[BH_Blue]

yes trim is essential

[Groundfire]

In addition fighter planes are inherently unstable to assist with evasion and general manoeverability. A higher speed on closing will help to keep it steadier and a light touch - don't forget we use a stick which is only 6 inches long and a small movement can make a large difference. Trim adjustments are really great for cruising flight but during contact with varying speeds and aspects the trim will not be as important.

The most important thing is to practice

[B50]

Wow, where do I start.

I wouldn't judge your skills in IL2 until you've owned and flown the sim for about a month, or have about 200hrs fighting/flying in campaigns or online.

Even if you don't change the settings on your stick, you'll soon develop the touch that you need to be successfull. I don't change my stick settings so that every plane feels and flies different, and I can learn and understand the differences between them.

Also, it looks from your current choice of favorite aircraft, that you have decided to begin flying with a few of the most difficult planes in the sim to master. the MiG-3 and P-51 in particular. Also, as far as the armament in the game is modeled, you will get virtually 0 feedback at all as to how well you are shooting with any aircraft armed with just .50 calliber guns or 12.7UBS only as some MiG's are. You can, even with good shooting, possibly pump your entire ammunition load into an opposing fighter only to watch it fly away leaking or smoking slightly.

The Spitfires or Zeroes are good planes to learn on. Also, being armed with cannon, you'll learn fire discipline, and get the proper feedback in terms of damage that you may cause to an opposing aircraft. The Bf109, LaGG3, Yak, P-39 and P-40 are medium difficulty aircraft. The P-51, Fw-190 and any jets are HIGH level of difficulty aircraft that have great performance, but that require extensive type knowledge and filght time to be able to use effectively.

Once you have learned how to fly, manuever and shoot with some of the easier planes to learn on, after you have about 2 or 3 hundred hours or so, go back to the Mustang and the MiG and you will absolutely slay.

The other thing that you must do if you want to really learn how to fight the plane, is to go online to a "full switch" server. "Spits vs 109's" or "Zekes vs Wildcats" I highly recommend. If you can maintain your desire to continue flying the sim while ruthlessly getting your clock cleaned for a few weeks, then you will really understand how to kill effectively, and make the proper tactical decisions that will drastically improve your ability to survive.

One last thing that help me in learning, was to make tracks and "break down game film". Do pairs fights in the quick mission builder with aircraft that commonly opposed each other. After you save the track, follow the fight from the opposing leader's aircraft, and see how the maneuvers that you made look to opposing pilots, and also, how good your shooting was. It may have looked fine from your gunsight, but when you look on the track, you may see that you may have needed to add more or less lead in a given burst. That way, you will build in your mind a set of "sight pictures" that will result in a higher percentage of hits. This occurs as hand/eye/muscle memory will, in the future, know what picture in the gunsight will produce hits even before you fire.

These are things many of which I had to learn the hard way. I hope these points speed your progress.

B50

[KillerCondra]

Thanks everyone for the advice, and help.

I've spent several more hours at the stick now, and after some modifications (downloaded the stick tool) and toying around with some more planes, I think I've - For the most part...solved most of my problem. The rest will come with time and experience.

I've discovered my own little Diamond in the Ruff with what is now my favorite aircraft to pilot; The Russian I-185 M-82A. I flew several quick missions against lots of different opponents. And I quickly fell in love with the plane. Now that I have trim set to my sliders (rather than the numberpad) it goes a lot more smoothly, and I feel right at home within the cockpit.

I can at least get far more shots to hit near/on the target than before. And it's much more satisfying to watch the enemy plane go down in a ball of fire and smoke from my own shots, rather than my allies.

I was proud that on my first flight with the M-82 I managed to down 2 BF-109s, and a Bomber...Then successfully return to base and land with a pair of rockets, and a tidbit of ammunition left.

[VF101hawk]

Since you are using the X-52 some good settings for it is.
Elevator and rudder sett to 96-97-98-99-100-100-99-98-97-96.
For the Ailerons go from 90- 93-96-99-100-100-99-96-93-90.
This becouse when flying the FW you need a little less direct roll rate and if not just a tiny input will make you roll.
The slider on the throttle is exelent to use for the flaps.
LArge wheel with E in middle is good as rudder trim.
Little wheel with i in the middle for elevator trim.
Fo rsome reason the software that saitek has provided has never worked on my computer and only chrashed it when used.
For recalibration you can go to the Saitek web page and download Saitek recalibration, Its a little program that nulls out your old calibration setup and sets it back to 0. neet and fast to use.

Also a little deadband in the senter for the joystick is smart to have. this as its not uncomman that you will "rest" your hand a tiny bit to the joystick so either pulling it back a little or the opposite forward a little.

If needed for more help just pm me. i have over 2 years of experiance on the stick and game

Happy new year

[SkyMaster]

I don't know about those settings. I have 600+ hours in SEL acft and I'm a certified flight instructor. For me the best setting on my saitek av8r is 0,10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90 and filter set to mid-point and deadzone set to 5 ticks from left. the av8r is a very accurate stick and slight input form it translates into large movements on screen. One of my 1st lessons to new students is to tell them to hold the controls with a very light touch. NO DEATH GRIPS! especially when lining up for a kill! If u do find yourself bouncing around simply let go and then with a very light touch grap the stick and make small controlled movements. Even I find my self holding onto the stich as if I'll fall to my death if I don't hold on tight! lol!

If u don't know where to find these then goto hardware setup the lower right hand button in the main menu screen! good luck. Oh! One more thing practice! practice! practice!

pretty much what I told you ,light touch and trim trim trim,
I too have quite a few hours with a Private licence (OTT and a Night rating)with time on Cherokee's and warrior's as well as a 1952 Cessna 170 tail dragger(which I own), 172, 152 and 150 tail dragger.I also have time on a RV6 taildragger.I've got time on floats as well as tundra tires.As well as time onto many experimental aircraft to write about as we have been building kit planes for years,my one uncle fly's a homebuilt(from blueprints) tigermoth.

I don't need to brag my hours as I have been flying for quite a few years(since I was a kid).Here in Canada you may Solo at 14 years of age,I grew up next to CFB Moose Jaw ,home of Canada's Snowbirds,they turn left base overtop of our farm.When we take off from our airstrip we have to comunicate with the tower at CFB MJ and the actual pilots of the Snowbirds,as we live under there control zone.I have talked many times to pilots from the Snowbirds on the radio and in person.My Father worked 28 years on the Airbase as well as farmed beside it.My father and his two brothers are all crop dusters as well as farmers in the Bread Basket of the World,Saskatchewan Canada.We grow more wheat here than the whole world does combined!

Snowbirds are stationed in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan ,Canada,because we get more clear flying days per year than anywhere else in Canada.

As for the stick settings I "suggested" there a starting point ,tweak to taste.

The left sliders tweak the center area around your stick travel while the right sliders tweak
the outside area of your stick travel.So by setting the 5 left sliders at 50 the stick will not be so sensitive near the center area of travel,until you get use to it.

It a suggestion,thats all

Bearcat's link is to the exact same program that I linked you !

Just trying to help,didn't think I needed to add my credentials


Edit> an after thought
Something I like to remember>

quote
"if anyone ever tells you anything so bloody complicated about aircraft that you cant understand,its all bullshit" unquote

RJ Mitchell creator of the Spitfire

[SkyMaster]

Thanks everyone for the advice, and help.

I've spent several more hours at the stick now, and after some modifications (downloaded the stick tool) and toying around with some more planes, I think I've - For the most part...solved most of my problem. The rest will come with time and experience.

I've discovered my own little Diamond in the Ruff with what is now my favorite aircraft to pilot; The Russian I-185 M-82A. I flew several quick missions against lots of different opponents. And I quickly fell in love with the plane. Now that I have trim set to my sliders (rather than the numberpad) it goes a lot more smoothly, and I feel right at home within the cockpit.

I can at least get far more shots to hit near/on the target than before. And it's much more satisfying to watch the enemy plane go down in a ball of fire and smoke from my own shots, rather than my allies.

I was proud that on my first flight with the M-82 I managed to down 2 BF-109s, and a Bomber...Then successfully return to base and land with a pair of rockets, and a tidbit of ammunition left.

Way to go ,good for you

[SkyMaster]

Wow, where do I start.

I wouldn't judge your skills in IL2 until you've owned and flown the sim for about a month, or have about 200hrs fighting/flying in campaigns or online.

Even if you don't change the settings on your stick, you'll soon develop the touch that you need to be successfull. I don't change my stick settings so that every plane feels and flies different, and I can learn and understand the differences between them.

Also, it looks from your current choice of favorite aircraft, that you have decided to begin flying with a few of the most difficult planes in the sim to master. the MiG-3 and P-51 in particular. Also, as far as the armament in the game is modeled, you will get virtually 0 feedback at all as to how well you are shooting with any aircraft armed with just .50 calliber guns or 12.7UBS only as some MiG's are. You can, even with good shooting, possibly pump your entire ammunition load into an opposing fighter only to watch it fly away leaking or smoking slightly.

The Spitfires or Zeroes are good planes to learn on. Also, being armed with cannon, you'll learn fire discipline, and get the proper feedback in terms of damage that you may cause to an opposing aircraft. The Bf109, LaGG3, Yak, P-39 and P-40 are medium difficulty aircraft. The P-51, Fw-190 and any jets are HIGH level of difficulty aircraft that have great performance, but that require extensive type knowledge and filght time to be able to use effectively.

Once you have learned how to fly, manuever and shoot with some of the easier planes to learn on, after you have about 2 or 3 hundred hours or so, go back to the Mustang and the MiG and you will absolutely slay.

The other thing that you must do if you want to really learn how to fight the plane, is to go online to a "full switch" server. "Spits vs 109's" or "Zekes vs Wildcats" I highly recommend. If you can maintain your desire to continue flying the sim while ruthlessly getting your clock cleaned for a few weeks, then you will really understand how to kill effectively, and make the proper tactical decisions that will drastically improve your ability to survive.

One last thing that help me in learning, was to make tracks and "break down game film". Do pairs fights in the quick mission builder with aircraft that commonly opposed each other. After you save the track, follow the fight from the opposing leader's aircraft, and see how the maneuvers that you made look to opposing pilots, and also, how good your shooting was. It may have looked fine from your gunsight, but when you look on the track, you may see that you may have needed to add more or less lead in a given burst. That way, you will build in your mind a set of "sight pictures" that will result in a higher percentage of hits. This occurs as hand/eye/muscle memory will, in the future, know what picture in the gunsight will produce hits even before you fire.

These are things many of which I had to learn the hard way. I hope these points speed your progress.

B50

all very good info

[KillerCondra]

I do have another question. While flying the Corsair, I find that I really like the way the reticule sits and the general handling of the plane. But it feels a bit sluggish to compete with any of the german fighters...

Is this just me here? Or is it a slower plane?

Also, flying the Mig3-ud now is very easy for me. Thanks again everybody for the help.

[Pirate]

The corsair is an excellent aircraft, and is extremely fast. When gaining altitude you will need to use the superchargers to maintain power (keep an eye on the boost gauge - as it starts to drop go up another level). Also its not much of a dogfigher, look to boom and zoom tactics in this one.

[KillerCondra]

With that being said, what ARE a few good (ally) dogfighters?

I've been trying my hand in the MiG3-ud, and that's a lot of fun. I'm terrible so far at Boom&Zoom, but I'm not too shabby at maneuvers and tracking. Once I get aiming down then I should be golden.

I really like the way that I can zip the Mig around in tight turns, and maintain a good enough speed to hang on to, and escape even the most wiry 109s and 190s

But before all of that I would like to know which planes I stand the best chance in, as far as dog-fighting itself goes.

[Pirate]

The spitfire is a very good dogfighter, it's a popular choice online for just that reason... yeah, BnZ takes some practice, but as long as you keep a good situational awareness you are much safer than in a turning fight...

Have a look in the tactics section, there is some good advice to be found. Also I would recommend sticking with 1 aircraft for a while so you get to know it well - and after some time you will also get to know the performance of your oposition too - then you should find you are much more sucessful :wink:

Also, my stick settings for the x52, i'm new to it as well - but they might come in handy?

Rudder: 0 4 6 12 20 30 40 55 77 100
Aileron: 1 8 15 22 31 40 53 66 81 100
Elevator: 1 8 15 22 31 42 53 66 81 100

I will probably keep playing with them for a while, but that is working well for me at the moment.

Pirate

[KillerCondra]

What's the standard outlook/opinion on the Yak-9T? It's quickly becoming my favorite plane now that I've logged 10 hours behind it.

[B50]

Any Yak is good. Be aware of the need to manually control the mixture and supercharger with any Klimov powered aircraft (Yak, LaGG). The Yak 3 is the best performing Yak, and fairly well armed. But the 9T, or any aircraft with a 30mm weapon or greater is lethal based on this alone.

Cruise: 2300 RPM (about 85% prop pitch)
Combat/Climb: 2800 RPM

2200m: Stage 2 supercharger, 80% Mixture.
4000m: 60% Mixture

Also, regardless of what you may read, with these settings the Yak is an awesome performer at 4 and 5000m, so don't be afraid to mix it up with 190's and 109's at higher altitudes. Basically, don't intentionally yield an altitude advantage because some paper or book said "the Yak performs best at 1500m" or other BS.

Enjoy your Yak.

B50

[stansdds]

I do have another question. While flying the Corsair, I find that I really like the way the reticule sits and the general handling of the plane. But it feels a bit sluggish to compete with any of the german fighters...

Is this just me here? Or is it a slower plane?

Also, flying the Mig3-ud now is very easy for me. Thanks again everybody for the help.

I have a lot of stick time in the Corsairs featured in this sim. The Corsair is modeled pretty accurately. It is a bit of a dog at low altitude, primarily due to its large wing surface area. Keep the Corsair at higher altitudes, I don't really like to take it below 10,000 feet and it performs best above 10,000 feet. At 10,000 you definitely need to put the supercharger in low (supercharger settings are neutral, low and high). Above 18,000 feet you will need to put the supercharger in high.

Keep you speed and altitude advantage over your opponent and don't get into prolonged turning fights, if you can't nail him in one complete turn, you will probably lose him. There are two tricks to getting away from most Japanese fighters: if you have the altitude you can dive away, the other method is to enter a very gentle climb while turning to starboard. The torque of the engine combined with the light weight of the Japanese aircraft makes it impossible for them to match that climb. I've used it on countless occasions and their tracers always pass below me. I've never tried such a tactic against German aircraft as they are not encountered in the Solomon Islands.