Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: humble on November 07, 2000, 10:32:00 AM

Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 07, 2000, 10:32:00 AM
I had an interesting...and probably enlighting" experience yesterday. I hopped on for a couple flights afterwork in my yak. Climbed to bout 11k and leveled (from 13) and pointed nose to 1. Got bounced by high nikki, slowly sucked E out then drove him to deck and finally forced an auger. looked at fuel and ammo and rtb/reload...repeated above...watched a 190 cruise over me and vectored away to jump a low chog and co-alt pony. Nailed the chog and got a freebie when pony shed wings trying to follow...190 bounced me and after sucking his E out got him when he tried to extend. Cleaned up a 38 on way home (assist). Total...4K's and an assist. Not recounting this as WOW look at me but usually i wade in take my shots...rarely do i fly "smart"...anyway dinner came so wind her down. After homework and honey-do's the itch returns  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif). Go to 13 again and level at 10k and point nose to 1. Slow climb to 15k as I go...catch a hog and 38 heading to 27, scream thru 88's and hose the hog, drag 38 clear and zoom him...then once again head on back to 13...re up and catch wiz and some others on the way to 1...go on to furball at 27...catch a couple jugs and a 190 in the mess and finish with an assist on 109. 9k's 2 Assists and no deaths. Think the 1st time i've ever flown a day in AH without dying. Was kind of fun (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif). Now day before got bounced 4-5 times in my yak by multiple bogies and died everytime...with maybe 1 kill...had a blast also.

So, now I'm torn between the "fly smart" and the "lets rumble" schools of flying. But it gives me a new perspective on how Ice and others feel bout the "fly to live" philosphy.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Ice on November 07, 2000, 11:02:00 AM
Hiyas Humble (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

The answer is this...seek the middle ground brother...Fly Smart AND Rumble!

I always start a fight smart, but sometimes I don't finish it smart (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) What helps me the most is strong SA...I've gotten to where 90% of the time I'm looking around during my fights...helps me know when to get out...I've learned to trust that little voice that says, time to go.

Flying to live and yet killing the enemy like you described above has always been my goal...folks make fun of me for doing it and say that it requires no skill...well, I would like to see some of them sustain this style for a tour and in the end see how they fare...it's not as easy as it sounds (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Plus, who likes to get a couple of kills just to get killed themselves...certainly not me (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)

It felt kinda good to land those kills didn't it? Now if I can get ya in a pony, then your journey will be complete (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Cyas Up!

Ice
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 07, 2000, 11:25:00 AM
Actually pony has always been my ride of choice for that type of stuff. The yak is a new affliction. Back in Aug/Sept I was still spending a lot of time in the TA and cleaner flew the yak in there aot. Started messing with it then, and slowly got hooked. I'll usually fly every ride during a tour...but I'm thinking bout limiting my MA selection a bit.

And to answer your question...suprisingly yes. I've augered more than one 5 kill mission (bout my limit in yak) so I didn't think it would matter...but it did. As for SA, mine is still soso but it's more a "state of mind". On the 1st hop normally I'd go 86 cannon rounds 50% fuel...lets go...but for some reason I rtb'd...so instead of 1/2 tank I had 80%...normally I'd turn to 190 or take on the pony as higher threat. Here I knew I'd get a bounce on hog and that pony wasn't a problem. Once I started down that road it was easy to look for weakest link vs best fight. Only time I was in any potential danger was when you cleared 109 off my 6 at 27...and he was 700+ out. Obviously I'm gonna push the "streak" best I can.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Ice on November 07, 2000, 11:37:00 AM
It most certainly is a state of mind...patience yields much no matter what your ride is.

Good Luck with your streak...hope getting stupid doesn't afflict you as it so often does me (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Ice
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 07, 2000, 01:12:00 PM
Durn!! I wish I could do that!

What do you mean by 'sucking E out' of an adversary? Or better still...how do you do it?

Andy
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Vulcan on November 07, 2000, 01:41:00 PM
Heheh Humble know what ya mean dude. Started flying my tiffie just right lately. Funny thing is I'm not taking her above 15k, and like you I score the odd 51-without-wings kill :-)

Got on 2 night ago a did a 9 kill run over 2 refuels. Ended up sucking lead from a low Lanc.

Andy sucking E requires an adversary not wary of E-management. Usually it involves long drags with breaks when they get close. In the tiffie I find a good E sucker is a high speed dive, esp when the con is higher than me. Most a/c compress a lot faster than the tiffie, the resulting time it takes them to recover usually gives me an E advantage and a nice shot at them :-)

Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 07, 2000, 05:09:00 PM
Andy,

I'm not sure that I can describe it...but I will here. Also, i've got em all on film so I can send em to you.

When I encounter a high bogie I'm resigned to the fact that I'll have to give em a shot. My entire goal is to setup a "bad" shot solution, ideally one that forces them under me. Then they burn extra E to get over me again. As we repeat the cycle I'll judge there zoom and reversal skills. 3rd or 4th zoom I'll push nose down as they pass 1000...they'll think i'm stalling and I'll let nose up as they go over top...usually I'll end up co to positive E at that point and hunt em down...the yak will out hustle anything down low. If I remember correctly with the nikki I chopped on him and used rudder to sideslip his shot...he overshot trying to follow my evasive and burned alot of E...compounded it by getting cute...and died 3-4 min later.

Would love to send you a couple clips....professional critique from someone who's fired a shot in anger always welcome (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 07, 2000, 05:14:00 PM
Vulcan,

It's funny but I feel like you do...get plane to it's "optimal" flight level and let em come to me. Tiffie is another sweet ride at mid-alt. I flew tiffie alot before I took a break. Only thing about yak is it's quick acceleration. I'm still not a "smart" flyer and once you lose E in tiffie it's tough to get it back. If I keep evolving in this direction I think I'll switch back, no doubt the tiffie offers a greater upside if well flown.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Vulcan on November 07, 2000, 08:26:00 PM
Yeah my favourite in the tiffie and the 190 is down near the deck, let them get to about d2-d3 pull nose up slightly roll inverted and then pull back into a VERY gentle reverse. If you judge it right and keep the reverse gentle enough they mistake the reverse for a shallow dive, the go into a shallow dive and by the time they realize whats happen its to late to follow.

Some will immediately roll and pull back VERY hard and and blow their E to follow you. By this time your completing and a lot lower, but if you've executed it right u have toejamloads of E and can go into a power-zoom and drag em up for a rope-a-dope. Thats if they don't midjudge it and auger (about 20% do). Then some black out and completely lose their SA.

I find about 80% fall for this, the experiencd pilots just go vertical to reverse and keep their E. But by this time I'm usually well out of reach.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 07, 2000, 09:02:00 PM
Humble

My e-mail is alfakilo@doitnow.com.

I'd like to see the film...but not to critique it...I'd like to pick up a few pointers!

I've looked at other's film as well as my own and have been reluctant to comment unless I saw a BFM error of particular significance. Otherwise, much of what I see in this sim that affects winning has relatively little real world duplication.

For example, we have a limited viewing system, artificial G restraints, net lag that affects distance and closure perception, and flight model issues that tend to create an artificial maneuvering environment. It seems most succesful pilots have learned how to make those factors work for themselves.

Those factors give me the fits, and I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to adjust to them. It simply does not look like this in real life. I don't mean that as a criticism, just an observation.

Not that sims can't portray the BFM environment better. They can...and do. It seems to me that on-line game play, regardless of which sim, tends to be less 'realistic' from my perspective.

Andy

Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: AKSeaWulfe on November 07, 2000, 09:20:00 PM
Andy.. is this what your looking for?
Right click the following link and choose "save as.." when you save it be sure to change the .gif extension to .ahf

I had to change the extension to upload it to geocities.. *.zips seem to corrupt the films.
 http://www.geocities.com/weissdr1/sw190.gif (http://www.geocities.com/weissdr1/sw190.gif)

-SW
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 07, 2000, 09:51:00 PM
SW

Can you check that link? I'm not getting it.

Andy
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: AKSeaWulfe on November 07, 2000, 09:54:00 PM
Hmm works for me, have you right clicked on it and chosen "save link as..." or something along those lines? Tried using Internet Explorer if you have it? That's what I'm using and works for me.
-SW
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 07, 2000, 11:18:00 PM
SW
No luck. I can get the other pics off the parent directory, but not this one.

It displays with the little red x box and is not 'savable' using the right mouse click.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: bowser on November 07, 2000, 11:31:00 PM
Don't left-click on it.  If you're using IE, just right-click it and then select Save As.  Change the extension at that time.  Not sure about Netscape..maybe have to hold shift key down..can't remember.

Actually..after I downloaded it, I can't get it to play.

bowser

[This message has been edited by bowser (edited 11-07-2000).]
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: AKSeaWulfe on November 07, 2000, 11:40:00 PM
Ahhh!! Right click on the link I provided within my UBB post and choose the save as option. You are clicking on the link with the left mouse button and it's try to display an image file that isn't an image. It's an aces high film (ahf) that I changed the .ahf to .gif on so the net thinks it's a gif(image) file.
-SW
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: AKDejaVu on November 08, 2000, 12:05:00 AM
I've noticed that when .ahf files are saved by Explorer.. they are called film.ahf.ahf.  They appear fine under the film menu but will not execute.  The simple solution is to delete one of the .ahf's.

Might be the problem you've seen wulfie.

AKDejaVu
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 08, 2000, 12:56:00 AM
OK...I got the file, but I can't get rid of the gif extension. When I try to rename it, I get a double extension...sw190.ahf.gif.

There is no way that I can see to do a rename when I download. I use IE 5.5...I have two choices when saving the file...gif or 'all files'. Just typing in ahf doesn't accomplish anything other than getting me a double extension.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: AKSeaWulfe on November 08, 2000, 01:02:00 AM
Do this: CLick Start->Programs->WIndows Explorer  Click on view from the drop down menu, then scroll down to the end of the menu and select Folder Options. Click on the tab labelled VIEW. UnCheck the Hide File Extensions for Known File Types. Now rename the file and remove the .gif extension.
-SW
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 08, 2000, 08:01:00 AM
OK!!

Got it now...I'll get some Good and Plentys and fire it up!
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: leonid on November 08, 2000, 08:15:00 AM
E sucking, cool term, hehe  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

WRT E sucking, vert scissors is an excellent method, usually initiated with a sharp pitchup as opponent booms you from on high.  Then, chop throttle a little, followed by 180 bank, and a pull on the stick to bring the craft into an inverted dive.  Again, 180 bank, sharp pitchup, and chop throttle.  Repeat. La5 & Yak-9 both quite good at this.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 08, 2000, 10:12:00 AM
Been on the wrong end of that one more than once leonid (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif).

Andy I'll send em to you soon as I get home. I looked at the 1 described above last night. I never look at my own clips anymore so is a funny feeling. i relate a bit to what you said...now I have no real flight exp...but even to me I'd coach little different than I flew those. But the key elements in decision making seem to have been ALWAYS keep the under position neg E and never give up the over position when positive E. I watched myself flat turn...while I'm thinking MORON...only to see the angles/position it gave me as it set up a slashing over to under attack by con that led to E reversal. After that I was giving myself low grades on my attacks...but con never got a nibble, never could run and never saw the top of my plane...anyway I'll send em your way tonight
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: humble on November 08, 2000, 10:13:00 AM
Been on the wrong end of that one more than once leonid (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif).

Andy I'll send em to you soon as I get home. I looked at the 1 described above last night. I never look at my own clips anymore so is a funny feeling. i relate a bit to what you said...now I have no real flight exp...but even to me I'd coach little different than I flew those. But the key elements in decision making seem to have been ALWAYS keep the under position neg E and never give up the over position when positive E. I watched myself flat turn...while I'm thinking MORON...only to see the angles/position it gave me as it set up a slashing over to under attack by con that led to E reversal. After that I was giving myself low grades on my attacks...but con never got a nibble, never could run and never saw the top of my plane...anyway I'll send em your way tonight
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 08, 2000, 11:13:00 AM
SW

That was some very nice flying! I wish I could do the same!

Your use of the vertical was excellent, as was your end game chase when his energy was finally gone.

If I were to add something to the other guy, it would be to suggest that he not give you so much lateral spacing at the merges, and that he try to extend longer in the vertical (he may have rushed his pulldowns and thereby cut into his ability to retain overall energy).

Andy
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Minotaur on November 08, 2000, 11:21:00 PM
 
Quote
By Andy Bush
For example, we have a limited viewing system, artificial G restraints, net lag that affects distance and closure perception, and flight model issues that tend to create an artificial maneuvering environment. It seems most succesful pilots have learned how to make those factors work for themselves.

Those factors give me the fits, and I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to adjust to them. It simply does not look like this in real life. I don't mean that as a criticism, just an observation.

Andy;

I am coming to accept this as probably my biggest handicap.  Staring at my monitor I really have a difficult time judging relative angles and speed.  The use of Icons is my only salvation.

I think also the graphic detail is very low and that really throws me off.  Indeed my biggest problem is my sight vs reactions don't seem to match up well in the game.

I read about players who are able to dissect so much information and analyse it.  All this while a fight is happening.  This amazes me, because half the time if I get close in I can't even tell which way the my target is moving.  

It can be going away or coming toward me and I can't tell the difference.  Often it just up and vanishes right out of my sight.  Typically I fly myself right into big doodoo.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Realistically; games like AH are probably as close as I will ever get to any of this.  I will be a MinoTarget for a long time I'm afraid.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)

 
Quote
By Chief
Endervor to Perservear

------------------
Mino
The Wrecking Crew

"Dog out..."
Wardog
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Andy Bush on November 09, 2000, 09:28:00 AM
Mino

My thoughts exactly!!

>>I read about players who are able to dissect so much information and analyse it. All this while a fight is happening. This amazes me, because half the time if I get close in I can't even tell which way the my target is moving.<<

A friend of mine suggested using the zoom feature to get a better look at the intended target. I'm usually so excited that I finally got someone in front of me for a change that I forget to do it!!

Andy

Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: flakbait on November 09, 2000, 09:53:00 AM
Old trick used by Luftwaffe interceptors going HO against bombers. Watch for respective movement of the target; EG watch him from a distance to see if there's any lateral movement. If he's flying slightly left of you, his dot will seem to drift left. If he's high, you'll see him start creeping up. I use a marker, usually the top of the gunsight glass, as a reference. If he's high he'll start creeping up the gunsight, eventually going above the glass.

Same goes for left, right, or down movement. Pick a marker inside or outside the cockpit and watch the relative movement of the dot. Canopy frames, gunsight glass, wingtip; anything that lets you see movement of the dot. If there isn't any movement, he's coming HO or flying away. Simple really.

If you get in a fight and want to tell what he's doing, watch his wings. Most aircraft have a light belly, with a dark over-tone. Take the Niki; if you see white he's turning away, black and he's coming at you. I've used this to tackle Nikis twice in a Yak, and both times it worked resulting in me getting kills.

I use an old vid card, at 1024 rez with 16 bit color and I can see the yellow ring on the nose of a D-hog from 650 yards. No ring means C-hog. Just watch for lumps of color on the wings, tail or nose. This is how to tell C from D hogs, Nikis can be spotted by looking for a black aircraft. The paint is so dark on a Niki that at a distance he'll show up as flying a black plane. It's also easy, as I stated above, to tell when a Niki is turning towards or away from you. Provided he's around 500 yards, you'll be able to tell.

As for zoom, I never use it when fighting. I'll use it to check for ground targets from on high, or to check the status of a field. Actually fighting when zoomed in creates problems since you can't see your gauges. Plus the "head-bounce" in the game can throw you off due to the magnified vision.



------------------
Flakbait
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
"My art is the wings of an aircraft through the skies, my music the deep hum of a prop as it slices the air, my thrill the thunder of guns tearing asunder an enemy plane."
Flakbait
19 September 2000
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Hangtime on November 09, 2000, 10:29:00 AM
Absolutely, the most difficult thing about the sim is SA. Regardless of the A/C you prefer to fly, it's all about what you see; what you don't and how you interpet it.

As I work on a con, the smallest details can suddenly have the largest impact.. and the diffrence between a win or a loss with this crowd is becoming more and more a battle of mistakes and omissions. Make fewer mistakes; permit the other guy to make just one more than you...

Visual acuity and definition on the target is the biggest most important piece of info you have to make decisions with. Without a refined view system setup you are missing the most critical cues necessary to wage the duel of mistakes vs 'e' bleed.

Get the 'zoom' function programed up on your flight stick buttons, including the 'zoom-in zoom-out' modes. I have a button on the joystick that snaps zoom 'on', and a rocker on the throttle to zoom-in/out. I often can see the planform clearer.. can better see and thus judge his relative angle of attack vs his direction of travel; the rate of change; the closure... all of these things become much clearer, resulting in better decisions on my part on relative e states.

And nowadays, any tiny bit of visual data can be just what was needed to leave the fight with the other guys pelt, instead of vice-versa.

Flying a sim with a programable suite of controls is both a bane and a blessing. In a sim like Aces High you may wonder just what in hell would you use 40 programable functions FOR???? The majority of mine are set to view functions... switches, rockers, coolie hats that handle my radar slew and azmiuth and HUDS and MFD's and weapons rotations in a F16 sim are doing some wild stuff to views and such in AH. Makes switching between sims a major pain in the ass... because flying either one well requires you be able to play that joystick/throttle command set like Jimmi Hendrix played his guitar... instinctively.

At this point; I don't even think about my view system in AH anymore.. in the same mental process it takes to ask 'whats he doing??' my fingers have flipped the switches without concsious thought. Tried to fly my old Janes F15 sim the other night... crashed on takeoff. Couldn't find the damn gear switch.  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Hang


Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Minotaur on November 09, 2000, 10:30:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Andy Bush:
Mino

My thoughts exactly!!


<snip>


A friend of mine suggested using the zoom feature to get a better look at the intended target. I'm usually so excited that I finally got someone in front of me for a change that I forget to do it!!

Andy

LOL  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Andy;

I do use zoom....

I use zoom only in brief time spans just before I shoot to get better aim.  Other wise I lose endless SA trying to find a con that I can't see, because of the reduced FOV afforded by zoom.

Flakbait;

Thanks for the advice.  The ranges past d1.5 are not a problem for me.  It is the ranges inside of this that I have a problem.  Many times the plane shape is simply too small to make out detail.  It is still just barely larger than a dot up to d300 or so.

If the bandit is in the ground clutter I am hopeless.  For some reason anything within the shaded area of my sight gets color filtered.  Take the example, you can't distinguish red colors if you are wearing red sun glasses.  Parts of the detail just vanish.

Here is an example of what I struggle with:

I just could not see well enough to tell which way he was pointed and flew right into his guns.  Happens all the time.

------------------
Mino
The Wrecking Crew

"Dog out..."
Wardog
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Vulcan on November 09, 2000, 02:39:00 PM
Mino: Dunno if this is bad or good... but I NEVER use the sights in AH (might explain a lot).

I move my head to a higher position in the cockpit, this gives me better lead views (crucial for the tiffie and 190).

After a while you get to have knack for where the rounds are going to land.

Like Obi-wan says... use the force.
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Duckwing6 on November 09, 2000, 03:00:00 PM
I found out that my gunsight was way to cluttered .. atually all you need is a few dots or even 1 dot that gives you boresighting .. any lines in the sight cut down on what you see of your bogie ..

Zoom is VERY important for me .. also i use 800x600 as on my monitor (a VERY old 20") i could run 1024x768 but then everything is so tiny that i can hardly make out enemy dots...

and As Hang said .. i'm swiveing my head with the cooly and 1 button that changes my views from horizontaly to 45° up on the hat .. it's instinctively.

DW6
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: flakbait on November 09, 2000, 03:12:00 PM
In a case like that, you can't really do much. A Typhoon has the most HORRID 6 view of any aircraft I've ever had the displeasure of flying. Since you can't see behind you, you don't know what he's doing. In this case, aircraft design failed not your SA or vision. As for miracle vert reversals, that's not possible. He doesn't have enough time to go vert on you, hang, stall, dive, gain speed, and do it again. My guess is, he was holding it up with rudder alone and you popped around into his sights a second or two before he would have dumped it.

Flying a Typhoon is nice when you know what you're doing, as you rarely have to check your 6. Horde that speed like a bank holds money and you're set, just don't slow down. In a Yak I've got that armored glass behind my head, so I can just look back and see what he's up to. In a Typhoon you've got a solid armor plate. Same goes, more or less, for a 109; you have some 6 view.

If you did anything wrong, it was flying a Typhoon and not sucking his E off. I'd tell you do pull a ratchet turn, but the Tiffe doesn't have the rudder for it. But if you find yourself in a nasty fight with a turn fighter, and have speed, try this:

Slowly pull it up until completely vertical. Once there, throw the stick hard right and give it a sharp jab of left rudder for ONE second while adding a little [key word] elevator. This snaps you around between 45º and 90º from your original flight path. Now pull down executing a half-assed Split S. Throw a little roll in during the dive and you'll pop out behind him. When it comes to flying aircraft with poor roll performance, you can often kick in a quick rudder jab to improve it. Just boot the rudder hard in the same direction you roll, and you'll snap roll only 90º.

Whatever you do, DON'T hold that opposite rudder for long. Especially in a Yak, as it will start that nose-high spin. The only way out of that spin I've found is to slam the gas, nose down, roll into it. The aircraft will act very lazy for a few seconds as you recover, but it'll pop into line a bit later. If you don't have alt and enter this spin, you're dead. It takes around 3-6k to simply recover, depending on how quick you react.




------------------
Flakbait
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
"My art is the wings of an aircraft through the skies, my music the deep hum of a prop as it slices the air, my thrill the thunder of guns tearing asunder an enemy plane."
Flakbait
19 September 2000
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: tssfka on November 09, 2000, 03:30:00 PM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Minotaur:
I just could not see well enough to tell which way he was pointed and flew right into his guns.  Happens all the time.

Mino,

The important part of situational awareness is not what you do or don't see...it's allowing the information you see to influence your mental picture of the situation.  For example, in your vertical fight, it seems you were surprised that the enemy reversed.

Taking in the visual cues that he was reversing would have helped you to avoid his guns.  To reverse, he would have had to translate across your field of view in at least 1 plane (ie he would have to fly through a radius which would appear as movement across your nose).

Thus, if you had seen this translation, you would know he had reversed.  You do not need to see which way his nose is pointing.  He could be a dot on the screen and still you would have the cues you need.  Try watching for the movement of the enemy's plane relative to yours.  Don't concentrate too hard on looking for which way his wingtips are set compare to the horizon or whether his nose is up or down.  Just watch for the translation of the plane.  This will tell you where he is going and where you need to be.

Hope this helps the nme to be Mino-targets  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Minotaur on November 09, 2000, 03:59:00 PM
 
Quote
By Tssfka
Taking in the visual cues that he was reversing would have helped you to avoid his guns. To reverse, he would have had to translate across your field of view in at least 1 plane (ie he would have to fly through a radius which would appear as movement across your nose).

This was not the case, I was essentially dropping straight down on him.  His speed I assumed to be really low.

Thanks for your advice it is much appreciated.  I think much of my problems are just me and my ability to mis-interpret what I see into what I think I see.

Questions:

If you see the targets plane of motion crossing yours how do you tell if it is coming toward you or going away?  The rate of closure by the Icon is not often a good indication.

How do you judge the angle at which your flight path corresponds to your targets flight path. (IE: Aspect angle)  I can rarely tell until I get really close.

How do tell if the targets guns are pointed your way or away from you?  The graphic presentation seems to often fool me.

The answer lies some one where, but yet remains a mystery to me.  One thing I am sure of is that if I am in range to shoot, so is my target.

Thanks again!   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

"Dog out..."
Wardog

[This message has been edited by Minotaur (edited 11-09-2000).]
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: flakbait on November 09, 2000, 05:07:00 PM
You can sort of judge closure rate by watching the dot, not the icon. The dot will get bigger as you get closer, combine that with the range ticking off on the icon and you've got a rough idea how fast you're closing. Figure the average MA-Dweeb [every pilot] putts around doing 350mph to get from point A to point B. Watch your speed, the airspeed indicator not nme plane or closure rate. A rule I use when watching my speed is "Above 15k is red, below is white." meaning IAS below 15k, TAS above it.

If he's just come out of a fight, or needs to save gas, he'll slow down. Otherwise, assume he's hauling balls to China. Another thing to do is read the charts on each plane after finding out which aircraft you encounter the most. I know the Yak will do 400mph at 10k because I've done it. The 109G6 can hit around 350 at that alt, with the Spit IX some 10mph faster. P-38s at ANY alt are a real threat, and I try avoiding them. When I can't I pull some crazy maneuver and tear off towards friendly faces.

Keep one eye on the airspeed indicator, the other on the dot, and your third eye on the icon. If you want practice at this, dive in the TA and get someone to fly straight. I asked someone in a B-17 to hold a steady altitude when learning this. I looked at the space between the icon and his plane. Periphial vision picks up both as long as you don't concentrate too hard. The key word is looked, not stared; a slight glance between the two can show you what he's doing.

If you're around tomorrow morning, I'll be in the TA looking to mash Lephturn using a Yak Snapshot. Hopefully he'll be there and we can get film of it. If he doesn't show up, I'll fly a B-17 dead level for you to learn how to pick this stuff up. If he does show, we can take care of it after he and I are done.



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Flakbait
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
"My art is the wings of an aircraft through the skies, my music the deep hum of a prop as it slices the air, my thrill the thunder of guns tearing asunder an enemy plane."
Flakbait
19 September 2000
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: Jekyll on November 09, 2000, 05:09:00 PM
 
Quote
As he fell off I reversed straight down, but slightly off to one side. I pulled neatly into a killing shot figuring that I had him. I was to be met once again by his guns blazing away on me. Some how he had been able to get his nose up again, turned around on me and then shoot me down

Hehe, old LW pilots never die  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)  Does the following quote seem familiar?

"I racked the Jug into a tight climbing left hand turn, staying just above and in front of the pursuing Focke-Wulf. ........ The Focke-Wulf just didn't have it.  At 8,000 feet he stalled out while the Thunderbolt roared smoothly; I kicked over into a roll and locked onto his tail.

The was coming AT me!  I had slipped into firing position when he whipped around into a 180 degree turn; I've never seen a tighter or quicker turn in a fighter - any fighter - in my life.  That man was good!  He didn't even turn, I thought, just suddenly reversed his flight and ran at me."
Title: A matter of perspective
Post by: 214thCavalier on November 09, 2000, 08:13:00 PM
Contrary to most of you it seems i rarely use the Zoom feature when in a fight.
I fly at 1600 res with the cockpit zoomed all the way out to give me the widest field of view, its just my preference but i find it gives me better SA.
Those struggling with SA you have optimised all the views for your planes and saved them ?
I never want a zoomed in view in a dogfight,
I decided to make a rule of never firing when distance is greater than 350 and prefer to fire within 300 and at them ranges you dont need zoom  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
If all i can see is a dot my rule is never fly straight at it unless i know for sure its going away, i always try to keep some lateral separation that way if i suddenly find its in icon range and closing fast its no big deal as i am already working an angle.
If its not closing then theres plenty more targets out there  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)