Multitasking while dogfighting, what should I be aware of?

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

I don't have much experience in flight sim's so I am still learning the basics of combat flight maneuvers, and engine management. So I would like to ask those of you out there that have been at this for awhile, what are the most important things to keep track of when engaged in a dogfight that involves a lot of evasive maneuvers?

 

 When  your engaged with an enemy should I constantly be manipulating the radiator, while keeping a close eye on oil pressure, and should I be adjusting prop pitch during the engagement?  Is there any trimming trick's that help in a fight or do you just keep it trimmed for stable level flight?

 

 Sorry if it's a bit much but I have looked on you tube and did some searching online, and while I can find descriptions of how they work, I couldn't find anywhere that described how it all comes together during combat, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edited December 8, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[M4rgaux]

The 1st thing to look for is fire, if you're burning you must bail out

 

More seriously, you'll want to fight with your radiator closed as much as possible so look out for bad temp.

And check you're 6

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

Thanks, why do you keep the radiator closed while fighting, is that to keep the engine from flooding? In the event I do overheat, what's the best way to dump that heat asap?

 

Afterthought....I should probably put the eject button on a more convenient hotkey.

Edited December 8, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[Uriah]

While multitasking beware the hot coffee between the legs.

 

There is a fundimental flaw involving combat flight sims.  To really do what you and a real WW2 pilot should do to live another day is rather boring.  To have a lot of fun is often going to get yourself killed ASAP.  Some persons somehow do rather the right thing and still have fun.

 

That said.  It just takes a lot of practice.  Race car drivers and Fighter Pilots are not born in a day.

[peregrine7]

Thanks, why do you keep the radiator closed while fighting, is that to keep the engine from flooding? In the event I do overheat, what's the best way to dump that heat asap?

 

Afterthought....I should probably put the eject button on a more convenient hotkey.

 

Having the radiator open increases drag quite dramatically, fighting with it closed will make your plane more streamlined and perform better.

[71st_AH_Hooves]

I constantly adjust my Prop Pitch while in the Lagg.  While in a dive I tune it a bit coarse to max my speed gain, then as I'm pulling up above the horizon I go full fine and get my climbing power back, this will help mitigate the outrageous climb advantage the 109 has over the lagg3, I also go to a setting on the radiator and the oil cooler to half, and I keep my coolant and oil temp in my cross check.  I also map my zoom level and I speed it up so that Im not spending alot of time transitioning from zoomed in to zoomed out.

 

Hope that helps.

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

Great, thanks for the advice. I need to work on using prop pitch more effectively and that tip on using fast zoom is a great idea, I can see myself needing that one a lot in general. When Flying the BF109 do any of you ever use the flaps during combat, I find myself doing this at the apex of my yoyo's and banking turns if I need to reduce my turn radius, but this is a habit I picked up from playing war Thunder, and I don't really know if this is a viable tactic in more realistic flight sims?

 

 The reason I ask is because using the flaps in the 109 just seems so clunky, I can't imagine a pilot in real life using the wheel and still keeping the stick/throttle in control in combat.

Edited December 8, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[Zoring]

Dogfighting needs to become completely instinctual, the less thinking you are doing in combat, generally the better (provided you have trained to make the right maneuvers!) The only really critical thing to worry about is your radiator, as long as your engine isn't overheating whilst keeping your radiator as closed as possible.

 

I would advise against using flaps in combat, the loss of speed is far more disadvantageous than any low speed turning advantage you might gain.

 

Position yourself to get your guns on target, kill him, then worry about your planes efficiency later.

Edited December 8, 2013 by Zoring

[Scarecrow]

http://www.youtube.com/user/Apeoftheyear

 

This chap here does a good job of explaining combat tactics techniques and tricks that I found very educational

[LuftManu]

ScottyOnTheSpot, you need to get used to your aircraft, that means , that you know how much time you can keep a Temp level, Manifold, and the Radiator level, I use some general settings for me, For example, in combat (Its an example) I would never exceed more than 5 Minutes the maximum manifold, and the Raditor to 90% for example, when exiting, always maintaing some low rpm and radiator to 100% for 5 minutes.

 

You need to create your profile for Cruise and Combat.

 

and from what you see above me, No fighter pilot its created in one day, So you need to speend time, I am sure you will become a good pilot, so do not worry if the first days you go down, you will not do the same error later.

 

Good luck 

Edited December 8, 2013 by Manu_vc

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

Thank you for the advice, been diving into youtube and google trying to learn as much as I can. I found this video that helps explain how to use prop pitch while engage in a dog fight.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLFl3ggvpl4

[Uriah]

Another thing to keep in mind.  It is not just being new to flight sims, each sim takes time to get use to.  It took a long while for me to get use to IL-2 from playing European Air War.

[Emgy]

Thank you for the advice, been diving into youtube and google trying to learn as much as I can. I found this video that helps explain how to use prop pitch while engage in a dog fight.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLFl3ggvpl4

The 109F-4 and LaGG-3 have constant propeller speed units (auto prop pitch), you'll have less workload on that front.

Edited December 8, 2013 by Calvamos