<snipped alot of friendly advice to Nath that would have been taken the wrong way, because he doesn't have the experience to see it in the right perspective>
Situations that happen in scenarios or MA end up as 'duels', dueling experience is an important factor in being a good pilot. If you're a good dueler you should sure as hell be a good pilot.
Again, you couldn't be farther from the truth. Dueling is a focus of 1 v 1 aircraft battles, where you typically fly TnB or at worst E fighting aircraft. You focus on getting angles on a single aircraft in the shortest amount of time, and try to kill them. Its very reflex oriented, and good gunnery skills are a must.
Scenario fighting is a much larger skill set.
You almost
never end up in "duel" situations, where you are fighting a single enemy all alone in the sky.
In Scenarios, its usually squadron level, or multiple squadron combat with 200 aircraft in the arena at once.
Knowing when to disengage and regroup is paramont. Remember your fighting for two hours, not two minutes.
Flying with a wingman, and knowing how to keep SA in a overloaded environment, is extrememly important. Plus you have to know how to integrate your pair of fighters into the squadron as a whole effectively.
You have to manage fuel loads, and be able to make the bomber escort rendevous on time, and at the right locations. Sure you can drop your drop tanks and engage the first enemy you see at full throttle, but what will that mean in 30 minutes when you didn't make your sweep over the target because your fuel light now that you engaged early? This is a common tactic, would you know how to recognize it or counter it?
On top of this you have to listen to the radio, perform regular sitreps and location reports to your CO, plus keep your flight organized on RW. Total information overload.
And this is just the tip of the Iceburg. I haven't even gotten into how to think strategically & tactically on the fly, in a fluid combat environment.
Its something you can't even begin to comprehend, unless you have been there. Period. Scenario Lights and Snapshots, are great experience, but they are a pale imitation of the real thing.
Dueling types have a tendency to get locked in mortal combat at the first sign of the enemy, and typically get killed by the wingman they never see. That or they actually "win" their duel, but become seperated from their group, and are ineffective "loners" for the rest of the frame.
Let me leave you with a very good example from real life.
In WWII who were the Squadron and Flight leaders? The great sticks, who could fly circles around everyone else? Or the ones who could LEAD and get the job done?
Who is better known, Chuck Yeager or Bud Anderson?
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
[This message has been edited by Vermillion (edited 10-06-2000).]
