What's your preferred BoS / BoM aircraft... and...

[Guest deleted@50488]

and what are your preferred techniques when using it against the opponents ?

 

Of course this is a very wide question, because all aircraft means the fighters and the bombers, but I really would like to read from your experiences on each specific aircraft.

 

Somehow I presently have a special passion for 3 - the initial LagG3, the C.202 and the E7. I try to fly them online, and I never used the bombers ( saving for latter - I have a lot to learn first regarding the use of the aim, etc... and bomber operations should really be run in a team, preferably with a good escort, and that means time, TS, and a team to join, all of which I do not have... )

 

Will certainly read your posts trying to learn what I still miss when operating each of the fighters, and preparing for the bombers :-)

 

Have also started a poll....

[Finkeren]

Well, since the MiG-3 isn't out yet, it's really too early for me to judge

 

I gotta say though, that I'm having most fun with the Bf 109E7 and the I-16. Not only are they excellent on their own, they are arguably the most fun matchup in the entire sim.

 

The I-16 is pretty straightforward to fly: Make the most of your incredible maneuverability and force the opponent into a fight so tight and confusing, that your agility and near perfect FOV wins out. The great roll rate, low stall speed and high initial acceleration also makes the I-16 the ultimate scissors plane.

 

With the E7 it's a bit more complex. Against the BoS aircraft you're kind of a jack-of-all-trades and really have to choose your fighting style depending on the situation. Fortunately, the E7 does everything well enough, that you can take advantage of any weakness you spot in your opponent. Against BoM aircraft you're a bit more in the same situation as the 109s in BoS: Your speed and climb rate is enough to win the day.

[GP*]

I've always been drawn to LW aircraft, like many others. I most frequently fly the 109G2 and 190A3 in BoS. I just got BoM EA tonight though, and I have to say, the I-16 is incredibly fun. What a plane. In addition, I've always like the La-5/7 series of VVS fighters. Not at all "feeling" the P-40 at the moment.

 

Regarding tactics, the fundamentals of BFM / "dogfighting" always remain the same, regardless of what you're flying. However, knowing the performance characteristics of your aircraft (and just as importantly, what you're flying against) is what drives the specific tactics. For example, the 109 can fight classic "elbow" BFM against anything in the game -- you can maneuver yourself to what's called the "control zone" behind an enemy aircraft and maintain that position while achieving a tracking kill. The 190, on the other hand, lacks the turn rate to capture the control zone, but has the horsepower and firepower to make up for it. So, when an enemy starts turning hard, I'll typically execute an early turn circle entry to allow for a high-angle gun snap, and then separate from the fight by extending or climbing high, and repeating the attack. It's essentially boom and zoom, but much more maneuvering with regard to a bandit's turn circle rather than just climbing up, nosing over, pointing at the bandit, and then driving down endlessly. 

 

I doubt much of that will make sense without a significant background in turn circle geometry, aspect angle, heading crossing angle, turn rate and radius, etc...but you asked!

[Libel]

I usually fly Luftwaffe aircraft, particularly the Bf109F series, though I do find myself drawn to the LaGG occasionally. Not sure why, it's a flying veneered coffin, but it is great fun to hunt Stukas in it.

As of tactics, there's nothing quite like pulling out of a rolling scissors maneuver thinking 'Woah, I just pulled that off', though I wouldn't call it a 'preferred' tactic as I'm still using hat-top for camera control. Given enough setup time and an altitude advantage, I would opt for Adolf Galland's tactic from the Battle of Britain - dive from the sunside, pull underneath in their 6 oclock low, and go for the underside of the engine cowling. If you miss, use the energy you have to get the hell out of there before they drag you down.

[Dakpilot]

What I enjoy is the diversity, I am not very good with any individual A/C, the FM is detailed enough to need to spend a lot of time with an aircraft to learn it properly

 

Whether doing a dive bomb mission in a Pe-2, tank hunting/ground support in a Ju-87/IL-2 or CAP in a 109/190/Yak/LaGG, ground support in a 109E/P-40 or even a bombing run/supply in an HE-111 I enjoy the scope, feeling and need to adapt/learn

 

I guess I am drawn 60/40 to ground attack/fighters and have yet to find a firm favorite with either side, looking forward to trying ground attack in the Mig-3, should be an interesting experience with its limited flight envelope not well suited for a purpose it was historically pressed into.

 

A successful Jabo run with a quick dogfight during evasion and RTB is most satisfying, but really needs coordinated team effort

 

to sum up my favorite is the one I am flying at the moment   (for now)

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[xvii-Dietrich]

I enjoy flying twin-engined aircraft and prefer flying on the Axis side. My current aircraft of choice is the He-111 H-6 and nearly all my flying time so far has been in this aircraft. I've tried the Bf-110 E-2, but I still prefer the Heinkel at the moment.

 

I am patiently waiting for the Ju 88 A-4... once that is available I will probably fly exclusively that!

[ShamrockOneFive]

I find I'm most deadly in the Bf109s and I really enjoy the Bf109G-2 over the F-4 despite the slight performance advantage for the F-4. I think its more of a visceral decision as I like the gruffness of the DB605... Really brings out the character in the aircraft and you feel the weight more in maneuvers without it being a hindrance, Tactics are standard 109: Get altitude superiority, dive onto your opponent and use the engine and firepower to position for the killing shot.

 

My favourite on the other side and one of my all time favourites is the Yak-1. I'm actually more a fan of the Yak-9 but I love the 1 just the same. Its tossable and fun to fly and I like that it has a good mix of speed and turn rate to really get in close, cut across an enemy flight path and put some 20mm rounds into them before breaking off again. The Yak is a good turn fighter but only at speed so you really want to make sure you keep up your speed - it accelerates quickly (much more quickly than the early model that we had in IL-2 1946) but you want to maintain whatever energy advantage you can.

 

I'll fly anything but I'm having a lot of fun with fighters at the moment. I'd like to get more into the IL-2 and Bf110 in the attacker roles.

[Matt]

P-40, E-7, (Mig-3) and Bf 110. Not just because they are new, but I think they are all very nicely done and are just fun to fly around with in different roles and they all have their strengths and weaknesses and overcoming the weaknesses is perhaps the most interesting for me. But then I usually stay away from the superior plane types anyway (however, I also practically ignore planes which don't interest me, like the He 111, Mc.202 or I-16).

 

From the BoS planes, I only really fly the Fw 190 (mostly ground attack) and Il-2.

[Guest deleted@50488]

For me there's something special, and lot's of potential hidden in the C.202.

 

I am still a newbie using any of the fighters, and that one in particular, but have been able to get with it wins that I never won with the LagG3, Yak-1, F4 and G2....

[bokepacha]

My beloved F4, with 20mm gunpods if I plan to straff some GTs. The day I buy BoM, Bf110 will be my new lover.

[Y-29.Silky]

VSS - Lagg with 23mm and the P-40.

 

My main tactic for both of these aircraft, is to fly at 6000m where I will then dive on Germans who are either clueless, or they're an F4 trying to climb up to me. If I miss, they will either climb where I will then do a low yo-yo and get within gun distance thanks to great energy retention (P-40 I do slow "S" to force overshoots) and get the kill, or they will dive, where I will catch them and get the kill.

 

Luftwaffe - FW-190

 

If I'm not booming on unsuspecting Russians or escorting, I like to mix it up at low altitude. I'll auto-level at 2000-3000m, dive into the battle and mix it up with Yaks and fight in the vertical. It's fun, dirty, aggressive, and effective.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Y-29.Silky

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Very interesting thread. I can't add much to it in relation to BoS/M but in general I find myself drawn to Soviet fighters that feel 'heavy' and need to be flown carefully on small stick inputs to avoid losing speed, like the Lavochkins or the MiG-3. That stability does it for me.

 

To employ them, well, in the old Il-2 at least it's all about trying to see the fight from the enemy's cockpit. Being not much of a good fighter pilot I still fail to get a good tactical situation sometimes, but what I can say is that one of the most important virtues in flying is to learn how to shoot with the aircraft your flying, in that loadout you're using. Fly a 45 degree dive towards the ground, set the cross-hair on a tree and squeeze the trigger between 250 and 200m, note where the shots land. Correct and try again until at least 70% of the rounds land exactly where you want them. That way I at least manage to make the best out of the opportunities I get.

 

Something that helps me too is to never fly 'piper-on-the-target', over the years that proved itself as the most ineffective way to fight. Getting a good view of the target combined with good gunnery, it gets easy to rip apart opponents with that one snapshot without having to trail behind them for six minutes.

 

High-speed climbs followed by a rope-a-dope are also a great way to do it when a head-on situation presents itself. I try to come in as fast as possible then making the enemy miss the first shot (the easy part). Then they usually turn around horizontally or try a chandelle to get around to me so I gun the engine and head straight up. Unless I mess up somewhere usually the speed difference makes up for the climb rate difference and if they pursue it I put a little horizontal separation and then drop on top of them as they either stall or straighten out slowly. With this in mind one can understand why I am much more scared of the 109 than the 190 - the former can put up the kind of climb that can easily foil my not-so-great plan

 

I remember a funny single player moment on a campaign because of that, old La-5s intercepting Stukas with about 8-10 Bf-109G-6s (late 1943 version) escorts. I stayed high up at 5000m with the AI wingman doing top cover so I stayed circling the one gap through a huge cloud deck from which I could see the battle down low. Eventually this pesky 109 came up spiralling at 500km/h. AI wingman was a little lower so I used him as bait. I was higher up so I climbed a little then dropped down for a snapshot. He dived through the clouds. I climb up to the circling pattern. Up comes another 109. Same thing happens. And again. And again. Then he comes with a wingman, I send the leader running away smoking while the wingman disappears in the clouds. Wingman comes up, same thing happens - goes away smoking. I thought I did a decent job fighting them and distracting the fighters from the rest of my flight mauling the Stukas, so I regroup whoever is alive and head back - landing was standard, nothing fancy, I hit Escape and go to the debriefing. I see five new kills. Turns out each time it was a different plane doing the same thing

 

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

I love em all except fw190 and yak-1.

My main tactic is basic Sisu. I fly aggressively. Aggression is the key to kill, pulling hard, fast downward spiral at high G. When I can't see, you can't either.

Most of my online kills are me in Attackers/Bombers, the enemy doesn't expect the Stuka pilot to stay on your six and pursue you.

Since I don't have TrackIR, and the Hat Switch control is very slow in Il-2, I rarely fly pure fighters.

[indiaciki]

The E-7 by far. I have a gut feeling that she has the most realistic flight model. No super plane. Has normal / expected faults. She doesn't feel like a gamer's plane. Just my thoughts. I also like the P-40 because she is crap just as the Ju-87 that I love flying. I'd compare the E-7 to the SPAD VII in ROF. I prefer vertical maneuvers when fighting.ROF & BOS. If you haven't flown bombers try the Stuka. She's unique.

Edited December 16, 2015 by indiaciki

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

The E-7 by far. I have a gut feeling that she has the most realistic flight model. No super plane. Has normal / expected faults. She doesn't feel like a gamer's plane. Just my thoughts. I also like the P-40 because she is crap just as the Ju-87 that I love flying. I'd compare the E-7 to the SPAD VII in ROF. I prefer vertical maneuvers when fighting.ROF & BOS. If you haven't flown bombers try the Stuka. She's unique.

I regularly kill overconfident Yaks in me Schtuka.

[GP*]

The E-7 by far. I have a gut feeling that she has the most realistic flight model. No super plane. Has normal / expected faults. She doesn't feel like a gamer's plane. Just my thoughts. I also like the P-40 because she is crap just as the Ju-87 that I love flying. I'd compare the E-7 to the SPAD VII in ROF. I prefer vertical maneuvers when fighting.ROF & BOS. If you haven't flown bombers try the Stuka. She's unique.

Great summary of the E-7

[Riderocket]

I love em all except fw190 and yak-1.

My main tactic is basic Sisu. I fly aggressively. Aggression is the key to kill, pulling hard, fast downward spiral at high G. When I can't see, you can't either.

Most of my online kills are me in Attackers/Bombers, the enemy doesn't expect the Stuka pilot to stay on your six and pursue you.

Since I don't have TrackIR, and the Hat Switch control is very slow in Il-2, I rarely fly pure fighters.

You can change the sensitivity of the hat switch in camera settings.. On the right side, where it says "Pan".

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

You can change the sensitivity of the hat switch in camera settings.. On the right side, where it says "Pan".

It still has too much inertia. It is quick, but only after 1 second. You can't make fast switches from side to side either, as you would with your head. compare the time it takes you to fully rotate your head IRL and with the Hat Switch.  In Dogfights it simply doesn't cut it. It's the only advantage War Thunder has over Il-2.

[andyw248]

 

 

I'd compare the E-7 to the SPAD VII in ROF.

 

+1

[F/JG300_Gruber]

While playing He111 and Ju87 for the most part, The plane I really enjoy flying these days is the 190. I like how it feels, its quick and precise reactions with little stick input and it's stability as a gun platform. 

I'm still hoping that the FM will be perfected at some point in the future, but I like it very much as it is.

 

No real strategy, load a 500kg, 2000m or very low level flight, drop, a little straffing around and run back home before the reds join. I'm very, very bad at dodging tracers if I have a yak or a lagg on my tail, but I'm working on it !

Sometimes I load the extra 20mm when I need to intercept potentially unescorted bombers, but I usually avoid engagement with fighters if I don't have a big E advantage. 

 

 

Still waiting for a ride in the 88 !

[216th_Peterla]

Come on fellas! The IL2 that gives the name to this wonderful series of game/sim. Strong aircraft that can handle a lot of damage with a reliable engine. A good gun platform for ground punding at soft and armored targets and with the possibility to defend from the rear with the field mod gunner. If you flight with a coordinated group you can repel fighters with some success. A great machine.

Regards,

[7.GShAP/Silas]

Indeed, the IL-2 always.

[Y-29.SugaBizkit]

Right now, it's  the bf110, the bf 109 e-7, the LA-5, and my lil' bby Ishak <333

[Tomsk]

Really drawn to the LW planes so far, especially the 109s. How to use a climb rate advantage seems to come quite naturally to me (much more drawn to energy fighting than turn fighting). Also a big fan of the P-40 in other games, but don't have BoM yet.

 

I'm really not that great a pilot, so not sure about tactics. I really like to try and build an energy advantage and use energy conservation. Also very fond of boom and zoom style tactics, and using a powerful dive to good advantage.

[Y-29.SugaBizkit]

Really drawn to the LW planes so far, especially the 109s. How to use a climb rate advantage seems to come quite naturally to me (much more drawn to energy fighting than turn fighting). Also a big fan of the P-40 in other games, but don't have BoM yet.

 

I'm really not that great a pilot, so not sure about tactics. I really like to try and build an energy advantage and use energy conservation. Also very fond of boom and zoom style tactics, and using a powerful dive to good advantage.

 

 

Funnily enough, this is the reason I also enjoy flying the lagg and p-40.

 

It obviously cannot compete with 109's in straight energy fighting, but I really like that these planes are so unforgiving to those who bleed energy. The feeling of accomplishment I get from taking out a 109 with these planes is unparalleled.

 

 

With the 109's if you make a mistake and wind up too slow, you can always reset the fight. Not so much with the lagg and p40

Edited December 17, 2015 by Y-29.SugaBizkit

[Jade_Monkey]

i really really enjoy the recent changes to the bf109f engine sounds.

its such a pleasure flying it now!

[Guest deleted@50488]

My preferences are converging towards the E7, the C.202 and the LagG3 ( this one is my first love in BoS....)

 

Online with VonMARTS, one of our community members who has explored the potential of the C.202 in detail, I started to give attention to that particular aircraft, and if at the beginning I didn't like it mostly for the lack of decent rear visibility, it is slowly becoming one of the aircraft I vly the most :-)

Edited December 18, 2015 by Mighty-MOUSE

[Blooddawn1942]

I really like and fly all BoS/BoM aircrafts.

But since the BoM aircrafts has been partially released, I tend more to them. Maybe I'm a bit too used to the BoS planeset.

But especially the E-7 and the I-16 really hooked me. Also the 110 is nothing but gorgeous.

Impossible to me to point out a favorite.

I could point out the ones I fly less, that would be the Il-2, La-5 and the Pe-2. The rest I love dearly and fly them all very regular.

Not speaking of combat but rather of the pure joy of flying, the Rata is unbeatable. Nothing gives me more fun then doing free flights and aerobstics in an non combat environment.

[6./ZG26_McKvack]

BOS - He-111

 

BOM - Bf-110

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

BOS - He-111

 

BOM - Bf-110

Ju-88 Overlord. 

[reddog=11blueleader*]

I'm learning to fly all over again since a year away from the sim. I lean toward the Yak-1.  

[AwesomeSprawvy]

For fighters, it's the FW-190 and La-5 for me.  I've always liked the 190, so I was quite excited when it was added to BoS.  The La-5 surprised me though as I originally flew it a few times and discarded it.  After picking it up again, just for the sake of completing all the unlocks in the campaign, it somehow became my go to mount on the Russian side.  As for tactics, I mostly focus on surprise hit and run attacks.  My gunnery is slowly improving, but I still make silly mistakes and pay dearly for it.

 

For bombers, I feel most comfortable in the IL-2.  It's sturdy and has impressive armament options.  One of these days I'd like to really focus on level bombing in the He-111 or Pe-2 though.

[Sokol1]

T-34

[-TBC-AeroAce]

110 and Pe2 for me!! I love leveling targets with precision dive bombing!!! I can see why Hitler was obsessed to the point of stupidity with the dive bomber concept

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

The Perfect Angel: