Head On Lethality Explanation?

[stantond]

Hi,

After playing AH for a while, I am still puzzled by the effectiveness of head ons.  For example, a LA7, Spit9, Tiffy (cannon equipped plane) that appears to fire at 1.2k out (when I turn) not only hits me, but does considerable damage.  Comparing that with trying to hit an airplane at 300 yds, stead level in front of you from behind...which (while not impossible) is very difficult.

Training books on combat flight show a head on being a low probablity (not likely) snap shot.  Ok, I recognize this does not apply to AH, but why are level head ons so leathal where a level six shot (with a high rate of closure) is almost a guaranteed miss?  Or, you will likely hurt your own plane if you do hit an enemy (at least thats what happens to me).

Do cannon rounds have oil/radiator guidance systems not available when fired at from behind?  Why is a head on shot much easier than a six oclock shot (when someone is not evading)?  Could this be a lag/stick stir issue?  Am I alone on this one?


Wish I could learn to shoot better,

Malta

[Shane]

the best way i coul dpossibly demonstrate this would be to:


non HO lethality:  stand in front of a brick wall, do not move, wait for continental drift to eventually bring you into contact with the wall.

HO lethality: run as fast as you can at that brick wall.

was that too graphic?


non-HO: start running *away* from a friend who is trying to nail you with a fistful of steel bearings using a paint gun.

HO: run directly at him while he's trying to nail you with a fistful of steel bearings using a paint gun.

does this clear it up? if not, you might have taken too many HO's growing up.

[MrLars]

Originally posted by Shane
the best way i coul dpossibly demonstrate this would be to:


non HO lethality:  stand in front of a brick wall, do not move, wait for continental drift to eventually bring you into contact with the wall.

HO lethality: run as fast as you can at that brick wall.

was that too graphic?


non-HO: start running *away* from a friend who is trying to nail you with a fistful of steel bearings using a paint gun.

HO: run directly at him while he's trying to nail you with a fistful of steel bearings using a paint gun.

does this clear it up? if not, you might have taken too many HO's growing up.

ROFL....combine Shanes explanation and factor in merge speeds AND net lag and what you get at any given moment in a HO situation is NOT what you see.

Someone do the math...

700mph merge speed and 1/4 to 1/2 second lag...how far do the planes travel between updates?

So, when you shoot him at D1000 he probably sees you at D700 or less.

[Kweassa]

stantond, they are low probability already in AH.

 If I am to try a HO shot, and at the same time keen on staying alive, I usually take a long burst starting from 1.2k to 900 yards and pull out of the way as hard as possible. Unless I'm packing especially powerful weapons such as 30mms, I rarely knock anyone down with a HO pass. Damaging them lightly or pinging them is all I achieve from this, usually.

 Now, about those "high probability" HO shots...

 Those are the result of people flying and shooting in a way real life pilots would rarely would. Both of the opponents take a "real" aim at each other and they just start shooting like mad while approaching straigh. As a result, they are usually both dead.

 If any of the two HO aircraft pilot really has a desire to live, HO kills are very rare. It's because both of them do not have any consideration towards one's safety that people end up dead from trying HOs.

[WineMan]

Originally posted by stantond
[  Comparing that with trying to hit an airplane at 300 yds, stead level in front of you from behind...which (while not impossible) is very difficult.

why are level head ons so leathal where a level six shot (with a high rate of closure) is almost a guaranteed miss?  Or, you will likely hurt your own plane if you do hit an enemy (at least thats what happens to me).

Why is a head on shot much easier than a six oclock shot (when someone is not evading)?  Could this be a lag/stick stir issue?  Am I alone on this one?


Wish I could learn to shoot better,

Malta [/B]

I think you might be alone on this one.  A six o'clock shot where an opponent is not evading rarely results in a miss for me.  And I'm not even that good.  I never damage myself in that situation either.  As far as the high rate of closure is concerned, maybe you're just overshooting and blowing by too fast to aim correctly, and the damage issue - maybe you're flying into the con?  No idea, but for me (and I assume most others) a steady six shot on a non-evasive target is the easiest shot in the game....