Thoughts about head ons

[StSanta]

Well, said in another post I'd make my opinions and reasonings about the head on issue, so here goes.

I will make use of a fictional example with two pilots; one in an aircraft with inferior guns compared to the other.  This pilot, however, has a skill rating of 100 points, while the better gun aircraft pilot has one of 50 points.

In a normal 1 v 1 without head ons, the better pilot would win at a rate about 2:1 at least, probably more.

But, in a head on, things change. With two planes with equal guns, the chances are about 50/50, assuming straight head on with little jinking, or very late jinking.

Now, with a superior gun package, the 50 point pilot has negated the skill difference, and actually found himself at an advantage; say 60/40 or 65/35.

And this. my very fine friends and allied opportunists, is why I consider head ons dweebish and skill negating. I accept them as part of the game and sometimes a good way to even the odds (like in the case of many vs 1), but, it is my opinion head ons are made by either pilots with inferior skills, or very dumb pilots with superior skills; why would the superior pilot want to negate his advantage in skill?

It is my hope you do not see this as a whine, but rather an informative post about head ons in general.

Thoughts, anyone?
 

------------------
StSanta
JG54 "Grünherz"
"If you died a stones throw from your wingie; you did no wrong". - Hangtime

[Wanker]

Right on, StSanta!

Just say NO! to the HO!

[AKDejaVu]

Whatever your belief on headons.. they have their place in the arena.

In the case of base defense.. where the enemy has taken down ack and is straffing the runway a HO may be your only shot.  If you get him.. 1 less attacker.  If you don't... oh well you don't have to go far when you re-plane.

Or... when the enemy clearly has an advantage at the merge and is silly enough to point straight at you.

HOs happen.  The only thing that really irritates me is when someone gets on the comms and calls someone an HO dweeb.  It ranks right up there with "ack huggers" and "runners".

AKDejaVu

[mason22]

i'm beginning to take that old TopGun saying...(as far as HO's are concerned)

"Do not fire unless fired upon"

i find myself firing a lot.  dweebs.

------------------
Mason22
Fat Drunk Bastards  -- "shut up and FLY"

[Ripsnort]

(SIGH) Here we go again!  Beating a dead horse! http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/Forum1/HTML/002462.html

[Ripsnort]

 

Originally posted by StSanta:

And this. my very fine friends and allied opportunists, is why I consider head ons dweebish and skill negating. SNIP- but, it is my opinion head ons are made by either pilots with inferior skills, or very dumb pilots with superior skills; why would the superior pilot want to negate his advantage in skill?

Thoughts anyone?

Ya, one thought, you want some cheese Liberace?

[mx22]

I always wondered, what's the problem with HOs? As someone said before, it takes 2 to HO so if you get killed, it's your own fault. Btw, there is a number of anti-HO guys here who, while flying in AH, does not miss an opportunity to spary some lead in HO.
Then there are others well known here people - they climb to 30k and do B&Z, but if you brake high into them on their attack run and kill them, they call you HO dweeb.

The only real HO situation is when 2 planes merge coalt or almost coalt and shoot at each other. Rest is simply people being upset at being killed and looking at others to make their kill look dweebish.

mx22

[Sparks]

These HO threads make me laugh now.

When I first started on AH I read the BBS and saw everyone saying how HO's were dweebish and a cheap shot that no one took or appreciated. Then I started flying in the MA and was routinely HO'd by good pilots. When I metioned this fact to them on the open channel ("lucky HO shot mr xxxxx" and the like) I got beaten down with "That wasn't a HO Sparks that was an acute angle but not HO".
I now rountine take an "acute angle" shot if it presents itself as a way to get a kill.

[BUG_EAF322]

/that happens when the opposite plane hase more energy and ho's u out off a loop or circle

personaly i would like to avoid all ho's
that can be hard sometimes.  

[Andy Bush]

Sparks

LOL!!

Next time that happens, you might counter by correcting their understanding of math terminology.

Acute angles, by definition, are angles less than 90 degrees.

HOs, in RL are defined as gun attacks where the crossing angles are greater than 135 degrees. In RL, any short range gun attack that results in crossing angles greater than 135 degrees is aborted for safety reasons.

Andy

[Wanker]

Just to clarify, as mx22 stated, I only dislike the HO when it's used in a fair, co-alt merge.

Some of you will shoot whenever the chance presents itself. Fine. But that doesn't mean I have to respect you for that.

Learn some ACM people!

Have a nice day, HO dweebs.

[Karnak]

So, StSanta, what you're saying is that you want my low speed, slow climbing Spitfire MkIX to nicely present its tail to you're Bf109G-10 so that you can shoot it down with no danger to yourself?

For slower aircraft that can't climb like rockets the HO is frequently the only way they can defend themselves.

Does that answer some of your misunderstandings, Axis sympathizer (StSanta)?

Sisu
-Karnak

[StSanta]

 

So, StSanta, what you're saying is that you want my low speed, slow climbing Spitfire MkIX to nicely present its tail to you're Bf109G-10 so that you can shoot it down with no danger to yourself?

Yes please  . That would be a good start.

 

For slower aircraft that can't climb like rockets the HO is frequently the only way they can defend themselves.

Not entirely true; I am routinely attacked by high cons; it's part of the game when you dive into a furball.

What a slower plane can do is bleed the enemy of energy, use it superior turning capabilities and shoot him down.

What he cannot do is bug out. The plane with the higher energy state (kinetic energy and potential energy) will dictate the fight *but it can be reversed*.

What I'd like Spits to do more is go for maneuver kills rather than Head Ons.

 

Does that answer some of your misunderstadings, Axis sympathizer (StSanta)?

I don't sympathize with the nazi's. I just fly Luftwaffe iron.

What misunderstandings do I have? Please, if you will, address the points in my original post about negating skill differences.

Damned allied opportunist HO dweeb  




------------------
StSanta
JG54 "Grünherz"
"If you died a stones throw from your wingie; you did no wrong". - Hangtime

[Karnak]

StSanta, I'm going to keep refering to you as an Axis sympathizer until you stop refering to Allied pilots as opportunists.

Aircraft bleed speed too fast to be able to use manuvering to get a faster aircraft.

If I findmyself above a G-10 in a MkIX I certanly won't go for the HO, but 90% of the time the G-10, P-38 or the like is above me and I've been climbing for the last five minutes and so am going 150mph.  My only recourse is HO.  I suppose I could just let him kill me, but where's the fun it that.

Sisu
-Karnak

[pzvg]

I think it's time to bring some real understanding to this nearly mindnumbing endless train of thought.
I will fire at you headon,I will fire at you from your six,I will take the long range high-deflection crossing shot,I will vulch you as you take off, I will turn into you when you come in close.
In short I will do whatever it takes to beat you in ATA (not warping,or other "game" things) Dweeb? unfair? aww shaddup, dead people can't talk.
"Roam your assigned airspace,sight the enemy,shoot him down,the rest is rubbish"
 -Manfred Von Richthofen, a Dweeb's dweeb.

------------------
pzvg- "5 years and I still can't shoot"