How High?

[DOUG]

awwwwww man, this thread is NOT aboot what I thought 
anything I can get above 6k is used in a dive TO 6k so the pony
can be haulin booty

elfy

[Lusche]

Depends fully on situation and mission goal. 10K-35K

- Furball between two bases or at another base and flying a rather maneuverable plane? 10k
- CV defense? 12-15K
- Med Scale Base defense? 15-20k .... someone has to be in position to stop the buffs.
- Large scale base defense, dragging on for a long time and being the main focus of the enemy? - 25k, because at some point high altitude buffs will show up, hoping to shut down the base undisturbed.
- Strat defense outside Komet Koverage: 28-35k. Strat runner's often have the habit of going in as high as possible. 34K B17's or B-29's are more common than rare. If I have reason to suspect them lower (like them having their base close nearby), I will be lower as well.
- Strat defense near HQ: Ground level. Sitting in Oclub and sipping my tea until it's time to ignite the rocket 

[Randy1]

Seems to me a lot of folks climb from takeoff till the radar ring.  Kind of take what you can get.

[Slade]

A lot of cool answers.  Great stuff.  I learn so much here.

Sure we'd all love to be able to just "pop" in at 25k.  How about if I ask it this way:

In non-Low ENY birds (or perk planes) at what altitude do you feel confident enough, and actually find yourself, flying at when you engage in ACM?  And why?

Thanks.

[Lusche]

In non-Low ENY birds (or perk planes) at what altitude do you feel confident enough, and actually find yourself, flying at when you engage in ACM?

I'm not sure if I undertsand this question correctly. I don't see the direct connection between altitude and feeling 'confident enough' to engage in ACM.

My initial altitude is a result of mission type (as explained earlier) and combat environment. But in the end, I enage targets at any altitude, from the deck up to 37k (the altitude of my highest dogfight kill)

[Slade]

Some random thoughts I have:

• Lower means get there faster usually.
• If a 109 and less than 7k usually means compression is a non-issue.  They climb well too.
• Sometimes coming up on a con (from below) is easier to get a shot in.  For me at least.
• It is easy enough to yo-yo for kills from 15k+ (or vulch).  I dont really get better doing that though.
• Sometimes it is fun to fly something REALLY fast and NOE into a base surprising planes taking off.  

EDIT: I noticed Greebo can fly in low and not worry too much about vulchers.  He is so good at turning a vulch attempt on him into a kill for him.

[Coalcat1]

Depends fully on situation and mission goal. 10K-35K

- Furball between two bases or at another base and flying a rather maneuverable plane? 10k
- CV defense? 12-15K
- Med Scale Base defense? 15-20k .... someone has to be in position to stop the buffs.
- Large scale base defense, dragging on for a long time and being the main focus of the enemy? - 25k, because at some point high altitude buffs will show up, hoping to shut down the base undisturbed.
- Strat defense outside Komet Koverage: 28-35k. Strat runner's often have the habit of going in as high as possible. 34K B17's or B-29's are more common than rare. If I have reason to suspect them lower (like them having their base close nearby), I will be lower as well.
- Strat defense near HQ: Ground level. Sitting in Oclub and sipping my tea until it's time to ignite the rocket 

What about my NOE lanc missions to the HQ 

[mthrockmor]

15.5k Most level off at 15k. I want the extra 500 feet.

[Masherbrum]

"Hit me with the powder."

[BaldEagl]

14-17K for me depending on the plane I'm in.  That puts me high enough to climb relatively easily to higher buffs or take on higher fighters but low enough to head to the deck if that's where the fight is.

[MrKrabs]

It depends on the situation...

For example...

If you see a bish 38 raid, all you need to do is turn your engine off on the runway and await the 10 proxies from their lawndarts or killing themselves with their own bombs...

[Golden Dragon]

Bandit's altitude plus one thousand is high enough for me.

[Golden Dragon]

It depends on the situation...

For example...

If you see a bish 38 raid, all you need to do is turn your engine off on the runway and await the 10 proxies from their lawndarts or killing themselves with their own bombs...

Lol.  So true.  I was on a rearm pad and got four proxies once that way.  I laughed at the text congratulations for my "ace" sortie.  Do the bish have a special "divine wind" squadron?

[PanosGR]

I am not at the liberty to discuss classified information nor do you have the proper security clearance for said intelligence.  

[Zoney]

My initial altitude is a result of mission type (as explained earlier) and combat environment. But in the end, I enage targets at any altitude, from the deck up to 37k (the altitude of my highest dogfight kill)

Hehehe.  Mine is 41,000 feet in a TA152 killing a P47M.

I killed a B29 at 34,000 feet in a ME262 once also