Author Topic: My first Arado mission (Read 441 times)

fdiron · « **on:** October 28, 2001, 04:58:00 AM »

I finally accumulated enough bomber perks saturday evening to fly the Arado 234. I was very excited about flying a jet bomber. Taking off from a somewhat rear base with a full fuel load and 3 500kg bombs was much more difficult than expected. I ignited my RATO packs about halfway down the runway and still had a hard time lifting the 234 off the ground. Once I got her off the ground and picked up some speed, I thought I was home free. Boy was I wrong.

As I was climbing out through a very mountainous region, I spotted a p51 much higher than me off my left wing. Unfortunately he spotted me. He dived in on my 6 and I immediately jettisoned bombs and put my 234 into a shallow dive. At about d995, the 51 opened fire and hit the oil lines on my number 1 engine. I took a few more pings and set my course for the nearest friendly base. After chasing me for a short bit the 51 broke off and began to climb away. "Wont see him again" I thought. Boy was I wrong.

Due to my extremely good judgement, I chose to try to land (never landed a 234 before) my 234 at a friendly base that was currently being strafed and attacked by enemy fighters. On final approach an F4U strafed me and hit the oil lines on my number 2 engine. I'm sure my 234 was looking like a pretty good target with 2 smoking engines. I applied full power and went around for another landing approach. About this time a 109 shows up and hits me with some 30 cal machine gun fire. Luckily there were 2 friendlys in the area. They quickly shot down the 109 and the F4u. Now I can land in peace...

I finally get there arado slow enough to get the gear down and the P51 that had attacked me earlier shows up around 10-15k. He dives on me. I apply full power and do the hardest turn that my 234 can take. The 51 overshoots me luckily. At this time I decide to land right now, no matter what. I am not even lined up with the runway when my number 1 engine goes out. I get the gear down and aim for the airfield. At about 200mph I touch down on the grass and starting applying full breaks. Unfortunately I am headed straight for a hanger so I start applying right wheel breaks. The 234 doesnt want to seem stop, but luckily it does, about 10 feet from the hanger. I go ahead and taxi onto the taxi-way right in front of the hangar and exit my plane as fast as possible. I think I am going to stick to B17s

[ 10-28-2001: Message edited by: fdiron ]

Karnak · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2001, 05:30:00 AM »

Sounds like you made the best of several bad situations.

Whenever I take an Ar234 I launce from a field that is at least 2 layers deep in friendly territory to give me room for the climb to altitude.

oboe · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2001, 06:54:00 AM »

But it WAS exciting, wasn't it? There's just no substitute for the thrill of putting something of value on the line when you fly.

Seeker · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2001, 07:51:00 AM »

What Oboe said.....

I suck royaly in the 262, can't hit a thing, but the fact that the dammend thing costs so much makes even a "dry run" a feeling of achievement to get it down in one piece.

Funny how things likes Temps and Ta-152's suddenly seem like bargains now, isn't it?

fdiron · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2001, 07:56:00 AM »

It truly was a thrilling experience flying the 234. My heart rate was in the hundreds

eskimo2 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2001, 08:09:00 AM »

Rule #1 of flying jets in AH.

Take off only at fields where the grid is clear.

Great story!
Try her again.
The Arado is my favorite bomber.

eskimo

Dinger · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2001, 09:26:00 AM »

The 234 is a beautiful ride, although I strongly recommend you go offline or to the TA to familiarize yourself with its rather peculiar takeoff and landing characteristics. Its lines are so clean, you have to shoot a long, shallow approach.

Anyway, I love getting a couple of wingmen, and getting into a rhythm -- takeoff, fly over front, determine where the next strike is coming (ideally liaise with someone doing squad ops), hit critical facilities at target to deny the enemy an effective defense, return to rear base, rearm, and do it again. When your eyes start bleeding in the fourth hour of the sortie, you know you have a winner.

Fariz · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2001, 09:46:00 AM »

Get arado to 20k, and it will be invinsible (not for 262 though). Problem that there are no role for it now, it was very good for tactical strike into enemy territory when your country in a big trouble, but with nowaday strat, when fuel back in minutes, who need it?

Agree on landing. I have not been killed in it by fighters yet, though as I used it an "ultima ratio" in case of country troubles, and in this case to found a base not under attack is always a big trouble.

Had one of "those" sorties yesterday, when bishops were down to 2 fields. Hit fuel on frint line field (which, <<sigh>> were back in minutes), then turned back, was bounced twice by 109 and p51, dives and avoided, gone to one field, only to be bounced by 262 with which I turn fight for 5 minutes, then at 100 ft turned to base to find it all capped, turned to other, and was lucky to land on it while no fighters close to it and still with vapors in fuel tanks. Really enjoyed it

HTC, give arado some strat targets please!

Voss · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2001, 10:47:00 AM »

Number one strat target for the Arado is the enemy fleet. You don't have to suicide with this aircraft. You're in, youre out. You have to watch out for 262's, but most of the time your target is near your field, so you have some escape room and friendlies to aid you.

Number two strat target is front line barracks. If you hit the barracks they can't even goon in supplies. Think about it.

We need Arado squadrons.

sling322 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2001, 07:40:00 PM »

Hmmmm...Arado squadrons huh? Sound interesting, but with my current disco situation, it would be costly.

I did have a successful sortie in one the other nite however. I hit some fuel tanks at a knit base to slow the little bastages down a bit and was returning home when I noticed 2 enemy within d3.0 of me. So I nosed her over a bit and lit off the RATOs....bye bye bad guys. I began to separate from them and noticed that one of them broke off but the other kept coming.

He forced to me go a full sector farther than I wanted to in order to land and even though I was trying to scrub speed off quickly to get on the ground, I was still coming in way too hot. So with gear and flaps down and still way too fast I decided to bring the gear up and go around for second approach....oops...too slow...heading right for a BH!!

I bellied her in thinking that I would at least save half of my perkies so as I slid along the ground I tried to turn away from the BH to no avail. I slid right toward the door and into the hangar without hitting the wall or the door. Upon exiting, I received the "Successful landing" message. Wheeew!!

Just wish I had the film running on this one.

Creamo · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2001, 08:25:00 PM »

Try this.

I loaded one with a 500kg bomb and hung fuel on the rest of the external racks + jato, so I could go super long range roadtrip style and just buzz around.

I enaged the rockets, make one hell of a cool bellybutton smoke show, and off I went dwon the runway.

It never got over 50 feet. Stalled into a hill with a less than spectacular fire bomb effect.

Upped a Dora.

texace · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2001, 09:10:00 PM »

When I first took the Arado up, I thought it was cool. I buzzed her around a bit before snapping off the bombs on a column of Panzers near my field. Got 3, was happy. Landed it and rolled up to the hanger and parked it. <G> Wasn't very exciting but I loved it..<G>

JaCkNiFe · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2001, 01:09:00 AM »

well tonight.... i got me 234 up for a spin or 2. i see a few tanks on the ground SE of me so i say well hell lets bomb! so i drop one bomb u have shot down bla bla bla and then another one comes. so i got 2 kills with one bomb. so i come bac around and see em still there i drop one more. 3 kills that time with one bomb. well i say to my self well hell one more left lets see what i can do. well stupid is a stupid does the same 3 guys spawn agian at the same time and kill them all agian.... i landed and then went to blow a depot and got 2.50 perks for it.
i lvoe that thing.

fdiron · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2001, 03:42:00 AM »

What is optimum climb speed for arado? I took the 234 up for my 2nd mission the other night. Followed your alls advice and took off from a rear base and went cv hunting. Couldn't find cv so I just dropped my 500kg bomb on a rook field (I was bishop). 234 never seemed to want to climb. Tried climb speeds at 285, 275, and then 210.

-tronski- · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2001, 05:51:00 AM »

My last Ar234 mission was a disco over target...great plane if ya got the perkies for it...

Tronsky

[ 10-29-2001: Message edited by: -tronski- ]