Olham

That sounds pretty stupid. I read about a manoeuvre by Nelson I think at Trafalgar (?). He acted in a completely unexpected way and let his ships sail rectangular towards and through the enemy lines. It seemed to be devastating, as the French ships couldn't fire at the British very much, while the British could fire full broadsides both sides, when they passed through the French lines. (At least that's how I memorise what I saw on TV). I prefer much to perform such unexpected manoeuvres.

Welcome over Flanders fields, sparrowhawkms! Please send me a PM with your town and country - I will add you to the OFF Pilots Maps then. Using the inflight map is what I'd recommend for beginners, who want to fly more realistic. It shows you the momentary position of your craft. If you see then, that your course should be northwest, you could exit the map and fly after your compass again. Check map - correct course. (And your six of course!) The TAC is very helpful, cause it shows your course, plus a kind of radar showing all other aircraft around you in a certain range. But since I left the TAC behind I only know, how much it had always distracted me from the real life feeling. But it's okay for the first campaigns, I'd say, just to help you getting into the whole business.

Would you say, that knowledge about Naval battle orders and tactics is much required for "Jutland"?

Not "Famers" but "Famars". The Jastaschule Valenciennes was called Jastaschule Famars by Jentsch. I guess it was based at Famars, which is just south outside Valenciennes.

What aircraft is that in the background in pic 1?

To fire the spirits for our "Little Italy" project, here are two good pics of nose-down aircraft from the Italian front: an Italian Hanriot (Macchi) HD.1 and an Austrian Lohner L seaplane. (source: Rosebud's WW1 and Early Aviation Image Archive - http://www.earlyaero...om/archive1.htm )

And the flare would have to be fired early enough. In the books I read, pilots stated that they often missed things, like the leader suddenly diving for some E/A or such things. They were also responsible for scanning the skies for enemy planes. How easy could you miss a signal! Gosh, the more I think about all that, the more do I come to assume, that they spent the majority of their time and awareness on their formation flying, and only the rest on spotting E/A?

One guy is holding a (flare) pistol - I still believe it was a kind of contest.

Now that is another KuK beauty you painted there, Bullet - or should I say: you did NOT paint...

Now he's got what I mean... Yeah, I remember that too - a Messerschmidt Bf109 G of balsa wood: - wingspan: 32 cm - machineguns: tooth picks

I am just reading K.F. Kurt Jentsch's book "Beim Jagdflug tödlich verunglückt?" again. He wrote there, that the German Jasta Echelon formation wings would change from one side to the other in turns, to prevent anyone from falling behind. Unfortunately he doesn't go into such detail as to how they knew who would cross overhead and who crossed under the others. Also he did not mention flare signals, but I guess such a manoeuvre would have been introduced by a flare signal. Another detail I found there was, that the training at the Jastaschule Famars (S of Valenciennes) included formation flying, and the attacking of balloons.

Yeah, you may be right there. The photos of so many offizers and mechanics, with only 2 planes, suggest that maybe they were about to perform a comparison test between the spinner- and non-spinner Albatros.

Sierwitz is good! Sounds like a realistic name for a German field, but I guess you came home to Sierentz, the most southern field of the Western Front. It's only pathetic, when your wingmates see it. Otherwise - don't give a damn, I say. Congrats on a fine hunting result! This may not comfort you, but I believe your report. It happens very rarely; I had similar - rare - non-events like this. I wonder if the mission tracking thing (for later replay) might be responsible, when a flight is just too long or too much happening? Can it be switched off in "Workshop"? Your new DFW is really a beautiful lady, Bullet, and I wish you good luck with the next mission.

No, I didn't mean computer-modelling - I meant the good old model building (plastic models, wooden models etc. - do you remember?)

They are good for modelling too.

Now this is interesting! I have never before seen any other pic of a German Albatros with the spinner-less design. The whole hood looks different to me, as if the engine was higher? Or is that a trick of the eye?

Hauksbee, that is a very fine catch you made there - congrats! As for the type size - there are quite huge square-shaped reading magnifiers. The book might be worth to order one of those (6pt is indeed very small). http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Magnifier-Clamp-Desktop-Base/dp/B000186ZGY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1347343690&sr=8-4&keywords=reading+magnifier .

I have found several copies of the original 1916 print for cheap prices. Since I want to read it in German, I have ordered one of them now. Hauksbee, not necessary anymore, but thanks a lot for the generous offer.

Yeah, I know - I have been flying the Brisfit a bit, and it's a great fighter. But I prefer single-seaters.

Bullet, I only like flying fighters. I have flown the DFW for a while in the DiD Campaign, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I like the DH-2 and even much better the Sopwith Pup occasionally, and the S.E.5a and the SPAD XIII too. But I am never long away from my lady - the Albatros. It must be love...

Bullethead, that sounds good - I will only make fighters. But I may add some Italian ones. I'd like to make a Pup for a Hanriot. Edit:oh, we have a Hanriot?

For the Aviatik, only the Fokker D.VII looks close enough; I'd start from there, but give her a different "Aviatik" FM. For the Hanriot we could use the Sopwith Pup - with a special FM again?

How long would the OeFFAG Albatros 153 take to make an FM and DM for? I would love to see these done like they should be (more stabile and stronger).

Bullethead, I wonder if it will be possible to have Entente craft flying against Entente craft in OFF mission builder? Not sure about this.