jwrich

I am interested in this CD, I am thinking of building a 1/4 scale RC model of the SPAD XII/XIII. Scale documentation is hard to come up with for many different color schemes, I don't like doing a plane that many others have modeled. On this CD, how many of these airplanes are pictured well enough to build a good model? I have built a 1/4 scale RC model of Oblt Erich Lowenhardt's Fokker D VII that came out very nice. I wish I knew how to post a picture of it. Thanks Rich

Pilot Survival During the Great War I have been flying OFF for about 6 months and have enjoyed every minute. I have read a lot about WW I history and the airplanes of the Great War. Many articles talked about the low survival time for the pilots on both sides. I decided to see how many men from my home town would be lost flying in the Great War. I began with Britain in Dec 24, 1916, flying the Sopwith Pup, then Germany in Dec 24, 1916, flying the Albatros D-1. As the pilot was killed or captured, I enlisted a new pilot on or about that date. This continued until the end of the war. The pilot would be in the same Squadrons or Jasta’s, as airplanes improved some were more difficult than others, Sopwith Camel and the Fokker Dr-1, both produces a higher death rate. In each case new pilot enlisted into different Sq. and Jasta for more stable aircraft. Here are the results: Britain Pilots 28 Killed Captured confirmed kills Claims Missions 17 9 63 136 136 Metals Awarded 8 DFC total, of which 1pilot received 3 DFC’s, and another Pilot received 2 DFC’s. Germany Pilots 46 Killed Captured confirmed kills Claims Missions 26 20 32 149 182 Metals Awarded 1 Iron Cross This is very sobering. Most of these young men were 18 to 22 years old. So young for so much responsibly and the horrors of death and destruction. Rich

Moved to General Discussion Rich

As retired USAF aircraft Loadmaster, flying C-130's, C 141s and C-5s during the Vietnam War, this brought many good & also sad memories for me. Thanks for posting this. Rich

Thanks, a very interesting video. Rich

Building and flying RC scale models is a labor of love and a lot of patience. Most of us in this part of the hobby do research on the planes and the people who flew them. The WW I era was interesting, very young men flew these planes into combat and died at an early age. We also like to fly what we build, don't like hanger queens. There are many RC Dawn Patrol events around the country that feature large ( 1/4 scale & larger) scale WW I airplanes. The Dawn Patrol Rendezvous hosted by the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio every-other year draws many, still flying, full scale WW I aircraft and scale modelers from across the country and some from foreign countries. This event is always the high-lite of the year. WW I aviation is what brought to flying OFF. The best of both worlds! Here are some pictures of two WW I airplanes I built & fly, both are 1/4 scale. The Fokker D VII is modeled from Oblt. Erich Lowenhardt airplane, it is hand painted with many detail scale features. In the last year & half it has won 4 major awards at Dawn Patrol events. The Sopwith Pup is also 1/4 scale hand painted with many scale details. It has won 2 major awards. Both airplanes are powered with gasoline engines and they fly fantastic Rich.

I have have had this thing happen to me. Usually I just change the number for 4 to 5 and it is ok, but still get a claim of 4. How do you log in your claims. Say you shoot down 3 Alb D III and write in the time Lat & Lon on the same line, or do you use a separate line for each AC shot down? What if you shoot down 4 Alb. D II & 2 Alb D VA, how do you file this claim. (I do use the labels of AC on screen.) Also if you are flying a Camel and the mission is Balloon Busting, why no claim forms with you shoot one or two down? Thanks Rich

Thank you all for your kind word Rich

I hadn't thought of responding to this topic other than to mention my time in service and express my thanks for starting the topic. I feel I must respond to the folks who never served in the Military and offer some insight. I retired from the USAF after 26 years of service as an aircraft combat crew-member, flying C-130s, C-141s and C -5 cargo airplanes. I flew in Vietnam from January 1967 to December 1973 during which time I flew more combat missions than I can count, some I can not talk about to this very day. Flying into dirt fields taking ground fire, low level airdrops, emergency air evacuations from fire base camps under fire was just part of the job. It was not the fear of combat or dieing, you didn't become afraid until it was all over, it was the job. Of the 12 members in my Load-master class, 5 were killed in Vietnam, this is just an example of the loss rate. I tell you all this to make the point, it is also the long months away from your family, long hours on the job, relocating to a new base every 2 or 3 years and the very low pay. During the Vietnam War it was the disrespect and treatment of the Military by American people, this hurt the most. So why do we do it? Hell I don't know, I think maybe it is a calling or a sense of duty to your country. But I can tell you this, there is a bond between Military people like no other profession. Military People are a very special breed of people. Msgt James W Richardson, Retired Enid, Oklahoma

I love to restore old cars. My last project is a 1964 MGB, I bought in '86 from a young Captain whose parents bought it new in England in '64. When he went off the college they gave it to him. The car had less than 70,000 miles on it and had not been tagged or driven for 6 years. The restoration only required placing the interior and a paint job. It is still original accept I replaced the 2 six volt batteries with 1 12 volt battery. I still use the top that came with the car in '64. Being in the military for 26 years, when I finished a car I would get an assignment and have to sell it. Over the years I restored a 36 Ford, 39 Chevy, and a 55 Ford. I got the MG 2 years before I retired, so I got to keep this one. My wife & I love to drive it on warm evening and short road trips. I hopeI did the picture attachment correctly. If not, you can see pictures of the MG on my club web site http://okbarnstormers.com page "My other Hobby 64 MGB" Rich

Thanks Guys, I found the location of the sliders. I will try various settings to see what works best for me & my PC. Thanks Rich

I have been flying OFF for about a month and I really enjoy it. I am still working my way through the settings on the work shop page. When I read about adjusting the sliders, but I can't find them. They are not on the workshop page, I have tried to reconfigure the CF3 on the workshop page, it just does it thing then say settings reconfig. I would like to try different settings, to play with the frame rate. I am running the latest OFF BHAH.l Any advice. Thanks Rich

Tranquillo, that is a nice looking Sopwith Pup. 1/3 scale? Are you a RC flyer. I fly RC WW I aircraft, 1/4 scale Sopwith Pup, 1/4 scale Fokker D II and a 1/4 scale Eindecker. Rich

I have MS Combat Simulator 2 (use often) & MS 2004 Flight Simulator (Use Often) and I have MS Combat Simulator 3 (Not loaded for play, don't like it). In each of these there is setting page where you can adjust & assign keys on your joy stick. I can't find any thing like that in work shop. Yesterday I finally got OFF loaded after having to buy more RAM memory and a new video card, I also have a new Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joy stick. I made the changes & assigned buttons on the other two simulators. I love this OFF simulator, as many of you have said there is a steep learning process. Thanks for your help Rich

Thanks for your help, I 'll see how it goes when I get the BHAH dvd. I hope it is more user friendly than cfs-3. Rich

Hi. I have maybe a dumb question. Is phase 3 the "Hat in the Ring" add-on? Thanks Rich

I have Microsoft CF-3, I got it about 2 months ago. It must be a new version cause I could not install the update patch. I did not like Microsoft CF-3 but I really enjoy CF-2. I plan to buy the "Hat in the Ring" if I can use the OFF simulator. I just need to know what I need to operate Over Flanders Field. Thanks for your help Rich

I just ordered "Over Flanders Field" DVD. I guess I need a DVD copy of phase 2. If you could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. I am a new member of this site. Thanks Rich Enid, Ok