Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Help and Training => Topic started by: Hap on July 14, 2007, 11:16:10 AM
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For those who don't want to read this, look for the bold type at the bottom. If that interests you, read on!
Some tips for anyone one who enjoys bombing from high altitude, and some random observations.
This takes patience. So if you like taking off and having it all over and done with in 10 mins, quit reading now.
Minuses to this method: consumes an hour or two.
Pluses: you can hit many targets on an enemy's front line, its a blast, "immersion" in the experienced is enhanced, you usually wind up surviving and landing kills. (N.B.: It is good to note where the enemy's 163's base is though as to avoid it if possible.)
Operative Principle: Airspeed is your friend.
0) Graphics: slide everything to the left. Max out the sliders and detail unless your computer won't let you. You'll see your targets MUCH easier.
0a) Clock: Place a clock with a second hand on your desk that you can see easily.
0c) Plan your take off from your tallest base.
1) Plan your route. Allow 2 sectors after leveling off (20K to 30K) to get to full airspeed.
1a) Plan the bases you'll hit and a point of exit. Bases will set up that a semi-circular route will allow you hit base after base on a front line, and get you headed for home in nice order.
2) Get the gas right. If you just want to give this a couple tests and don't mind going bingo fuel, grab 75% in a 17, 50% in a 24, and 25% in a Lancaster.
3) Get the payload right: 500 lbers salvo 2 is sweet for strat targets, the 14 1,000 lbers in a lanc can't be beat, and 1,000 lbers in 17's and 24's.
4) Don't forget the Ki and Ju. Can be lots of fun especially the Ki when you're cruising at 330+ TAS. Try 50% gas and make adjustments from there. Consult plane altitude speed charts. Put her at an alt where she flies the fastest.
5) Get the salvo right. Salvo 1 can work, but the bombs spread a bit. Salvo 2 (1 more bomb than is mathematically needed to nail a target for example) helps negate the spread.
6) Let autoclimb do its think. The less you depoly control surfaces (piddle with the stick) the better. Less friction, you get higher faster.
7) Get fast and stay fast. Level out and hit F6 to go into the bombsite. Hit escape to pull up your map. Tuck it in the upper right or lower right of the bombsite adjusting it's size and zoom to your needs. Do all your steering from the bombsite. You won't lose airspeed. If you hit F3 or steer from the pilot's position, all is lost. You've lost speed and it takes a good deal of time and distance to regain it.
8) See with your eyes. Use the 8 key on your KEYPAD, not the top row of numbers on your keyboard, to look forward out of your bombers nose. Use Pageup/Pagedown and the F10 key to save a good head position, so the bombsite dosen't block your view while looking out of the plexiglass.
8a) No you can use your map and your eyes.
8b) If you want to check your 6, use F5 and F8 but don't touch your stick. Hit F6 to go back to the bombsite. Yes there's other ways to do it too. This is just one. You'll figure out the others. The key is not to "pilot" the bomber from any position than the bombsite. And yes, there's other ways to do it, but this method offers a HIGH degree of immersion.
9) Open your doors upon leveling off. Yes, there's other ways. This is simplest.
10) After 2 sectors of level flight heading to your target, calibrate. Use your clock's second hand. 30 seconds is fine. You can get away with less. 30 seconds will work peachy though. You can verify your that your E6b shows no increase in airspeed. You're bombsite will keep that # stored so you can double/triple verify when you're getting really close. 1 mph doesn't matter. 2 mph variance does.
11) Now the fun begins. Make your run, and from the bombsite steer to your next target. In a 17 you'll be flying at about 265 mph, in a 24 about 285, I've fogotten the Lanc's speed, and in a Ki at about 330'ish. You'll have 3 to 5 min (max) to get calibrated for your next target. These minutes fly by! Steering from bombsite doesn't happen quickly. 180 degree turns take a good deal of time. Turns less than 90 degrees are preferred. The bases line up that way generally too. Use zoom to see your targets. Know where stuff is on the airfield. Use your airfield maps. Or, for the VH e.g., look for the big pad on med and large airfields, etc. Learning is part of the fun.
11b) Recalibrate. You've lost some weight. Also, you're losing weight due to gas comsumption.
11c) Keep repeating the method until you're bingo ordinance.
12) Bad Guys: they will expect you to reverse and return. When you don't, they usually will not give chase. If you've taken plenty of gas, you'll be over the enemy front for 1/2 an hour or better hitting target after target. Now, you'll be setting bases flashing along their front. Sooner or later, they will seek to destroy you. They can run you down. They will if they don't go bingo gas and keep at it. But it takes some doing. Something most fighter pilots are not prepared to do. If you have stayed fast, 9 times out of 10, you'll get a low 6 attack. The exception being 163's, and the guy who knows what's up and climbs 5k taller than you and levels well prior to seeking you. Very rare. It does happen.
Have Fun!
In one sentence, steer from the bombsite. You won't lose airspeed on the turns. You'll gain airspeed due to reduced weight since you've lost bombs and gas. You're flying with a map and a bombsite and looking out your bomber's nose. VERY realistic as far as out game goes.
A word about Lancasters. Takes a long time to get to 25 or 30K. She wants to poop out at about 20 to 22K. She will climb higher if you don't piddle with the stick. Yes, there are tricks about this one, but I'm keeping it simple. But, with the right gas, and 14 1,000 lb bombs you can stay aloft over the front line for 1/2 hour to 45 mins. This is fun and cool, because you can participate in any offensives, "Need the VH down," etc sort of stuff.
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Nice post. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Question. Why would hitting F3 affect your airspeed?
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Originally posted by badhorse
Nice post. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Question. Why would hitting F3 affect your airspeed?
F3 doesn't effect your speed, but maneuvering from F3 view invariably results in the the nose going high or low, or simply the normal increase in induced drag when maneuvering. Turning while in F6 view doesn't generate any drag changes (a mystery to me as to why it doesn't). A gamey feature, for sure.
My regards,
Widewing
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Dude, you just made bombing difficult.
All you have to do is figure out where your bombing. Line up to it. Make sure you have sufficient alt. And RE-CALIBRATE LIKE THERES NO TOMMOROW.
(http://www.collingsfoundation.org/images/NewPX/stokes_B-24.jpg)
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Good post, Sir.
However...if my Corsair is above you...0-26Kish in altitude....
I may have a chance to take out all 3 of your bombers.
Once in a while you get me....
And I salute you...
Other times....I still salute you.
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Originally posted by ForrestS
Dude, you just made bombing difficult.
All you have to do is figure out where your bombing. Line up to it. Make sure you have sufficient alt. And RE-CALIBRATE LIKE THERES NO TOMMOROW.
Dude ! He didn't make anything difficult, he explained "How To..."[list=1]
- "figure out where your bombing"
- "line up to it"
- "make sure you have sufficient alt"
- "...and calibrate like there is no tomorrow"
[/list=1]
Your explanation only told people what they "should" do, not "How" to do it.
Good Post Hap !
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Originally posted by Widewing
F3 doesn't effect your speed, but maneuvering from F3 view invariably results in the the nose going high or low, or simply the normal increase in induced drag when maneuvering. Turning while in F6 view doesn't generate any drag changes (a mystery to me as to why it doesn't). A gamey feature, for sure.
My regards,
Widewing
Widewing is right. Had I been more careful, I would have written, don't wack the joytick in F3 or turn for that matter. Whacking it hard by mistake is always interesting if you're trying to retain airspeed.
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Thanks to those who might have fun with it.
There's more than one way to skin a cat in aces high for sure.
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Nice write up , ty .
I didn't know about the planes not loseing airspeed in bombsite mode .
Thanks again
spro
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OK, great advice. My question is if you are flying alone your odds of even making it to an airfield target to drop is about 0 if your flying from bombsite. That is unless you can go from gun to bombsite to gun without screwing up your altitude/bearing. Ive noticed swinging the guns also swings the bomber, which messes up your run.
Some advice on making it to drop while under pressure would be appreciated..............than ks...........Rich
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Invite a gunner.
I haven't had the problem of the plane turning when swinging the gats if I am in auto pilot. But on a "hot" target, having a gunner is a good thing...if you can get one in time.
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Originally posted by Rich46yo
OK, great advice. My question is if you are flying alone your odds of even making it to an airfield target to drop is about 0 if your flying from bombsite. That is unless you can go from gun to bombsite to gun without screwing up your altitude/bearing. Ive noticed swinging the guns also swings the bomber, which messes up your run.
Some advice on making it to drop while under pressure would be appreciated..............than ks...........Rich
sounds like u use a twisty stick. While gunning you shouldn't be able to control the bomber except w/ rudder I think. You are probably imparting rudder turn on accident while aiming w/ your stick.
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Originally posted by Kami
sounds like u use a twisty stick. While gunning you shouldn't be able to control the bomber except w/ rudder I think. You are probably imparting rudder turn on accident while aiming w/ your stick.
Yeah, no doubt thats whats happening. Wish I knew a way around it. Ive called for a gunner more then a few times. No doubt as I get to know the community my bomb runs will improve. Right now Im going to concentrate on learning to fly the bombers and the little thing. I'll just attack targets that arent pressured in the meantime. Thanks for the reply.........Rich
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Originally posted by The Fugitive
Dude ! He didn't make anything difficult, he explained "How To..."[list=1]
- "figure out where your bombing"
- "line up to it"
- "make sure you have sufficient alt"
- "...and calibrate like there is no tomorrow"
[/list=1]
Your explanation only told people what they "should" do, not "How" to do it.
Good Post Hap ! [/B]
O ya. :D :rolleyes:
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my tricks
when setting up for a run I lower the rpm alittle and dont go full speed .
say i'm in a set of 24's at 20k i'll rpm /throttle back get steady airspeed of say 268 , then cal with the e6b up and from that point all i have to do is keep the speed constant to the cal .
so now after a partial drop ,I can throttle up for the turn , match the speed again and make my next pass .
At 30k I slow down even more ..250 is my best speed at that alt for a precise drop .
try it sometime ...it works good .
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If im in a Blitz i go fast as possible. If im in a B24/B17 i put my flaps down to have a better chance of hitting the target.
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Originally posted by Rich46yo
Yeah, no doubt thats whats happening. Wish I knew a way around it. Ive called for a gunner more then a few times. No doubt as I get to know the community my bomb runs will improve. Right now Im going to concentrate on learning to fly the bombers and the little thing. I'll just attack targets that arent pressured in the meantime. Thanks for the reply.........Rich
There are two extra control modes that aren't used in the game that often(mode 1 for aircraft and mode 2 for ground vehicles). Set either control mode 3 or 4 to mirror mode 1 and then disable the rudder axis if you're using a twisty stick, just remember to switch to that mode when going to guns and you're plane will hold it's heading while you're gunning. This is especially useful when in a formation and you need to stay together with the group. I'm working on putting together a word document for the 484th with little helpful tips and tricks for getting into and holding formations through turns, bombruns, and when engaged with cons. Check the 484th board toward the latter part of this week.