Olham

One of my earlier OFF pilots served from May to August 1918, with Jasta 9. Leutnant Mahlo became Hauptmann in the rather short time, and he collected a lot of victories (over 40 if I remember right). He finally fell in a collision with a SPAD in a fierce fight. I still remember him as if I had been there - he was probably my most immersive OFF pilot. Here is one of his "Reports from the Front" - if you like reading, you'll find more before and after this one, until his obituary. http://combatace.com/topic/37518-off-bhah-reports-from-the-front/page-4?do=findComment&comment=288784

Ah, that's good to hear, that we won't get "kicked out" of this great place completely, Erik - thank you!

I just tried to post a new thread, but I wasn't allowed anymore. Is this just an error on my end, or is it the end of our OFF community here at CombatAce?

So good old Henry Wollett is still around, I see? We used to have a tackle or two. When you look at Ernst Udet's victories, you'll find he made 46 of his 62 victories in 1918, when he could fly the D.VII or the Siemens-Schuckert. Maybe many German aces made their highest scores in the late war. But it was impossible to win - you witnessed it: waves of Entente aircraft... And the risk of the high-scorers is so much higher too - remember Werner Voss...

Oh no! ...

My English seems to fail me here - didn't get it???

...and more! New material added to Buddecke website. http://www.buddecke.de/neu.htm

Erik, like the OBD-Team I had not known about the reasons of your troublesome time in hospital. As far as I know, at least two from the small OBD-Team also had some very bad times recently. Maybe it all came together in an unlucky mix, like "The Perfect Storm" (a book I really recommend, by the way). I guess the decision was made on a straight business kind-of level, since no contact could be made (which is now, with knowing the whole story) understandable, and such a sad fact. Maybe OBD are sad about it themselves, but don't want to jump forth and back? I don't know... What I do know is (and I won't keep it a secret) that I always liked CombatAce and all the great services it offers, and the easyness with which it all works fine. I still feel more at home here, cause here's where it all started for me. Here's where I meet the majority of friends. Here is where I have an endless PM running with some of my friends. Here's where I hang my pilot's cap. Your service has always been great and immediate, Erik, except for that one black-out, that might have killed you - I guess we are no machines.

...and will be fixed in WOFF, if I remember right.

Best to fight in a SPAD is "hit and run" tactics. The craft is very powerful and therefor fast, and it climbs well. But the vision isn't too good for turn fighting. So you'd better attack from a superior height. The quiet, sturdy SPAD will provide a stabile gun platform for well-aimed shooting. If he didn't fall, you pass your victim by diving even further, to get away from his guns. You climb back to superior altitude once you are out of his range and repeat the attack, or, if he looks like a determined ace, you could also just fly away and leave him alone.

Just found this link over at "The Aerodrome" - you can be in the SPAD XIII cockpit and look around in all directions (note the balloon above). Enjoy! http://www.airspacemag.com/panorama/201245581.html?start=5&page=1&c=y

Dayton, Ohio is what the further info said, Steve - correct. I'm afraid I'll probably never get there, but anyone who lives closer, maybe?

I'm with Hasse Wind there - a well researched book in English is over-due. I wonder if there are French books about their aces? But then I couldn't read them anyway... Maybe it wouldn't be a thriller though. When the man shot down so many planes without catching more than a single bullet, then it is most likely that he always surprised his "prey" totally, shot them down before they even knew he was there, and then disappeared again (for which the fast and strong SPAD XIII is predestinated). I guess he never joined into any sort of turn fighting and furballs.

Hi, Eric and all In the forum "Over Flanders Fields - General Discussion" was a thread "OT - The RED ARROWS before my balcony", which was meant to be moved elsewhere by one moderator, as it was off-topic. But now the link doesn't seem to get me to the new directory at all. Can you fix that? If so I say "Thanks a lot" in advance.

Thank you, Erik, got there now!

elephant is a fellow Greek - he will forgive you, I suppose. That's right about the flaps. And if you hold the nose high AND use flaps, you can even land the big "Air Force One" of the US president on a rather small airport like Berlin Tegel. I've witnessed their landing - they didn't even use a fifth of the runway. Pilot's pride. Didn't know about those nicknames, Corsair - and I find them unfair; almost insulting. I like the whole appearance of that aircraft.

I see there are several parks in Athens? I always like to see the landings - they seem the most dangerous moments to me. In the second video, you drop in quite steeply - much steeper than I make my landing approaches in the Albatros. But then your runway is longer than our WW1 airfields. Nice areas to fly over - and we have even seen you flying in person!

Dimus, I guess you ARE - most of us can 'only' fly our beloved sims. Great videos, elephant! Some say the "Phantom" was ugly - I always liked the look of that craft very much. A distinct shape, like a "hunting hound of the air". I saw the (quite different) camouflage pattern of the Hellenic Air Force for the first time here. Here is a slide show video with some nice captures of this great old bird in the Hellenic Air Force. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOeW4XcI9ds

Not sure how you recognised they are "Phantom" jets (or did you know it?), but this photo is brilliant!

Ah, I see, thanks, Dimus! I always see travel flyers with naked rocks with white houses on, which have blue window frames and doors. I'll check Google Maps for Andravida now.

Wow, that was nice to watch it from an inside view! What a nice job - training in Greece, flying over England and maybe on guest appearances elsewhere! Greece is much greener and juicier than I had thought - must be great to live there, elephant and Dimus.

Ah, you lucky man - I had the chance to witness one of their performances back in 1973. They were flying Folland Gnats back then. What are they flying today, I wonder? In that weather it must have been tough to perform such figures!

No. 24 Squadron, RFC - nice people, and a nice big airfield.

"Lone Wolf" missions will be found in "Campaign" mode, in 1916 and early 1917 for sure; maybe even later.

I think F6 is the gunsight. Not sure though, if you get it in the "Fee".