Food for thought regarding manned ack. I went to the practice arena, manned an 88, and collected some range data. I measured drop on my screen for the shell at 3 angles: 25, 45, 75, for distances from 1.5k out to 9k. I took that info, and using different color ink, made up a range card on the back of business card. I tried that out, and knocked down two lancs at 8k on their approach, and got the 3rd smoking at 5k past his target (i got the three kills even though someone else finished the 3rd smoker off, which if you ask me is wrong: that pilot should have been credited with that 3rd kill). But the card was getting in the way, so I took a clear plastic report cover, and wrote the info and tick marks on the clear plastic. I tape that to the screen when I'm manning 88 ack. It's not fool proof, but knowing where the round will pop does get me on target in fewer shots than shooting with just windage. I haven't had any luck yet shooting with the barrel slewing. The hits have come when I've ranged out the path and let the bomber fly into the ack field.
