Olham

I have only just now discovered, that at the very bottom of the page of the above site, there are the buttons for "previous page" and "next page" - so there's plenty more about other Escadrilles as well. But - maybe I was the only one who didn't realise?

Just revisited the site of RODEN, to see, if they have new pictures of ready assembled and painted models. Here are three nice ones: a Brisfit, a Nupe 28 and an S.E.5a Enjoy! http://www.rodenplant.com/

Well, if you mean, that the Brisfit looks more like a determined battlehorse, whilst the Nupe 28 looks rather like a graceful craft for aerobatics, I agree. But I find her beautiful, in a different way. But I also always liked the edgy, bulky look of the S.E.5a - I find her beautiful in her very British understatement way (if you know what I mean).

Yes. If you haven't seen it already: watch the movie "Angel's Wing" - I think, it's based on the pilot Guynemer. Although physically rather "fragile" (lung problems) and suffering from vertigo, he wanted to fight the intruders. As he couldn't become a soldier, he became a pilot. And what a fighter he was. You may have read Udet's report about a fight against him, in which he didn't kill Udet, who had a gun jam and was helpless. Great man!

I got the impression, that kills are rewarded by medals. For us Germans, 5 kills seem to mean 1 Iron Cross; 4 Iron Crosses mean 1 Pour-le-merite (I think?) The successful doing of your duty would rather be rewarded by promotion to a higher rank. That's my impression so far.

This flight was funny. At the start, my flight was in the first line; von Richthofen, Wolff, Almenroder and more aces, started second to us. So we were the first to approach two FE2b, and I put quite some rounds into both to slow them down for the kill. But there, Manfred in his red craft and his other Top Guns arrived and happily shot both planes up like nothing, within the blink of an eye! I was really annoyed! But out of the towering grey clouds cam a flight of 4 BE2c; so I picked out one of those. But when I had it just half finished, Manni came from above like a Jojo - obviously to attack my two seater. What could I do now? Well, I pulled my craft to the left, right inbetween von Richthofen and the BE2c. And it worked - he pulled out and away, and let me finish my job; which I did. Still though, I'll have a few words with him, when they come back (we went home earlier, as I had shot all my ammo).

Welcome, Luftace Nothing wrong with WW2 sims; I also came from there, and will surely play Oleg Madox' "Battle of Britain", IF HE SHOULD EVER RELEASE IT. But with these crates, you experience the flying and the dogfighting so much more intensive - you'll see, it's very immersive! Hope you get enough time for it. The helmets - maybe they came from Turkey. WW1 was stretched out even to Palestine. All not so far from Afghanistan. Take care for yourself and your comrades. And come back in one piece!

Yep. And in WW2 it was similar. I always say, it was a competition of research and technology a lot; a rivalry of the industries. Maybe men can become most creative as opponents or competitors. (Strange only: why did the British never compete against the French on the field of cooking? Lol!!! Uuuhh!!! Now I can see them sharpening the blades against me and my cheeky bigmouth!)

Three missions a day or more might have been the norm, but I imagine most of the missions were uneventful. Depends on where you are, and when. We have defensive and offensive Jastas here. Von Richthofen had fights on many sorties, Udet rather on fewer. So, if you want to go over the 17 hour mark, you better choose such a defensive Jasta. Udet had after a very rough calculation of mine, one kill on about 15 sorties. Still though, he lasted longer than von Richthofen and made respectable 60 (or was it 62?) kills, surviving the war. Your choice, who you follow. Me, I'm so far definitely closer to Richthofen. At least with dying earlier. (Lol!)

I can only speak from what I observed - not totally sure, if that IS so. Let's say, you have three wings, 1 - 3. When you order attack once, No. 2 and 3 will go for it. Wing 1 should stay with you. (Now, I'm not sure, if he will also join, when you press "A" again.) That's why I always press "A" first, and then "H". That way I make sure, wing1 will stay with me. But that also includes, that he will now possibly attack the same target as I do. As long as I don't want a certain plane to be attacked, I often don't press "A" at all. I press "R" before I enter a fight, and they defend themselves. Only wing1 will follow me "blind". And he saved my bum quite often. But when you operate that way, you must fight for your wingmen too. If you can, pepper all opponents enough, that they have some problems with their crates. Also, watch out for someone getting chased and attacked. Help him, if you any can. So, my advice, if you want to use "A": don't mark a target and press "A" (now No.2 and 3 should go; and they would attack the nearest target, I suppose). If you should see your wing1 also goes, press "H" - he'll come back then. And if you want all to attack, press "A" several times (if then wing1 would still not go, he is determined to protect you, which would be great, I think).

Wasn't necessary - he seemed to be a gentleman, when he realised. And it wouldn't be my style! Lol!

In case you didn't know, Hasse Wind - you can press "optional flight", when you find, it goes too deep into enemy heartland. Press it again, until a flight distance appears, that you find suitable.

Certainly a top Escadrille; and today, the "Storks" are the elite Mirage Escadrille, I think. At least was it that way in my "Mick Tangy" comics, which were drawn by the great Asterix creator Uderzo (sic! Comics are another field, were the French are really great! Spirou and Fantasio, with the Marsupilami...I'm gettin' carried away - were was I ?)

Thank you, Widowmaker. Do you still know that adress of the site with those post-war American SPAD XIII designs? I've lost that.

Hi, Rayfer, go here and check: http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/02-pro...uct-videos.html Click on the first video: TrackIR explained.

OFF has got it as near as possible, given the software's limitations... Absolutely, Widowmaker! And we must not forget, that AI too has it's limitations. It can never think of clever quick reactions on their manoeuvering. Flying the "Creaghorn way", should probably make us last much longer. Only problem: my impatience, and my desire to fight, at all cost. I could use the sentence of Guynemer, who once said fully ernest: "I shall not survive."

The sharp eyes of an artillery man! Thanks, Bullet, it's corrected. I seem to get more and more dyslexic (or how that's spelled). Not in speech, but on the keyboard. Either I'm typing faster than before, or my brain gets old and scrambled. So, shame on you SPAD newbies - shot down by a senior, who forgot, what he shot, when he's landed (Lol!!)

A Dsherrmannn Officer ass a pig?!? Zatt iss verrry typical enemy propaganda! Hmpff!!!

Stumpjumper, do you fly these self-made crates? I mean: do they have an own believeable flight characteristic, or are they "popped on" some BHaH plane's ones?

Very "professional", indeed! Thanks for sharing. Yes, I could have climbed. With a Nupe 17 somewhere underneath your tail, that feels very uncomfortable. Speed, I think, is a little better on the Albatros DIII. So perhaps I should have done a full speed escape, followed by a climb - might be the only thing to do, cause turning with her is also suicidal.

Flying it like you, Mack, but sometimes I do "manual advance", to see, if I will get some claims confirmed (which never happened). But two or three sorties a day was the normal job in those days; sometimes more even. As for the fuel load: I always fill up 150% of what's necessary for the round trip; so when it's 60 miles, I fill petrol in for 90 miles. But never much more, cause I think, the craft is really lighter and more agile with, say, a fuel load of 35 % than with a hundred.

Yesterday, I made a flight like that, Creaghorn. All switched "OFF". I like the feeling much better, of course. But it came to a nasty disadvantage, when I tried to fight a Nupe 17 (in my DIII). Whilst I couldn't find HIM half the time - despite TrackIR - the AI pilot knew exactly my position, always. Whereas, in real life, the other pilot would also loose visual contact sometimes, and need to get new orientation. So, I switched "labels" on (but didn't feel good with it). I assume, you would have tried to climb away from that; to get full overview about the situation. And I know, that's what I should have done, instead of turning with a Nupe.

Tried again to get them a little better.

The distance to another plane or object is a direct line - up or down or straight. The altimeter can be a German one, in meters, or English in feet. You open the altimeter, and then press "F5" again, to change "nationality". Congrats for your kill in an E III - not easy that!

Very interesting thread! You're a really grown up fighter pilot, as Griphos says, Creaghorn. Wish I could be more like that. But I'm getting better, I think. What help/instruments/labels etc. do you use in f(l)ight, Creaghorn?