Tips for Shooting Down Planes

[Porkins]

I've got about 30 hours into IL-2. It's a very enjoyable game, and I have of course shot down some planes, but I was curious if better players than I could share their tips for shooting down enemy planes? I only play SP, but frankly any tips would be appreciated. Probably my biggest issue is that I pump all kinds of rounds (MG and cannon) into planes without destroying them. They are very survivable, and it I usually can't shoot down more than 2 before my guns are dry and I need to go home. The IL-2 in particular certainly seems to live up to its reputation of being a flying tank. 

 

I've read multiple posts from people about shooting specific parts of a plane, which of course makes perfect sense, but I can't imagine being able to target a specific part of a plane. It's usually all I can do to get in a firing position and to hit the target, much less aiming for the cockpit or engine. 

 

Any tips from virtual fighter aces out there? 

Thanks!

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Not much I can suggest since I am no ace besides getting really close to your target if you can.

 

Hitting from 50-100m vs. 300m makes a major difference. Multiple times I hit proper bursts at an enemy from far away and they kept flying as if nothing happened, whereas a one-second burst at 50m had the aircraft fall apart - fires, wings falling off, tails ripped to shreds, that kind of stuff.

[Dakpilot]

One key thing is only to fire when at your set gun convergence range, for maximum effect

 

To practice fly with icons on to get a visual "mind'' picture of range to open fire, or check the threads explaining how to use the gunsight correctly to work out range

 

set up some unarmed opponents in QMB for practice

 

Choosing a convergence range is also a personal thing, but 250M is a good start

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[6./ZG26_Emil]

If you try to make deflection shots you will have a much better chance of disabling them in one pass as you have a better chance of hitting the engine/pilot etc compared to sitting on their six. The combat manoeuvres are all covered in Requiems Rise of Flight page which is very good and still applicable to WW2...just remember that the vertical manoeuvres are much slower/lazier and less loopy than in the String bags.

[seafireliv]

I like to get in close so they fill my crosshair before firing. so I like a convergence 350 or 300, sometimes closer. Shooting from further always seems a waste, even when I hit.  Problem is German planes always seem that bit faster than any Russian aircraft in this sim.

 

Also, learn to deflection shoot, (shoot ahead of the target) especially in a turn fight. Sometimes you are shooting while not even seeing the plane because it`s right under your nose. I hate shooting like this, but it works as I`ve made several kills while shooting literally blind!

Edited April 18, 2016 by seafireliv

[Sunde]

Fly smart, set yourself up for the advantage, strike fast and get out fast.
Land your shots   

[VBF-12_Snake9]

No one has mentioned your sensitivity settings yet. Of course this depends heavily on your style and your stick,pedals and such. Play with those and get a good feel. (I think I use 40 pitch, 30 roll, and 60 yaw.) The yaw is the biggy cause that's what you should fine tune your aim with.

 

One thing I would suggest, if coming from direct 6 go ahead and open fire at 3-400 meters out. The reason is the propwash you get when you get close behind a plane. The wash will really push your nose all over the place and make it harder to pinpoint your aim. If I had all the kills that propwash made me miss.

 

Also use zoom liberally. When you practice you can score kills from very long distances.

 

The most important. Use big guns. Lol

 

Good luck.

[Willy__]

There's one thing very important that you need to do, independent of the tactics/planes/etc: practice, practice and more practice. You can be the best ace in theory, but if you cant make it happen, it doesnt matter the strategy you use, it'll always be doomed to fail.

[=LG/F=Kathon]

Tip: Aim at the pilot not the plane.

[SYN_Haashashin]

Tip: Aim at the pilot not the plane.

Agree, aim at the cockpit when possible, if not next target should be the engine.

[WokeUpDead]

Good tips here from Lucas (get closer), and Emil (deflection shots will do more damage than shooting from six).  Dakpilot's advice about convergence is important for wing-guns or gondola guns, but not as important for planes with nose-mounted weapons only.

 

My hint for you is this: record your fights and watch them right after landing or dying. Watch them from your perspective and the perspective of your enemies to see where the shots are going, how you're missing, and from how far away you're shooting.  I did this when I was getting into combat flight sims back with IL-2 1946, and I found that I opened fire from way to far away and didn't lead my target enough.

 

Being able to shoot down "only" two planes before running out of ammo is not that bad in a lot of scenarios. For example the Yak doesn't hit hard and has limited ammo, so two kills is OK particularly if faced with tough planes like the 190.  Same thing with the 109s (without gondolas), they have a lot more ammo but they face tougher planes like the IL-2 or the LaGG, so two of those per sortie is not bad.

Edited April 18, 2016 by WokeUpDead

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

In this order:

1. Turn on computer
2. Stand on head

 

 

But seriously... Practice, practice, practice mixed with a little bit of talent combined with an understanding of how to use your gunsight.

[Porkins]

Thanks for the tips so far!

[Jester]

Quick question: Since most fighters in the sim have their armament clustered in the nose, how important is the convergence setting?

[Dakpilot]

I believe the convergence range setting also takes into account the vertical plane, so I imagine it will still have some effect, particularly with mixed weapons with different trajectories, although nothing as important as when considered to wing only or combination wing and centre mounted guns especially with different trajectories

 

Simply all your guns need to hit the same spot at a given range, high velocity centre mounted guns of the same type are not so affected

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Jester]

Thanks Dakpilot. I thought I'd seen vertical convergence mentioned in a thread some time back, but wasn't sure.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

See CHAPTER 11: ON GUNS AND GUNNERY, page 61 of IN PURSUIT. A Pilot’s Guide to Online Air Combat by JOHAN KYLANDER.

 

Link:  http://www.virtualpilots.fi/feature/lento_ohjeet/inpursuit/inpursuit.pdf

[Steambat]

From time to time when my shooting is off, in particular my convergence shooting, I fly a few missions in QMB only with aiming assistance on. I find this puts it all back into perspective,  especially in all the twisting and turning during dogfighting.

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Here's the videos I was talking about....This is very well done and will still apply to WW2 and later aircraft it's just each manoeuvre takes longer to perform in faster aircraft. There is so really good stuff on online tactics against human opponents as well.

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL234EF2DFC3AA2D45

 

and

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL83EA870F2B613A5C

Edited April 19, 2016 by 6./ZG26_Emil