Who do you normally prefer to fly for, and why?

[UnknownPilot 33]

Just a general discussion.

 

Generally I find myself preferring Navy, even though a large part of me feels a pull to USAF and so I sometimes feel a little conflicted. lol But carrier ops are just so enticing.

 

Then there's squadrons.... good lord there is a lot of them. Trying to think of one to pick for the start of a Capmgain led to some Wiki-reading, and just got me wondering what other people's prefences were (side, force, unit, etc).

 

Regarding Navy squadrons... I giggle every time I read "Flying Ubangis", unfortuantely the wiki doesn't show anything regarding the source of that name. I think in SF2:V+Expansion Pack 2.0 Gold it lists them as a VF, but wiki says they were VA starting in '58 or so.

 

I was drawn to the Ghostriders because it's a really cool name, and far and away my FAVORITE comic book character (Volume 1 and 2 more than anything else, but most incarnations are cool). Unfortunately, they have ugly yellow and white tails and a so-so patch.

 

The Tophatters are cool in being the oldest (and first) unit. But to me that also indicates a certain amount of formal style, which isn't me (I'm more goth/surfer (or skater) in terms of style than suit [i am not a goth, nor a surfer, though I did used to skate, it's just how others have descibed me visually. To me I think it's a rather cyberpunk 'slick' style, but most people don't know what the hell that is lol]). And I'm sure that's over-thinking it, but that's how I roll. lol

 

The Sundowners have a great rep and are somewhat unknown (to the "lay" public I mean), but the whole rising sun on the tail... I dunno, that just feels weird to me.

 

Then there is the Jolly Rogers. At once both one of my first choices, and yet, also the lame, 'obvious', movie choice. Generally I feel "dirty" when going with something to obvious and popular, unless I have a massive draw to it in it's own right. lol

 

Red Rippers sounds cool, as do Diamonbacks, but they both seemed to start rather late.

 

 

 

 

ANYway..... while I'm still mulling over possibilities, what about you guys? You have a favorite squadron (of any aerial combat force)? If so, why? Or do you just pick something at random and go?

[JDSnypes 0]

I just pick anything that has cool name. For example in WOI i pick the Northern Knight Flight Squadron.It is epic i guess. But usually in campaign i pick a squad that have better starting planes, all planes have its pros and cons but since im a dogfighter i choose a squad that their major missions are escort,intercept and fighter sweep, therefore they are equipped with F-16I

Edited January 8, 2010 by JDSnypes

[MaverickMike 10]

Im more of a randomer, although I do tend to look at the aircraft before i sign up with the squadron. At the moment im really enjoying flying any version of the F-18. I have a DiD campaign going with the CF-18 and i like taking the super hornet out for a spin in vietnam.

 

Mike

[+Dave 2,318]

Being USAF myself I fly 90% of the time USAF. Usually with the 334 TFS. (P-47 through the F-15E)

 

For the Navy there is only one, the world famous VF-111 "Sundowners" in an F-8, F-4, F-14 and F-5 (VFC-111)

 

For the Marines its the VMFA-312 in an F7F-3 through the F/A-18.

[UnknownPilot 33]

Being USAF myself I fly 90% of the time USAF. Usually with the 334 TFS. (P-47 through the F-15E)

 

For the Navy there is only one, the world famous VF-111 "Sundowners" in an F-8, F-4, F-14 and F-5 (VFC-111)

 

For the Marines its the VMFA-312 in an F7F-3 through the F/A-18.

 

 

Dedicated Mud Mover, eh?

 

I find that very enjoyble as well. I tend to go back and forth, no matter the genre or sim, between A2A, and A2G. I would probably say that A2A is the sexy part, and my first "love", but moving mud is every bit as much fun, if not more-so (and oddly enough, A2A still remains more sexy and appealing lol).

 

Any particular reason you pick those particular ones though? Is the 334 TFS your actual unit?

[JediMaster 451]

I always pick the plane first before I choose the rest. I also have no qualms about flying for another country, as long as it's accurate that is. I don't want to fly a USN Su-33, for example, or a Soviet Harrier.

 

I know some people have a strong nat'l bias when it comes to flight sims that I can't wrap my head around, but that's the way they are.

[+Dave 2,318]

Any particular reason you pick those particular ones though? Is the 334 TFS your actual unit?

 

Sundowners I did a history report on them a long time ago. VMFA-312, met a couple pilots from there years ago, we all got carried out of the bar. As the same with the 334th. I know a few WSO's and pilots from that unit. One used to live across the street from me when he was moving from the back seat to the front seat of the Mudhen.

 

I do like to move mud, but once the iron is dropped, I go hunting for Mig's.

[UnknownPilot 33]

Sundowners I did a history report on them a long time ago. VMFA-312, met a couple pilots from there years ago, we all got carried out of the bar. As the same with the 334th. I know a few WSO's and pilots from that unit. One used to live across the street from me when he was moving from the back seat to the front seat of the Mudhen.

 

lol Cool!

 

I do like to move mud, but once the iron is dropped, I go hunting for Mig's.

 

hehe, reminds me of all that Bear escort shots in the Screen Shot thread - "I'm about to go a'huntin' MiG's", mutated from "we're about to go a'huntin' bear" ("they even had a bear in the air!" 'Convoy')

[Sakai 2]

Strangely enough, I seem to really enjoy being the underdog. In early war WWII, I always fly for the USN, love the F4F vs. A6M dogfights. Late war WWII, mainly for the Japanese, since being out numbered 4 - 1 will really hone your skill. If I am over a Korea style environment, then I fly for the USAF or USN. The F-86 is an amazing match for the Mig-15, but the F9F and F-84 not so much, so the challenge is there. Over Vietnam, the tables were never, in my opinion, in favor of either side. Mig kills on USAF and USN jets were a real problem early on in the war. Top Gun was created because our kill - loss ratio was far from acceptable early in the conflict. The early F-4 with no gun is not an easy fighter to kill agile migs with, not with out team work in and out of the cockpit.

 

So, for squadrons, WWII USN I fly for VF-8 whenever possible. Later on is the Tianin Kokutai, or the 301st later on towards the end. In the Nam, 555th Triple Nickle. Not sure of NVA squadrons names, but they see alot of action too.

[UnknownPilot 33]

I always pick the plane first before I choose the rest. I also have no qualms about flying for another country, as long as it's accurate that is. I don't want to fly a USN Su-33, for example, or a Soviet Harrier.

 

I know some people have a strong nat'l bias when it comes to flight sims that I can't wrap my head around, but that's the way they are.

 

 

I don't think it's so much a matter of when it comes to flight sims specifically, but rather just a natural extension of patriotism and appreciation. I'm largely part German and have always identified with that (so American-ized that nobody in my family speaks German, though I do speak ein wischen thanks to HS and personal interst/study), and of course I like the planes and symbols (aesthetically) of both WWI and II Germany, so, when IL2 hit, I was a dedicated LW-jock.

 

Then again, I'm so American that my "heros" (generally speaking, I'm too independent to have heros in the truest sense of the word) are The Founders (Franklin, Jefforson, and Henry in particular), so let's just say me and anything communistical are like oil and water. Or perhaps more like sugar and yeast, and I'm the yeast - . lol So that's another reason for me to "fly blue" in IL2. Likewise, in the PTO (IL2: PF) attacking the USN in a Japanese plane just doesn't sit well....

 

That said, in a DF server, while I used to always fly just one side, I'll now go wherever I have to and fly whatever plane is interesting. Being a plane wh0re, I enjoy La7s and Yak3 and MiG-9s, BUT.... I do tend to prefer to put Balkenkreuzes on them. (they really do look good with late war white crosses on them) - given the choice, these days I just look for either a preferred plane (which generally speaking is LW or USN or USAAC, almost in that order lol), or whatever I'm in the mood for, whcih sometimes gets a little more obscure.

 

Still, there is nothing more enjoyable than using a US plane to down a Soviet one. hehe One of the great things about this sim.

 

(love Su-33s and MiG-29s - just as long as they are in non-Soviet use (Russian fine, just not Soviet or any other Commie regeme)

[+EricJ 3,944]

I tend to fly USN for the most part. Got hooked on VF/VFA-213 and just got stuck on that squadron, so I'll fly other squadrons, but mainly that one. But as far as other countries? Not particularly care, just as long as I got "SJ" on the Mud Hen when I fly it.

[charlielima 328]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does this answer the why?

 

Next question please.

 

CL

[Slartibartfast 153]

Well in my case I choose the jet first if its Vietnam era its most likely a Scooter as there is something special about that little jet it aint sexy but it can do the lot if required...

 

Love the Sundowner emblems I must admit they look fantastic on an F-8 or a Tomcat (two for the price of one tails)...

 

If its Nato IV I prefer the Jaguar it carries enough to get it into trouble but not out of trouble thats where it gets interesting...

 

I think its the attack thing going on you can drop bombs and if push comes to shove you can fight with the Fancy nancy boys. Always fun to take out a fighter with a strike jet...

 

Also I like the recce challenge no guns no missilescoming away with a perfect mission is much more fun dont ask must be my sadistic streak showing...

[UnknownPilot 33]

I tend to fly USN for the most part. Got hooked on VF/VFA-213 and just got stuck on that squadron, so I'll fly other squadrons, but mainly that one. But as far as other countries? Not particularly care, just as long as I got "SJ" on the Mud Hen when I fly it.

 

 

Black Lions. Interesting. :) Every time I hear that I think of Voltron. lol (no offense intended, just the screwed up nature of my mind)

 

What does "SJ" mean?

[+Dave 2,318]

Black Lions. Interesting. :) Every time I hear that I think of Voltron. lol (no offense intended, just the screwed up nature of my mind)

 

What does "SJ" mean?

 

 

SJ is the tail code for F-15E's out of Seymour Johnson AFB. Where the 334th FS is from.

[Rambler 1-1 9]

I always find myself flying for the US Navy and Air Force, if not the RCAF, depending on how I want to blow sh!t up. Lately I've really focused on mud moving, and MiGs are something to be avoided, only engaged if necessary and If I have every advantage. My inner coward, I guess...

 

There aren't any squadrons I really prefer, except for VF-84. Jolly Rogers forever! I can't wait for an HD Tomcat...

[+EricJ 3,944]

Black Lions. Interesting. :) Every time I hear that I think of Voltron. lol (no offense intended, just the screwed up nature of my mind)

 

What does "SJ" mean?

 

Well I got hooked on that squadron ever since I saw the Lions Head on an F-14D. It's for some reason the coolest nose art ever.

 

SJ is the tail code for F-15E's out of Seymour Johnson AFB. Where the 334th FS is from.

 

Also the wonderful brothers and sisters who'll help you out when you're getting shot at for real, my hats off to all of them, or beer mug...

 

 

@Slartibartfast

Actually Slartibartfast I pulled off a strike mission an hour ago in the AmericanNW map, blew up the hangar, and didn't even get locked on, or fire an AAM.

 

I tend to also stay away from a BVR fight... but I have been known to shoot first and worry about it later

[+GrinchWSLG 24]

Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries

 

THESE, in the day when heaven was falling

The hour when earth's foundations fled,

Followed their mercenary calling,

And took their wages, and are dead.

 

Their shoulders held the sky suspended;

They stood, and earth's foundations stay;

What God abandoned, these defended,

And saved the sum of things for pay.

 

A.E. Housman

 

 

That should be sufficient for an answer.

[+Julhelm 266]

I usually fly merc or USN. If I fly USN it's usually VF-111 or random Vigi unit.

[macelena 1,070]

Usually, i fly Spanish Air Force, mainly 12th Wing (F-86F, F-104G, F-4C,F-18)

 

Otherwise, it just depends on the aircraft and on i want, if i want to fly an aircraft, i will try to fly it in the most accurate circumstances i can find (I won´t make F-15 in Air Defence fly in the Spanish Air Force: adapted Korea terrain as an overrun peninsula and tunned up a JASDF Eagle)

[Shaolin 0]

Usually everything available (Luftwafe, RAF, USAF, Red Army, Finnish Airforce, Japanese Airforce and Navy, Dutch Airforce, IAF, ...), but if it is possible I choose the JG 54 (Grünherz) - it was my first unit in Aces over Europe.

 

Most times I fly the not so common forces, like the Finnish Airforce, the Dutch Airforce (PTO) and the Japanese Airforce/Navy in WWII and the Egypt Airforce in WoI(1).

[viperBAT32 2]

i love flyin' the Tomcat of the VF-143 "Pukin' Dogs".....c'mon, is there any other nickname out there that compares?....i need to find out how this nickname came about....got to be an interesting story behind this one!

[+Brain32 265]

I mostly fly with the Luftwaffe and USAF, then VVS and USN and I'm quite often in the French Mirages, everything else is occasional. I know, I'm boooooring

[FastCargo 412]

i love flyin' the Tomcat of the VF-143 "Pukin' Dogs".....c'mon, is there any other nickname out there that compares?....i need to find out how this nickname came about....got to be an interesting story behind this one!

 

Simple, look at the griffin that is the squadron symbol on the tail of that F-14. What does it look like he is doing?

 

FC

[Caesar 305]

VF-1 Wolfpack. I love their early paint scheme, and have had the fortune of talking to some of their aircrews from the squadron's early Tomcat days, real kick-ass people.

 

On the attack side, VA-196, The Main Battery. Love the A-6 for strikes.

 

Those are really the only two I prefer to fly for; if I'm flying other frames, it's typically whatever scheme is default.