Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: chaser on November 03, 2012, 11:59:40 PM

Title: Mossy Bomber
Post by: chaser on November 03, 2012, 11:59:40 PM
I've not taken it for a run yet due to the perk cost but I am a little curious about it. Obviously it's fast. But as per the speed charts, every high alt interceptor is fast than it. Once an attacker gets level with you, your dead. So is it the combination of high altitude and speed that require it to be perked, considering the time required to get to that alt? Though it seems that they could up a base or two in advance and be waiting for you when you got there. What are y'alls thoughts?

Also, if I take it up to 30+K and an attacker catches me, what is the best way to NOT get shot down, considering it has no defensive guns?
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Scherf on November 04, 2012, 12:48:18 AM
Mossie buff turns better than you might think, but getting into a turning battle over enemy strats is not a healthy life choice. As you've noted though, it is the combination of speed, alt and timing theat work in the mossie's favour.

Plan your route ahead of time, try to be above 30k and going flat out (MIL, not WEP) by the time you get out on your own in a place where the red dar bar you generate in Badguyland will yell "strat raid" to any bad guy watching the map. Ditto for route out, I've had some success coming in, for example, to attack the knight city from the bishop side of the map, then high-tailing it back home to rook.

As the song says, you got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. If there's a red dar bar over the strats you intend to attack for a while before you get there, you're likely going to be meat, so drop the idea and go bomb something less life-threatening. Same thing if you find yourself over a picket enemy cv group on your run in. I ignored the puffy one time because I was bored, my my weren't the skies over the city crowded and unfriendly.

Also, printing out the performance charts of the main interceptors can be a help - some bad guys have more / less of an advantage depending on alt. Don't want to go into a shallow dive if a gentle climb to 38k is your best option.

"Diving to ack / running to friends" is always OK too, you catch fewer channel 200 whines for doing it in an unarmed aircraft. Pays to note where the cvs are before you make your decision re: routes in and out.

Taking off with lots of  fuel tends to give you more options - try to end up over BadGuyStrats with about 50% inners left, you can run forever on that, and you'll be free of drop tanks which slow you down a touch, not be too weighed down by internal fuel, and still likely have enough to get to safety if one or the other inner tank gets holed.

I don't recommend taking formations, too easy to lose too many perkies.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: bozon on November 04, 2012, 06:51:50 AM
Listen to Scherf little one  :old:

It is not if the enemy plane is faster or not - it is all about "by how much". If they are 10 mph faster and fall into a tail chase, it would take them long time to catch up. 10 mph is around the speed of long distance runners, a little less than 300 yards per minute. So, to close 1.0 distance on the icon indicator takes about 3 minutes. In these 3 minutes and going 400+ mph, you advanced 20+ miles on the ground. Also, their top speed is only potential. If they were climbing up to you they will also need to accelerate to that speed and that will take several minutes more - look again at how many miles on the ground you'll be covering before he even equalize the speeds. To catch a mossie16 they have to already be there when you show up and even then it is not that simple.

By taking a formation you give up the ability to out maneuver attackers, if/when they do manage to get close enough. The mosquito can turn as well as any fighter that can catch it up high. The very high speeds involved in high alt dogfighting, combined with the low IAS, means that planes turn like **** and every little miscalculation throws them way off. Shallow dive to build speed back up, they'll fall ~3.0 behind and now it will take them another 5-6 minutes to close the gap - or not at all.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Karnak on November 04, 2012, 08:43:55 AM
A Bf109K-4 starting co-alt with me at 28,000ft and 3000 yards behind took about eight sectors to catch me and he said he only had two minutes of fuel left when he did.  If he hadn't been co-alt he never would have had a chance.

You must customize your evasion to what is after you.  You can't climb above a Ta152, Bf109K-4, Spitfire Mk XIV or P-47, but you can climb above an Me262.  Get over 32,000ft and the Me262 becomes toothless.  For the others, well, I advise putting the Mossie into WEP, dive it to 475mph or so and level.  You can make a tail chase a very long chase and the Bf109K-4 and Spitfire Mk XIV may very well run out of fuel before catching you.

When planning your route in try to stay out of radar rings for as long as possible.  The shorter the notice they have of your arrival over the target the less chance they have to intercept you.  If they're first glimpse of you on radar is 50 miles before you reach your target there is nothing other than Me163s, which are only available at a single airfield near the HQ, that can intercept you.  Because you can choose any egress route you like, changing it to avoid dar bars that pop up in front of you, you are almost impossible to intercept on your 400+mph egress.

If they are not co alt, or at least nearly co alt, with you nothing short of an Me262 or Me163 will be able to catch you, though a persistent Ta152H-1, P-47N or P-51 can be problematic due to their fuel endurance.  A Bf109K-4 taking off from sea level as a Mosquito Mk XVI passes overhead at 390mph and 28,000ft would need to run on WEP for about 45-60 minutes to catch the Mosquito once altitude had been equalized.  That is something that the Bf109K-4 simply cannot do.  That is the Mosquito's real immunity to interception, if you aren't pre-positioned to intercept it you pretty much cannot intercept it and the vast majority of the time somebody tries to intercept it they are not pre-positioned.

I also advise not carrying bombs or droptanks under the wings if you are going on a deep raid as the shackles left behind after the bombs/tanks are dropped cost you about 4-5mph off your top speed.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: SmokinLoon on November 04, 2012, 10:24:29 AM
For your first run I suggest you take a single bomber, not a flight.  Laod up %100 fuel and the smaller DT's (drop them between 15k to 20k ft).  Load up the 4000 lb "cookie" and forget the 2/500 lbs on the wings.  Lift at a field far enough back so that when you get over enemy territory you are at least 24k or higher.  Get the Mossi B Mk 16 up to 28000 and level off for your bombing run.  Oh, and use your WEP on your climb out.

Once you get to your target (I suggest a factory, NOT the city), drop that bomb and make for a line back to friendly skies.  Keep your speed and keep your alt.  If the enemy fighters are not already *there* at that altitude the chance of them intercepting you is very small.  If they do get on your six and are keeping up with you, just hit engage your WEP and go in to a 800-1000 ft climb (do NOT hit "auto climb", you will dump a lot of E and let them get closer).  If you manually set the gentle climb you will create more and more distance between you and them.  Above 34,000 ft the list of fighters able to stay with you are 1 or 2, otherwise the rest you will out run.

In short, for the Mossi bomber, think this: high alt, high speed, cookie only, keep alt, keep speed, and keep a squaddie or fellow countryman on standby in a high alt fighter in case you are caught.   :aok
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: chaser on November 05, 2012, 09:30:01 PM
Thank you guys  :aok

I took a single mossy up today around 27K and dropped a cookie on a town center turned around and did 416mph on the way back. Nothing is going to catch that. It's allot of fun. I'm gonna have to start pushing deeper into enemy territory with it and see how far I can go before getting caught.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Scherf on November 05, 2012, 10:58:11 PM
Nice one, can be real sweaty-palm stuff when someone chases.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: SmokinLoon on November 06, 2012, 02:19:17 AM
Thank you guys  :aok

I took a single mossy up today around 27K and dropped a cookie on a town center turned around and did 416mph on the way back. Nothing is going to catch that. It's allot of fun. I'm gonna have to start pushing deeper into enemy territory with it and see how far I can go before getting caught.

Nice!  Way to go.  Like it has already been mentioned if you are able to minimize the game and check out speed charts on the web site while in flight, that too will help you plan out your egress if you are being intercepted or chased.  Whatever you do not give up much of you altitude to gain any more speed.  Altitude and speed are your only defensive weapons.   :)
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Debrody on November 06, 2012, 08:25:42 AM
Once i seen a dot on the radar, upped a k4, and got to 3k when he came right over my base.
Took all of my fuel to get him, even though he was only at 14k, also i was in the fastest ride at that altitude, with the longest wep.

The mossie bomber is practically intouchable, even at 20k.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: morfiend on November 06, 2012, 04:42:28 PM
 Just imagine if we had the Mk XXX,similar performance but with guns! :devil
   Wouldnt be very good at low alt dogfights but it would be in the running for best bomber killer.




    :salute



Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: pembquist on November 06, 2012, 05:12:58 PM
The only thing I don't like about the Mossie Bomber is the 163.  Last time I bombed the strats I took a b17 at 32,000 feet which is gamey but so is the super reliable rocket ship. What do you do to try to avoid the 163 if your in the mossie?
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Lusche on November 06, 2012, 05:15:50 PM
What do you do to try to avoid the 163 if your in the mossie?


Attacking only strats on large maps. :)

When the factories are in 163 country, the only bomber I use is the B-29. Take the right tool for the job...  :old:
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: titanic3 on November 06, 2012, 05:29:59 PM
How do you guys have the patience to fly for 1 hour or more watching blue and green roll by... :confused:
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Lusche on November 06, 2012, 05:31:21 PM
How do you guys have the patience to fly for 1 hour or more watching blue and green roll by... :confused:

I didn't know we have to stare at the screen all the time....  :uhoh
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: titanic3 on November 06, 2012, 05:38:19 PM
You pay $15 a month to go afk?  :headscratch:

Ah wells, your money.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Lusche on November 06, 2012, 05:41:41 PM
You pay $15 a month to go afk?  :headscratch:

Ah wells, your money.


Can't follow your logic.

Actually, each moment you do not play AH at all, you are "AFK" too. You pay $15 per month just to not play most of the time? ;)

I don't pay more money just because I opt to have a B-29 flying while I clean the appartment, wash the dishes, do shopping, practice playing the bass, compile AH stats and so on :)
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: titanic3 on November 06, 2012, 05:47:06 PM
Still sounds boring.  :)
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: chaser on November 06, 2012, 06:04:40 PM
Nice one, can be real sweaty-palm stuff when someone chases.

Luckily I didn't come across any enemy planes on this mission.

Nice!  Way to go.  Like it has already been mentioned if you are able to minimize the game and check out speed charts on the web site while in flight, that too will help you plan out your egress if you are being intercepted or chased.  Whatever you do not give up much of you altitude to gain any more speed.  Altitude and speed are your only defensive weapons.   :)

Indeed I can. I have a smart phone that I use to. I haven't tried but I'm sure it'll work. Then I can keep an eye on the attacker and look at flight charts to  :aok

How do you guys have the patience to fly for 1 hour or more watching blue and green roll by... :confused:


Heh I wished it was only an hour.. I flew a 2-1/2 hour 33K B17 mission the other day. Some of my bomber missions have come very close to 3 hours before. I don't really get bored because A) if I'm in a bomber its generally because I can't find anything else to do and B) I'm usually AFK for the climbout playing on FB, listening to music, cleaning, ect..
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: BaldEagl on November 06, 2012, 11:55:17 PM
... practice playing the bass...

I knew we were kindered spirits.  I played base in a band from age 13-22.  I had a red pre-CBS Fender Precision base (always used flat wounds) that I wish I still had and a double stack Marshall amp.  At the same time I had a cheap Apollo semi-acoustic base (round wounds) and a Fender Baseman amp.  Our lead guitar player had a sunburst Epiphone solid body that today I'd die for.  Some of the best times of my life but oh so long ago.

There days I noodle on a hand built Asturias C-140S classical guitar (yes, I've always been a finger picker) that I bought in the '70's.  Beautiful instrument.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Debrody on November 07, 2012, 12:10:30 AM
Can't follow your logic.
He is even younger than me, he plays to fight. A perked yet unarmed bomber wont really inspire anyone to find a fight...
This simple  :)
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Karnak on November 07, 2012, 01:39:38 AM
He is even younger than me, he plays to fight. A perked yet unarmed bomber wont really inspire anyone to find a fight...
This simple  :)
The cat and mouse of a good chase is quite a fight, just of a different sort.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: bozon on November 07, 2012, 03:06:26 AM
How do you guys have the patience to fly for 1 hour or more watching blue and green roll by... :confused:
I go into F3 view, look at my Mossie from all angles and go ahhhhh....
26 viewing directions is a lot of sighing to do.

Besides, you take the B-Moss because with any other bomber the same trip will be 2 hours.

Just imagine if we had the Mk XXX,similar performance but with guns! :devil
   Wouldnt be very good at low alt dogfights but it would be in the running for best bomber killer.
I'd love to have the XXX. Just from its model mark you know it is pure pr0n.
While inferior to the VI on the deck, it catches up very fast in altitude, especially performance on MIL power. The Moss VI has super WEP, but lousy MIL power. The big question is will XXX fall apart at 480 TAS like the VI because that it awfully close to its max level speed at alt.

Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Debrody on November 07, 2012, 03:14:31 AM
The cat and mouse of a good chase is quite a fight, just of a different sort.
If you find fun in it, do it. I dont have the rights to judge on anyone.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: titanic3 on November 07, 2012, 06:32:18 AM
He is even younger than me, he plays to fight. A perked yet unarmed bomber wont really inspire anyone to find a fight...
This simple  :)

I did take one up before on the deck, had some fun trying to make people auger. One La-7 did, too bad I got jumped by just about every red con in the area. :D

Now if you do that, and I can understand the thrill of the chase. But at 30K? Meh.
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Lusche on November 07, 2012, 09:09:17 AM
Now if you do that, and I can understand the thrill of the chase. But at 30K? Meh.


I don't take a mossy when I'm specifically looking (and have the time) for a "thrill" ;)

That being said, the game has lost most of it's "thrills" to me anyway, but that's to be expected after >10,000 hours of play time  :old:



I knew we were kindered spirits.  I played base in a band from age 13-22.

I only started a week ago  :D
Title: Re: Mossy Bomber
Post by: Lusche on November 07, 2012, 10:02:45 AM
Oh, and by the way: When talking about Strat Runs, my Mossy missions are actually quite short compared to "regular" bomber runs. My average Mossie strat sortie takes 53 minutes. My B-29 strat runs are twice as long  :old: