P-51 gunsight

[Chalenge]

Well then maybe we should all be issued G-suits like the late war 51s to go with the K-14. I believe they used them in P-47s and F4Us also so it would not be unigue to one airplane at all. Just no stinking darkside planes with K-14s! 

[vonKrimm]

Well since we all agree that they were around back in the day, why not use them on the planes that had them? We have something like it in the training arena where you can have a marker identify where to fire, just put it in the planes that used it.

Yup, give us little green cross hairs that show where the bullets will end-up.

[Infidelz]

Seems like it would be useful on snap shots. We are not always turning the airframe to the limit. Some times we are just a little out of plane. 

Since it was used in the war I don't see how an argument can be made against it unless of course you are just all about arguing. 

Infidelz

[Chalenge]

Oh I can imagine people will complain about anything... like larger fuel tanks (actually used)... napalm... delayed fuses... you get the idea.

[TequilaChaser]

Yup, give us little green cross hairs that show where the bullets will end-up.

I thought that feature didn't come along until we had guided missles on fighter/attack aircraft with lock-on guided mechanisms ????

is dhart saying they had this back in the days of WWII, vonKrimm? 

the reason you have this feature in the Training Arena and also in offline mode, is because it is a "Training Feature"  to help teach people the effects of trajectory arcing of ammunition or ordinance

training, practicing, etc using this will help your memory when playing in the regular arenas

hope this helps...

[AWwrgwy]

I thought that feature didn't come along until we had guided missles on fighter/attack aircraft with lock-on guided mechanisms ????

is dhart saying they had this back in the days of WWII, vonKrimm? 

the reason you have this feature in the Training Arena and also in offline mode, is because it is a "Training Feature"  to help teach people the effects of trajectory arcing of ammunition or ordinance

training, practicing, etc using this will help your memory when playing in the regular arenas

hope this helps...

Gyro gunsight

You needed to know what type of aircraft you were firing at (wingspan) so you could dial in the range.

The K-14, MK. 18 (USN version), and Ferranti (British version) gyro computing gunsights used a gyro to measure rate of turn to give a lead compensation which was applied to the reflector gunsight. The pilot preset the gunsight with the wingspan of the target. He then used a twist knob on the throttle handle which would adjust the size of a sighting ring (reflected on the sighting panel) called a reticule (this varied in layout, but usually consisted of six diamond shapes) to the target wingspan. The further away the target, the smaller the ring. Matching the ring size to the target wingspan gave the range, which was fed into the analog computer to give the required lead compensation. When the target was in the ring the guns were aimed where the target would be when the bullets got to the targeted range.

So to use the system, the pilot put the ring on the target and held it there while shooting. It eliminated guessing how much lead was required - most pilots tended to grossly underestimate the required lead.

By Korea the human element had been removed, instead of twisting a knob a radar ranging system input the distance component.

Note: when engaging in aerobatics the gyro's needed to be caged. If the pilot forgot to do so the system would be damaged and useless. When the gyros were caged, the system acted as a simple reflector gunsight. So the pilot had to be well trained to cage and uncage the gyros during combat.

Interesting anecdote. in Korea, flying F-86's, Francis Gabreski ignored the gyro sight and aimed with a piece of chewing gum he stuck on the windshield.


wrongway

[Baumer]

I don't see how this could be effectively implemented with the current icon information. As AWwrgwy stated, the key feature of the K-14 was to twist the throttle to get the proper sight ring around the target. With the range information currently in the icon, AND an adjustable sight ring, that would give you a sight like on a F-100, radar accurate range + lead computing (Not very realistic) for WW2 K-14.

So the only other option I can think of would be to add the K-14 (to the planes that had it in combat). Then add an analog control input, to make the ring bigger or smaller. Then remove the range info from the enemy icons (but only when you are in a K-14 equipped airplane).

I don't think many people would like the extra hassle, but who knows.

[vonKrimm]

I thought that feature didn't come along until we had guided missles on fighter/attack aircraft with lock-on guided mechanisms ????

is dhart saying they had this back in the days of WWII, vonKrimm? 

the reason you have this feature in the Training Arena and also in offline mode, is because it is a "Training Feature"  to help teach people the effects of trajectory arcing of ammunition or ordinance

training, practicing, etc using this will help your memory when playing in the regular arenas

hope this helps...

No, I am suggesting what we might see in-game if LCGs were introduced.  We already know the ranges enemy a/c are at; do we really need to push a button every time we want our LCG to function?  Would it not just be reasonable that LCG equipped a/c get a little green cursor, ala the TA, to simulate the use of said LCG?  Also, the little green cursor goes away when certain flight parameters are exceeded and returns when the a/c returns within set parameters.

[Ghosth]

I have to agree with Baumer.

If you want the LCGS then you'd have to give up range info.
And you'd have to accept the pain that comes when you maneuver just before a shot and the sight tumbles.
Leaving you with no shot.

Set it up with what they actually had, ie est range, inability to maneuver, and you'll find it is more hindrance than help to most folks.

Its a lot of extra coad and fuss to give you something you can teach yourself to do better in half an hour in the TA.

[AWwrgwy]

No, I am suggesting what we might see in-game if LCGs were introduced.  We already know the ranges enemy a/c are at; do we really need to push a button every time we want our LCG to function?  Would it not just be reasonable that LCG equipped a/c get a little green cursor, ala the TA, to simulate the use of said LCG?  Also, the little green cursor goes away when certain flight parameters are exceeded and returns when the a/c returns within set parameters.

But the "little green cursor" does not represent how a WW2 gyro sight actually worked.  It is more how a modern lead computing, radar guided sight functions.

Apples and coconuts.


wrongway

[Chalenge]

I have to agree with Baumer.

If you want the LCGS then you'd have to give up range info.
And you'd have to accept the pain that comes when you maneuver just before a shot and the sight tumbles.
Leaving you with no shot.

Set it up with what they actually had, ie est range, inability to maneuver, and you'll find it is more hindrance than help to most folks.

Its a lot of extra coad and fuss to give you something you can teach yourself to do better in half an hour in the TA.

And I can imagine it would leave the people with low end systems unable to even use the thing because of all the extra code (not that I actually know that). What we have right now is fine especially if you have younger eyes and a big screen.

[Ghosth]

Actually I forgot, that if you set the wing size ring for a 109, and dialed in a p38, you'd miss, as the wing size is wrong.

Way I figure it, this is a whine machine.
And I just don't see HT taking the time to coad something that is just going to create more whine.

[Baumer]

And don't forget about this, there were versions of the K-14 for bomber turrets that were used as well.

The K series gyro sights were fitted and used in combat by B-17's, B-24's, and (Maybe) B-26's. Can you imagine the complaints about that!