Olham

British Cavallery, and a Mark I tank coming back from battle: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675024079_Battle-of-Arras_Leicester-fusiliers_Cavalry-moves_Mark-I-tank-move-downhill

Wow, what a lucky rescue!

Hey, the old war wounds! When I was a 7 year old boy, I climbed a pear tree in an old garden. I was just swinging my leg over another branch and was hanging headover - when the branch broke off. I hit the ground head first, felt a nasty pain in the neck, and was quite dizzy for some time. Never thought of it again, until now, at an age of over 50, a docor found, that I had an old neck injury. Since two or three years, I sometimes get a horrible "Crack!", when I turn my head. I guess, regular training in a fitness studio would be good.

I don't know yet, who will be my next "serious long-time pilot", TaillyHo; he is just one of the candidates. But it feels good to know, that you are flying at the same time in more or less that same region. :pilotfly:

Christmas? You must have got something wrong there, Sid.

There is now a new map available in the Download section. The map covers the area from St.Quentin (top left corner) to Reims at the bottom right. It would be most useful for the following Jastas, operating from these airfields (among others): Boncourt: 14, 21, 50 Chambry: 2, 26, 27, 36 La Selve: 13, 15 Marchais: 14 Puisieux Ferme: 4, 6, 10, 11 Sissone: 1, 9, 21, 50 The link to the download: http://combatace.com/files/file/12381-off-map-lao-reims/ I hope some of you try out flying by map - it's easier than you may think.. The yellow lines are roads; but more useful are the black lines, which are railroad tracks, These are pretty much precise in OFF. You should add landmarks like lakes by hand. Enjoy!

Thanks, LIMA - the map was now approved my the admins, and is available. I have added the link above.

File Name: OFF Map Lao - Reims File Submitter: Olham File Submitted: 27 October 2011 File Category: Maps, Missions, and Campaigns This map is mostly useful for German flyers. It shows the area from St.Quentin (top left corner), to Reims in the bottom right half. Some German airfields in this map, and some of the Jastas there (among others): Boncourt: 14, 21, 50 Chambry: 2, 26, 27, 36 La Selve: 13, 15 Marchais: 14 Puisieux Ferme: 4, 6, 10, 11 Sissone: 1, 9, 21, 50 The roads are the yellow lines. More useful for navigating in OFF are the railroad lines (black). Enjoy! Click here to download this file

I knew a guy who slipped off a tennis tent during repair works. He fell on his bum from only 6 Meter (15 feet?) - several of his spine vertebras were partly crushed; he is sitting in a wheel chair now. But then they shot less frames per second back then, which makes everything appear faster. Perhaps the fall down was gentler than it looks?

A touching story. A bit overdone with the ammo perhaps - I wonder if a Focke Wulf could fire so long. But anyway - good story.

tranquillo, your dreams are even wetter than others', eyh?

Thanks for the Nungesser-story, Capitaine - never heard it before! You say "Nungesser's accounts" - did he ever write a book? WW2 ace Adolf Galland wrote about such an event, but I don't remember, which way round it was. I only remember, that either Galland had escorted a damaged Spitfire back to the English coast, or a British pilot escorted his damaged "Messerschmidt". Don't have the book anymore - does anyone know?

Now, this was different, Winder - I had expected Pol's usual "maybe any time soon"-teasers. I'm absolutely convinced, that your policy is the best - not being rushed by requests or money lenders, but driven by the desire to create a perfect product. All the best, guys!

Almost! It's Jasta 17, flying from Frescaty, near Verdun. Current date: 13 February 1917. Are you also there?

Great find, elephant - been watching since 45 min.!

Thanks, Carrick!

In Bullethead's case, it could be "Bloody Mary Special"? (special means here: HALF Wodka, half tomatoe juice, several splashes of Tabasco sauce, pepper and salt)

After the death of my long time "serious" pilot, it was big fun today, to do something pretty different. OFF still has things to discover for the first time. I was flying a campaign with the rank "Unteroffizier" in a German campaign for the first time, and so - first time - had to follow another leader. That caused complications right at the start - I wasn't used to starting somewhere in the middle, and almost rammed another Albatros! Then keeping formation was also difficult - my bird was always faster than all others. But then it was also fun - I didn't have to care for everyone; I just fought my own fights. Flying around in a nameless craft, unburdened by the ace reputation and the weight of many hours flown and victories won, I felt free as an - Albatros! Also very rare for me: flying in winter time. I hate autumn and winter grey weather. But OFF surprised me with a perfectly beautiful winter's day, and it was a joy to fly through it!

"Wings over Wairarapa" Airshow Watch that beautiful Hawker Hurrikane at ca. 3.20 min. She flies a sweet double with the Spitfire.

I had both, and both had their strengths. I loved to fly out over the Channel with my Spitfire, to intercept incoming Stukas. I don't know if it was Folkestone? Anyway - it was fun to shredder the Stukas low above the surface of the water! In European Air War, there were great air events high over London, which were just big!

From this year's airshow "Wings over Wairarapa" - New Zealand must be paradise! B.E.2c and B.E.2f Sopwith Camel (and Fokker Dr.1)

Does anyone know the real reason for this bulky fuselage?

That is a part I was also quite impressed by, when I first saw the movie. The "Blitzkrieg-Messerschmidts" were quite powerful in that bit, no question. I did also like the coolness of the British pilots. Let's hope, that they didn't burn any real Hurricanes for that scene!

Was that the "payback day" for Hastings?