Critique in Yak1

[Sketch]

 

Here's a video of me flying in a Yak1, and I welcome any criticisms so that I can improve.

 

These are my thoughts on that flight:

Good:

- I thwarted a bunch of attacks from three different planes (2 109s, and a 110 near the end)

- I out maneuvered the first 109 to get gun solutions twice

- I spotted the first 109 well in advance

- I fought and bailed safely into the red side of the "fence"

- I forced all three planes to fight by my "rules" while on I was on the defensive

 

Bad:

- I never saw the second 109 until after I got hit on his first pass against me

- I should have retracted my flaps after releasing them more often as I flew around with flaps down for quite some time.

- After my engine was hit, I could have went for the clouds and ran home but chose to stay and fight.

- I never hit the enemy

 

Ugly:

- I had TrackIR issues at the beginning of my first to shots against the 109; you can see me fuddling with the aim point multiple times.

- I flew alone. I like to believe if I had a teammate there, I would have made it home.

- You can hear all the background noises going on in my house (the GF was cooking me up some grub) lol :D

Edited July 4, 2016 by Sketch

[Sketch]

- WARNING - Video is NSFW because of cursing. - WARNING -

 

Here I am in another Yak1, this time with a teammmate, Fenderbird. We both just completed a ground attack on the enemies airfield, both scoring an easy victory, and began ingressing back towards the fence. There were a lot of friendlies in the area, and Fender and I were insuring that there were no enemies around. I spotted Fender, and a 109 chasing him just as the video starts. Then, I attempt to shoot down the German plane but only manage to hit his engine once. I didn't want to shoulder shoot over the friendly shooting the 109 as he was assisting, but not on our comms channel. At the end, I decided it was best to return home than continue a losing battle with the rest of the enemy planes. As before, any criticism is welcomed.

 

My thoughts on the flight:

Good:

- I spotted the 109 and helped save Fender at least once

- I did what I could to stay in communications with Fender

 

Bad:

- I stayed "nose on" most of the fight, which caused me to make two high deflection shots from under the carriage of the engine

- I missed so bad lol. Poor Fender

- My teammate got shot down before I could save him

- I burned a ton of E after I merged with the 109

- The first merge with the 109, I didn't even realize he was there or that close

 

Ugly:

- That first merge, man I blew it. I thought he was going to continue his turn to his right... not go straight.

- I feel like I could have shot a bit sooner after the 109 stalled and dived back down but I was waiting for a better gun solution

 

[VBF-12_Snake9]

Hi Sketch. Just one note. I find it odd that you sit so far back head position.

 

At least for me, it makes aiming very difficult.

[Sketch]

Hi Sketch. Just one note. I find it odd that you sit so far back head position.

At least for me, it makes aiming very difficult.

 

I do have a 34" wide screen monitor, when I'm zoomed in at the default level, it feels too close. I'm on vacation right now, but when I come back I'll zoom in more.

 

Honestly, I thought I would have more replies to my flying. How do you guys score 30-40 air kills without dying? What insider tips can you provide based on my videos? Where did I go wrong in my flight? These are some of the questions I ask myself but don't have answers for because I'm new. Hence, I ask the community. It's OK I can take it! *puts on flamesuit*

Edited July 8, 2016 by Sketch

[VBF-12_Snake9]

I would post a video but my feeble internet would buckle at the knees.     So screen shots will have to do.  

 

This in no way is the only way to set up things, just showing the difference between the two of us.  I'm sure all of us do things different.  

 

The setup.  I love having fun in quick mission.  8 E7s vs 8 I16s.  It's a blast.  Too make it better, I place my team on novice and AI on ace.  I ran a mission, recorded, and then took screen shots of all the kill shots.  I left the icons on so you could see the meters of firing range.  (most are knife fights due to the planes, no sniper shots shown, but always full zoom for them.)  I use zoom very liberally.  Most of the time zooming full when I'm about to pull the trigger.  For added zoom sometimes I lean in with trackir.  

 

Normal view zoom all the way back.  I like setting all planes up with the inner circle of the sight showing.  This is important.  You can get little cues from the way the circle floats as to the deflection needed in a dogfight.  

 

 

 

What follows are the kill shots.  As you can see, at the time of pulling the trigger most are zoomed in quite a lot.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again there are all kinds of ways to set your views up.  Most importantly is to practice what works for you.  It's always good to see different ways others do the same thing.  If you would like the track, I can get it to you later.  Just pm if you would like.  I hope this helps alittle.      

[Sketch]

 

In this video, I practice your suggestion of zooming in before firing. It seems I can hit targets a bit better, as I take out four AI BF110s right as I run out of ammo.

[Sketch]

Here is another flight on Wings of Liberty. This time, I do a voice over of my thoughts during the flight. Again, I ask for criticism.

 

Edited for link issues.

Edited July 9, 2016 by Sketch

[VBF-12_Snake9]

Link appears to be broken?

[Sketch]

 

Here's a perfect example of how frustrating the game can be. The main video is the raw footage of me flying; again I'm flying solo. The lower left picture is the guy who shot me down, jOONAS. As the video starts, I make my move on a 190 and blow off his elevators. Then, I setup another attack run on a low 109, check my six, and jOONAS is there. I break off my target, and go defensive. I dive into the clouds performing a shallow split S to save E. He sticks with me, so I pull a hard left horizontal turn with flaps; somehow the 109 stays with me in a horizontal turn (he does not do a high yoyo as expected)... in the clouds! Amazing. I didn't even think he could follow me. I do briefly check my six (on my left), but he's on my right and shoots my right wing up. At this point, I can barely hold onto the plane, so I split S again. He stays with me so well, that I have to adjust the camera in the track recording. He gets a second shot on me at that point, but my plane was already lost.

 

jOONAS currently has 186 air kills in the 10 days of July. He started flying in June, and for only three days of that month (20th, 21st, and 30th) and got 20 kills. How did he accomplish that? On average, he's getting 3-4 kills per flight. How does one do that? He flies the 109G2 mostly. Is this plane the best 109? NOTE: I'm not saying he's cheating, I genuinely want to know how he's spotting three planes per flight, and then shooting them down successfully. I want to shoot down three planes each flight too. Hence, why I'm asking for critiques to my flights.  If jOONAs can score 200 kills in 13 days of acquiring the game, then I too should be able to accomplish this. I've been playing for about two months now. Usually, I only spot one or two planes per flight, then struggle to shoot them down and have to go back to base for more ammo, or because I'm slightly shot up. Here's his record: http://il2stat.aviaskins.com:8008/en/pilot/833/jOONAS/?tour=12

[JG13_opcode]

Jonas is probably a smurf of Mr X who is arguably the best online pilot at the moment, and regularly flies under pseudonyms