I stopped reading at Loose.
Should A20 lose its F3 mode? - Fixed
Finally, an accurate criticism
Maybe I should "tighten" up my grammar
Although not the fastest or longest-ranged in its class, the Douglas DB-7 series distinguished itself as a tough, dependable combat aircraft with an excellent reputation due to its speed and maneuverability. In a report to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE) at RAF Boscombe Down, test pilots summed it up as "has no vices and is very easy to takeoff and land... The aeroplane represents a definite advantage in the design of flying controls... extremely pleasant to fly and manoeuvre."[1] Ex-pilots often consider it their favorite aircraft of the war due to the ability to toss it around like a fighter.[2] Its true impact was that the Douglas bomber/night fighter was extremely adaptable and found a role in every combat theater of the war and excelled as a true "pilot's aeroplane."[3]
Above quote from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-20_Havocyou cant just remove it because it goes some way to addressing the SA you get from multiple crew members. removing it would essentially be the same as modelling blindfolds for all the crew members and only allowing one to remove the blindfold at a time.
replace it with something more realistic, sure.
I cant see any reason at all to be able to shoot or drop bombs in F3 though (although I suspect hardly anyone does this.)
btw: if youre regularly losing dogfights to bombers, you need to get some training. and be thankful the guys who fly em alot dont prefer late war monsters as their usual ride ...
RTHolmes, I find that folks here (including you) are missing my comparison to the iL2. To use your own arguement for SA from multiple crewmen, the A20 had 3 crewmembers how many did the iL2 have? Your assumption that hardly anyone uses F3 mode to gun, will have no proof for or against that arguement. The only thing we have left is that
it is available to track otherwise hidden attackers/ targets.
As for me personally regularly losing to A20s, I avoid them like the plague. I do on occassion go in to strafe one that is attacking friendlies, especially on an attempted base defense or capture. So please don't make this about me complaining that someone else has a toy that I am jealous of. I again ask, why did HTC decide to remove F3 from iL2s and leave it for A20s (add any other light/medium bomber-- SBD, TBM, D3A)? And now to make it clearer I add this question, "What has the impact been on the number of iL2 sorties?"
As far as my suckage and need for training, that is a given. I welcome any opportunity to join Rolex and FLS in another great session in the TA
It is possible that a change in approach in gunning for A20 might help, especially targeting wings as opposed to fuselage. Good luck with that, squirmy
creatures that they are.