Well, I Guess This Qualifies As "Immersion"...

[Charlie 14 0]

I have been monkeying around with combat flight flight sims since the 80's...The original Falcon on my now Brother-in-law's Mac, Lucas Art's Battle of Britain on a monochromatic monitor 286 that didn't even have a hard drive...I've always enjoyed them...

 

I was big into EAW years back and I recently got hooked on TK's Wings Over Whatever series and particularly the good work of all the folks that have contributed and compiled such works as NATO Fighters 1-4, Operation Desert Storm, things like that.

 

I usually fly them in a Dead is Dead fashion, if I get wiped from the sky I'm done, start over, my alter ego is no more, so surviving matters, and something really unusual happened early this morning...In all those years of flying these sims I have never, not once, felt absolutely compelled -- no, let me rephrase that -- was I absolutely going to make sure, that Major General So and So-avich was not going to get home to his warm wife and cold borscht...

 

NATO Fighter 1-4 series, '62 campaign, leading a flight of Huns tasked with taking out a bunch of IL's coming over to make things not nice in our backyard and they are escorted by a brace of MiG-21's led by that aforementioned general...We had expended our missiles at the IL's and Major General Ruinyourdayovich had attached himself to my wing man. I in turn went after him...

 

...and of course the guns jammed...

 

Now this particular alter ego (that would be me) had already survived the '86 campaign and risen to the rank of Major, I have something invested in this guy, he'd survived the SU-27's, the MiG 29's, and the SAMs, he'd made it through '86 for cryingoutloud, I had to keep this guy alive, and I have nothing, fresh out, sidewinders expended, guns jammed, and General Icanflythewingsofthisthingski is on my wingie....Well? OK....Let's go, this guy is not going home today, he will lose, and we end up going vertical, playing a wicked energy game....Up we go, down we go, I had resolved myself to try to tip a wing and then quite likely bail and hope I survived...As it was I parked myself on his canopy and ejected...

 

Undisciplined? Oh you bet...And then it occurred to me, that is the first time ever, literally, in decades, I ever sacrificed a bird and took a chance like that. THAT is immersion and speaks highly both for the game and the modders. Thanks fellas for a great series, your work is appreciated.

[Slartibartfast 153]

I will admit to moments like that and you put it wonderfully into words... I will admit I am doing an NF4 mission in 86 with a Hornet and you are right it is wonderful you find out your up against one of their top guys and you fight to the bitter end...

 

They do make it so wonderful and in their own time... my thanks as well.

[Viper6 3]

Agreed! Your Descriptive names for the Red Commander still have me ROTFLMAO

[+Spectre_USA 7]

+1 to the Viperman.

 

Nicely written...

 

[eraser_tr 29]

Judging by the title I at first thought this would be a pessimistic commentary on the sim, great story, did your pilot survive and return to fly another mission or were you captured or missing?

[Charlie 14 0]

Judging by the title I at first thought this would be a pessimistic commentary on the sim, great story, did your pilot survive and return to fly another mission or were you captured or missing?

 

Back in the O-Club doing the hand jive, and the wingie got home too....Major General Weregrettoinformyouski was a smoking hole outside of K-Town...

Edited July 7, 2009 by Charlie 14

[MaverickMike 10]

I just returned from what was definately the most exhilarating flight ive ever flown. Again in NF.

 

Im flying the CF-18 hornet for 439 sqd and was tasked with a CAP over hamburg. arriving on station red crown sent my flight of 4 to attack another flight of 4 su-17 which we took out relatively easily as there seemed to be no escorts. Suddenly out of nowhere came a flight of 4 mig-29s led by a major (cannot remember the name)who whas an ace. I quickly positioned myself off the tail of one that went straight for my wingman and took him out with 20mm.(I had expended all missiles at this point on the su-17s) My wingie reported that he was hit so i sent him home. no 3 scored another mig kill and called winchester. no 4 then also scored a kill. That was three of the four down with only one loss. However the enemy flight leader was still around so i sent my remaining flight members home and stayed to look for him. After around 10 mins I found him trying to take out a flight of Harriers that were providing CAS to the ground assault that was in progress. it took a few minutes to get onto his tail and as soon as i was in gun range i opened up. However i just could not seem to hit him as he was jinking like a madman. Suddenly a sidewinder flew past my aircraft and took him out from a german f4 arriving late into the fray!!! Couldnt believe it. Anyways after noticing that i had no ammo left i turned for home, then, again out of nowhere a flight of 2 Mig-31s showed up!!! One was taken out by the german f4s whilst the other got on my tail.

 

I dove for the weeds and pushed the throttles to full mil power but this guy was simply relentless. He followed me all the way home firing all of his heaters at me. I managed to avoid them all and a few bursts of cannon. I truly thought I had bought it at this point because I also noticed my fuel was alarmingly low after chasing the major earlier. Trying to think of a way i could get home safely I decided to carry on towards home and hope he would give up. He didnt. Arriving at my airbase he was still on my tail so i decided to rely on the AA fire to take him out. I slowed down to around 200kts and flew over the airbase at around 300ft agl. Sure enough he followed suit still trying to take me out. Luckily one of the vulcans took him out and i let out a deep sigh.

 

I managed to land the aircraft safely and looking at my fuel, had 120 pounds left. WHEEW!!!

 

Anyways just thought id share this with you guys as your on the topic of immersion. Let me tell you, while flying at under 100ft at 550kts i think my house could have fallen down and I would not have noticed . I have a few screenies from this mission if anyone would like to see them?

 

Mike

[Miracles 0]

You must be very disciplined not to allow your alter ego pilot a cut all these times

 

Try Free Falcon 5 and Open Falcon

 

 

Enough said

[Charlie 14 0]

Well? What comes around goes around I suppose. Major Dirk Wunderbar met an untimely end over Nurnberg this morning after being dutifully impressed with the turning capabilities of the MiG 19...From his vantage point Dirk was treated to a fantastic airshow courtesy of a Sov Colonel who apparently paid a great deal of attention in flight school...There's a lesson to be learned here. If you find yourself going, "Wow, that guy can really turn that thing! Look at that," things may not be going so well...Unfortunately the next, or should I say last, thought that passed through Dirk's rather small mind was, "Say? I wonder where his wingman is?" Did I mention the cannons on the MiG 19? Really, really nice cannons...Ivan can really build one heck of a cannon...The Colonel drags Dirk, some stooge bags Dirk...Just great...

 

Oh well. Pride goeth before a large fatal explosion, or something like that...Stupid hurts.

 

But that's OK....Dirk will be avenged...

 

Enter 2LT Lance Thunderballs, 1979, you best run Ivan, the fangs are out...

Edited July 8, 2009 by Charlie 14

[Charlie 14 0]

You must be very disciplined not to allow your alter ego pilot a cut all these times

 

Try Free Falcon 5 and Open Falcon

 

 

Enough said

 

I spent WAY too much time with Falcon AF, like have a negative impact on the GNP of the United States too much time...Great sim. The only problem is to enjoy Falcon you almost have top spend WAY to much time with it to get the most out of it, that's one of the reasons I like TK's stuff...

[Charlie 14 0]

I just returned from what was definately the most exhilarating flight ive ever flown. Again in NF.

 

Im flying the CF-18 hornet for 439 sqd and was tasked with a CAP over hamburg. arriving on station red crown sent my flight of 4 to attack another flight of 4 su-17 which we took out relatively easily as there seemed to be no escorts. Suddenly out of nowhere came a flight of 4 mig-29s led by a major (cannot remember the name)who whas an ace. I quickly positioned myself off the tail of one that went straight for my wingman and took him out with 20mm.(I had expended all missiles at this point on the su-17s) My wingie reported that he was hit so i sent him home. no 3 scored another mig kill and called winchester. no 4 then also scored a kill. That was three of the four down with only one loss. However the enemy flight leader was still around so i sent my remaining flight members home and stayed to look for him. After around 10 mins I found him trying to take out a flight of Harriers that were providing CAS to the ground assault that was in progress. it took a few minutes to get onto his tail and as soon as i was in gun range i opened up. However i just could not seem to hit him as he was jinking like a madman. Suddenly a sidewinder flew past my aircraft and took him out from a german f4 arriving late into the fray!!! Couldnt believe it. Anyways after noticing that i had no ammo left i turned for home, then, again out of nowhere a flight of 2 Mig-31s showed up!!! One was taken out by the german f4s whilst the other got on my tail.

 

I dove for the weeds and pushed the throttles to full mil power but this guy was simply relentless. He followed me all the way home firing all of his heaters at me. I managed to avoid them all and a few bursts of cannon. I truly thought I had bought it at this point because I also noticed my fuel was alarmingly low after chasing the major earlier. Trying to think of a way i could get home safely I decided to carry on towards home and hope he would give up. He didnt. Arriving at my airbase he was still on my tail so i decided to rely on the AA fire to take him out. I slowed down to around 200kts and flew over the airbase at around 300ft agl. Sure enough he followed suit still trying to take me out. Luckily one of the vulcans took him out and i let out a deep sigh.

 

I managed to land the aircraft safely and looking at my fuel, had 120 pounds left. WHEEW!!!

 

Anyways just thought id share this with you guys as your on the topic of immersion. Let me tell you, while flying at under 100ft at 550kts i think my house could have fallen down and I would not have noticed . I have a few screenies from this mission if anyone would like to see them?

 

Mike

 

Yeah definitely, post the screenies. 120 pounds? You make Dirk look sane. Well, OK, you can't make Dirk look sane he's dead, but if he wasn't...

[MaverickMike 10]

Ok heres the screenies. I thought i took more than this but i realised i was pressing scroll lock instead

[MaverickMike 10]

By the way the second one down on the right is where i realised i had no ammo left

[Charlie 14 0]

By the way the second one down on the right is where i realised i had no ammo left

 

God bless the ADA guys...

[Lt. James Cater 62]

While flying a Javelin a few minutes ago i had a somewhat similar situation...

 

After succesfully intercepting an incoming strike i took the survivors up to altitude where i thought we would be safe.

 

Lo and behold, on the exact path on the way home is a Yank RB-66 being chased by a Mig-21. Well, after making sure everyone else was safe and sending them on home i dove down and began chasing the MIG. slowly but surely the range closed and about .08 of a mile i began trying to get him with short burst of 30mm but no joy. finally i had him right where i wanted and AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

 

OUT OF AMMO! :fuk:

 

At that moment i remembered this thread and knew what to do. As i flew over and slightly ahead of the MIG i ejected and hoped for the best.

 

 

 

It worked! but my pilot was killed

 

 

All in all i still think it was worth the sacrifice.