Olham

Update 08/19/09 17:15 Berlin time SFP1Ace, Poland, added. The maps are in post 1 of this thread

Just pressed F6 accidently in flight, and got the gunsight. Works even when you have TrackIR running. Hope that helps all who can't shoot without.

A "progress box" would perhaps be good. You know, like what you get, when you download something. There could be some 30 fields, each filling with green or whatever, the higher you set up reality. That way, no one could compare much in terms fo "How many percent are you?" or "how high is your reality number?" Everyone would just see a certain amount of green fields, only to show him or her, how much would still be possible to add.

Not knowing RoF except from videos and screenshots, I can only speak for OFF. With the latest Superpatch, this must now be the most immersive sim I ever flew. At full realism settings, it will give you the best idea of how hard and dangerous a pilot's life was in those days. It is very hard in some areas! The good is: you can choose and lower the settings, to adjust it to your abilities. It will grow on you - and you can grow with it. You can't do anything wrong with getting OFF - perhaps only if you where more the arcade gamer. But even then, you could set it up for that.

Update 08/19/09 15:20 Berlin time Pied, New Mexico, added. WilliVonBill, North Carolina, added. The maps are in post 1 of this thread

Great to hear you find enjoyment on the fighter side, Bullet! Yes, the SPAD is now so good, that it makes sense, why it is so well known. And a fight against DVII must be the hardest, a SPAD could face. My palms are also often wet after a fierce combat - we live this, don't we?

Today I created a French pilot to fly the SPAD. First name had to begin with a "D", last name close to my family name Mahlo. So, Didier de St. Malo was born; he flies with "Les Cigognes" (the "Storks") from Bergues/Bierne in late September 1917. Short after takeoff, two groups from Jasta 4 appeared over our field: Albatros DIII and Pfalz DIIIa. Some flown by aces. My first measure was to climb steep up into the sun - no problem with 200 PS (HP). I saw them coming down on flight 1, and they went lower all together. My flight was now far higher, and I began my attack. I had sworn, not to turn much, and I didn't. I attacked the silver Pfalz of Kurt-Bertram von Doring and hit him quite badly, although the aiming didn't work too well - the SPAD XIII reacts so well to elevator; must get used to that. Right after passing the Pfalz, I pulled up steep - a real joyride in this crate! Looking back, you see the opponents shrinking, helpless. At the desired top of such climbs, I gave full rudder right, to reverse my direction. And "zoom" I came down on them again. My second measure was, only to attack craft in good position, and never to chase ONE SPECIFIC pilot, to kill him. So, next zooming down, an Albatros was in best reach, and I came for it's tail. But ace Kurt Wusthoff knew to turn left. I had allowed myself to follow a turn, as long as it didn't bleed off my speed, and I could easily zoom out again. So I turned a bit into his left curve and plastered him. The craft began to pull atrail of smoke. Rocketing up again, I looked back over my tail fin. I was not at all in any danger. Great; high turn, and down again! Now the Pfalz crossed my gunsights again - so he got it this time! He was already very handicapped - tried to climb, but couldn't really. He only got hit a little, the SPAD (or me?) was so nervous, but it was enough. He drifted sideways. Zooming up again, I watched him fall into some trees from my "eagle position". Coming down again, it was now Menckhoff who got the next burst, and this time I really hit him full hard; he turned almost on his back and crashed. I zoomed up again and got an overview. My three wings where all there; I had never sent them into the fight. All enemy craft destroyed, or had escaped. I flew over to the other flight. Jean Seraphin Benjamin Emmanuel Bozon-Verduraz had lost his two wingmen. (With such a name, first year in school is over, before you have spelled it to the teacher). I am THE Albatros fan, but wouldn't have said to be a Boom'n Zoom pilot. The Albatros can also turn very well. But the SPAD could develop a second B&Z branch, and I guess, it can even turn a bit, when you know her better. In steep banks, I only pulled elevator - rudder seems to rather disturb her then; I used it in banks up to 30°, and with nose down a little below horizon, then she'll turn well! Result: The SPAD is a fighter to keep you safe, as long as you boom and zoom - and with 200 PS power, B&Z is great fun! I will continue this campaign! PS: You'd like to fly an American campaign? Take the SPAD - and have fun!

Don't know, BuB, I'll only try any online flying, when I have a new rig, with a hardware firewall and decent frps. But ask Sitting Duck - he does lots of online flying.

Ben, I recommend the area around Arras - Douai, in April 1917 or later. You should see action there. When you choose a Squad./Staffel, check, if they are "offensive" or "defensive" and their morale (you see that in the Squad. choice window, at the right blackboard.

Carrick, those machine guns are written "Spandau" - Spandau is a western part of Berlin, there was a lot of war production especially in WW2. Sorry to hear your pilot died, but we are lucky bleeders, we can grow through these experiences, the real pilots were just dead once and for all. Yep, good advice, UncleAl and British_eh.

Hellman, as you have already paid it, and I consider it to arrive within the next days, I would like to add you to the OFF Pilots map. Would you PM me your hometown and country/state for that? Thanks!

mighty, do you fly with the other flight together? Cause, then you shouldn't be so terribly outnumbered anymore. During Phase 2, I had a debate with Pol about the Pup and the DII. I saud, I'd always pick the DII, for it's firepower. His answer was brilliant; he said: The British built great aeroplanes, the German great war machines. In peace time flying, the Pup would be wonderful for me. As a fighter, I prefer the solid ruggedness and overall qualities of the DII plus their firepower. And if the Pup pilot isn't really good, I can always turn quite well with them.

Yes, I thought you had him shot up. Does the Hannover have a double tail elevator?

My suggestion is, to change the settings number that way, that it doesn't look like "percent". Perhaps you make it a range between 1 - 12 or 1 - 25 or something; so it would be a reminder, that one is not yet at "full terror range", without making him think "I'm only 60 % real?" (Lol!) I haven't voted yet - I'd say, it should be changed, but not totally dropped.

Welcome back at the front, Siggi. After such a camping, it may feel like holidays (Lol!).

Only flew the Pup three, four times, but I didn't find at all, that it had a bad rate of climb. See Wikipedia: Operational history The Sopwith Pup was used by both the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). In May 1916, the RNAS received its first Pups for operational trials with "A" Naval Squadron. The first Pups reached the Western Front in October 1916 with No. 8 Squadron RNAS, and proved successful, with the squadron's Pups claiming 20 enemy machines destroyed in operations over the Somme battlefield by the end of the year. The first RFC Squadron to re-equip with the Pup was No. 54 Squadron, which arrived in France in December. The Pup quickly proved its superiority over the early Fokker, Halberstadt and Albatros biplanes. After encountering the Pup in combat, Manfred von Richthofen said, "We saw at once that the enemy airplane was superior to ours." The Pup's light weight and generous wing area gave it a good rate of climb. Agility was enhanced by ailerons being fitted on both wings. The Pup had half the horsepower and armament of the German Albatros D.III, but was much more maneuverable, especially over 15,000 ft (4,500m) due to its light wing loading. Ace James McCudden stated that "When it came to maneuvering, the Sopwith (Pup) would turn twice to an Albatros' once ... it was a remarkably fine machine for general all-round flying. It was so extremely light and well surfaced that after a little practice one could almost land it on a tennis court."[2] However, the Pup was also longitudinally unstable. According to one pilot, "It was so light to the touch, if you sneezed, you looped." [End of Wikipedia quote] As an Albatros pilot, I don't turn much with them, cause they are too nimble. I prefer to shoot them down, before they reach a lethal distance. Fortunately, they break apart like butterflies.

One more note: Scrambles where not made in reality - at least on the German side. MvR regarded them as sheer suicide and said calmly: We'll meet them again. So, it wouldn't be foul play or cowardly, if you would just not fly them and click "time advance". I like them and mostly fly them. But I would perhaps not with a 17 or more hours pilot.

Indeed! I call them sand fleas! But they are good!

UncleAl, you must have callus on your tongue from telling them to check the Tips & Cheats.

Yeah, hmm - that's what we do here. New pilots coming tomorrow. See, that you are one of them. Call him Reinhard Fuchs (and act like a fox). These DH2's actually ended one promising pilot's life for me. They should not be underrated, especially in scrambles, they are extremely nimble, and there is at least one squad. flying in sand colour, which is really good in them!

AI is able to do so - just accept it for now. Fliegenhund, pull yourself together, man - 8 Tripes are like holidays for a scramble! I'm usually jumped at by 12 - 16 fighters! Next time (if you do them at all) press "Pause" and check them via TAC, by clicking "enemy target" again and again, until you know, how many they are, and what type. That's not unfair, cause in a real airfield, you would know beforehand, who is coming for dinner. Next: Either wait, until everybody is turning low, before you start; or start fast and try to get 1 - 2 miles out of it all. Mostly, 1 - 2 craft will follow. Mark one for your wingman and order "attack". Kill those! And then return climbing, so you can eliminate one after the other, from top to bottom. Eight Tripes should be nice firewood for an evening by the fireside!! PS: I have a pilot in Jasta 28w, and one in Jasta 10, both in Wasquehal. Great action there!!!

You may get rockets or bombs - as an Albatros pilot, I won't get any of those. POLOVSKI - when you and WINDER don't take some holidays now, I'll have to send the MP to arrest you on the island of Norderney. Verdict: swimming, sunbathing, dining, icecream, swimming, dozing, dining, drinking, bedtime!!! Fourteen days minimum!!!!!

Update 08/18/09 21:30 Berlin time Synister1, Canada, added. The maps are in post 1 of this thread

Sorry, Bub, but I kill any Camel in a Dr.1, anytime. Try it - it's an incredible turn fighter. I flew the Camel, and she's a great turn fighter, but trickier than the Dr.1. In a duell, I know which craft I'd pick. Yes, the S.E.5a is more like the Albatros. The Alb seems to be very underrated here - she's a good mix of energy and turn fighter. But maybe, if I had to fight human opponents in her, I would not get very far. Once my new rig is achieved, I'll try some online fighting.

As Paarma said, it is trouble, to fit a checker pattern together, but Icould not resist trying. Beanie has an Albatros with that pattern as avatar, that was the inspiration. I wanted a skin to fit one of my new entries, Jasta 34b "Bayern". When she's ready, I will upload her into the skins section. Enjoy!