Reversing 109

[stupor-mundi]

Today, on 'Action dogfight and tanks', for the first time, I began to doubt the integrity of the sim. Or maybe my understanding of physics.

I, in a Yak, at very low alt, had dodged an attack by a 109, and was on its tail. The 109 had a very slight energy advantage over me, and began the usual, but VERY shallow climb, slightly gaining distance.

Dweebishly, I followed. After all, this was still a very shallow climb, and I figured there would still be time to roll away once my energy disadvantage became too telling.

As the distance increased, I adjusted my view by zooming, until full zoom. The 109 was still horizontal (as viewed from behind). No roll. No hammerhead.

Suddenly it felt like I was rapidly catching up, and the, still horizontal, 109 was coming towards me, shooting at my plane. It had reversed 180 deg, while I had been staring at it. Without pulling up or rolling. How does this work?

 

[BubiHUN]

Ummm...too much drugs?

[Yogiflight]

I experienced this bug two times, flying in a 109, that a russian fighter I was following, suddenly came in a headon without flying any kind of turn. Pretty surprising experience. In old IL2 1946 I saw this more often. No idea, what was going wrong there.

[stupor-mundi]

Just attempted to do this, in a 109 F4 with fairly low fuel. On combat power, after shallow climbing and speed dropped to around 200-ish, I was able to turn the plane 180 deg with rudder only, in a right turn, without dropping a wing. So from behind, from a distance, this may have looked like a reversal without visibly turning.

However, it wasn't anywhere quick enough to catch anyone on my 6 by surprise. I took way longer to turn the plane 180 this way, than it would have, in the normal way.

[Thad]

uh oh... dastardly pilot airmanship seems to be rearing its' head here. Perhaps this is not a 'game bug' but just great flying. ?

[stupor-mundi]

If you read my O.P., I did not claim it to be a game bug. I may have insinuated that something untoward was going on, regarding what the other player was doing. ?

 

[Thad]

Ah...