Olham

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.

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?

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

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.

Thank you, Erik, got there now!

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.

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".

You may have seen these, but I send them just in case.

In the DH-2 you have the best possible forward gun sight - that's why they built it as a pusher, I assume. At that time they were not able to fire through the prop. When you take some time for learning, she is an interesting lady. Only when I had to fight her I realised how well she could be flown - amd how bad I had piloted her. Major Hawker could have shown you a graceful dance!

Collisions will be the last bad kill factor in furballs, when you do everything else right. Flying with Jasta 11 is a good choice for learning some best behaviour in combat. You'd just have to stay high and out of the thickest, and the aces would save your bacon quite well. But you could also start a bit earlier and in an area where it's quieter (below St. Quentin), with an Albatros D.II. Besides collisions, the worst kill factor is our own eagerness to achieve victories. It makes us enter and stay in very dangerous situations. We usually collect kills quite fast - and then we also die fast. To avoid deadly patterns, the best would be to fly with eyes on your own safety first - as if you could really be killed, or terribly wounded. You would still collect victories, only slower. But with 3 years ahead of you, you would still get far - if you survived.

Did you count the hours you've put into making this, Bravo? Just found this funny animated graphic from a modeller. Maybe it helps with the details?

That Siemens-Schuckert looks really good to me so far. I wonder how far the modelling went - if it has cockpit interior? That's where the nasty detail starts, I think.

Thanks for the reminder, Dej - that book is still on my open list.

Make sure you also read "No Parachute!" by Arthur Gould Lee (if you haven't already). He was another feller who used up at least 5 of his 9 lives. His "adventures" during the battle of Cambrai alone are hairraising.