Critique my dogfight performance, please :)

[GridiroN]

Don't be to mean, my feelings are fragile little eggshells 

 

In any case, I like the FW190 because it forces me to learn proper energy usage. I ran into a lone Soviet fighter which I was not able to identify. In any event, I'm still having issues in both 190's and 109s fighting Russians and their magical infinite energy fighters. At one point it dove to the deck and shot back up 3k and hit me. I have no idea what I should have done differently, and I had the initiative almost all fight, and then all of a sudden, I didn't. 

 

I've been reading In Pursuit and I've definitely gotten better, but I find instant reversals of initiative is still my major problem.

 

Edited August 1, 2016 by GridiroN

[Sketch]

You asked for some criticism, so I'm offering it. I'm not intending to offend, nor am I the best pilot in the game. Take my suggestions for what they're worth.

 

General Criticism

• CIA_Elanski is one of the top Russian pilots in the game. He flies nearly 5-6 hours a day (on average). Compare that to how often you fly... Don't be so hard on yourself when battling an ace. His scorecard has 246 kills for this month CIA_Elanski's Stats VS. your stats at 5 kills for the month Gridiron's Stats. Truly, he has more experience than you.
• It looks like you're fighting an Lagg3 (I can't tell from the video, but that's what I believe it is). The Lagg3 can turn alright, has good energy retention, can dive pretty well, has a great gun and great range (400m or more with the right convergence), and it can roll pretty good too. 
• Turn off cinematic mode for external views. It'll help you find targets better because it disables the motion blur.
• (insert shameless plug of my youtube channel) You should check out my youtube channel for analysis of my own flights. Watching my mistakes may help you to get better.

 

Timeline Criticism

• You start kinda low at 2.5k. I recommend starting all engagements at around 5k or more with the 190
• From 0 to 2:45, You waste away all your altitude and energy by flying pipper to target. I would have flown offset to him and kept him in my sights as I climbed.
• At 2:45, you force a head-on and nearly get him but he evades. If you had stayed at altitude, you could have rolled over and dived down on him. Possibly still missing, but at least it's an easier shot and you could have continually extended away and made passes at him while he climbed to you.
• At 2:51, I nearly wince in real life at that hard right horizontal turn. At this point, the Lagg3 now has more energy than you, but I don't think he knows it yet. He continues to pull you down by making you use all your energy. He does this by extending away from you, as you give chase. He knows you're not in gun range because he's keeping an eye on your plane size. Once he judges that you're in gun range, he begins turning away.
• From 3:00 to about 4:00, the Lagg3 is extending away, making you burn your energy as you stay co-alt with him. He's causing you to play on his terms, and you fall for the trap. Again, I would have flown off set, climbed, and kept an eye on him from my left or right.
• At 4:05 to 4:08, you turn horizontal to get on his six, but the 190 can't do that. You have to fight vertically, and use the 190's roll rate. You correct your mistake at 4:09, but it still cost you some energy. At this point, you have way less energy than the Lagg3, and he turns better than you at low altitude.
• From 4:15ish to 5:45, you lost sight of him as you climbed hard. Suddenly, he appears behind you and you make a shallow dive and extend away. It was a good move to get away from him.
• At 6:19, the Lagg3 comes up again to attack you. You dive hard this time. If you need to dive, make it very shallow. Especially when the enemy is coming nearly vertically to you. You were in the Lagg3's trap anyway though. He had more energy, and he was coming for the attack. Not much you could do except call for back up and run.
• At 6:52, you were out of gun range, then you started turning on the horizontal and climbing. You should have just ran away; considering you were already facing westward before you started to turn. You made to many mistakes against the Lagg3, and this was the hammer in the nail so to speak. 
• At 6:59, around 400m he pops you good. He's a really good shot too (as his stats suggest). The rest is history.

Edited August 1, 2016 by Sketch

[9./JG27golani79]

Just some general advice - check your 6 more often.

You were lucky no one was sneaking up on you.

Edited August 1, 2016 by 9./JG27golani79

[coconut]

I think you might have underestimated your opponents energy. He was low, but he was also going fast, and that can sometimes surprise you on how high he manages to climb.

I'm not sure what your plan was. On my laptop's screen I have difficulties tracking the enemy on your video, so maybe that's the source of your perceived passivity and lack of decision.

But at least in one occasion, at 3:00, I wonder why you did not go on the offensive: The enemy flew under you, crossing your path at 90 degrees. Would that not have been the occasion to do a split-S and dive on him?

 

Later on, you ended up in a situation where you had the enemy on your 4, and you tried to evade doing a slow spiral climb, which let your enemy slide on you 5/6, and you were a sitting duck at 6:21. Sure, you were higher than him, but that's no protection from a well aimed burst. A spiral climb can work, but you need your enemy no further back than 4 or 10, and you'll probably need to engage emergency power at some point to stay out of reach. It's hard to do, especially online, as you appear further back to your enemy than you really are due to net lag.

 

Instead of doing a spiral climb, you can try a shallow diving turn. That should give you speed, and above 500km/h, the lagg can have difficulties to maintain a lead pursuit, and it's prone to stall if the pilot is too eager to pull on the stick. Also, your FW really shines at 600km/h and above. Still, that's the risky option, and straight shallow dive might be your best option. Extend away from the fight, with some luck you'll be dragging your enemy and he'll get picked by one of your team mates.

 

In any case, it's not an easy task to take the FW190 in a dogfight alone against good opponents in winter. If you had pulled that one off, you would have had a very impressive video to show off your skills and tactical prowess.

Edited August 1, 2016 by coconut

[Gump]

 I like the FW190 because it forces me to learn proper energy usage

 

this is true because nothing else will work with the 190. on the other hand, it is not the only plane that will reward you with proper energy usage and, in a match with formidable opponents (like elanski) you will need more than just that. taking the 190 is like limiting your toolbox to 1 single tool. if you cant use that tool, you have no option but to run and hope you can outrun (or the enemy loses sight).

.

i can help you by telling you what elanski said when he saw your 190...."alright! another kill for me!"... for good pilots, those 190's are a guaranteed kill unless they escape.

.

but, in case elanski may have been vulnerable, i might add a couple thoughts.... you passed up a couple opportunites to split s and dive on him (as coconut mentions), which *might* have got you a shot. HOWEVER, seeing as this was elanski, i'd say you would have missed because elanski would have turned out of the way, and you would have lost height and energy (much at the initial s/turn). then the only sensible option would have been to run level or 'possibly' zoom climb (though this might set you up to get hit by a good shot since the 190 loses energy rather quickly), since elanski would have been close with prolly plenty of energy/speed. SO, i think you did the right thing (wether knowingly or not) by NOT diving on him on the deck. personally, i think elanski may have been trying to get you to do just that. you kept your altitude, which was good. but....

.

did you see the plane fly by to your left at 1:44? i think the plane with the lights may have been elanski making sure you could find him. ;>/

.

at 1:00 you spot him low. ok. but, in case you dont know this by now, those 190's are loud, and their engines have a distinctive sound. in other words, that plane you spotted low would, most likely, have hear your plane and would be looking for you. but you take your time to circle on him. when it looks like you may have lost him under the clouds, he turns on his lights. ALWAYS beware of players that do that! they either have buddies close or are trying to bring you to them. i think this was the latter case because elanski would consider a persistent 190 to be nothing more than an easy kill opportunity.

.

anyways, as sketch observes, you give up all your height by employing a long, shallow dive chase. this is a sure way to burn energy. and energy is not quickly attained in the 190. you are lucky to not get caught at this point. but, hey, you didn't, so all is ok, ...well ..... i think elanski suckered you in on this move intentionally. he turned on lights hoping you would give chase and lose your height. BINGO!

.

he turns on you, but you got the better angle for shot. you missed and did the right thing - zoomed up. SO, elanski repeats the trick, and you follow again in a long, shallow dive. he evades, you do the right thing again by zooming up. BUT....

.

you lost sight of him under the cloud. OUCH! that always tends to add a little anxiety to the venture, eh? anyways, IF the enemy pilot does not run away in that case (which means he's confident enough to fight), he's goon use the clouds to climb, and maybe the sun. what that means for you, the 1 trick 190 pilot, is that he is removing your height advantage, because you are circling in the horizontal and barely climbing. not having a height advantage in the 190 is not very promising for life and happiness. you are still maintaining a little height advantage, but, like the shallow dive-chase lure, he is minimizing that while, at the same time, he is able to know your location (generally) because you are circling.

.

when you do spot him coming for you, you'll notice he is co-alt. this is the point where you should have said $#%^%^  - im outta here, and run for it. as mentioned before, that 190 takes time to attain energy, and the enemy will, most of the time, be able to get a gun solution before that happens. you'll notice his long, smooth turn to chase (he's retaining energy) followed by his dive (low yo-yo) (this is to gain even more energy because he sees you circling right into a gun solution for him. AND...it works. he zooms back up and behold - there you are. textbook. BANG! as that cannon shell hits you.

.

ACK, but then you go into a steep dive? ok, i can see the logic to try and gain speed to run, HOWEVER, he had already climbed to your altitude, so a dive would be to HIS advantage! he could follow! at the moment he was at the top of the yo-yo, he was at minimal energy level. he would have to dive again or climb/level slow. you certainly made him smile on that one! i'd guess elanski was now saying ... "great! just a matter of time now" .. this was an absolutely fatal mistake, imho. whether he hit/shot you or not, the better move, given your immediate circumstance would have been to hit emergency power (firewall it), climb, and turn a little sharper (if possible). and hope he ran out of energy before he destroyed you (which is a big hope against elanski). then, while your performing this 'drag and bag' defense, watch for him to stall or dive, and attempt to predict when/where this will happen and his probable direction, and be prepared to flick into a split -s dive pursuit instantly. then, if the boom works BINGO, if he begins to evade or draw your dive out too far, zoom back up.

.

the last mistake i saw you make was to autolevel too high. that 190 can be outrun by a diving vvs fighter, so you need to keep it diving as long as possible. he already had you messed up, but he certainly was able to close on you easier when you did that level at at the end. though i think you didn't care at that point.

[GridiroN]

Just some general advice - check your 6 more often.

You were lucky no one was sneaking up on you.

 

We both just came out of a massive dogfight, all the Russians were shot down except him, who was running away with his lights on. All the planes behind me were German. I knew no one was behind me until another random plane showed up and engaged neither of us, but you're right, it's a bad habit.

 

 

You asked for some criticism, so I'm offering it. I'm not intending to offend, nor am I the best pilot in the game. Take my suggestions for what they're worth.

 

General Criticism

• CIA_Elanski is one of the top Russian pilots in the game. He flies nearly 5-6 hours a day (on average). Compare that to how often you fly... Don't be so hard on yourself when battling an ace. His scorecard has 246 kills for this month CIA_Elanski's Stats VS. your stats at 5 kills for the month Gridiron's Stats. Truly, he has more experience than you.
• It looks like you're fighting an Lagg3 (I can't tell from the video, but that's what I believe it is). The Lagg3 can turn alright, has good energy retention, can dive pretty well, has a great gun and great range (400m or more with the right convergence), and it can roll pretty good too. 
• Turn off cinematic mode for external views. It'll help you find targets better because it disables the motion blur.
• (insert shameless plug of my youtube channel) You should check out my youtube channel for analysis of my own flights. Watching my mistakes may help you to get better.

 

Timeline Criticism

• You start kinda low at 2.5k. I recommend starting all engagements at around 5k or more with the 190
• From 0 to 2:45, You waste away all your altitude and energy by flying pipper to target. I would have flown offset to him and kept him in my sights as I climbed.
• At 2:45, you force a head-on and nearly get him but he evades. If you had stayed at altitude, you could have rolled over and dived down on him. Possibly still missing, but at least it's an easier shot and you could have continually extended away and made passes at him while he climbed to you.
• At 2:51, I nearly wince in real life at that hard right horizontal turn. At this point, the Lagg3 now has more energy than you, but I don't think he knows it yet. He continues to pull you down by making you use all your energy. He does this by extending away from you, as you give chase. He knows you're not in gun range because he's keeping an eye on your plane size. Once he judges that you're in gun range, he begins turning away.
• From 3:00 to about 4:00, the Lagg3 is extending away, making you burn your energy as you stay co-alt with him. He's causing you to play on his terms, and you fall for the trap. Again, I would have flown off set, climbed, and kept an eye on him from my left or right.
• At 4:05 to 4:08, you turn horizontal to get on his six, but the 190 can't do that. You have to fight vertically, and use the 190's roll rate. You correct your mistake at 4:09, but it still cost you some energy. At this point, you have way less energy than the Lagg3, and he turns better than you at low altitude.
• From 4:15ish to 5:45, you lost sight of him as you climbed hard. Suddenly, he appears behind you and you make a shallow dive and extend away. It was a good move to get away from him.
• At 6:19, the Lagg3 comes up again to attack you. You dive hard this time. If you need to dive, make it very shallow. Especially when the enemy is coming nearly vertically to you. You were in the Lagg3's trap anyway though. He had more energy, and he was coming for the attack. Not much you could do except call for back up and run.
• At 6:52, you were out of gun range, then you started turning on the horizontal and climbing. You should have just ran away; considering you were already facing westward before you started to turn. You made to many mistakes against the Lagg3, and this was the hammer in the nail so to speak. 
• At 6:59, around 400m he pops you good. He's a really good shot too (as his stats suggest). The rest is history.

 

 

Thanks man. Subscribed. Maybe I should add voice analysis to my vids for better error correction. 

[JG13_opcode]

At one point it dove to the deck and shot back up 3k and hit me

I didn't see this happen in the video.

[Fern]

I didn't see this happen in the video.

 

6:19