RAF_Louvert

. I don't have an issue finding my way to the grocery store, HW. But I have been known to stand in the aisle staring at the shelves for endless minutes, muttering to myself, and wondering what the Hell I came to the store for in the first place. .

. Holy Schnikee! That is great, Sir. And Morris is quite correct, you have a very nice "narrator's" voice. Cheers! Lou .

. Si, I agree with Hasse Wind's previous comments. You should fly OFF in a fashion that you find enjoyable and challenging. Also, to answer your question about knowing when I am close to being too far over the lines to glide back with a dud engine, that's a matter of practice. I try not to lose sight of the front lines during a fight, because once that has occured I am definitely too far away to glide back, no matter how much alt I have. Most of the OFF planes will handle a very shallow glide angle with a dead stick, and if you have around 10,000' of alt, and the wind is not against you, you should be able to glide at least five miles, and usually a lot more than that. On one occasion I was able to glide my Strutter for nearly 30 miles with a slight wind at my back, starting from 14,000'. There is also a learning curve when it comes to using the "paper" maps, but once you have your AO sorted out it really isn't that tricky at all. I find it a lot more immersive not relying on the in-sim map and little plane icon, but then I am a glutton for punishment. Cheers! Lou .

. As a DiD campaign flyer I will give my input on this, seeing as how Hellshade asked for such flyers to "weigh in". I do not use any in-sim aids of any kind. No TAC, no labels, nada. I also do not use warp, and only very rarely will I use the time accelerator key strokes, (usually when I have misjudged how much real time I have left before I need to be somewhere, and must get back to my home drome ASAP). I also do not use the zoom-in feature. I fly OFF using nothing more than what our WWI counterparts had at their disposal, and that goes for the in-sim map as well, (I fly with the "paper" maps available in the downloads section). Because I do not have any equipment or instruments other than "EyeBall 20-20" to find and ID aircraft, my engagements and kill numbers are considerably lower for the number of hours flown, and therefore are closer to the Great War averages. I also have to spend more time trying to stay in formation and not getting lost, which also takes away from hunting about for EA. Another thing I do is fly with clouds on "5" so that the AI cannot see through them, which further lessens attacks. One "trick" I do use is to fly about a hundred feet or so above my flight, but still in my "slot", as this allows me to sometimes be the first to see the AI that are trying to jump us. Once in a fight, I do not chase the AI down more that a couple hundred feet. If they keep diving I pull up and engage a different target while keeping an eye on the one who just dove away to see if he is trying to climb back into the fight. I do not give up alt if I can avoid it, and I will break off from a long fight if we are getting pulled too far over the lines. If at all possible I try to keep enough height to glide to the safe side of the mud in the event I should conk out. My average in the campaigns in a "busy" sector is to make "ace" status with about 50 flying hours on the clock and around 8 total claims, (with 5 confirmed). Hope this info is of some help. Cheers! Lou .

. Von Paulus wrote: You will not be disappointed Sir. I have read it at least half a dozen times over the years and have completely enjoyed it each time. You can often pick up one of the 1930's Aviation Book Club hard cover printings for about the same price as a new soft bound copy. Check AbeBooks and other such online used book sellers if you like, VP. A number of years ago I was lucky enough to obtain a beautiful, original 1918 1st edition, when the book was published under the title "Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps". Cheers! Lou .

. Not to worry Rugbyfan1972, I take offense at very little and can handle a joke as well as anyone, (and dish 'em out just as readily). Life's too important to be taken seriously. .

. Here's a rotogravure to test yourselves on. Identify the forwardmost aeroplane, the squadron it belongs to, and the WWI ace seen seated to the right in the picture. First one with the correct answers to all three gets to pull up that empty chair and discuss Life, the Universe, and Everything with this fine group of gentlemen. Cheers! Lou .

. I too am in total agreement about incorporating the WWI Italian and Russian fronts. It would be very neat to have all those new planes and new battlegrounds to fly above, not to mention all the additional bling. Italy's Ordine Militare di Savoia, Medaglia al Valore Militare, and Croce di Guerra Russia's numerous Orders of St. Anne, St. Stanislas, St. George, and St. Vladimir Romania's Order of Michael the Brave And, IMHO, one of the most beautiful medals presented by any nation in WWI, Serbia's Order of the White Eagle Very nice. .

. ...hee, hee, hee...natural selection...good one Olham. And Wagner is an excellent "mood music" choice, British_eh. After further investigation I do need to amend what I said about the last bit in my previous post. It is the mechaninc who does in fact yell "Clear!" first, (to indicate to the pilot that he has gotten out of the way and not been clobbered by the prop and is now laying dead in front of the plane), to which the pilot responds back with "Clear!", and then proceeds to taxi off down the runway. Thanks for getting those sound bytes recorded Olham, and if possible could you do them in a wav format. Cheers! Lou .

. . Olham, you asked what they would have shouted in German when they started the engine. While I don't know the German phrases Sir I can at least say that, according to instructional books written during WWI, (such as "Practical Flying", by W.G. McMinnies), the proper procedure went this way: The mechanic yells "Switch off!", to which the pilot checks to be sure the magnetos are indeed off, and shouts back "Switch off!" The mechanic then pulls the prop around slowly to draw fuel into the cylinders, after which he then shouts "Contact!" The pilot reponds by switching on the magnetos and yells back "Contact!" The mechanic now pulls the prop hard over on compression and the engine starts, and immediately the pilot shouts "Clear", to indicate "Get out of the way you silly sod!", (as if any mechanic with half a brain wouldn't be well away as soon as the engine fires up). Hope this helps you Olham. Cheers! Lou .

. Alrighty Gents, I'm going to resurrect this thread from a year ago to ask a question. I'm planning to start a career as a bomber for the Kaiser, (GASP!), but I have got to switch out the "HangerFadeMusic" file to a German version if I'm going to get myself into the proper mood. Have any of you brave Central flyer types done a new audio file for this, and if so would you be so kind as to post a link. If not, perhaps Olham would record the needed voice commands and send them to me and I will build a new audio file for the German campaigns and offer it up in our download section. Much as I like Ringo, (and Bugs), I really think Herr Stachel would be more fitting. Cheers! Lou .

. Varsågod, vonOben. .

. I'm chuffed as ninepence about it, WM. .

. Rugbyfan1972, I am indeed still married, (hell, I'm so married sometimes it hurts). My wife had me move my flying set-up to a little room at the farthest point in the house from her reading/sewing/relaxation room and even at that I am asked to keep the door closed if I'm going to "play my game so loud". All kidding aside though, she is honestly a fantastic woman, and what she sees in me that has made her decide I am the one is a mystery. I'm just thankful every day for her. Cheers! Lou .

. First of all Cody Coyote, welcome, (back), to the OFF skies, (don't recall if I'd welcomed you earlier, so better safe than sorry). New guys buy the drinks! I imagine you will get a fair amount of input here, but I think it would be helpful if yo could give us a price range you are wanting to work in. Now then, I believe I'll have a pinta' extra stout and a wee dram a' the Tullamore, if you'd be so kind lad. Cheers! Lou .

. You need a vice? Have one of mine Sir, I have plenty. Oh wait, you said "vise". .

. Dej wrote: Hmmm, you must stay at different types of hotels than I do Dej. My white satin jump suit has gotten me mistaken for Elvis on more than one occasion. Late career, carbohydrated, bloated Elvis, but Elvis none-the-less, and I still get hit on in the bars because of it. Thank you, thank you very much. .

. "I canna change the laws of physics, Captain!" They can however be bent, and I say we bend 'em real hard, Duce. Lesiure suits are stretchy for a reason. Let's find out just how much memory that fabric really has! .

. nbryant, pull up that empty chair Sir, you are spot on with all three. ErikGen, very good added info Sir, well done. Olham so close Sir, so close. .

. Very good, Ras! I have flown many a nocturnal mission and they are some of my favorites in terms of the excitement and mood they provide. .

. Actually, sandbagger only has part of it BB. Doctor Quest has another bit as well. But no one has put togther the entire correct answer...yet. .

. Hey, whatever it is Duce, if it works for Barry, it'll work for you too... .

. Hellshade wrote: In the time it takes me to think through trying to say that to myself even once, (much less repeating it), I will have gotten my tail feathers shredded by the bloody Hun who's crept up on my six during the distraction! While the rest of your advice is quite sound Sir, I believe on this one point I'll stick with what works for me, which usually involves singing "Stayin' Alive" as robustly as I can, whilest dogfighting, (second verse of course, with minor alterations). Helps me focus on what's really important at that moment.... "Well now, I get low and I get high And if I can't get either I really try. Got the wings of heaven on my shoes I'm a flyin' man and I just can't lose. You know it's all right, it's O.K. I'll live to see another day. We can try to understand The O.F.F. effect on man. Whether you're a Britzie Or whether you're a Fritzie, You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive. Feel the plane a' breakin' And ev'rybody shakin' And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha, Stayin' alive. Stayin' alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha, Stayin' al-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i a-a-i-i-i-i-i-i-i a-a-i-i-i-i-i-i-i a-a-i-i-i-ive, oh yeah!" You should give it go, it'll really get you in the mood it will. But I won't be held accountable if you suddenly develope an overwhelming desire to slip into a white satin jumpsuit and watch "Saturday Night Fever". That's your own lookout. .

. Sweet pics, carrick! TKS for sharing, Sir. .

. A most solemn and heartfelt salute to one of the great air aces of the Great War. Fly with the angels, Major McCudden. .