Olham

That's what we mean, when we stress the word "immersion" here so often - it feels so real! I found this post answering a post about that incident in "The Aerodrome": http://www.theaerodr....html#post21280 The book „The Jasta War Chronology“ states as follows: 26. August 1918: 148th Aero Camel, 1Lt Siebold KIA, shot down by Lt. Frommherz of Jasta27, at 17.45 17th Aero Camel, 1Lt Tipton POW, shot down by Lt. Frommherz of Jasta27, at 18.00 17th Aero Camel, 1Lt Frost POW/DOW, shot down by Lt. Frommherz of Jasta27, at 18.05 17th Aero Camel, 2Lt Todd POW, shot down by Lt. Klimke of Jasta27, at 19.55 17th Aero Camel, 1Lt Roberts KIA, shot down by Lt. Heinz of Jasta B ( ? ), at ? 17th Aero Camel, 2Lt Jackson KIA, shot down by Lt. Bolle of Jasta B ( ? ), at ? 17th Aero Camel, 2Lt Bittinger KIA, shot down by Olt.Loerzer of JG3, at ? On this day there was only one German pilot killed in action over Fins ( Gefr. Becker of Jasta 48 ). No wounded German pilots are mentioned for this day. It seems that this loss has nothing to do with the above mentioned fight. Maybe some of the German aircraft involved in this fight were damaged somehow. Interesting is, that only the first three kills lie close together. The 4. was almost 2 hours later (if the guy didn't get the times wrong). PS/Edit: the question marks probably were made because of the "B" - this stands for Jasta "Boelcke", which was Jasta 2.

Elephant: I fly mostly offline, (not unnegotiably however) and I like immersive and historically correct Campaigns. My favorite plane is the D series Albatros (the D.5 particularly for it's sleek and elegant lines). A person who likes the Albatros for it's sleek and elegant lines, can't be bad, can he? A gentleman of good taste has found his way to us! Wilkommen, Herr Leutnant! If you like the overall feeling to really be in the Squadron, Jasta or Escadrille, to really live it (that's what they call immersion, I think), then you won't find any better air combat sim. I liked IL-2 for WW2, it's aircraft looked great, but nothing ever was like OFF before. I don't fly anything else since more than a year now. (If ever Oleg Maddox' Battle of Britain should get released, I'll make an exception).

For me, the map is "B" like "Briefing"? (But may well be, that I have changed it ages ago).

On the way to become a "Hard-boiled OFFer", a re-install will get you a good step further. Been there - done that! Congrats!

Ratatat, the front-line in Flanders went forth and back many times - more often than the OFF devs could make different inflight maps for. So the best advice I can give you, is never to land on an airfield close to the lines. You're not alone - I have lost three pilots that way already.

tranquillo: I've got an idea what I want but need to create the image first. Shall I pm you when ready? If it's an idea or a scribble, or if you find a fitting emblem in the web, just PM it to me.

Good one, Lou! I'll add one to that below! Guys, don't panik! Not about 140% realism or any other settings. Give yourself the time to learn. I honestly admit, that it took me about 3 months, to get familiar enough with the flying and fighting plus TrackIR. Through the "Krauts vs Crumpets" Campaign (and the deaths of several pilots) I got used more to flying without the available aids. But I recommend to use them, as long as you need most of your attention for the handling of the crate and view and mission objective. The further you advance, the less will you nee of that - but don't expect get there without being a rookie first. Why do you think the guys on RAF_Louvert's picture are grinning so mean at the arriving greenhorn? Because they have all gone through it themselves. No exception. Of course, you may as well buy my new book, available right in time so short before Christmas:

Ahem - Carrick, the "Oktoberfest" is in Munich, the farm girls are in the countryside - well, and 21 yrs of age... tranquillo, it is no problem. If you want an emblem, just post it as a Jpeg; if you want stripes or a Capital letter, just tell us, what you think you want. If none of the British specialists shouts "here, me!" until tomorrow, I'll do the job.

Thanks, Lou - just saw them, and downloaded them. I have also found one in the web, which is an American field map from WW2, which goes from Reims in the NW down to Colmar in the SE. A very good map. I am just completing it with the German and French airfields, which may take some time. When it's ready, I'll send you a ZIP file of it. Here is the link to it: http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/lorraine/photos/maps/MapII.jpg

PS: only now, I saw your "cockpit", Lou, and I frankly say to you - before you say it yourself again - you are quite mad, Sir. Mad in a way some others here, and definitely myself. Not meant as an insult, but maybe a compliment. You really honour those pilots of the old days your way, and I imgainge them sitting on their clouds, pushing their elbows in each others ribs, saying: "Look at this, boys! We are not at all forgotten - Holy Schnickee!"

Was this map also among your download stuff, Lou? I must check again. Cause for my Jasta 32 pilot has to make the transfer from Mörchingen (today: Morhange) over to La Folie Ferme (which I still need to locate exactly). And I'd love to fly it after this map.

...and so did I - thanks for the link, Dej. And I repeat my offer to make personal attachments on Albatros fighters, if anyone wants. Just send me a PM with your Jpeg or GIF files, and your wishes.

Thanks for the explanation, Slartibartfast. I know your name is from that book, and I even enjoyed it long time ago, but didn't remember that this excerpt was from there. Maybe I should read it again.

Goodvibes, the whole thing can be cut short simply by looking at the size of Germany, and it's resources. On the field of inventions of technology, Germany was very advanced. But without the resources of raw materials (for example oil/petrol) and personnel, the wars were simply too big for a small country as it is.

TaillyHo, the "total thrill" is to have all aids switched off. No Labels, no TAC, no Advisory messages - just you and your noisy craft and your wingmen. The disadvantages are obvious: no warnings nor "radar" will help you - if you are attacked in a clever way, you may be finished, before you even know. The advantages: the feeling of really being there, in the air, over the landscape. I try to fly after paper maps now; I made excerpts from RAF_Louvert's fine Western Front map (downloads) for the regions my various pilots fly in, and draw in the locations of the airfields, You can fly after rivers, and some roads and railways. Where it doesn't work well, I still check the inflight map for short. It's a thrilling feeling. I must admit though, that I never made it very long yet - that would need wingmen, who signal you a danger, when you are just reading the map.

Hellshade, thank you for the detailed comparison - made it even more clear to me why I love OFF so much.

Scouseair and Lou - what the heck are you talking about???? An SF series perhaps?

I forgot: will that effect both player AND AI aircraft?

You wouldn't have got two times an "Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse", that's right, Ratatat. But I have read here some time ago, that the Military Orders and Medals will be completely re-done for P4, and from what I've seen, it will be phantastic, and hopefuly correct.

Yes, I read the first two pages, when I got it, and his style is very good to read. Only need to eat my way through Jannen's "Lions of July" in English.

Javito, although I haven't read the rules myself yet, I think that British_Eh, Bletchley and others have researched reality settings for the various different times in the war. Have a look at the "Survival in the Air" thread above. I'm sure they have found a realistic setting for this - they have researched lots of books and stuff.

Don't worry, von Paulus. It's not the common working people who ran the values of the currencies below zero - that was done by the speculation of the banks. But what will they do to press a value for that money out of the common man - reinstall slavery? No way! They would get hanged on the nearest trees!

Naw - keep up the good work, and don't get nervous, Javito!