Is it me?

[Motherland]

Never worry about how good you are... just have fun. That's the easiest way to get better.

[danny76]

Never worry about how good you are... just have fun. That's the easiest way to get better.
[/quote

Becomes progressively harder to have fun when guys repeatedly hand you you're bellybutton for no gain

[Krusty]

Danny, might I suggest a paradigm shift?

Describe, briefly, your typical mission from gear up to gear down (or death).


Really brief, like "Take off, climb to 20k, find nobody, bounce one guy on my way home, land out of gas"

Perhaps you're just recklessly barreling into a horde? I'd like to hold off on a suggestion until I hear how your normal flights go.

[danny76]

ok, find decent dar bar approx equal, take off spit 8 drop tank and 3/4 fuel, climb about 7000, go for spits, go for f4 f6's, go for la's, either die or get 2/3, then rtb

[Krusty]

Okay... I'd say leave the DT at home. Spit8 has wing tanks which help the range. Will give you 35+ minutes off WEP with a full tank. If your fight is only lasting 10 minutes you can do without it until you start living longer

 

Then I would suggest you change what you go in for. Don't simply pick the plane because of it's icon. Look at the position of the planes. Look for any higher than you first, and nose-on, or sneaking in on your flank. Look for any immediate threats first, and engage them. If you're clear, work your way down... You think a guy might be manuvering to drop in on you if you go for "that spit down there" then don't do it, manuver to attack him instead.

Work your way down the list. Prioritize in your head. The list could have things like "defend myself" "rescue a buddy" or "I'm clear, pick that lone con donw there." Don't just drop in on the easiest con, because odds are you're missing the guy 4k out coming in to help his buddy.

In short, use your SA to find the fights more directly engaged with you, then if there are none pick a new fight I'm not saying fly timid. When you fly, try to be aggressive, just don't go barreling in. Look, think, act, shoot!


I would also suggest (and this is only a suggestion, based on how I like to fly) that you intend to land every time you take off. Never get into the mindset that you're going to die, goin to get shot down, going to purposefully auger. Half the fun is making it home (intact or not!). Plus, it defeats the spirit of the sortie! 

[Bronk]

Turn off stall limiter... get ready to auger a bit more till you adjust.

[Krusty]

D'oh! I forgot the obvious! Good catch, Bronk!

[danny76]

Turn off stall limiter... get ready to auger a bit more till you adjust.

Stall limiter has been off for months. Thanks anyway.

[danny76]

Okay... I'd say leave the DT at home. Spit8 has wing tanks which help the range. Will give you 35+ minutes off WEP with a full tank. If your fight is only lasting 10 minutes you can do without it until you start living longer

 

Then I would suggest you change what you go in for. Don't simply pick the plane because of it's icon. Look at the position of the planes. Look for any higher than you first, and nose-on, or sneaking in on your flank. Look for any immediate threats first, and engage them. If you're clear, work your way down... You think a guy might be manuvering to drop in on you if you go for "that spit down there" then don't do it, manuver to attack him instead.

Work your way down the list. Prioritize in your head. The list could have things like "defend myself" "rescue a buddy" or "I'm clear, pick that lone con donw there." Don't just drop in on the easiest con, because odds are you're missing the guy 4k out coming in to help his buddy.

In short, use your SA to find the fights more directly engaged with you, then if there are none pick a new fight I'm not saying fly timid. When you fly, try to be aggressive, just don't go barreling in. Look, think, act, shoot!


I would also suggest (and this is only a suggestion, based on how I like to fly) that you intend to land every time you take off. Never get into the mindset that you're going to die, goin to get shot down, going to purposefully auger. Half the fun is making it home (intact or not!). Plus, it defeats the spirit of the sortie! 

I appreciate this. Thanks for your help

[Bronk]

Stall limiter has been off for months. Thanks anyway.

I'm going to make a suggestion.
Drop the Mk VIII and switch to the Mk IX. 50 to 75% with drop. Bring guns to 250 to 300. Do not fire cannon unless in range. IMO the Mk IX is a bit easier to learn in than the VIII or the XVI. The VIII is a bit heavier and the XVI is a bit twitchier.

Biggest thing stay with one AC if possible. That is another reason for the Mk IX slightly better eny.

[danny76]

I'm going to make a suggestion.
Drop the Mk VIII and switch to the Mk IX. 50 to 75% with drop. Bring guns to 250 to 300. Do not fire cannon unless in range. IMO the Mk IX is a bit easier to learn in than the VIII or the XVI. The VIII is a bit heavier and the XVI is a bit twitchier.

OK. Thank you. I'll give it a try.

[stickpig]

i do, approx four hours daily almost every day, try new stuff and die, try old stuff and die, try new stuf again and kill top sticks, try old stuff and kill top sticks, but predominantly die die die

Not being sarcastic..... When you get killed, stop and think what happened. Should you have extended, Should you not have gone into a 3 on 1, Should you not got in a flat turn with that Zero...

Once you start figuring out why the engagement went the way it did then you can start working on not repeating things that get you killed.

Best two pieces of advice given too me:
1. Slow the hellll down (BlueKitty)

2. Follow the nose not the tail (Creaton)

Good Luck

[Bronk]

OK. Thank you. I'll give it a try.

Ohhh 1 more thing use the pink skin... it is fabulous.

[danny76]

Ohhh 1 more thing use the pink skin... it is fabulous.

Ok. You first pal

[Bronk]

Ok. You first pal

It's the only skin I use when flying the Mk IX. Think about it. How would you feel being shot down by a pink spitfire?