Spotting and Identifying Russian Fighters

[PhantomTR]

Hi all,

 

I searched for a similar topic at the forum but could not find it. Sorry if this is a dublication.

 

I am experiencing problems on spotting Russian fighters from long distances. I can not identify them even in close range although I switch to zoom.

In most cases, I chase my fellow Bf-109s or Fw-190s in the sky and sometimes I even fired some bursts to them due to my excitement and lack of experience. 

 

How do you manage with this problem? How do you spot a Russian fighter from long distances? How do you distinguish them in dog-fight? What are the typical flight characteristics of them? I read about lowering the resolution of the simulation for a better view and identificaiton. Is this a solution?

 

Thanks in advance

[Pupo]

I usually look at the nose.

Slim nose = yak,
fat nose = LA-5 

Flamming nose = LaGG3

[Alkyan]

I check the shape of the wings, bf 109 have slim rectangular wings, yacks more round, elleptical ones.

[Leaf]

Fuselage and wing root shape are pretty good indications. VVS fighters tend to have a fatter wing root and thicker fuselage.

If it looks like a shark, it's a 109. If it looks like a badly-designed afterthought, it's VVS.

[Jaeger55]

After 10+ years of these combat flight Sims, it sort of second nature to Identify fighter planes.

I suspect the vast majority of us here just know one plane from another just by looking and reading and building model kits of WW2 fighters etc.

 

In this Sim, usually after one pass or if you get within gun range, you will see the Red Star or Michael's cross.

[Finkeren]

I find the 109 by far the easiest fighter to ID at distance. No other plane in BoS has such a slim profile. If it looks like a dart it's a 109. In general VVS planes can be identified from all angles by either their stubby, pointy wings or their shorter, more compact fuselage.

 

Obviously the most difficult to tell apart are the LaGGs and Yaks. As a general rule look for the front fuselage and nose, which is broader in the LaGG giving it a heavier, stockier appearance. Else try getting a glimpse of the tail unit. If the tailfin and rudder are clearly jutting out from the rear fuselage, it's a Yak.

[Yakdriver]

fat nose square wings: 190
fat nose triangular wings: La5
slim nose triangular wings: LaGG/Yak

(any triangular wing: Russian)

slim nose thin wings: 109

 

 

high Body small tail:Yak

high Body Triangular tail: LaGG

high Body but sleeker/longer: 109  (you see a pretty plane, and it captures your attention because its thin and looks fast - 109)

large canopy - 190

[JimTM]

The fuselage of the La-5 and the FW190 look very similar from above (fat nose tapering to a slim tail). Look for the moth-like (triangular) tail and thinner, rounded wingtips on the La-5 versus the squared tail and wider wingtips on the FW190.

 

Looking from the side, look for the significant taper of the top of the FW190 fuselage versus a very slight taper of the bottom of the La-5 fuselage.

[Y-29.Silky]

To add on to everyones dimensions ..

 

Long distances I take note of their heading, which is usually low altitude from the East (coming towards you from the Volga) in multiplayer servers.

 

In a dogfight, you'll notice Russians shoot red tracers compared to Germanys yellow.

 

Flight characteristics, this is nearly impossible to distinguish.

 

Resolution, not sure, mine is crap.

 

It takes some time but you'll eventually learn the shapes, I still sometimes mistake a 190 for an La-5 with their fat noses if they're not exposing their wings enough.

 

Also look at the paint. A lot of Germans will have some yellow on them while Russians may have some red..

 

And start trusting your judgement..

Edited January 23, 2015 by Silky

[Descolada]

i usually pick 109s out by their wing radiators

 

i dont usually bother distinguishing between laggs and yaks, you mostly fight them the same way

 

i think of them as fatter 109s really

 

with la5s and 190s its mostly a wing thing, otherwise they look pretty similar

Edited January 23, 2015 by Descolada

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Geman planes in general look more sleek, technical and aerodynamicly clean. The 109s for example have very thin, clean triangula wings and a small rudder surface. Russian fighters on the other hand look more "bionomical", motre like fish or birds, due to their more curved wings, horizontal stabilizer shape and their big air cooling inlets at the front.

 

Also be sure to position yourself at an angle allowing you to spot those distinctive shapes. If you fly at your oppoments 6 o'clock you'll have a much more difficult time trying to tell the difference.

 

If you fly above him on the other hand you can easily recognize his wing and tail surface shape and sometimes even insignas.

[PhantomTR]

Whoa. Thank you so much. All of you!

 

So many valuable data gathered for me. I really appreciated your help guys.

 

I took my notes about the hints. From now on, I will study and excetude them in my flights.

 

I hope these important experiences of yours will help others too, trying to struggle in distinguishing the Russian fighters.

 

Thanks again.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

Very simple for me, if I'm German, the plane on my six is Russian.

[Sokol1]

If you are in firing distance: the German planes have a ~triangular shaped fuselage, Russian oval, and thick wings.

 

image upload no compression

 

At distance, look for wing shape, Russian planes have triangular wings with round wing tips. 

 

BTW - Try learn identify German fighters, as is less, and fire at the rest. 

 

 

[SharpeXB]

The two radiators on the 109 really stand out too

[Uriah]

Get real close.  And if they have iron crosses on them shoot them.

[33lima]

This was obviously an issue in real life, with Typhoons being mistaken for FW 190s and Mustangs for 109s, hence the special markings they got. And as one RAF pilot in the Far East remarked during debriefing after a big scrap with Japanese fighters in 1942, 'Well, I thought he was a P-40, so I only gave him a short burst.'

 

I think this uncertainty is not so much a disadvantage of BoS (or any other sim for that matter) but a feature we should be glad is there and deal with much like real guys had to do, rather than expecting there to be a magic formula for visual IFF.

 

Start with Mick Mannock's dictum that any sighting ('bogey') should be assumed to be hostile ('bandit') until proved otherwise.

 

After a sighting, start leading your flight into a position from which you can attack, unless you get to that point and confirm they're friendlies. As you go, start to make up your mind. Watch for any sign of hostile action, like a sudden reaction to spotting your presence or an indication that the planes are enemies (pointy wings are generally the best indication of VVS fighters so a plan view will give you this and aircraft silhouettes are quite well rendered in BoS, though they do not appear until they are rather too close. As has been said, like the real guys did, practice recognising silhouettes from different angles. You may find some real WW2 ones online.

 

You can always flick labels on and off for a positive ID if you feel monitor limitations are cramping your style. I think this can be valid, AFTER I have made a sighting visually with no labels.

 

Your flight-mates will  often see an enemy before you and (wrongly) move to intercept instead of reporting and awaiting instructions. This will at least confirm the sighting is enemy.

 

Like that RAF pilot, if in doubt, you can always just give them a short burst, just in case

Edited January 25, 2015 by 33lima

[wtornado]

I usually look at the nose.

Slim nose = yak,

fat nose = LA-5 

Flamming nose = LaGG3

The LaGG-3 with the flaming nose is probably me.

 

I mean engulfed in huge flames and spiraling towards earth.

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

I'd love to have some silhouette cards. 

[Nil]

Excellent topic 

I have some trouble to identify fighters, but now with your help it is much better!

[SYN_Skydance]

These guys have a nice page on aircraft recognition.

 

http://www.tidesofwar.net/byair/12sqnrecog.html/

[Lymark]

I often mislook these two, most of the time I have to get real close before I have enough confidence to fire.

 

Well.. it's easier to differentiate them via screenshot like that than during combat(actually I might as well print it out lol).

Edited December 3, 2016 by Lymark

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

These guys have a nice page on aircraft recognition.

 

http://www.tidesofwar.net/byair/12sqnrecog.html/

 

Excelent. That's what I was looking for. We should put them together ... like in this one:

Silhouette chart cliffs of dover by =TIA=Porco Rosso 86

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=24793&d=1474934326

Edited December 4, 2016 by =CAD=Spartan_

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

Well, I still have trouble with 109s and P-40s at distance. 

[Gambit21]

I can't say how many times I've rolled over and dove on a bogey at 630 kph only to discover it was a friendly and abort - just part of the experience.

That said, going up high in a Luftie bird and waiting until you see that bright blue belly of a Yak or an La fighting with someone else below...dead giveaway.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Updated guide for 2.005, if it's in front of you, it's a MiG-3/Yak-1/LaGG-3/I-16/P-40. If it's behind you, it's a Yak-1b or an La-5.

[Finkeren]

Finkerin put together an ID guide here...

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/20968-wip-finkerens-easy-id-guide/

You're poking at my guilty conscience

 

I never got to finish it before my hiatus.

 

One of these days I'll get around to it.

[Finkeren]

Sorry - was not trolling you on purpose

 

Even the preliminary diagrams would be useful IMO!

No it's good.

 

It's one of those things I really need to finish.

[Trinkof]

Most important :

 

Looks like a 109 ... but you get kicked when firing at him ... it was a P40 It would have been shot down by someonelse anyway ... so, no big deal

Edited December 5, 2016 by LAL_Trinkof