Becoming A Better Pilot

[Cryptonomica]

As per the thread title, I'm currently working on becoming a better virtual pilot.  The two main areas I'm trying to improve are my landings, and my in-flight stability and steady aim.

 

I'm going OK with the landings - I can successfully (if not prettily) land the aircraft I regularly fly, and daily practice is yielding a gradual improvement in my confidence and ability.

 

The second area (stability) is a bit more difficult to nail down, and while practice has improved things to some degree, I still find maintaining a stable heading and aim quite difficult to achieve at times.

 

I mostly fly ground-attack (bombing and strafing) or interception missions.  The aircraft I have spent the most time in are the Ju-87 and the Il-2, both of which are generally very stable and a lot of fun.  I do fly all the other aircraft from time to time.  Some of these (e.g. the Fw-190) I find extremely tough to keep steady.

 

For reference, I'm using a Saitek X-65F stick+throttle, combined with CH Pro pedals.  For the time being I'm sticking to single-player PVE in campaign/quick missions in normal mode, to reduce the number of things I have to think about while I practise.

 

What I would like to ask the more experience pilots in this community is, what general tips or advice can you give me to help improve in this area?  If you have any plane-specific advice I'd also be grateful, as I'm trying to expand the lineup of aircraft I can competently fly.

 

Ideally I would like to reach the position where I can competently takeoff, maintain sufficiently steady flight/aim and then land, in any of the currently lineup of fighters and attack aircraft.  I realise this is a going to take quite some time!

 

Please note that this isn't a complaint or discussion about accuracy of flight models or physics simulation, just a request for assistance

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

I am out this week but will look to do some one on one training next week. I'll PM you later.

[VPK_CARTOON]

Try visiting dogfight servers for improving your fighters skills. It will grow drastically comparing to battling against the Ai's .

[Jirokoh]

I'll just take a seat in this topic, to read all the tips, because they'll do me some good too, I'm sure !

[LLv24_Zami]

About the stability and steady aim, have you tried to increase the sensivity setting for joystick axis?

That could help. Try something like 40% for starters to see the effect.

[Cryptonomica]

I'll just take a seat in this topic, to read all the tips, because they'll do me some good too, I'm sure !

 

I hope we both pick up some useful information!

 

I am out this week but will look to do some one on one training next week. I'll PM you later.

 

Thanks, much appreciated!

 

Try visiting dogfight servers for improving your fighters skills. It will grow drastically comparing to battling against the Ai's .

 

Thanks for the tip.  I'm more concerned with improving my basic flying skills than my combat skills at present (combat will come later once I've got a better foundation).

 

About the stability and steady aim, have you tried to increase the sensivity setting for joystick axis?

That could help. Try something like 40% for starters to see the effect.

 

I haven't messed around too much with the axis settings - both pitch and roll are on 0% with a small central deadzone at present.  I'll give your suggestion a try next time I fly out

[von_Tom]

 

Reduce the sensitivity of the joystick and fly faster. If you turn close to your target you lose speed and directional stability which means you have to adjust more. Speed means you have to set up correctly but when you do it's good.

 

With wing mounted guns it can harder due to convergence settings as you only have a tiny effective strafing range.

 

von Tom

[andyw248]

One issue might be sensitivity around the yaw axis.

 

I don't use curves for the stick, but I do use curves for the pedals. In a real airplane there is quite a bit of resistance to the rudder pedals, you just can't kick them as easily as you can kick your CH Pro pedals in game. That's why I set curves for my pedals so that they are less sensitive near the center but become more sensitive towards full deflection. This makes the reaction around the yaw axis more similar to what it would be in a real aircraft. Not perfect of course because it is still not really hard to kick the pedal, but not too bad either.

 

You can set curves for your pedals either in the CH Control Manager (comes with the pedals), or in game.

[Cryptonomica]

Thanks von_Tom and andyw248!

 

I don't have curves set up for my pedals, and I'll admit that I probably don't use them as much as I should for coordinated turns and fine aiming.  I will definitely have a look at their sensitivity - the point about resistance makes perfect sense.  The point about speed is also useful, and I'll bear that in mind when I'm setting up for an attack.

[No43_Handsome]

As a none flying twit, I find all of these to be helpful:

 

Advanced Flight Training with the AT-6 SNJ: Take-Offs, Approaches & Landings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UZmEhayBVI

 

How to Dive Bomb in World War 2 Aircraft - 1943
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOz_i_2USkY

 

'Pilot's notes' for aircraft type give specific operational guidance according to type.
After a painless registration there are loads available here, maybe the greatest repository on the web?
http://ww2aircraft.net/forum/other-mechanical-systems-tech-/?s=f6330bfa83681b26824e274a842b6f41

 

'Pilot's notes General' offers general service flying guidance - engine management principles, bad weather flying, emergency procedures, that sort of thing - complementing the Pilot's notes for a specific type.

I couldn't find a current copy anywhere, so I've hosted a 'notes general' for the RAF dating from 1943 here:
http://www.gamefront.com/files/25359842/RAF_Notes_General.zip

 

I have an original of one of these that I bought in the lake district along with an original Spitfire Mk IX Pilot's notes, and an 4lb Elwell coppicing axe. That was a good day.

 

I found these entertaining and useful too:

 

Scaring myself - Tail Wheel Flying - Strong Gusting Cross Wind - Ground Loop Risk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0YUxsntZWE

 

Work that rudder! Dance dance dance!

 

Learning to land when you can't see ahead! - WarBird Training - Boeing Stearman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Auz20sHZ6Q

 

Facing Challenging Winds - Improving as a Pilot - Grass Strip - Tail Wheel Flying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JoQ5i_wek

 

Stuka Pilot Interviews: Hauptmann Heinz Migeod
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00A506FAE3B4225E

 

"Spitfires? Nah. Too fast. Not a problem. Hurricanes? We didn't like Hurricanes."

 

Trim, fly smooth, think ahead.

 

 

Hopefully these are of interest.

Edited November 24, 2015 by No43_Handsome

[indiaciki]

patterns, patterns, pattern, patterns with wind and turbulance 2-3 m/s both. Fly landing configuration low and level. go down to tree top level in landing configuration at final approach speed. slips through the trees. fly high speed low passes at tree top levels over the runway for 15 min. high speed low and steep turns. slip forward, slips to the side. that will give you confidence for stability. do high speed power on spins at 1000m. don't fly without wind and turbulance below 2 m/s ever in QM. attack ships

Edited November 24, 2015 by indiaciki

[Cryptonomica]

Thanks No43_Handsome, that's quite a list of references to dip into!

 

indiaciki, good point about wind & turbulence.  I'll definitely practice more patterns (that's how I first learned to land)

[Willy__]

 

 

Reduce the sensitivity of the joystick and fly faster. If you turn close to your target you lose speed and directional stability which means you have to adjust more. Speed means you have to set up correctly but when you do it's good.

 

What von_Tom said is very VERY VERY important if you want to have a steady aim while shooting. Stay fast, plan your attacks, if something goes wrong on the way, think: do you have time to make corrections ? If not abort and go around and setup for another pass.

 

Also trim is very important, usually I set my trim to neutral for climbing and cruising, and I like to set a little of nose-down atittude when I'm doing strafing/shooting with high speed in general, that way I can concentrate on the rudders and if I need to, I find it easier to pull back than pushing the stick.

 

Btw, I got the X65F aswell! Good stick 

[Hoots]

What von_Tom said is very VERY VERY important if you want to have a steady aim while shooting. Stay fast, plan your attacks, if something goes wrong on the way, think: do you have time to make corrections ? If not abort and go around and setup for another pass.

 

Also trim is very important, usually I set my trim to neutral for climbing and cruising, and I like to set a little of nose-down atittude when I'm doing strafing/shooting with high speed in general, that way I can concentrate on the rudders and if I need to, I find it easier to pull back than pushing the stick.

 

Btw, I got the X65F aswell! Good stick 

Trim is vital, if you are not using it you will struggle to fly smoothly.

[Jirokoh]

Thank you very much for the links, and all those tips !
 

[Cryptonomica]

Thanks istruba and Jirokoh!

 

Pitch trim is one of the things I have been using and it does make a big difference.  One question - how much do you use yaw trim, if at all?