What We Need Is a 'Clean Pass' Arena!

[Renfield]

I think the aversion in real life to the HO is that it could easily be deadly. Besides being directly in the line of fire, you could hit the other guy. And what is the purpose of avoiding guns if you simply collide? If you hit, almost guaranteed both pilots die.

I think that real pilots would rather nix the mutual death in hopes that they could kill the other guy and get away.

HOs don't matter in the online sims because we (obviously) don't really die - thus there isn't near the impetus to avoid them.

It takes two to HO. There is also net lag to deal with that skews a tight fight and might provoke an HO just because one pilot doesn't see the other plane the way the other pilot sees his own plane. I've also had my controls get shot out where I become just a hurtling mass of metal and virtual pilot - helpless to change trajectory.

Yeah, HOs suck. But too many forget while they rant on channel 1 that they were just as much at fault as the other guy and mistakes happen. Even as much as it was avoided in WWII, it still happened and people died.

[funked]

I've read many US pilots from the Pacific say they would take any shot on a Japanese plane, including HO.

At the WB Con, Frank Gabreski said that when the Nazis attacked bombers from the front, his P-47's would not hesitate to take an HO shot to stop them.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 08-09-2000).]

[Suave1]

I would love to see an arena with Ho's off. HOsqueak free if you will .

[glopuk]

Read Saburo Sakai's "Samurai", he documents many HO attacks made by himself and his pilots on P39s/40s etc.

Glop, out.

[Andy Bush]

StSanta

I don't fly the F-15...I fly the DC-9!

What I'm trying to explain is that the HO in RL is an accepted attack technique.

In WW2, numerous examples exist of situations that were specifically planned as HOs...among these is the Thatch Weave defensive tactic and the teachings of Gen. Chennault (AVG Flying Tigers).

The only restriction in the US military regarding HOs is a training ROE that prevents front quarter short range gun attacks. Since the introduction of the improved 20mm round that dramatically increased projectile range, long range gun attacks are now authorized.

Andy

[Duckwing6]

HO free that's like AW .. and it sucked .. A front quarter gun pass is a pretty important consideration in an engagement and it shouldn't be taken out of the game IHMO