SA and the MA

[MrLars]

When I first started flying AW some 6-7 years ago I had real problems having fun. One of my weaknesses then was a total lack of Situational Awareness. After I made the move to the FR I started getting serious about getting better so I read what was available. There were several online lectures about E fighting, ACM and SA. Though the SA lectures were not very entertaining, later on I saw the value of having good SA.

The AH MA is one place where, IMO, SA is more often than not the single most important skill a player needs. The ratio of 1v1's compaired to the other types of situations is so lopsided that without good SA you are dead post haste.

If anybody here knows of a web site that has some of these SA lectures, or "manuals" if you will, would you kindly post a link so that some of the others can read and learn so they can hopefully have more fun in the MA?

Here's just bit of what I can remember from my readings:

Create a bubble around your plane and mentaly create 3 zones within extending out to icon range.

The first zone, within D2000 is the red zone, any enemy within that zone is an immediate threat and action needs to be taken NOW.

Second zone is the yellow zone. It extends out to D4000 and any enemy within that zone has the potential of interfering with your fight at hand and must be watched but not focused on.

The third zone is the green zone. While any plane in this zone may not be a threat, it is a good idea to keep a brief eye on them to make sure they  are maintaining their coarse and not setting you up for a BnZ run.

Each of the zones have more of a danger area above than below for obvious reasons but one should never underestimate the climbing ability of any fighter that has some E stored up.

These are some of the things I try to remember while in the MA and, more often than not, when I get shot down it's because I hadn't updated my assessment of my danger zones.

YMMV as always

[poopster]

Take a read of the article. It's by Daddy= when he was in the 4th fighter group in WB.

It really made a difference on how I went about flying, when flying to live was paramount.

http://www.fourthfightergroup.com/squadron/sops/StruggleToSurvive1.htm

Good read

But if putting your butt on the runway becomes too important...

It has an adverse effect on the structural integrity of the furniture...

..not to mention the dogs general health...

[Kaz]

thanks for the post great advice. i have a problem with SA but i've improved dramatically after realizing something. i had asked several people to help me out with my ACM so we'd go to the TA and go at it for a few rounds. while i learned some new tips i still sucked in the MA.
it was only recently when i went again for some training and ride alongs i asked um how on earth they knew what maneuver to do and i'd get the same response from all of them keep an eye on what the con is doing. that's when it hit me, when i was in the TA i was doing my utmost to keep a tally on my opponent but that disappeared when i went to the MA.
 ever since this discovery i'm having alot more success at staying alive at least a bit longer sometimes long enough to get help and sometimes even getting a kill myself. i still get the occasional surprise attack/instant death or the aha i see you coming turn now! haha i got away from u (looks back) uh oh...(RATATATATATATATA.....cont'd) but i'm learning how to avoid this as well.

[xHaMmeRx]

One I wrote:

Hammer's Situation Awareness Write-Up

HaMmeR
netAces.org - Info, Tactics and More!

=GHOSTS=....You Will Believe!

[Tac]

To compress and summarize:

-Take care of the most immediate Threat.
-Watch what's going on around you every 2 to 3 seconds.

[K West]

You mean just jumping into the nearest ball of red icons is not conducive to long lasting flights?

 Good stuff guys. Thanks as always!

Westy