F3 mode has got to go

[guncrasher]

no apologies needed.  nothing better than having a couple of beers and discuss things with friends  .

semp

[B-17]

Or a ginger-ale.

[Tilt]

Has anybody ever suggested the only planes to get F3 should be those that have formations? Seems like a reasonable "general rule" (with any exceptions HTC deems warranted down the line)

I have long held this view......... combined with a re look at how AH uses its "attack" classification and what is / is not enabled or disabled when formations are or are not chosen.

It would make a more plausible arguement IMO if the replacement for F3 was combined with a method to rapidly scroll through preset views from the various gunner (or even and navigator) positions to make up for the lack of this external global perspective.

Another option would be to make F3 itself a view system where the point of origin could only be from such various points in the ac where there were gunners/ pilits/ navigators etc. (i.e. not actually external to the the ac) even better if as various gunner positions get shot out so do their view points.

[dirtdart]

TBH I would love to see F3 mode accessible to ANY airplane as long as the auto pilot is engaged.  Every now and then there are times when it would be nice to step away and see what is around you while...lets say a call of nature...etc... from afar. 

[surfinn]

hey hey ho ho f3 mode has got to go

[Condor11]

Its so pretty on a set of 17s at 30k though 

[B-17]

Yes it is... It would be even prettire if it were 8 or 10 sets of 17s at 30k with YB-40s for escort, and maybe a couple of 51s in there, too.

[AKP]

Leave F3 mode in for the planes that currently have it... just remove the ability to fire guns or drop bombs while in it.  It should be used for SA only.

[B-17]

What's SA?

[AKP]

What's SA?

Situational Awareness... AKA: Knowing what is around you.

[Beefcake]

The thing that continues to amaze me is the amount of people who think that gunning in F3 actually gives you some huge advantage. I've tried to gun in F3, however, I had a problem. There was this big plane blocking or distorting my view of the enemy.

Now when dropping bombs I can see some advantages, however, I still feel that using the gun-site gives far better accuracy and reference points that simply using Kentucky Windage.

[The Fugitive]

The thing that continues to amaze me is the amount of people who think that gunning in F3 actually gives you some huge advantage. I've tried to gun in F3, however, I had a problem. There was this big plane blocking or distorting my view of the enemy.

Now when dropping bombs I can see some advantages, however, I still feel that using the gun-site gives far better accuracy and reference points that simply using Kentucky Windage.

The advantage is being able to follow the target better. For shooting, it's just a different "site picture". So when I fight an A20 I try to stay below him as much as possible so he has a harder time tracking me. With F3 he doesn't have that problem and can see where Im going and can then easily maneuver for his site picture to get his shot.

[Ruah]

Its easier to fly the A20 from the cockpit then from F3 mode, and, other then HOing and the fact that they are bullet sponges, there is no reason to fear them.

[surfinn]

Ya might want to mention that to people who have fought cobia when hes in that thing.

[bj229r]

I agree with Grizz on this one. I didn't consider the Il2s F3 mode a game changer either, but it did force you do be a lot more careful when flying straight up the rectum.

Unfortunately, his tactics caught on and soon there was several Il2s doing the same maneuver. They looked like a school of dolphins (pod for you anal retentive types), and like anything else, if the community can't police itself, HTC will do it for us.

Ghi quit flying the IL2 after the change, it must have been a bigger game-changer than non-IL2-flying people can observe