Check Six

Yeah Bub, (heehee..no offence...short for Broadside uda Barn) the tips and hints/FAQS page has a bit on the procedure. I also have to do a complete install as I just got my new computer.

Pips, A very enjoyable and informative read...the whole series has been so far. PLEASE keep them coming.

Hellshade, So far no-one has put in their two cents worth on the Saitek rudder pedals. I have been flying every flight sim I can get my hands on...WW1, WW2, jets, choppers...for a long time now, and I just got around to buying my first set of pedals. The Saitek pedals are great. Adjustable toe length, and it says they have adjustable tension, but I can't make mine budge. Immaterial really, I like the tension how it is (or perhaps I got used to it). Software installed perfectly. I did have trouble at first in OFF in that the toe brakes act as elevators so you have to remove their axes' effects, but the very helpful community here, as always, answered immediately with clear instructions and I was able to remove them with no problems. You are able to profile the pedals so that if you wish to use the toe brakes in another flight sim (or even if you are able to use them as accelerator and brake in a driving game - don't know if you can do that but I'm guessing with the individual mapping you could), you are able to add them back on. They are rugged construction, and the only issue I have with mine are that I contact the slide-under keyboard drawer when it is extended, but that is merely MY "office" and wont be a problem for anyone else. I have a lino floor, and double sided velcro tape comes supplied with the pedals, but I haven't used it, and they don't slip very much at all. I find that the pedal movement is so easy that you don't have to SHOVE them forwards or backwards. For total immersion, you need rudder pedals, they make you feel ....right. After many years of twisty stick rudders, I wasn't disappointed at all. I find that applying full rudder in a tight turn, then maybe reversing it (say, if you're in a spin and are attempting to get out of it), your wrist ends up at all unnatural angles. I have weakened wrists due to being shoved off my motorcycle a few times too many by inconsiderate stupid blind car drivers, so I notice the strain easily. It helps if you also have a joystick that allows you to disable the mechanical twist FUNCTION as well as the electrical signal. (The Saitek X-52 has this ability).

I have been involved in this discussion before, and have even seen the Mythbusters try to solve the conundrum. Here is the scenario... Would an aircraft taxiing on a giant treadmill take off? The treadmill is stationary. When the AM calls "Contact...Clear" and fires her up, and she starts moving, the treadmill is adjusted to the aircraft's forward speed. At this stage, the aircraft moves forward, but there is no airflow (theoretically) over the wing. The aircraft's wheels aren't driven (like in a car for instance), so its forward motion normally whilst taxiing is merely thrust and airflow from the spinning prop causing it to move forward. This forward motion, when sufficient speed is built up, causes airflow over the wing, causing lift, and away we go. But on a treadmill, there will be no such airflow (assuming there is no wind or it is negligible). The Mythbusters used a model airplane, and it took off, but I don't think the experiment was carried out in ideal conditions. They then towed a large canvas sheet behind a SUV and a pilot in a light airplane taxiied in the opposite direction, and he became airborne. I am still sceptical. In ideal test conditions...would she fly?

There's a wonderful film "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (if you haven't seen it...do yourself a favour...seriously funny). In the sequel (The Gods Must Be Crazy II) there is a microaircraft that a zoologist uses to get around in. Tiny thing, as the female lead remarks. The zoologist replies "We have a smaller plane, but we can't find it". Anyway, he takes this female doctor up for a quick aerial safari, and they encounter a wild storm. There is great footage of them actaully flying backwards. The headwind was that strong that they weren't going anywhere (except backwards). They landed in a tree. Very funny to see.

Umm... "Australian Autopilot"? In the immortal and eminently quotable words of Pauline Hanson... "Please explain?"

I'm typing this on my "old" computer. My new gaming machine is sitting behind me. I picked it up today. I have a USB Wireless Broadband connection, so I suppose I'll be able to connect to the internet on it, but I don't want to connect it to the net just yet. I will keep this one for checking my emails, posting threads here, just general stuff. Now I need to buy a new monitor for the old one, maybe some speakers. Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 CPU Kingston 4GB DDR2 800 RAM 300GB 10krpm SATA Hard Disk Nvidia 1.792GB GTX295 PCI Express Card Inwin Midi Tower case with high wattage output and cooling fans Dual Layer DVD-RW Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Cambridge 5.1 Speaker System MS Windows XP Pro Logitech G-19 Gaming Keyboard Plantronics 777 Surround Sound Headset Saitek X-52 Flight Control System Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals TrackIR 5

To further my enjoyment of this great sim, I'm sure there's plenty of stuff that could improve it (only slightly - it's pretty damn good as we all know). I have selected Flight Leader selected by Rank, and not "Always lead". But on the times when I have led (either because I deliberately chose a higher rank on enlistment or a balloon busting mission - which always seems to make you flight leader), I have been very aware that I need to look after my fledglings. It's nice to be able to hit the "A" key to attack, "R" to rejoin, "H" to help... But I think it'd be kinda nice to see the flight leader fire a flare, whether you were leading the flight or just a wingman. Whether or not a graphic can be animated where you can see him (or you) fire a flare off isn't as important as seeing the flare arcing out. But to see a signal flare from your leader signalling you to return to formation, or a different (historically correct) colour fired in the direction of the enemy flight to order an attack would, I think, be very nice. I think it would greatly help those total immersion chaps here that fly without a TAC and no labels. It might alert them, or let them know that the flight leader believes those specks in the distance are enemy. Of course, you'd have to check at what distance the flight leader could make the decision that those specks were indeed the enemy. I'm unsure if anyone else would like to see this happen, or how difficult it may be to animate...but I thought I'd just throw it out there to the Forum. While I'm at it...how about streamers on the flight leader's craft? Anyone else want to see this? Is it easy enough to do? Is it "micro-analysing" the game and reading too much into it - expecting too much?

Was going through my old research and came across this old "hero" of mine - a true LEGEND! Joe Kittinger MAY have been the first man in space. It depends what you consider to be "Space". It is generally considered to be the point where there is less than 1% of the earth's atmosphere. Yuri Gagarin certainly was there in 1961. But on August 16th, 1960, Joe Kittinger went aloft in a helium balloon. He reached an altitude of 102,800 feet (31,300m). That is still the highest altitude ever achieved in a balloon. That is (close as dammit) to 20 miles! When he got there.... HE JUMPED! No, it's not a joke. HE JUMPED! He was in freefall for over four and a half minutes and descended for a total of close to fifteen minutes. He reckoned that during his freefall...he broke the speed of sound! With no artifical means whatsoever. He certainly achieved speeds up to 614MPH (988 km/h). He opened his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500m). The records he achieved on this day...The highest altitude achieved in a balloon, highest altitude parachute jump, the longest freefall, fastest speed ever achieved by a man through the atmosphere. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheet...eet.asp?id=1114 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81gn2oLeC_U A truly amazing feat.

Haven't had a duel yet. I certainly had fun keeping the "blue bellies" from crossing the river on their rafts by employing a cannon. I'll explore it a bit more tonight.

I got my copy today (PC Version) and I'm having lots of fun with this. Thanks again for the review and heads up UKWM. I can also recommend this to first person shooter fans.

If it is like Saitek Joystick and pedals, they have their own software, and you may be able to adjust the sensitivity there as well.

Broadside, I started a thread here cos I was sweating on OFF arriving. And got some replies from mainland USA. It took just 5 days to get here to Australia. A LOT longer to get to them in mainland USA. Perhaps you'll be lucky like me. I know it's hard, after reading all this stuff and jumping up and down for it...but try to be patient. They were pretty good sending it to me here in Oz, but it seems as if USA post takes longer...mine was delivered by UPS. Perhaps Hawaii being offshore might be quick too. I'm guessing that it'll take a while to get your CFS3 (from Amazon I'm guessing also). Try to be patient. Keep reading more threads. The wait is WELL worth it.

Broadside, It remains to be seen if you are ALLOWED to perform lengthy manoeuvres. The longer you maintain a manoeuvre, the more of a target you become. Then you become a statistic. Remain unpredictable, move around as much as you can. Fake him into thinking you're turning left, then throw it over to the right. These fokkers are hard to escape somtimes, especially the fokkers in Albatrosses. Blue Skies. You'll LOVE this sim. I'm pleased you're also (like I did) doing your homework, and even before you have a copy installed on your hard drive, you have read all the sticky threads, copied all the relevant tips and tricks onto a piece of paper for reference, printed out Homeboy's Key Commands page. That's the right way to go about it. You'll be aware of anything that might go not quite the way you wanted it immediately. In a few weeks, you'll be posting tips and hints and updates for others. It's all about passing on the knowledge to enable others to survive.

Broadside uda Barn, The new rudder pedals I purchased are Saitek, and I find them to be good. The foot pedals are adjustable for length, so you can adjust them to the length of your feet (so you don't have your toes curling over their front edge). They have an adjustable tension control, but I can't seem to make mine budge (unsure that if I apply any more pressure whether it'd break). Having said that, they are rugged in construction and the default tension is fine by me (like I said, my first pair). Easy to connect and adjustable in their software for the amount of rudder applied for certain input, they are a perfect companion for my Saitek X-52 Joystick. They have toe brake controls too. Brake controls aren't used in OFF, but they are in other flight sims. (Toe brakes are applied similarly to the brake on your car, except you have two of them, one for right and one for left, and you merely press your toes downward to activate them). I imagine they MAY be adaptable to driving games, as they can be used similarly to car pedals. This joystick is also twistable, and that is what I've been using for some time. The best part about it is that once you purchase a set of rudder pedals, you think that you still might instinctively twist the stick when you desire to use rudder, but the Saitek has a twist lock, and you can prevent it twisting, enabling it to become a "standard" (ie not-twisty) joystick. I don't know if it would fool anyone (AI included) but when you just can't seem to shake your enemy off your tail, I apply a lot of rudder to force my plane to "skid" turn. If you can imagine your plane travelling in straight and level flight, your opponent would easily sit on your tail and blast away. A no-deflection shot...easy money. If you apply full rudder whilst keeping your wings level and maintaining a straight course, you are in a skid turn, and your nose is not pointing in the direction you are travelling (similarly to a four wheel drift in your car...you are travelling in a different direction than where your nose is headed). Your opponent on your tail can look at the orientation of your craft, and extrapolate where you WILL BE (ie lead your aircraft) and be shooting at that place, but of course you won't ever be there. I don't know whether this would fool anyone, but it may do for a second, and this might be all you need to evade his fire. Of course, the description I just gave (straight and level flight) was for imagination purposes only. You DO indeed, yank and bank around as hard as you dare, and jinking with your rudder gives you an extra dimension to manoeuvre in...and anything helps in grave situations like that. Rudders in WW1 aircraft do indeed move many more degrees than in a jet fighter. As uncleal said, they'd rip off if there was more than a few degrees deflection at those speeds. Because a WW1 aircraft is MUCH slower, they are also prone to stalling, and many of them are constantly flying on that fine line just short of a stall. In that case, you MUST apply rudder in the turns, applying "up" rudder to keep your nose level to the horizon ("up" rudder is right rudder in a left turn, and vice versa - imagine you're flying at 90 degs to the horizon, and imagine which is "up" rudder...left or right). This prevents you losing too much altitude, and as I mentioned before, altitude means life in combat. You can use your rudders as a "primary" means of a turn, but not in the classic sense. If you are flight leader, or following your flight leader, and discover you are a few degrees only off course, you might bank and turn too hard to adjust for just a few degrees, and I find you can just sit there and sip your coffee, flying hands-free, and apply a little left rudder, and watch the nose "yaw" around until you are back on course.

UK_Widowmaker, I saw an OT thread for this earlier in the week/last week, and had a look. It looked indeed impressive, but from what I could gather, there is no single player campaign, just online play. Am I correct in this assumption? I *DO* have the internet connected, but have ridiculously small Upload/Download limits at this stage, with financial payment required for overdoing this (not just capped to 56k modem speed, but still free within your plan... this one charges you by the MB when you overdo it). Similarly to THAT OTHER WW1 FLIGHT SIM (don't want to mention its name for fear of annoying people), I don't want to start playing only to later find that I just blew $50 or $100 because I was enjoying myself and wasn't watching the clock. So...is there a single player campaign against AI? And is it any good? I have got a PS, PS2, PS3 and a PC, but i'd prefer to play games on my PC as the screen is larger and HD and my new computer is going to be ready this week or next. Do you know if it's available on PC? Thanks in advance Sir. Thanks for the heads up on this game as well.

Broadside uda Barn, I have been flying flight sims for some years now (crappily, I'll readily admit), and I've found that twist rudder on a joystick will suffice in many cases. For WW2 and jet age flight sims, the rudder seems less of a necessity to use whilst flying (note I said LESS of a necessity...purists will insist it's vital). In WW1 crates like the magnificent beauties in this crackerjack sim, it is much more necessary to use rudder in tight turns to keep your nose up. Keeping your nose up means you lose less altitude in a turn, and in combat (especially WW1 combat) this is essential and may mean the difference between survival and death. Having said all that, I have just a month ago purchased my first ever set of rudder pedals. I like flying with them now, and as it was easy to disable the twisting motion of my joystick as well as disabling the function of it, I went ahead. I firmly believe that you'll get a much better response from rudder pedals than a twisty stick. I find that moving your wrist around to bank and turn WHILST TWISTING your stick to add a bit of rudder during the turn causes unnatural angles and may cause wrist strain if you fly for long periods or use it constantly. For this and other reasons mentioned (ie that rudders are better to use, and more responsive, and more natural etc), I think rudder pedals are the go. BUT... NOT before you spend your money on TrackIR. Get TrackIR first. Beg, borrow, st...no..don't steal. Sell a kidney...busk on street corners. TrackIR is an absolute MUST GET. Preferably TrackIR 5 if your budget will extend to that much. The pro Clip I found is obtrusive and ties you down with cables...the cap clip on device is sufficient and works well. Then use homeboy's setup guide (in the stickies at the top of the page) and you're off on a wondeful experience. Then, if you're still flush with cash, you might invest in a set of rudder pedals. I think you'll find the total immersion of this sim, especally if you get TrackIR will make you want to feel even more in the pilot's seat and make the plunge for rudders. But seriously...get TrackIR FIRST. You will NOT regret it. PS If you have got M$ Flight Sim X, there on the quick flight window, there is a little tab up on top that is marked "Lessons". A real-life flight instructor guides you through the lessons needed to fly well. Check out the lessons to do with using rudder, and you'll see why it's necessary.

I just can't seem to catch my flight leader on many occasions. After take-off, I back off to about 60-75% throttle to cruise, enter warp. Invariably, as I exit warp, I pass by my flight leader, so I back off a little, pull the nose up a little, watch as he starts to overtake me, then put throttle back on...up to 100%...and he's still pulling away. I do a little dive to gain a bit of speed, but he keeps pulling away. I can't keep up in close formation. The only time I catch up to him is when he changes direction when we reach a waypoint. What gives? Should I do a few laps of the 'drome in full flight gear? Am I really getting that fat? I would, of course, blame it on my observer/gunner (currently flying a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter) but this also happens to me in a single seat scout. Does the flight leader get the best machine? If so, WHY DOESN'T HE WAIT FOR ME? :cray: Could it be that I have chosen a heavier fuel load? Ammunition? (NAH! who in their right mind goes up with anything less than 100% ammunition?) How about mixture? Is it because I'm on automixture, and he has chosen a leaner mixture and can get more out of the old crate? I notice my wingman doesn't seem to have trouble keeping up speed or altitude-wise (and why doesn't HE wait for me too??). I know I'm a lousy pilot, and have trouble maintaining best climb rate, but I can achieve acceptable results usually. I know it must be dangerous to be in my immediate vicinity (but I do keep a respectable distance away). Any ideas chaps?

Robert Alexander Little, Australia's highest scoring pilot of the war, who flew for the RNAS, actually forced a German Pilot, Lt Neumuller to land, and attempted to land next to him to "capture" him, but unfortunately turned over upon landing. Neumuller said "It rather appears I have captured you than the other way around". After war's end, when Neumuller was repatriated to his native land, he kept a life-long correspondance with Little's wife, knowing that he spared his life (I believe his rear gunner was injured earlier on in the fight, and was unable to fight back, and either the German pilot had no forward-facing machine gun or Little merely stayed behind him coercing him with short bursts to adopt a certain flight path). He commiserated with her when he heard of her husband's death. "D.F.W. C.V OF FLIEGERABTEILUNG 17, BROUGHT DOWN BY CAPTAIN R A LITTLE ON 24 APRIL 1917 AFTER BEING INITIALLY ATTACKED BY TWO NIEUPORTS OF 40 SQUADRON RFC. THE CREW , LTS NEUMULLER AND HUPPERTZ BECAME PRISONERS. [COPY FROM NEWSPAPER. CLOSE-UP NOSE. S]" Caption to photo A05408 in the Australian War Memorial's photo collection (I won't attempt to reproduce it here, you can search for it yourself if you wish). Such actions as attempting to land next to a downed aircraft can have consequences. Like Olham says...he carries a pistol! (I firmly believe him to be a "good sport", and he might remove his pistol from his holster to surrender it to you, and NEVER to use it on you. I'm certain of that. I'm right, aren't I Olham?...Am I right?)

Rickitycrate, As Hasse Wind mentioned, I think I should follow for some time before I become capable of leading a flight. Sure I accept ALL missions - rain, hail, snow, lone wolf, scramble, balloon attack. Most of the balloon attack missions seem to make you the flight leader, and I don't mind that...usually means I get a crack at the gasbag, but for a while, I will select the "lead by rank". Olham, I am trying to get through the entire war. Whilst I think there's no chance I'll ever do it with one pilot, I'm adopting the following procedure. As I am particularly fond of RNAS (researching Australians who fought with RNAS at the moment), I join RNAS 8 at their earliest point (which is unfortunately winter), and fly Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters until he dies or until we get new aircraft etc. If my pilot dies, I enlist someone at the same period to take off where he left off. I always join at the lowest rank (Flight Sub-Lieutenant) and make my way through the ranks. As it is, I have only three pilots going. My RNAS Sub-Lieutenant in the detatched Squadron, a Test Pilot (that's his name) flying SE5a for quick combat (which I really don't play much...thought I'd gain more experience in Campaign before I test my skills in QC), and a German pilot late in the war flying an Albatross DVII (because I just HAD to fly one of those great machines). uncleal, I have no desire to be subject to a court martial, and hence will not fire anywhere near my flight leader. The mere suggestion is tantamount to TREASON!

The 88mm gun of which you speak was one of the most formidable and versatile weapons of WW2. Worked as a tank gun, an anti-tank gun, a flak gun, an artillery piece. Hope the inventor got an Iron Cross or two (crossed swords, Oak Leaves...DIAMONDS?) Olham, I'm sorry to hear that Germany does not have that many museums that at least CHRONICLE the war. Reasons for it, result etc might be very unfortunate...but still, it did happen, and was part of history. Do you think it is because of the fears of Neo-Nazism raising it's ugly head? I heard that some sites that have significance due to their "history" or their place in it are swept under the carpet because of these very fears. I'm sorry if this is a touchy subject.

It's quite disturbing if you're "tail-end Charlie" when being pursued by a bunch of fokkers (flying Albatrosses). You KNOW that as soon as they start shooting, you can call for help, but that most of the time is sadly too late. I have considered diving and gaining speed and ending up in front of the two other flight members and they could guard my tail, but it seems to me that it could be at the expense of their own lives, and a cowardly act. The proven best defence for this is a combined defence...pulling in as close as you dare to each other, and letting all three gunners protect your tail. I actually thought it was my fuel load, but I do remember reading that the AI craft are unaffected by wind, and it's pretty windy and wet (silly me joined up in Winter). OK, I suppose there is nothing to do but grin and bear it.

Quote from Homeboy "I want what I report to be recommendations on how best to fight in and against the plane in question and not so much a numerical tabulation of data. I'd rather say "Nothing in the game can catch the Spad13 in level flight at 10,000 ft" [just making this up btw] rather than just give airspeeds at various altitudes, etc." I have to agree with you there Homeboy, but you got me finally to get off my butt and do this myself. I mentioned that I had asked in "The Aerodrome" Forum for this kind of data, and most seemed to shy away from it. I realise that it is useless to your purposes, but I'm going to go ahead with it anyway, as I am an amateur historian and I'd just like to have this kind of thing handy. My research so far has been dedicated to the man, not the machine, and I'm curious to see where this goes. I'll keep all of you posted, and make my findings available to all interested parties. Rickitycrate, You got that spot-on. I do think this should be a sticky, and we DO need to trim the sticky threads, as the current postings is getting woefully small. I'm not suggesting we lose these VERY VALUABLE stickies...maybe some could be added to other stickies and the name of the sticky changed to reflect this addition. Just a thought admins...hope its worth considering.

Olham, Was happy to read in your post that you also ride motorcycles. I thought you'd comment when I posted the pic of my bike in your "American Dream" thread (well, it's not my bike, but the exact same model and colour).

Pips, Nice to see a fellow ASWW1AH member flying sims as we discussed in private. Hope to be down Canberra way in August to see the "Over the Front" display at the Australian War Memorial. Mentioned it to my friend yesterday that I was heading down (dragged her down to their unveiling at the Trealoar Centre some time ago) and she seemed less than keen, so I guess I'll be winging it solo.