Formation AI in Combat

[PFunk 198]

It's well-known that the #4 aircraft in formation doesn't engage with air to air targets.  If you are tasked with an air to air mission, is it advisable to leave him at home or has anyone altered the AI to get him to fire on something?

[TempestII 262]

I've found that No 4 sometimes engages but it's somewhat hit & miss; it certainly doesn't happen all that often. I find that they've got to be a higher skill then No 3, No 3 has to get shot down or when you end up in a very chaotic knife-fight No 4 might release IRMs for self preservation or some kind of combination of all three.

[Spudknocker 241]

Put a more experienced pilot in the #4 slot or a pilot that is a higher rank than the #3 and tell the entire flight to engage air targets and he should (usually) break away from his section leader and engage

[PFunk 198]

EDIT:  Never mind.  Read the answer in the 2nd post.

 

By the way, thank you all for the advice, and keeping the community well-informed on how to get the most out of this sim.

Edited January 18, 2017 by PFunk

[Stratos 3,192]

Today I was flying a F-104 4 flight against MiG-17's, and 4 was the only AI to hit anything, and he did it with a FALCON!!!

[PFunk 198]

Wow.  File that one next to "spotted a leprechaun".

[Emp_Palpatine 501]

Yeah, number 4 is usually useless until 3 is down. Never tried having him of a higher rank, though.

[+Menrva 4,205]

Most likely because 4 acts as a wingman to 3, but unlike wingman 2 whom you can give orders, 4 doesn't get orders from you directly. Flight order affects 2 and 3. I wonder if 3 can (implicitly) give orders to 4 like we can do with 2.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Menrva

[+EMCON360 215]

Customize Your AIRCRAFTAIDATA.INI File And Drop It In Objects Folder For Instance.

[DogfightNovice]
SafeAltitude=200
LookoutAngle=150
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=50
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=50
ChanceCheckNewTarget=45
ChanceUseVertical=20
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=1.0
RQIRMFireAngle=9.0
ASIRMFireAngle=15.0
RHMFireAngle=20.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2250
OptimalCannonRange=600
MinCannonRange=150
MaxRollForGunAttack=90
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.5
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.0
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0

[DogfightGreen]
SafeAltitude=200
LookoutAngle=150
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=50
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=50
ChanceCheckNewTarget=45
ChanceUseVertical=40
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=1.0
RQIRMFireAngle=9.0
ASIRMFireAngle=15.0
RHMFireAngle=20.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2250
OptimalCannonRange=600
MinCannonRange=150
MaxRollForGunAttack=90
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.5
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.0
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0

[DogfightRegular]
SafeAltitude=200
LookoutAngle=150
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=50
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=50
ChanceCheckNewTarget=45
ChanceUseVertical=60
FightWithoutAmmo=0
CannonFireAngle=1.0
RQIRMFireAngle=9.0
ASIRMFireAngle=15.0
RHMFireAngle=20.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2250
OptimalCannonRange=600
MinCannonRange=150
MaxRollForGunAttack=90
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.5
CannonBurstLengthLong=1.0
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0

[DogfightVeteran]
SafeAltitude=167
LookoutAngle=180
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=75
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=25
ChanceCheckNewTarget=50
ChanceUseVertical=80
FightWithoutAmmo=1
CannonFireAngle=0.8
RQIRMFireAngle=10.0
ASIRMFireAngle=20.0
RHMFireAngle=25.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2000
OptimalCannonRange=500
MinCannonRange=100
MaxRollForGunAttack=180
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.25
CannonBurstLengthLong=0.5
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0

[DogfightAce]
SafeAltitude=167
LookoutAngle=180
DefensiveAngle=120
ChanceDefensiveTurn=75
ChanceBreakTurn=100
ChanceHardTurn=100
ChanceTurnDirection=100
ChanceContinue=25
ChanceCheckNewTarget=50
ChanceUseVertical=100
FightWithoutAmmo=1
CannonFireAngle=0.8
RQIRMFireAngle=10.0
ASIRMFireAngle=20.0
RHMFireAngle=25.0
MaxPitchInput=1.0
MissileDetectChance=100
MaxCannonRange=2000
OptimalCannonRange=500
MinCannonRange=100
MaxRollForGunAttack=180
CannonBurstLengthShort=0.25
CannonBurstLengthLong=0.5
MaxRudderForGunAttack=1.0
MaxRudderForManeuver=1.0

Now Everyone Fights Like An Ace Or Veteran With Slight Changes In Vertical Combat But Still
Must Give Wingman And Group Commands. You Can Make Multiple Variations But Remember It Is
Global AI Behaviour. For Me It Generates Much More Aggressive Formation Engagements.

 

[+yakarov79 11,128]

an interesting aproach... will try this tonight..although Im not much complaining about 4..

[PFunk 198]

Yeah. That's one way to go about it.