In Aces High you practice two types of wing pairs.
1. - Offensive Mutual Tactical Support - 99% AH used, most common because we are all shooters and ACM stars. How the "Thatch Weave" was created by life and death necessity to defeat the superior performing A6m. It allows each of us the freedom and latitude of our individual ACM aerobatics while working loosely with a friend.
2. - Leader and Wingman - 1% AH used, Historically the most used in ww2 and the simplest way for new pilots to observe and learn on the job ww2 air combat. The wingman has a defined task of staying on the leader's tail running interference to attackers and being the eyes while the Leader is the shooter. Aces High is not ww2 air combat. We are all the Leader and want to land kills, so #1 is the normative tactic in the game.
I turn Waystin into an unstoppable killer by flying #2 with him and making sure his only job is aiming and shooting. Historic, yes. Game wise, boring for the wingman because you only focus on screening your shooter. Often deadly as it is your job to take it in the kester for your shooter while keeping him appraised of threats. You very rarely get to shoot at any target your shooter misses because that will pull you out of sync and position to your shooter's six. This is the key point where most AH players trying to adhere to #2, let their tactic fall apart, and become individual targets and easily killable to the red guys. Waystin calls it "Piggy ADHD" or for dogs: "SQUIRREL!!".
For the most part POTW mass utilizes #1. While #2 takes too much patience, discipline, and willingness to work very closely together on VOX. The wingman lands very few kills or not at all. I learned #2 from Nomde and Frenchy when I flew Jugs with the old 56th. YUCCA was simply a Juggy Jedi. The "Jug" was strong with that one.
