Thanks
I have decided not to HO but any tips on avoiding being Hoed close to the merge are appreciated please ?
As per the last post on HOs:
Just do a zigzag pattern as you are moving toward them and cross under their nose as you pull up into an emmilman, you'll always have the advantage generally if they try to HO because you got the jump on the angle. If they are going much faster in the merge, avoid the emmilman as they will try for the rope after.
If you are pointing your nose down as they are coming up, all you have to do is create and angle 600 out and then pull up and do a loop instead of going straight head on. They won't be able to hit you and you have them in a rope already, you just need to do a quick loop to get around on then as they try to get the nose back pointed down. Works like a charm and hardly anyone ever does it
If you are the one going up, it's basically the worst position you'll want to be in, all you can do really is hope for a collide and watch them lawn dart. You can try to roll, ailerons and hope they miss. In anycase, if they HO, they usually have the better shot, but its a stupid risk for the plane whose coming down. If both HO here, 90% chance both die and 99% both planes are damaged atleast.