gunning bombers

[Vinkman]

Why is it that a bomber with 4, 5, or 6 gun positions in it, will let the pilot jump to any position and fly on auto pilot unless he has one gunner aboard. Then the pilot is restricted to the pilot seat. Also if the gunner jumps to plane #2 or plane#3 the pilot is restricted from jumping to any other plane then the one he is flying. THe manual saya it can be done, but When I try to jump planes it says the something like 'plane occupied'. Is the manual up to date, or was this changed from what it is the manual?


Also it is clear that a lone pilot flying a formation that jumps to a gun, fires the guns in the drones when he fires the gun he mans. But it is not clear where the drones bullets go. I assume they just fire from the drone gun along a path that is parallel to the manned gun but spaced be the distance between the bombers. This would mean they could not converge on the target. True?

[curry1]

1. You cant sit in the same gunner position as your gunner i don't really see why that's a problem because you have a gunner to gun for you.

2. Your drone's guns converge around 600 something out.  I remember someone posting a picture showing how far but I am not sure however I do know that at some point in space all of your bullets converge at one point of death and destruction  .

[Lusche]

2. Your drone's guns converge around 600 something out.  I remember someone posting a picture showing how far but I am not sure however I do know that at some point in space all of your bullets converge at one point of death and destruction  .

500 yards

(Picture by Fuzeman)

[Vinkman]

1. You cant sit in the same gunner position as your gunner i don't really see why that's a problem because you have a gunner to gun for you.

Thanks for the info on convergence from both you and Lusche. But to your above quote, I didn't mean I wanted to sit in the same position. If I have a tail gunner, I have found I can't jump to the top turret. Also If I jump to the tail gun in a drone, this would anable two of the tail guns position to converge on the bandit regardless of the bandits distance (assuming we could both aim the gun properly of course), and of course if we are being attacked by multiple bandits, we could shoot at more than one at a time. So there is an advantage to manning guns seperately. Yet this is not allowed. Unless of course it is and I'm just doing something wrong.

can anyone clarify?

[Ghosth]

Why should a pilot be able to leave "His" plane in flight?

The gunner has the choice when he joins which plane to man. Pilots are stuck in the lead AC, as it should be.
So get your gunner to jump to one of the drones, then you can man your own guns.

Granted AH gives gunners a bit of latitude, being able to join in flight, change planes, etc.
That same latitude can not and should not be applied to the pilot.

[Vinkman]

Why should a pilot be able to leave "His" plane in flight?

The gunner has the choice when he joins which plane to man. Pilots are stuck in the lead AC, as it should be.
So get your gunner to jump to one of the drones, then you can man your own guns.

Granted AH gives gunners a bit of latitude, being able to join in flight, change planes, etc.
That same latitude can not and should not be applied to the pilot.

To be clear, I'm not asking or recommending what should be.  I want to know what is permissible. It is not clear if the pilot can move when alone, but not if there is a guinner etc.  Looking for a more complete explanation of the opportunities and limitations of manning bombers with multiple personell.

[Ghosth]

Pilot can't ever move from the plane he is in. Period.

Gunner has his choice of all 3 drones, can jump from one to the other.
If the gunner is in one of the drones, the pilot can man his ships guns.

[Simba]

If you employ good gunner, why you want flip-flop 'tween Big Bird 'n' the Drones, cookee-boyee? Let dog bark for Mastah, Grasshopper, not other way round.