Well, you are doing the right thing so far. That is ask questions. These guys will always be helpful, even for brick heads like me. They don't make you feel as stupid as I really am. And read read read. I have progressed from pathetic to pretty awful to terrible to barely ok sometimes maybe in about 30 days of "studying" what these guys have to say.
Couple of thoughts though which I found helpful.
Drones - Don't just follow in circles. That is basic tracking practice at it's most boring. ONce you get to where you can make then splode, instead of justg smoke, move on to different kinds of attacks, always looking to see what kind of lead (deflection) you need to use in certain situationss. The drones don't vary their flight so it doesn't give you good training unless you vary your attacks. i.e. Try B & Z on the drones,from all different angles. Try to learn how to recognize and stop and overshoot (wish I could). There's much more there than first meets the eye.
Tracers: I use 'em and when I finally read and understood about projecticel drop and the effect of Gs on shooting, I began to make better attacks. I used the tracers to tell me where the bullets were going and, after reading the above info, it was much easier to make the necessary corrections.
Films: Also, download all the films you can. If possible, watch the film from both external and cockpit views. External lets you understand the dynamic between both attacker and target but cockpit view is what you need to view to learn to actually do the maneuver.
Views: Go the Leph site and memorize absolutely the view stuff, head position, zoom, hat settings, etc. I have the worlds worst SA but it is not because I don't know the views. I was totally unable to do anyting other than the very occasional B & Z snap shot or the lucky zoom into a stalling target until I practiced with the views. The best one is, as Leph says, set your views, the go fly around an airfield and keep a single point in view. Also, that's a good thing for the drones too. "Attack" from different angles and fly around them and try to keep them in view.
SA - Situational awareness - my biggest weakness. I get shot down more often then not by someone I didn't even know was there. Many will use the Check 6 call out of pity, I am sure. But, if you do check six regualrly, you can avoid these
suprises
Also, and lastly but not leastly, take these guys up on their offer to train. Nothing beats actually doing the ACM's with good pilots in oppositions. Dont' get frustrated. Just watching how they fly and what they do in certain situations is learning.
Best of luck to ya!
