This shows how I crafted my approach so when we merge I am nose up. Hope this helps. Film below.
(Image removed from quote.)
http://dasmuppets.com/public/Grizz/Bmathis.ahf
If I end up missing this shot which is likely, there's no way for the Ta152 to be able to compete with the Spit9 any further.
As for flying double inferior planes without taters like the 190A5, you're at even more of a disadvantage because ending the fight with your one, possibly two, gun solutions is going to be very difficult unless you are an absolute marksman. There's no way to saddle up a Spit16 if the pilot has the slightest clue.
That maneuver is totally dependent on the other pilot making the mistake of actually diving to get guns on. A much wiser move would be to go up, as you go up, and reasess the situation/ look for another opportunity.
Now for a more general rant:
A pilot's ego is his worst enemy (in many cases). I call it "the F16 syndrome" in a pilot who is overconfident in his superior plane and underestimate the lethality of his adversary. I see players fall for this many times, often because of inexperience, but sometimes because of sheer overconfidence. Oh... and I do it too every now and then too when caught off guard by a experienced stick, do some half-arse move which doesn't shake him and then it's over. Or if an adversary's maneuvering does not tell about his shooting ability. Sometimes you find yourself shot down in a situation you never thought he'd get guns on. There are a few ppl out there who can make shots most ppl can't, and they're lethal especially without tracers!
Also every now and then you come across a guy who you see fly very smooth, plan his moves and angles without any jerky movements and that spells doom, a clear indication of experience and you know you have a problem if you're at a disadvantage. (m00t
and some others I've seen display this quality)
Imho it all comes down to SA and positioning yourself pre-merge. If you play your hand right the fight will be decided before the merge and only if you haven't you will find yourself in the situation described in the OP. I always try to make the merge decisive and get guns on first pass, unless the other pilot do the idiot counter move of nose-up and shoot back. That's always a gamble, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't and most times I avoid the head-on merge shot if possible.
There are a lot of experienced sticks in the community who don't want to share their wealth of knowledge, I'm not one of them.
[/rant]
