Olham

Hahaha!!! But good, you're the right stuff, eyh? You just stand up again, and enter the next available plane, with a good headache, maybe. Do you know: was it the left or the right turn, she performs better?

Hey, good to know that this works, Siggi - makes it a lot easier, and more immersive surely.

...he crashed his Camel. (damned Huns can't fly properly!) Well, as far as I know, the Camel killed a lot of British rookie pilots, too. Wasn't she even called "Widowmaker"? But interesting story, that. And a special skin. Perhaps it can be built into Jasta 28b, in some future version of BHaH? I will try a British campaign with the Camel now; see, if I can get to grips with this nervous witch craft.

Bonjour, Liaxelot, welcome! Si tu veux plus d'activité et de air combat, chois les ans 1917 et plus, 1918. Et chois une region, ou il etait plus d'action - comme la region Arras - Cambrai - St.Quentin. Ou la Marne region en 1918. Je ne sais pas, sis les Escadrilles avaint "defensive" et "offensive" Esc. Tu veut choisir une Escadrille "offensive". Mon Francais est tres limité - I wish I could help you more. Au revoir. Olham

Hahaha!!! Yes, Catch, that's how the pilot must look after firing that monster.

Hi, Luiz Before the flight, you read the briefing. There you find your mission task, takeoff time, the names of your wingmen, the total flight distance etc. You may decide to press "alternative flight" (or how it's called), until you like the route and distance. [now, write on a pad or note book: mission task, names of wingmen, takeoff time. Make sure, you have petrol for the flight distance filled up, plus 30 - 50% reserve.] When I enter air combat, I press "pause", and note, how many opponents I see, which plane types; and you can even switch "labels" on, to see, if there are aces among them. When you really destroyed an enemy plane, you will receive a blue message on top of the screen. Press "pause", press "Z" - now you get red text with a lot of data, including exact time and altitude. Write these two down. Now open your map, and check, were the plane was shot down (north of Arras; or "southwest of Bertincourt airfield"). When you collected these data, you fly on. Later, you should write ALL your wingmen into the report, cause you will hardly know, WHO might have witnessed your kills. Now many may say, that kills the immersion a lot. True - but I can't remember all this any other way. Hope, this will help you. Have fun! Question to all: Has anyone tried yet, to write down all these things after the fight, from rather vague memories; and had his/her claims still confirmed?

Good stuff, Tttiger, you found there; I remember I had seen the first bit in the old forum. I shouldn't have jumped in with my data. What we do here sometimes, is defending the planes we like, against negative criticism. At least I feel I'm doing so sometimes, and off course, that's pretty useless. Sure the Dr.1 was an outstanding plane. And also sure it was much overrated by many. The most important points in all air combat of that times surely were: - how good did each pilot involved, know the strengths and the weaknesses of his plane? - how much control could he retain about himself, the situations, and the plane? - how good or bad were the conditions of each plane and pilot at the beginning of the fight? I started a campaign with the Dr.1, and there are Camels and S.E.5a in my area (sweat - Lol!). Now, I must find out myself, how far I can get with it...

I like SPADs. For breakfast, lunch, or with my tea. Yes, Interlocutor, I prefer turnfighters too (although the Albatros isn't the best there - Dr.1 would be the choice!) For the Camel, there's one direction, were it's really good (depending on the powerful rotation torque); but I forgot, wether it was the left or right turn. I think, it was the right, and it was so much faster and safer, that the pilots did rather a three-quarter right turn than a left (if right was right - ask the experts). I'll try a Camel campaign soon - she's the only British plane with good twin guns (if we ignore the few twin gun Tripes). But a nervous little witch, as far as I experienced yet.

Naw, British and von Baur; it's just a lucky outcome - happens rather rarely; so enjoy! See Hellshade's thread about the same lucky event - and what I wrote about it. I regard it as one of these moments, when your guardian angel held a hand over you. Your crash looked terrible - but nothing much happened to you. In car accidents, that happens a lot.

The S.E.5a was 37 km/h faster than the Dr.1 Within 6 minutes, the climb would be: S.E.5a: 1.200 Meter Dr.1: 2.000 Meter (At lower altitudes - data like these are never bulletproof) You can only escape by climbing away; and Gremlin's trick seems perfect - spiraling up, the agile Dr.1 won't loose much climb, if any. The S.E.5a should find that much harder to do - and can't aim or hit you.

Sometimes, there is a wink of the eye of fate. Or the "Winding Lord"... (Shouldn't it be: Sgt. David Ian Darks - Royal Flying Corps ?)

It happened to me before twice, but is rather rare and random. Use your fantasy, what happened. Like this: Major: "An RFC Sergeant. Were did you find him?" Ltn.: "We watched his plane coming in from the east, getting badly shot up by ground fire. He had shot a German plane down before - they were like mad over there, and he came down, pulling a trail of smoke. He couldn't keep the plane in the air, and crashed into a line of trees. Almost in no man's land. But we could reach him and get him out, Sir." Major: "Well done, Lieutenant! Hmm, apart from his unconciousness, he doesn't look too bad..." Medic: "The nose is broken, two front teeth are broken off, he's bitten into his tongue; but the jaw is intact. I can find no bullet wounds. Lucky guy, I say." Major: "Did you find any papers or a wallet?" Ltn.: "Here, Sir!" Major: "Sgt David Ian Darks, Royal Flying Corps 92 - these youngsters all fight like mad dogs. But this one will be a bit quieter in future. Get him to the hospital." Ltn.: "Sir!" Major hands a small bottle of brandy to the medic. Major: "And you give him this medicine, when he wakes up." Medic: "But his tongue - Major, this will burn like hell in his mouth!" Major: "Yes. But he's a pilot. You will see - those blokes can ignore pain. He'll get it well down himself, I'm sure."

To have enough encounters, you could enter second half of 1917, or better 1918. There are so many planes underway, you could call it "crowded".

Well, your flying skills can't be that "meager", when you downed 3 Albatros D Va in a single flight! But it's funny - your Albatros opponents had advantage of height. When I fly somewere, it's always the Allies, flying MUCH higher than us. Winder?!?!

"In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are consquences" (R. G. Ingersoll) But in BHaH, there are punishments, and rewards. After Interlocuter and Siggi had convinced me to "fly without crutches", I have just absolved my first flight as a real veteran pilot, and caring flight leader. We were sent out to destroy a ballon in the Marne bend region. All unrealistic help devices switched off, we approached waypoint 2, right at the lines. I had climbed to 6.000 feet, and so still had to check the skies above us. Even worse: all the space below us. You wouldn't see a SPAD in camouflage climb towards you! Heavy thunderheads around - a tense athmosphere. Suddenly, I thought, I had seen a short kind of blink, in front of a slate grey cloud tower. There it was again! And a second dot! They moved left, so I changed direction about 20° to the right, climbing. We flew a wide curve, to get behind them. I sharpened my view, but there were no more specs. When we had an advantage of some 1.000 feet, they suddenly pulled round and dived our direction. They must have seen us all the time. From the dive, they pulled up with incredible speed, growing fast! I ordered split, and attack! And managed to get a half turn to end right behind one. He was hit so devastating, and so often, he seemed to sink away. I let him go. Were are my men; and how are they doing? The three of them were buzzing around the second SPAD, but couldn't seem to get into position. Coming down on it like an eagle, I was careful enough with my wings. He tried to pull up, out of my dive, but got the first burst. I rushed through a cloud of splinters and ripped fabric. Pulling up after him, I lay almost headover, when I fired a second burst. Now he drove downwards, but with no elegance. And he got it right into the cockpit. Pulling up again, I shot into his fuselage from so close, that in pulling away, my right wing touched his rudder. He screamed terribly, and nosed down, down, until the crash. Re-assembling now. I flew two, three circles, until everyone was there. Relief - no one missing! Just when I was about to go on towards the ballon, I saw 4 - 6 fine points moving to the right, away from us. I went on, but kept them in my sight, until they had disappeared. Now I was in a bit of a trouble. If they were SPADs, too, they would be a real danger for my flight. But I still had some 800 - 850 rounds left, and the order was, to down that ballon. So, I went on with my flight. Arriving, we got heavily shelled from lots of AA. I zigzagged towards the ballon, but it got more and more hazardous. Reaching it, I shot it up quickly and pulled away hard. Zigzagging back, we were hidden in black puffs. And then came the one with my name on - Boof!! - and part of my right wing flew away! I tumbled down and made a nasty crash. I must admit, I would have thought, I was dead. But no! I got the claim report, and then a notice, that I had been captured, but escaped after 20 days! That's the reward! Sometimes - but only sometimes - BHaH can be so good to you...

Instead of wasting money on such gear, you should switch off all the non-realistic devices like target cone, TAC, labels and info text, and instruments. I tried it on my last sortie - it was so immersive. You suddenly see everything again...

Hellshade, you can even fly with "limited fuel" on! All you must remember is, to pull throttle back to 70 - 75 %, before you warp. Also, before you start to a 60 mile roundtrip, make sure you have a tank filling for 90 miles (that's plus 50%). That way, the fuel will be allright. I did that now several flights, and it always worked. And we might have met - I was northeast of Arras and had a dogfight with 6 Nupes. But you know, how far we can see each other - max. 4 miles, I'd say.

Yes, vision sucks on the Halby. I flew it some time ago, but didn't last long against Nupes. But I remember, it climbed pretty good! I'll try it again, when I got better. I have just lost my Albatros DII pilot (Sept. 1916) in a collision - I was too greedy for the kill, again! After that, I had a wonderful excursion into the Marne bend area near my field Bonneuil Ferme. We (I, flying a D Va in April 1918) destroyed a ballon, and flew home again - and all "without crutches" (see that threat of same name). It was so immersive - I'll continue doing that.

Boy, how much deeper the immersion! Why haven't I done this before? Answer: I was afraid to get jumped on! I was afraid to miss the action! I was afraid to get lost! Bulls**t, all! No more afraid! This was a campaign flight, and I just risked it. And it was SO GOOD! Flying that way, I see and watch so much more - I wouldn't even mind so much, if I would get killed in an unforeseen attack; I want to live this as much as possible. My honest advice: switch off your labels, TACs, warnings, instruments and target cones. And SEE, what we there is around you! Interlocutor and Siggi - you have cured me from a "false safety syndrom"! Thank you!

Interesting thought, Siggi - would you say "Guns: hard" means "harder to destroy something"? Cause, I had thought: gun's impact is harder/worse? If "hard" means "harder to destroy something", then I'll pick hard. As my German planes all have two guns, and the Allied planes are easier to destroy. So: my advantage. Interlocutor; flying without TAC could make campaigns easier in one point, I read from your post. An enemy you don't notice passing in a distance of three or four miles, can't lure you to attack him. Less fights, and less risk to get killed. More flights without engagements at all. More flying hours.

Hallo, Wels! Wasfliegst Du zur Zeit? I just made my first sortie with a Bristol fighter, in 1918. We were attacked by 4 Albatros D Va. Our flight, and 3 Albs went towards the deck. Up above only my Bristol, and one Albatros, from Jasta 71. He was really fast underway, and I found it hard to hit him at all. I had taken over the rear gunner position. My pilot turned like mad, and this plane is very agile! He even made an attack twice with his forward guns, and hit the Alb! Me, I got a few rounds into him, but the Albatros is quite tough and didn't show much reaction. He even rammed us, demolishing our right wing tips. Can't say, if he broke off or began to show damage, but he went away, and we made it home safe. If you like helter skelters: this is it!

Wow! Great job, Chris. What program do you use?

Not sure! Impressive, yes; but the pilot seems to suffer almost as much as the enemy? I was never a fan of the big guns. You can't carry many rounds, and the plane maybe heavier overall.

Yes, that sounds realistic. A flight of Dr.1 would have been veterans or aces; and would rip you to pieces in seconds. D VII should be extremely dangerous too. The warping should be left out, because only then, you can decide which alt. to climb to. I haven't installed the patch yet - want to make some more training flights, before it get's serious! But if we now must run away, when outnumbered - how can I fly my Jasta 15 April 1918 campaign? There, I usually way outnumbered, almost every time!

Here is another impressive vid with dramatic music - this one gives you a real good flying feeling. This plane is so impressive and confident looking, I will start a British campaign with it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzhUFePm3n0...feature=related Tttiger, the lowest (and most common) form of humour is malicious joy, IMHO. The highest - according to Caplin - is, when you can laugh about yourself. Maybe, we're all rather low ranking then, cause I find that mostly pretty hard to do.