds interesting, having just read Spitfires over Malta, it occured to me from the AAR's that combat was a lot different to AH.

One instance a Spit was bounced, he evaded the bounce, dove through clouds and never saw the escorts again, he did however find some JU88's to shoot down.

Though 90% of F4u drivers would wail and cry, as it would be hard for them to see anything  to pick when they are at 20k alt. 

Malap.

[grizz441]

1) It makes you treat every plane as an enemy until his intentions are telegraphed by his actions.

What if two allies both engage with icons off?   

[morfiend]

Baum,

 It seems you've found a new way to "get into the game"..

 I have a question tho,at 80% engine and 10% flaps can you hear them?

 I guess in RL they couldn't but I've been using that crutch for awhile.

 Also I've turned stall horn,buffet and wind noise right off.

[Baumer]

Kermit,
I have disabled CT in the preferences, however for the past 6 months or so I had gotten lazy and was using it more frequently.

I can tell you the WWII era planes I've flown or ridden in (B-17, C-45, C-46, C-47, He111(CASA-2111), T-6) I couldn't hear the flaps or gear at all, but I could feel them.

I'm making a bit of a generalization, but I suspect with power on, in most aircraft you'd never hear most of these sounds.

[RumbleB]

Personally I need that stall horn to keep it accurate all the way.

[Spikes]

I might try a night with Friendly icons only.

[Baumer]

Well Morf, from my performance so far, the stall horn and flap sound has been a crutch for me as well.

If I'll all the way back at idle in a turn fight, I can just hear the flap sound, otherwise the engine drowns it out.

I guess for some WW2 aircraft they might have had a stall horn, so I can see using that on that particular model.  The corsair for example, actually had a stall light that was just to the left of the gun-sight (according to the manual I have). But the planes I working with right now (F6F-5, B-25C/H, B-17, Spit IX, and Spit XVI) don't have a stall horn or warning system, at least according to the fight instruction manuals I have. Turning the horn down to zero is the hardest part of this.

[Krusty]

Stall horn, much like icons, fills a gap in sensory perception that video games cannot simulate, but which real life provides.

Stalls shake, shimmy, shudder, and you FEEL the stall. In here you can't. They give the horn as a compromise. Some stall horn soundpacks replace it with a buffeting wind sound (may be more to your liking if you're going for realism).

Turning icons off does nothing more than simulate legal levels of blindness, so if you want to pretend you should never have been in a plane in the first place, fly with them off! That kind of breaks the illusion of realism if you should be grounded in the first place.

[OverBkil]

Stalls shake, shimmy, shudder, and you FEEL the stall. In here you can't. They give the horn as a compromise. Some stall horn soundpacks replace it with a buffeting wind sound (may be more to your liking if you're going for realism).

Gotta have a stick with ForceFeedback...