Hauksbee

Well, I've nothing left to throttle back with; I'm stalling out. But bleeding off some energy in a gentle parallel climb might be just the ticket.

Ah. Fortunes of war, then.

I'll have that engraved on my watch.

Now that I'm flying from the cockpit, I find that the blue-text damage messages aren't nearly as distracting as when I flew in tail-chase mode. In the latter, they cover the sky [frequently, my target too.] But when in the cockpit, they appear on the underside of the top wing and only rarely are extensive enough to cover the target. They're easier to ignore. Besides, when they get extensive you already know your guy is on the ropes.

is...wait for it...the creaking and straining of the airframe all around you! Engine sounds and machine guns sounds I expect, but the airframe? Pure brilliance.

The one I settled into first was the SE-5 [either model]. It seemed the most controllable. For the first week I flew something different [most] every time [ well...frequently] to see what was going on and precious few were any fun at all. But I could get results with The SE-5. Also, the Roland C.II is quite easy. I mentioned before that your WWII experience will get you killed repeatedly until you develop your WWI 'hand' on the stick. As that started to happen, I found the Camel not as squirrely as its real-life reputation. Suddenly the D.VII was better than on first meeting, the Sopwith Tripe, the Dr.I,...now I'm flying them all.

Remember, as soon as you get it running on the final computer, go to the OFF website and download the Patch. Among other things, your guns get really lethal.

First, I'm basically a 'Battle o' Britain' kind of guy. Never developed a taste for jets, and never found a WWI sim that satisfied, even Red Baron. No matter what I've been flying, I've always disliked the in-cockpit view because it was so restrictive. Just give me a 6 o'clock, tail-chase view where I can see my plane as part of the larger action and where I can see what's coming at me. In this respect, I found OFF very satisfying. But about a week ago I was in a D.VII and hit the F4 to cycle views. I paused as the cockpit view came by and it was so dramatic, I've never switched back. I love this. I love the groaning and straining of the airframe. I'm chewing on the carpet waiting for TrackIR to arrive.

Just as I get past the 'perpetual stall' stage and feel as though I've got a chance, I am suddenly plagued with a tendency for my Triplane to go into a spin that lasts forever. Until I hit the ground and then it kicks me back to 15,000' and does it some more. Is there a way to stop it?

Funny, I never thought of it that way, but yes, you're right. All I had to do was keep a feel where the rounds were falling. And frequent single-shots to check range.

On occasion, I've seen pilots leaping from their planes...a little black lump drifts away and disappears. This morning I had a pilot and gunner both bail and they [or one of them] passed within a few feet of my Tripe. [Not the best screen shot.] My God! There's a whole person there. With flying suit. Incredible. [i think I dated that guy's sister last year.]

Often, and particularly in the History Channel's 'Dogfights', I hear pilots describe seeing a friend in a tight spot and, as a desperation measure, he'll loose a long burst knowing that he's out of range, or that the angle isn't right. But the enemy pilot will hear the shots, or see the tracer, and break off. Lately I've been adding a full compliment of wingmen [for me and the enemy] just because it makes such a lovely furball. On several occasions I've tried to shoo a plane off a squadron mate's tail. Usually out around 400-500 yards. Too long for a personal shot. Sometimes it works, but just as often it doesn't. Can the AI pilot be aware of me, or is it random chance that he broke off? ps: Range is in yards/meters isn't it?

Your exploit would make a good standing challange: On the most difficult settings, shoot down two planes in four minutes, three in six, four in eight...set the bar as high as you like.

When I mention it to friends they all start to ask if it can be used for FPS, racing, etc. Yes. Yes. And yes....

So...it's BE-2's or nothing? I'll get the ground crew to tweak the engine. It'll be a long, tough slog, but I've got to try to do an Immelman.

Well done! A pint o' Guiness for Mr. Olham!

I'm looking for 'natural prey'; natural enemies I don't have to look for. They find me.

...and in a Dr.I? Your beloved Albatros must be sulking in the hangar. Nice video: how big is the file size? And what is the max. size you can upload to YouTube? [100Mb?] I like to send FRAPS clips to friends, but find that it's easy to exceed 100Mb in very little time. [100 Mb being the limit on some other e-mail services, too.]

"Humble' b'demmed! I'd say you're right on the money!

If you just pull the trigger you get a stream of tracer that's very bright as it leaves the gun and gets smaller and dimmer as it goes. Just note the point at which they go away completely...at, let's say, an inch above the airplane on the screen. Then when stalking I squeeze off single shots to see how close that point is coming to the target. When I get a puff of smoke, or a blue-text notice, I fire a longer burst.

Look for "Voss...and the skidding, flat turn". Now on Page #2 of this Forum.

The spin is killing me with the 1.28 Patch.

As I hear it, the art of soaring was discovered in the 20's/early 30's in Germany. Young glider students found that if you flew on days when there was a rain front/cumulus clouds, instead of skimming down a long grassy hill, you'd get pulled up. Now, un-powered gliders had a way to actually gain altitude.

What a disappointment. Ah well. [but...how difficult would it be to disable the Bleriot and get the regular roster of British planes back?]

Is this what/where you're talking about? Because when I select it, it takes me to the OFF OC.