Posted in the Where is WWI going thread:
Actually, it turns out that historical flying, at least at the moment, is a very practicable proposition in the WWI arena. Lets hope the numbers stay up.
AAR 1: Took off from NW Knight field in an F2b with objective of getting recce photos of SW enemy field. About half way, alt 5k, encountered three EA slightly below me. Made a couple of guns passes, but more were coming. Made a last pass and extended east. Diverted to a secondary objective, a field further east along the river. Overflew the field at 7k. As I was taking the pictures, I noticed a D7 at my low 6, about 2000 yards away. He followed me to a point halfway to my field. I turned to engage him, made several passes. He lost alt and I broke off. Landed the pics. Very interesting E fight, very vertical. F2b vs D7.
AAR 2: Took off from same field, F2b, on patrol. Nearing an enemy field at about 4k, I saw an enemy observer climbing NW away from the field. After a few minutes chase, he turned and engaged. This led to an absolutely epic 1v1 that ranged from 5k to the ground. Just as my aircraft developed a fuel leak, the enemy collided with me. He fell out of control and hit the ground. I was able to nurse my aircraft to within sight of my field, at which point I ran out of fuel and landed. I'll try to figure out how to post the film for this because it is worth watching.
AAR 3: Same field, F2b, front patrol. I reached the SW end of the front at about 7k and flew NE. I saw an enemy observer flying on his side of the lines, also on a NE heading, about 6k alt. I paced him with the objective of keeping him on his side of the lines, and shooting him down if I had an opportunity. Three enemy single seaters were behind us at about 6k alt. The enemy observer turned N to cross the lines. I put my nose down and intercepted him. When I got within about 1000 yards on his 9, he turned back. I climbed back up to 7k. He continued flying along the front on his side of the lines for several more minutes. By then, we had outrun the enemy single seaters and I decided to engage. I crossed to the enemy side of the lines and closed. After a few passes, I had an energy advantage and he extended south away from the lines. I put several bursts into him from within 200 yards, and he began leaking fuel. At that moment his gunner came alive and I took a bad burst that wounded me, damaged my fuel tank, and my engine. I dove for my lines and landed on friendly ground, while my plane was still working. Very interesting and tactical fight that ranged over the whole length of the front.
The front is very usable. HT, perhaps it could be a bit longer on a future map? The map itself doesn't have to be larger, but if the front could cover the entire diagonal instead of just part of it, we'd have an even better playing field. Apparently, there are already few squads and players who enjoy flying a historical mission profile once in a while. After these rather exhausting flights, I went and got a few kills on the edge of the furball Smiley
Vlas
