posted 03-19- 05:11 PM               

The mission was: Battle of Britain settings e.g: 5 109E's Vs 4 Spit M1a
with the following configuration: HUD off, No padlock and no enemy on map.

Well the mission starts, I'm in my 109 at 10000ft with 4 wingmen in thick
cloud. "Were are they" we all cry.......searching like mad we look, HAT
switches clicking, mice scrolling and eyes poping...Only then do I notice
that the 109 has no bloody artificial horizon! the plane dipped for a while
before I got my bearings on the bottom of the cloud layer.

The squadron drifts slowly apart......I see a lone dot in the
distance...aim....fire......misss ...only to see that it is another 109!!!
opps! Lucky I missed. Turn, climb up I go.

Then in the distance I see a bunch of 3 dots, squeeeeeezing my eyes I look
for the circular shape of the spitfirewing....there it was....3 spitfires
coming right at me. I aimed and missed again..........

Zooooom, I could "read the dunlop tires on his plane" go flying by. (famous
quote I heard)...but he did fly past very fast and close. I pulled up sharp
and swung her over and round into sight. Fired a round and aimed again.
Following this lone spit on his tail.

When suddenly "ping...ping" my wing shows signs of being hit......there
behind me was that 4th spit hot on my tail! I pulled up sharp, cut power,
full rudder and spun her down to about 4000ft, tail skidded for a while and
then full power and turn. Once again I got on the tail of another spit only
to have another spit get on mine! I dove hard and fast while spiralling so
as not to give a clean line of fire. I lost one spitfire but the other was
hot on my tail. I then decided to fly hard and low to try and cause him to
"pilot error". Well after weaving and climbing over hills for about 10 min's
I lost him.

I then had the good fortune to land down on the spitfires tail. The hunter
become the hunted! I stayed on his tail (just) for about 15 mins. It was at
this point I noticed how bad/poor the forward visability is in the 109. When
he broke left or right I found it hard to follow him. However if he pulled
up then I had a good visual. The general factor is that the level views are
poor in a 109 but the upward views are Ok.

Anyway after being on his tail for about 10 mins (now feeling VERY tired
physicaly and mentaly)...I lost him and he got on my tail again. I quickly
managed to shake him off and out run him towards the english channel/coast
of france. I pulled up to gain some altitude only to hear a pilot call out,
"I've just landed....... out of fuel and ammo" so I thought I look at my
fuel guage.....

HORROR! It read " 0 leter of fuel". I looked at the inboard clock in my 109
to see that I'd be flying for 45 min's and dogfighting for around 30
min's!!!!!! I then proceeded east towards my home base in France, Cut the
throttle back to save fuel and flew level. Only seconds latter m engine cut
out with a splutter and choke. I raised flaps a notch and lowered my
gear...I made a very soft landing smack bang next door to dover radar. Well
that was the end of the war for me! I looked at my plane to see the damage.
A few holes in the tail and wing.

It was only after flying such and intence mission in such realistic
cercumstances that I finaly begin to emagine how those poor Germans must
have felt during the battle of Britain when they landed on enemy soil and
flying in such a cramped cockpit. My neck really hurt now!
I can't however beguin to think how the hell any of the boys back then did
this on a dayly basis! God bless them all.

Other thoughts I had on the matter of the padlock are that even if the padlock was made acurate it still does not rule out the aspect of human error.....lossing the target by eye sight being poor or tired. However I think simply by having an option to turn it off would be good. This way everyone is happy.

MrBlob

------------------
~MrBlob~ "Born to Fly"

posted 03-19- 05:24 PM               

Thank goodness you never grew to tired to use the hat to find the enemy. Just like the pilots of old.

PR=FC=

posted 03-19- 05:45 PM               

First, I am glad you enjoyed it....sounds like it was a success!

But one remark you made, about the sore neck....well, flying just without HUD ( ok, actually only friend or foe ID tags ) really cause me physical discomfort. And I just can't see playing a game to do that; heck, I could get out and play football if I wanted to hurt myself for free. If computer games caused me constant discomfort, as opposed to any discomfort I might be suffering from work, where I get paid - well, out would go the computer. I'd be just as well off out doing yard work, car repairs, or getting into bar fights over political issues; at least I might get something accomplished.

So, any games I get involved in, if I host, I will have things set for my comfort. And if I join someone else's and drop out suddenly if I notice no-HUD or no-padlock things, it isn't personal....just me trying to stay comfortable. I already have the greatest respect and admiration for those who fought in all aspects of any war..whether in the air, on ground, or sea...there was nothing about it that was ever comfortable. That is why I play simulators....so I won't have to suffer as they did.

posted 03-19- 07:53 PM               

I wouldn't want anyone joining a Hud OFF,Padlock OFF if they didn't want to,no more than I'd want someone Padlocking me with HUD OFF.

It Very Plane & Simple......WE SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION.

Please,in the next Patch,give us a checkbox
to disable Padlock. There is plenty of games to go around in Online SDoE for all.

BTW..... I too had the best experience of my entire 8+ year WWII ONLINE Road,and I've played them all, Pay or No-Pay!

Thanks
Rattler

posted 03-19- 11:29 PM               

There were heavy clouds. I was in a spit and kept sighting other spits. I think the spits flew around in circles checking each other out for about 4 or 5 minutes . Then I saw a plane and couldn't quite be sure. I was closing fast, and when I zoomed in and saw the LW markings I nearly wet myself! It was very thrilling. 40 minutes of fighting. And Wingman comms on Roger Wilco helped tremendously. Gecko called "Break!" and saved me several times.

I also have to say however, that it is prohibitively dificult to track a bogey with no padlock. Much more dificult than it would be in real life. The padlock is too easy, and without it it's too hard :-). A nice breaking padlock where you have to aquire visually first, and couldn't cycle targets would be FANTASTIC as an option. It was a great mutual challenge, and a good time had by all. BTW, I got a total of 0 kills in 40 minutes and that was just the first mission :-)

posted 03-20- 10:03 PM               

Glad to hear that someone is getting some
enjoyment out of this sim.

Wouldn't need a padlock though if we just
had a sensible viewing system (nudge nudge ) 8-P

posted 03-21- 04:26 AM               

Great Post. I too got "zero" kills that first sortie,but,I was the first guy on the ground with bingo ammo and assorted holes

In the midst of Hard Combat over the bay East of London with 2 109's and a fellow Spitfire, I emptied all the banks on my MG's scoring hits but no Knock Out punchs

Loosing sight of the enemy many,many MANY times in the clouds,diving away to safety,ducking in the clouds,almost keying on allied AC (thou I never did hit any allies)and having just
an incredible Sortie landing back at Eastbourne Field licking my wounds and trying to rearm

I'll have more of that anytime!

posted 03-21- 04:34 AM               

And I might add,that the first time one tries to track enemy aircraft with snaps,it is indeed Very Hard,but like anything,it just takes getting used to,then its actually quite easy.

Finding aircraft with no AIDS at all,is equally tough. Again,flying around like this offline for an hour really helps alot.

In the Warbirds Historical Arena,back when it first opened,Icon ranges were shortened to only 300 yards away.After 300 yards the icon/tag disappeared. Very similar to what we used Sunday.Everyone was Overwelmed at first at the difficulty. But, soon you adapt as good as one can (there is a limit)and the real fun takes over.

Intense,sweaty knuckled air to air combat with that sense that you could be bounced out the air at any second! simply awesome.

Thanks to all again for showing up Sunday and
observing the gentlemans rule of honesty.