Bomber missions

[blkmgc]

Just want to throw out a few things here that I rarely see in most "organized" missions in the MA's. Kudos to those who put these together for sure, but if your having trouble "herding cats" here is maybe why...;

There are only a handfull of things that a bomber pilot needs to know to keep formation and stay close to the group.

Climbspeed: If you alter the default, make sure all know what it is. Most experienced buff pilots will recognize this , and adjust immediately when you announce it.But definately announce it

Throttle / pitch settings: Never run full throttle all the way. Always leave about 5-10% for others that may be lagging behind to catch up. If your 100% throttle the whole mission , and someone is d30 behind, guess what..he's not going to fall into the formation. Call out your throttle settings every now and then too.

Heading: This one is obvious, but still needs to be called out..especially after each leg turn.

Level settings: Same as climb, never 100% , and call it out. Also don't jockey it around, make it one speed, keep it one speed , make the formation work from that.

Turns: Contrary to popular belief, these are not B38's <GDR>. Try to never exceed 20deg +/- for a turn. The smoother the turn , the easier the formation is kept.Contemplate your turns for distance well ahead of time. Folks on the outside of the turn in formation may need to bump the throttle up a bit(greater radius), while those on the inside of the turn may need to go down a touch(lesser radius).

Descent Use your climbspeed at a reduced throttle setting. We've mostly used Cs 225 at 0-10 on the throttle. This at least adds some organization to the process.


Just a few things that I don't see much of from flight leads in the arenas, and would make it a bunch easier on themselves and the folks winged up with them.


carry on.

[MjTalon]

  Magic, Always was a pleasure flying escort and with you guys a couple years ago. Also I'd like to pitch something in:


Formation Distance: Distance is VERY important on raids. The closer the bombers are the more protection they gain from the guns of the friendly bombers around them... However, having the formation to close will have overlapping guns, possible friendly fire from ords dropping on each other and many more bad things. Different formation boxes will require different distant spacing so experiment for those who enjoy organized raids.

[thndregg]

Just want to throw out a few things here that I rarely see in most "organized" missions in the MA's. Kudos to those who put these together for sure, but if your having trouble "herding cats" here is maybe why...;

There are only a handfull of things that a bomber pilot needs to know to keep formation and stay close to the group.

Climbspeed: If you alter the default, make sure all know what it is. Most experienced buff pilots will recognize this , and adjust immediately when you announce it.But definately announce it

Throttle / pitch settings: Never run full throttle all the way. Always leave about 5-10% for others that may be lagging behind to catch up. If your 100% throttle the whole mission , and someone is d30 behind, guess what..he's not going to fall into the formation. Call out your throttle settings every now and then too.

Heading: This one is obvious, but still needs to be called out..especially after each leg turn.

Level settings: Same as climb, never 100% , and call it out. Also don't jockey it around, make it one speed, keep it one speed , make the formation work from that.

Turns: Contrary to popular belief, these are not B38's <GDR>. Try to never exceed 20deg +/- for a turn. The smoother the turn , the easier the formation is kept.Contemplate your turns for distance well ahead of time. Folks on the outside of the turn in formation may need to bump the throttle up a bit(greater radius), while those on the inside of the turn may need to go down a touch(lesser radius).

Descent Use your climbspeed at a reduced throttle setting. We've mostly used Cs 225 at 0-10 on the throttle. This at least adds some organization to the process.


Just a few things that I don't see much of from flight leads in the arenas, and would make it a bunch easier on themselves and the folks winged up with them.


carry on.

Overall agree on these points. Would like to add that it's not how fast your mission gets there, it's how intact your mission gets there and home again. Keep your turrets close.

[blkmgc]

Good to see you Talon.  

  I have some really good formation charts, and that's what we used to use when we were squad strong. Have to dig them out maybe tonight when I get home. Kinda hard to get ad hoc missions in that formation though, as we used to practice and evaluate who did best in what position, and put newer folks in the easier positions. that worked well for the most part for squad opps. The formation offered the best overlapping defensive gun positions , and helped take apart many a con in pretty short order.

These days its simply hard to find dedicated buffs with all the necessary resources. I'm happy to just fall in where I can and try to RTB in one piece, hehe.

[68ZooM]

When we fly Bomber missions we keep in groups of 4 pilots per diamond formation that gives you 12 planes, we try to put up 2 to 3 formations and a few fighters for escorts and we fly about 300 apart so that all of our guns can protect anyones formation, Its a real awesome sight seeing a large flight of bombers all tight together, makes you think of how it was during WW2, always wondered what the people on the ground say when they see 24 to 30+ B17's overhead lol

[blkmgc]

When we fly Bomber missions we keep in groups of 4 pilots per diamond formation that gives you 12 planes, we try to put up 2 to 3 formations and a few fighters for escorts and we fly about 300 apart so that all of our guns can protect anyones formation, Its a real awesome sight seeing a large flight of bombers all tight together, makes you think of how it was during WW2, always wondered what the people on the ground say when they see 24 to 30+ B17's overhead lol

Ours was kind of the same formation, except that the last bomber in the diamond  (#4 pos) was about 100 lower than the lead. It really opens up all 4 ships worth of the rearward guns on a 6 attacking con.

[68ZooM]

Yea we do the same, stagger them just alittle.

[Strip]

When we fly Bomber missions we keep in groups of 4 pilots per diamond formation that gives you 12 planes, we try to put up 2 to 3 formations and a few fighters for escorts and we fly about 300 apart so that all of our guns can protect anyones formation, Its a real awesome sight seeing a large flight of bombers all tight together, makes you think of how it was during WW2, always wondered what the people on the ground say when they see 24 to 30+ B17's overhead lol

Times that number by 10 or more and it makes you really wonder what they would say....especially with there doors open.

[blkmgc]

Virtually speaking back in the day, when the 450th had about 20 members , we were to RP with the 451st, 22nd Red Raiders and 2-3 other groups, all of which had 20+ members in a particular weekly event in another particular sim . We did , and all dropped on targets within 5 miles of each other at the same time.

Results-  Server crashed ,everyone logged for the night ,and we were asked to not do that again, hehe.

Ahh, those were the glory days of online bombardment.   

[Rich46yo]

A successful bombing mission is an awful lot of fun, "heck an unsuccessful one often is". I miss the old runs with magic, or Talon, or Trukk. Getting 8 to 10 guys flying box, flights of P-51s or Jugs flyng escort, to me symbolizes this game better then anything. But, I'm a history nut. So when the 190s and 109s bounce us, or try to, it gets even better. And a box of B-24s that size is a fearsome defensive package.

The 484'th was the best bunch Ive ever flown with in AH. Made more so by the actual history of the squadron we were honoring. http://www.15thaf.org/49th%20BW/484th%20BG/Missions/Missions.htm

Good times. I'd fly with those guys again anytime.

[Tango]

Magic, you back in the air? Holler at me and Trukk and we'll hook up with ya anytime.

S!

[DjFlyBoy]

Magic, Always was a pleasure flying escort and with you guys a couple years ago. Also I'd like to pitch something in:


Formation Distance: Distance is VERY important on raids. The closer the bombers are the more protection they gain from the guns of the friendly bombers around them... However, having the formation to close will have overlapping guns, possible friendly fire from ords dropping on each other and many more bad things. Different formation boxes will require different distant spacing so experiment for those who enjoy organized raids.

so true.you now how hard is to cover Bombers when they or not close together. Makes it hard for the escort 

[MjTalon]

Virtually speaking back in the day, when the 450th had about 20 members , we were to RP with the 451st, 22nd Red Raiders and 2-3 other groups, all of which had 20+ members in a particular weekly event in another particular sim . We did , and all dropped on targets within 5 miles of each other at the same time.

Results-  Server crashed ,everyone logged for the night ,and we were asked to not do that again, hehe.

Ahh, those were the glory days of online bombardment.   

Ah, I remember that day, more than 30 set of formations were fielded, over 30 escort fighters and a hell a lot of lag. VOX went out for the entire arena, dropped on the strat targets and the server overloaded. Best day above 25,000ft ever.

[blkmgc]

Ah, I remember that day, more than 30 set of formations were fielded, over 30 escort fighters and a hell a lot of lag. VOX went out for the entire arena, dropped on the strat targets and the server overloaded. Best day above 25,000ft ever.

Ahh, I remember that one. The one I was thinking of was in another universe..but that one was a hell of a mission in itself! I guess the electro widgets couldnt handle the history, hehehe.

[blkmgc]

Magic, you back in the air? Holler at me and Trukk and we'll hook up with ya anytime.
S!

I'm the remaining soul grognard of the group I guess. Would be fun to hook up for a few with you all. S!