Any tips out there from fellow pilots on dog fighting Camels

[jamieandnici]

Can anyone help me try to combat the Sopwith Camel successfully. I've tried several techniques including climbing instead of diving when in combat to gain the upper hand, I've also tried the zoom and boom technique of flying from above attempting to have a pot shot at one then climbing out of harms way and I rarely try to attempt dogfighting with one (especially to port) as they are so much better at turning due to their engine torque. Any suggestions will help. Cheers.

Edited August 15, 2009 by jamieandnici

[Check Six]

Can anyone help me try to combat the Sopwith Camel successfully. I've tried several techniques including climbing instead of diving when in combat to gain the upper hand, I've also tried the zoom and boom technique of flying from above attempting to have a pot shot at one then climbing out of harms way and I rarely try to attempt dogfighting with one (especially to port) as they are so much better at turning due to their engine torque. Any suggestions will help. Cheers.

 

The classic way to evolve tactics on how to fight effectively against a particular aircraft was to capture one INTACT and fly it yourself. Find out what YOU can't do in that aircraft, or what is difficult. Join a Camel-equipped squardon and follow the "Aces Flight" and watch them scrap with the enemy, see how they fight, learn from it. Try those tactics yourself. If they work, learn how to counter them.

 

Its obvious you're aware of the torque of the Camel, which is both a blessing and a curse to those that flew her. Knowing the quirks and troubles doesn't appear to help you as you have trouble defeating them. Perhaps the AI Camels fight differently, or have an advantage in that wind does not effect them.

 

That's all I can suggest, mate. I haven't fought against one yet, as I'm still flying Allied only (though I did take up a Fokker D.VII as I couldn't resist the allure of that great aircraft). I've flown some minutes in a Camel before crashing due to her eccentricities (or more appropriately, my inability to fly her), but can't offer any solutions.

[RAF_Louvert]

An important bit of needed info here is which aircraft you are tryng to fight a Camel with? There are really only a few that stand a chance of beating one that is flown to it's edge. Generally speaking you will need the alt advantage and will need to keep it, unless you are piloting the DR1, which is the only match for the Camel in a turn fight. Well, that and the mighty DVII, but that doesn't come along til quite late in the war. The other trick is to try and push the Camel to turn left. You already know that it can turn 270 degrees right quicker than it can turn 90 degress left. Unfortunately so does its pilot, so unless he is a rookie you likely won't get him to take the bait. But if you can you may force him to stall out and you will have those precious moments to get in the kill shot. Good luck, you'll need it.

 

Cheers!

 

Lou

[jamieandnici]

Thanks for your help guys. I will try to avoid them for now until I figure out the advantages and disadvatages in AI single player campaigns. Thanks again and happy flyin' all.

Edited August 16, 2009 by jamieandnici

[Check Six]

Thanks for your help guys. I will try to avoid them for now until I figure out the advantages and disadvatages in AI single player campaigns. Thanks again and happy flyin' all.

 

 

There is an excellent page (that is still a work in progress) from Homeboy. He is "jumping in" every one of the OFF aircraft and testing their maximum speed, altitude, turn rates etc. Keep your eye on this page, as you will learn what the best assets of your choice of aircraft is (be it speed, or turn rate, climb etc), then you will learn which aircraft are faster than you on the level, which cannot achieve the altitude you're at, which ones that you should NOT enter a turning fight in, should you try to out-climb that Albatros etc.

 

Here is the link:

 

http://snomhf.exofire.net/OFFaircraft.html

[themightysrc]

I think the simple answer is to run away sharpish from them - they certainly won't catch you!

 

B&Z appears to be the only way to down them. Dive on them, and if you don't give them a good kicking, keep diving! I've tried taking them on in a Pfalz, and, frankly, it's suicide. I bottled it el pronto and took advantage of the Pfalz's excellect diving characteristics to put a few miles between me and them.

 

Seriously, like Biffs, avoid unless you're sure of getting the drop on them.