Olham

Good one, Jarhead!!! :rofl:

That's a jinx, or how you call that - I have the wing failures Hauksbee doesn't get. That's not fair!!! PS: I flew much more careful today and brought the lady home in one piece. Damn hard, to let them SPADs dive away, and not to follow!

Jasta 9, Vauxcéré, July 21st, 1918 Oberleutnant Juergen Mahlo What a day this is! About 03h00 in the morning, we got a call from a command post south-east of Soissons. Knapp is alive. They found him near the wreckage of his Albatros, unconcious. He had left all papers at the base; they didn't know, who he was, until he awoke. At 03h50, he was back with us, and we couldn't see a scratch, nor did he seem hurt in any way. He begged me to take him with me on our ground attack, early at 07h00. He looked so demanding, and he said, he had to get right back on that horse, or he might loose his nerves. So, how could I say "no"? I wish, I had. East of Soissons, we spotted 4 SPAD XIII high above us. They didn't hesitate long, and came down on us. A frightening moment, when they come like huge hawks, growing bigger and bigger. We had just begun the turning, when I saw 2 more SPADs arrive from the north. But Stemmler, Gottschling, Knapp and the new Eugen Koch fought very well; so I could take on the visitors. They had a blue echelon painted on their planes, they were obviously unexperienced, and they are dead now; they fell at 07h39 and at 07h42, near Soissons. The second though, he had almost lured me to fly into an obs balloon - I hadn't seen the damn thing! I went down to help my wingmen with the remaining two SPADs, but they finished them off. I decided, not to continue for the ground attack, as I had perhaps left 300 - 400 rounds, and I didn't know, how much my wings had left. So, we headed home. Knapp is missing again. Between Ambrief and Mont de Soissons airfield, we came across a bigger dogfight. Three or four D VII from Jasta 28w, with their yellow and black tail fins, were turning with at least four SPADs. South, I saw four more SPADs, beginning to attack Ambrief field. I decided, that the Fokkers could help themselves, and took my flight over to help Ambrief. But when I just got into hunting one SPAD, I noticed that mad Fokker below me, also firing at him. Looking around, I realised, I was surrounded by 3 SPADs and three D VIIs now. Fokkers everywere! I shot my last rounds into the bulky, camouflaged plane, when it suddenly lay on it's back and pulled headover into a hangar; resulting in an explosion and a fire. I went right out of this furball now, and collected my flight. Passing Mont de Soissons Ferme, we saw 5 Fokker Dr.1 with blue fuselages. I felt safe like a baby now. Never before had I seen so many German fighters present. Approaching our field, we had to go round three Bristol fighters - those are nasty opponents; well fortified and very aggressive. But then I saw, they were hunted already - I spotted four more D VII with greyish Lozenge camo approaching them. Back on the ground, there was no plane to be seen or heard anymore. Combat had moved on. We had our lunch outside the back of the mess, sitting on a slope in the grass. A cricket hopped into my hot soup and got boiled. Avoid the too hot places - how much longer will we be able to?

Why not offer Microsoft a percentage on each sold copy, for the rights, to put the necessary data, that we now have to load from the CFS3 disc, directly on the BHaH-disc? That would attract more buyers.

Winder: ...and we think its still very special. What took you so long to find out?

Today I did a real "Siggi's DiD standards" flight with my three wingmen, in our white Albatros from Jasta 9. It was so much fun to look around, constantly on the watch for enemies, but undisturbed by Labels, Instruments or TAC. Okay, I did the trimming only after takeoff, as I first hadn't planned this. But since I lost so many pilots recently, I suddenly felt a lot easier about all my struggling so far. I thought, why not try this? And really - I was so much more aware for the world around me! I saw the two SPADs, long before they decided to attack us. They were 3000 feet higher up, and they flew further away first, and I thought, let them go, there will be others. Then they entered a huge white cloud, but I found them, when they came out the other end. They look threatening when they attack. Falling from the sky like hawks with incredible speed. But I know that, and I know, that this speed makes it impossible for them to get behind me, when I turn into their attack. I mostly manage to get behind THEM, quicker than they imagined. Fortunately, the second attacked my wingmen. So I could brush off the first, and then go over there. I was very carefull with my Albatros (Pol's order), and it remained in one piece. The SPADs didn't. After 4 minutes, the show was over; the SPADs killed, and we flew home. I had two rounds left - these SPADs can really take some hits. Flying home was calming me down a lot. So golden the sunlight and the hilly landscape. A flight of seven or eight planes passed overhead; through my binoculars, I saw D VIIs escorting Hannovers. I will repeat that with this pilot - it's so much more realistic. Try it!

Wow, Dej - now you made it up so beautifully, I will read it all (I'm not the great reader of large posts otherwise, but the form and style of your journal makes it something special). But Pol is right - it's a bit tricky to read, as I'm not even thinkin' in English.

As UncleAl didn't say it again (he must be tired of repeating it): there's his very usefull thread: "OFF Tips and Cheats" were you can find answers to all such practical questions.

As some have said, my above report should perhaps have been in "Combat Reports from the front"; so I have posted the second report of Oberleutnant Juergen Mahlo there now. Here is just a pic from his last fight.

Okay, I admit, that I switch it on shortly sometimes, to check, were the planes are, that I have to escort; after having been distracted by attacking SPADs. What everyone seems to enjoy though here, is the atmosphere, when it's switched off again; the more natural view of all around you.

How often must I repeat this: - I have NOT changed my fighting style! - No Albatros EVER broke up before in Phase 2, nor in BHaH before patch 1.28 - NEVER! - It only happens to me now, after 1.28 (and that, although it is said to be made rather stronger; and despite I'm flying the Hardcore damage model, that should make her stronger again).

There is, Creaghorn. I always used "Dead is dead", and I have been in hospital for 20 days. After that, you can go on. But, as Tttiger said, "Die roll at death" makes the same sense. You loose your records and begin like a new pilot, but you don't have to write it all again.

Widow, I just have 5 pilots right now. One of them is doing the DiD standards flying. If he should die, I still have the others. I do it like this: I start first flight with my DiD pilot. If that went rather stressfull and bad, I don't fly another sortie with him, but choose another brother, for some fun. I don't fly the DiD man, when I'm tired, nervous or elsehow distracted too much. Make yourself a brother in arms, and try it with him - it's sheer excitement!

Ditto to Widowmaker's words, and Welcome in this experience, Prophead. You may not find that much air activity in 1916, but believe me: in 1918, it can be mad as hell. So, not the wrongest way, to start a bit quieter, until you can handle everything. Have you got TrackIR? If not - it's absolutely great for air combat simmers.

Hi, Rickity - great you're enjoying TrackIR so much. Yes, flying this way increases the thrill, the feeling of actually being there, having to care for yourself and your wings. An intensive, lively feeling. Griphos and Hasse Wind: Absolutely! Ditto! Macklroy, binoculars would be possible; so for IDing other planes, you may press "+" several times, to zoom the image. Another tip: don't use "padlock view". There is a command key for toggle between the view in fixed angles, and the pan or glide view (forgot how it's called). Now, you can put this command on a thumb knob of your stick. You can now check the overall situation with gliding view, and when it comes to direct fighting, switch to fixed angles view. That is much faster for checking the six, or left and right; better for fighting. Inbetween you may switch back for overall check. Also, try to mark a target, and then switch off TAC. As far as I remember, you could then still assign new targets, without the screen on?

"Strawberries, cherries, and an angel's kiss in spring; sweet summer wine..." Yeah, the army days. I wouldn't want to live them again; but wouldn't want to miss them either.

Great reports, Siggi - nice to read, that all is pretty much the same emotions on you crumpets. Perhaps, after the war is over, it might be nice to meet, over a pint...

Hey, that's cool - a mechanic working on a Nupe! And one of those rookie pilots, who all seem to need to do the same striktly forbidden thing: to fly on a sheer insane low level over them. The mech pretends to be cool - but he surely thinks of something nasty for the pilot; like neighing a dead hering in to the seat cushion...

I wouldn't need it so much for the hunting and killing; but for the feel, the overall view, for enjoying the landscapes and cloud formations, the wingmen dancing behind you... TrackIR makes the most of all this!

Pol: ...just spent half an hour doing (ZZZZzzz) stress tests on the Albatros craft and they are fine Oldham .... Diving is risky, but basically anything around 150 mph or more pull back a little more gently than full whack or stress will occur (stress of the wings, and stress of you ;)) I told you, I haven't been flying any more aggressive than before, and I never used to have breaking wings. But now, gentle times for you SPADs, I will carefully spiral my way down, to follow you, as I shouldn't get under stress - doctor's order. What's the "ZZZZzzz" mean - are you sleeping in the crate on your sorties, pilot Pol? Edit: did you test it in "Campaign" ?

Stewardesses? Pillows?? Sounds like you had a lot of fun (and also like you were too drunk to make more of it - Lol!!).

Well, Trevor, don't let this pilot talk let you get daunted. And I must say this about your eyes: a man who finds such a little detail (you're the first one who noticed this, I'm pretty sure), must be a good hunter in the skies above Flanders. Welcome - as a wingmate; or as an opponent!

My god, Test Pilot and Bullet - I was in a sombre mood earlier on, but you two made me laugh really loud. Thanks for that, mates!

Jasta 9, Vauxcerre, July 20th 1918 Oberleutnant Juergen Mahlo Leutnant Stemmler, Leutnant Gottschling and I are sitting together with our youngsters, Leutnant von Heisenberg and Feldwebel Knapp. We are drinking French beer from bottles. It makes me homesick; this beer is not like any beer at home. And it's too warm, too. The new pilots are deeply impressed by their 'old leader' - half an hour ago they witnessed, how I shot down two SPAD XIII from Esc.83, within 4 minutes. They are hanging at my lips, but I don't want to talk much. I looked right into the cockpit of the second SPADfrom above, from less than 50 meters. From my angle, I could see his legs in sand trousers, his arms, his hands in brown gloves, desperately pulling the stick - in vain. I saw the impact of my burst, violently ripping holes into the sand trousers, the leather jacket and the brown gloves, the pilot's cap - and I saw him looking up, right at me, a pale face, perhaps 19 years old, and then the impacts in it... If my pilots could see the chicken skin on my arms, if they could feel the cold shudder down my back spine... But they don't notice it, and I don't show... Stemmler makes a joke, that isn't funny really, and no one finds it funny, but we all laugh a sandpaper kind of laughter, and then we wash the joke and the laughter down with lukewarm French beer. Looking into the golden afternoon sun, I cannot feel any warmth from her. She doesn't care, if she bathed even slaughter in her golden light. "Excuse me now, gentlemen, I have some paperwork to do!" My voice sounds like through a tin can; I'm standing up; hope, it didn't sound weak; I see their disappointed looks, but all I want is to get to my room and close the door behind me. Only to lie on my bed, smoking, and wondering, what I am doing here in the Marne valley; what I have become...

I have recently lost 5 or 6 Albatros DVa to breaking up in mid air. But Pol says, they should be rather more stabile than in Phase 2 (were I never broke one). I just don't know what this is. I even fly with Hardcore DM, so the plane should be even more solid. I'll give her more tries though, as she is my favourite plane - I'll be more careful now. The last one broke up, when I followed a Nupe 17 in a soft 15-20° dive, and then followed her, when she pulled up again. That annoied me so much, that I switched the "aircraft stress" yesterday. But I don't feel good with that either...