posted 02-24- 11:26 AM               

Just a note: If indeed you do have a modicum of respect for "Menice=225=," it's really "Menace=225th=", and yes, he's a darn good pilot, and we're proud to have him as a member of the 225th Valkyrie Squadron.

Oh, and just so you don't worry, Menace has duties that keep him away from the server a few days at a time, but he will always be on when he has time...so don't worry. You'll see him again soon enough.

Oh, and just so you're not surprised, there are a lot of pilots on the cal12 server who are almost as good as Menace. (Notice I didn't say "as good" Menace, hell, if a guy is talkin' as good as this one is about 'ya, I didn't want to take anything away from ya! Hee-hee!) As a matter of fact, you'll find that most of the pilots on that server have quite a lot of skill, as they have been involved with flight simulators and the study of Air Combat Manuevers for quite some time.

Most pilots involved with SDOE have spent a lot of time studying different air combat techniques, how different airplanes should be flown when pitted against other types of aircraft, etc. A large part of the community has been involved in developing new aircraft to be used in the game, and designing the flight modeling aspects of each 'craft.

So as you can see, there might be a pilot or two out there that might know what they're doing.

Since you made a "show me" reference, I'm going to assume you're on US CST. In that case, all you need to do is log on to the california12 server between 9-9:30pm to 1:30-2am almost any night, and you'll find a whole bunch of us there. We'd love to see you there, and you'll have no shortage whatsover of people to fly with, and against.

Oh, and just a word of advice. I'm not trying to tell you what to do or anything like that, just warn you in advance. A lot of folks on the server have gotten sick and tired of people coming into the cal12 lobby and conducting themselves as if it were a Quake II server populated by junior-high schoolers. "Pussy-this," "Motherfucker-that," and "Fuck-you" whatever, have really gotten to be old hat. You'll find a lot of people will simply put you on ignore, or boot you from games if you feel it necessary to express yourself with an overabundance of expletives.

Again, I'm not telling you what to do. You have the right to say anything you damn well please, anywhere you want to. I just wouldn't want you to confuse long-time pilots' unwillingness to listen to adolescent prattle, with being "scared" of you when they put you on ignore, or boot you out of games.

It seems by your terse posts, that you may be feeling frustration caused by not being able to find decent air combat competition on the 'net. I think you'll be more than pleased by the competition you'll find on the cal12 server, and there's nothing we enjoy more there than a tough fight with a talented opponent.

So come on over that mountain, get on that crazy train, bring Perry Mason with ya, don't be paranoid, and we'll see you on the other side.

S!

Mk10=225th=

posted 02-24- 09:11 PM               

And I didn't assume you were "some new unskilled dummy" as you put it, I just assumed you were new to these digs by your choice of verbage. I thought by the way you were talking, you had just stumbled in here from the Gaming Zone or something.

Since you're familiar with the drill around here, then we'll look forward to seeing the new you, and your new entourage online soon.

I'll have to tell ya, the part that really hurts is, "...a bunch of old guys..." While there are a lot of un-old guys online, I'll have to admit I fall into the former catagory, not the latter. No way I can fight that one.

But I think at the same time you may be confusing cockiness with assininity. I'll admit most people on the cal12 server are a little laid back, but I would think they'd suffer a little cockiness more than they would put up with name-calling, witless attacks, and general boorish behaviour.

And yes, I think I can admit that cockiness is certainly an integral part of being a fighter pilot. Even as an online simulator pilot, you had better enter the arena of combat thinking you're death incarnate if you want to succeed. I know each time anyone I fly with launches a game, we want to obliterate the competition by turning their planes into flaming holes in the ground, and then land amongst the cheers of fair maidens standing by tap-laden beer trucks.

But also remember that traditionally, fighter pilots have been officers and gentlemen too. If you look at the actions of pilots during WWII in Europe, they are at times quite surprising. Amazing to think that there were so many chivalrous moments mixed among the burning planes that filled the sky.

I don't think that the great aces of the era, Galland, Hartmann, Johnson, Bong, to name but a few, could be described as meek and mild Dagwood Bumstead types, but then I think they were also a far cry from Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer in "Top Gun." Death was too constant a companion. They lost too many friends. They were serious, and old beyond their years...but they were indeed DEADLY serious. And remember, even though it was a Hollywood-hype flick to begin with, what happened when our friend "Mav" got a little too cocky...it wound up making Meg Ryan cry. And that's a major bad in my book. Whoa.

So don't automatically lump us in the "Geritol Squadron." I think you know we don't fly around, wheezing and laying down whenever we're threatened or challenged in the sky. Additionally, I think most folks around here wouldn't mind a little good-natured ribbing, or witty taunting. It's the juvenile ramblings and foul-mouthed childish bantering that gets most people around here a little ticked-off.

So welcome back, He-Who-Is-Now Ozzman. Assemble your horde, and let's get it on. From your response to my post, I think you're going to be a hell of a lot more fun than I thought at first.

I just hope I can stay awake long enough to fight off this new attack of trash-talkin' whipper-snappers. Anyone seen my teeth? Had'em soaking right here by my keyboard a minute ago...

Mk10=225th=

P.S.: Can't wait to see the web page. Should wind up being pretty awesome. Might I suggest "Flying High Again" as the background music? Eh?