Olham

Think it's understandable in this case. Yesterday, I had a great fight amongst towering clouds (see "screenshots" thread). Whilst the three of us could only fly through open spaces, those 5 Nupe 17 Lewis used the clouds for their cover and tactics. They could fly into them and become invisible - even on the TAC. When I tried to follow one, I found myself in a spinning washing machine, and could be glad I flew a rugged Albatros - I made it out and alive, but it's not fair, is it?

Herr Prop-Wasche I guess German engineering really IS better! Wouldn't go that far - but when I flew a British Tripe campaing, I had two balloon attacks to do, and both times, I had to make 4 attacks and to fire more than half of my rounds into them, before they blew up.

Right, I didn't know that either. And E.V makes more sense anyway, as E stands for "Eindecker", D for "Doppeldecker". Widowmaker, I don't know, how well your Snipe really will be, but I think you'll have parachutes. And you'll need them, when the "Razor" comes to cut off your wings! Mmmuuahahahahaaaaa!!!!

Good evening, Uncle! Must be around 19 h over there? Bedtime for me here (01:17) Good nite!

Great, Steve, looking forward to that. A Pfalz DXII - must be very rare! If you meet Peter Jackson, please tell him, that he could make all us WW1 aircraft fans extremely happy, if he would make a WW1 movie. I think, everyone here knows, admires and loves his works. He would be the PERFECT man to do this job.

Beautiful to watch so many old "ghosts" in the air! Hopefully, there will be an Albatros DIII with them soon. Thanks, Creaghorn!

CJ - your avatar still kills me everytime you post.

Just had a weird dogfighting against a British flight of 5 Nieuport 17 Lewis, in nasty rain amongst huge towering grey clouds. Ritter von Tutschek, Prinz Friedrich Karl von Preussen and the rest of flight one had just gone much lower to avoid the clouds. I remained higher up with my two wings Klemm and Zimmermann. Then out of the grey came the light grey Nupes - I hadn't seen them! I ordered my wings to attack the highest flyer, and then the Tango began. Somehow I managed to keep my six clear, advise my wings, and fight three Nupes. Each got some hot rounds first, and they soon lost their agility. Now I could finish off the first. A burning craft came down further away. Let it be one of them! And so it was - my wings where doing great up there. Attack the other now! Two minutes after the first Nupe, a second one followed her into the dirt. But the last one was a real turn devil! Closer and closer we came towards the deck, now fighting at treetop level. This was my finest ever dogfight so far - my god, did we turn and twist, jump and chase! I got hit! Engine rattled, and the rudder didn't react well no more. Dammit! But at the right moment, two Albatros came down to help me - the boys had sent their second one down! Now the Nieuport had to break away from me, and I got my chances. Two, three terrible bursts - he couldn't hold her up now, and went into the trees like a fast sinking boat. Could have been my fate today! I had to cross through nasty ground fire, before I could land at the nearest field at Lagnicourt. Safe! And both wingmen alive and well - what a fight!

UncleAl - you say it: we can do without maybe half the politicians, but they can't do without us. Here in the EU, the value added tax is 19 % ! No wonder, people turn every penny three times before they spend it.

Hey, Steve - that Smiley with the German "Pickelhaube" is cute! Is it among the emoticons here? Yes, the Aussies seem to have been great soldiers in WW1. An Australian machine gunner seems to have downed the great MvR; and they performed the burial ceremony for him very good. I see you're the vice-president of the Australian Society WW1 Aero Historians. Perhaps you can get hold on some pics of that Albatros, that got shipped to Down Under? I want to visit some sites of aerodromes too, maybe by train and bicycle next summer.

WomenFly2 reported recently, that Fokker first had problems with breaking wings. I think it was due to rain water getting into the structure (?) But then he re-worked it all again, and he made photographs, where his workers sit on the wing - the whole wing carrying lots of men, sitting crammed! No need to be afraid - that fighter WILL perform any turn. And it might be the Nemesis of the Sopwith craft, when we fly it - rooooaaaarrrgh!

So the devs did a good deed on you, JAA - welcome in here! You won't regret a single penny - promised!!

Werner Voss - Germany - 48 victories Orden Pour le Mérite (Blue Max), Knight's Cross with Swords of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class Rank: Leutnant Units: KG 4, Jasta 2, 5, 10, 14, 29 Born: 13 April 1897 in Krefeld Died: 23 September 1917 Killed In Action north of Frezenberg Voss was wounded in action with 6 Naval Squadron on 6 June 1917. Killed during a legendary dogfight with seven S.E.5as, Werner Voss drove two planes to the ground and damaged the rest before his silvery blue Fokker DR.I was shot down by Arthur Rhys Davids. "I shall never forget my admiration for that German pilot (...). His flying was wonderful, his courage magnificent and in my opinion he is the bravest German airman whom it has been my privilege to see fight." James McCudden "If I could only have brought him down alive..." Arthur Rhys Davids to James McCudden Information data from "The Aerodrome" ( www.theaerodrome.com ) - I really recommend that site to all aviation fans.

Erich Loewenhardt - Germany - 54 victories Orden Pour le Mérite (Blue Max); Iron Cross 2nd class Rank: Oberleutnant Units: FA(A) 265, Jasta 10 Born: 07 April 1897 in Breslau Died: 10 August 1918 Killed In Flying Accident near Chaulnes The son of a doctor, Löwenhardt served with an infantry regiment before he volunteered for the German Air Force. He was wounded in action over Roulers on 20 September 1917. After scoring his 54th victory, he collided with Leutnant Alfred Wenz of Jasta 11. Both men jumped from their planes, but Löwenhardt was killed when his parachute failed to open. He was called a "Balloon Buster", but among his 54 kills where dangerous opponents like these: 3 Bristol F2b; 3 S.E.5a; 13 Sopwith Camel; 15 SPAD Information data from "The Aerodrome" ( www.theaerodrome.com ) - I really recommend that site to all aviation fans.

After second thoughts, which should have been first, I decided to do this different for the greatest aces. Their aircraft and paintings will be shown in a single post for each ace, instead of all over the place. So, some skins may appear again; but I want to present them complete. I won't do it in an order by victories; so don't worry - I won't forget aces like MvR or Udet.

UncleAl, when you wrote some time back, how you walked out to your post bin with your TrackIR device on your cap, and everybody round that community tree staring at you as "Mr. Radar", I knew you had a lot of fun. That can't be made a price for. During the last 15 years, I must have bought some 15 - 20 games and sims. Talking in Deutsche Mark currency, that would have been minimum 600,- DM. But all of them together were not as valuable to me as "Between Heaven and Hell". Don't tell the devs, but I would have bought it even if it had been 100,- Dollar. Prices have a meaning for everyone in the everyday life. But this sim - I really mean that - can't be valued in any price. Otherwise it would cost much, much more. So don't be silly feeling like a chump - climb into your cockpit again and have fun! Cheers from Berlin!

I have never seen such face mask before. But I once had a long motorbike ride in February, with an open jet helmet. I tell you - I can understand the guy who invented this mask! Oh, how I wish they made a really good WW1 movie; where they'd introduce such details. And now that Mayrhofer builds three Albatros, they wouldn't even have to do it all on their computers - they could have closeups with real fighter craft! One of these days, perhaps...

I had posted this some time ago; but now that Mathias sent the pics of this craft, I thought it's worth to watch again. You don't need to understand the words - just enjoy. At the end Mayrhofer mentions, that he still needs to find an original petrol filter, but now Mathias showed the test run of the engine; so that problem seems to be solved.

What a great find! It takes a while to build up, but it's worth the waiting. So many detailed things - a medic's bag's content, a shock-proof watch, Uniform badges and stickers, and a German MP from late 1918 I had never seen anywhere before; and and and... Worth to return to many times. Thanks for posting, Rabu!

Flying razors and nipple clamps - who says we don't have fun between heaven and hell!

Oh me oh my - I looked up "wicker" - what crate are you flying? Perhaps you want to change to an Albatros? Surface of the seat: padded leather - very comfortable! So, I can't complain. Make about three or four sorties per day; sometimes they are tough enough to make me tired really. Maybe I'm getting old? No - I won't get old! Lol!!

Men In The Moon No one had told you No one to hold you Mute all your sirens A deafening silence Oh beautiful pearl You fit in one hand All life in a blue drop Embedded in darkness Lost in the question Noise on the radio Distorted signal Waiting for answer Twelve astronauts had walked on the moon They all returned home They never came back Edit: these are paintings by Alan Bean, one of the Astronauts, who walked on the moon. Hope he doesn't mind.

What is a "wicker ass" ?

Thanks for joining in, Dej and RedDog. And here's another Albatros ace skin. Albatros DVa Jasta 5 - Josef Mai - 30 victories (survived the war) - (Jasta 5, Kasta 29)

Yep, tough times, Rickity! I'm earning very little recently; but so are many colleagues. But we will come out the other end! And until then, we find comfort in our crates. (Well - maybe comfort isn't really the right word - Lol!)