Can AA be turned off for the sake of learning?

[Muff_Huggar]

I am primarily a VR sim auto racer who thought it would be interesting to try a flying sim. Because I drive mostly 1960s open wheelers in RFactor2, I thought I'd fly the WWI planes (mainly because they are slower). I've been able to take off and land with mixed results. Dogfighting needs tons of work. Attacking ground targets is hugely frustrating because the anti aircraft fire always knocks me out of the sky before I can get lined up and get off a decent shot.  For now, it would be nice to be able to turn off anti aircraft fire. Is this possible? Would it be easy enough to generate a "sitting ducks" mission that would be a post-battle mop-up session where I could shoot/bomb abandoned tanks and trucks? Or maybe someone has a better suggestion.

[unreasonable]

Somewhere in the realism options there is a setting that makes you invulnerable - you will still see the AA fire but it will not hurt you. 

[Muff_Huggar]

That's correct. I forgot about that. Thanks.

[Muff_Huggar]

That's correct. I forgot about that. Thanks.

 

Later...I noticed in the ground units setting, you can turn on and off various vehicles (trains, tanks, etc.). You can turn off AA there, too, but being invincible is a little better because you can see the punishment you would be taking if you weren't invincible. Boy do I stink; it took me around five runs to destroy a wounded transport truck. Things seem really smooth until the last second or so and then it just starts jumping around. I wonder if putting in some deadzone on the joystick might help that because may squeezing the trigger causes the stick to move just enough.

[BMA_West]

You might try with a fire button away from your stick?

[unreasonable]

That should not be necessary. Firing a plane's guns in a flight sim is actually pretty much the same as firing a real rifle, in this respect:  you have to learn to depress the trigger finger without moving or tensing the rest of your hand.  People talk about squeezing a trigger: actually this is bad, the trigger should be depressed straight back.  It is just a matter of practice: try moving just your trigger finger back and forwards while just holding you hand in the air, while keeping the hand still.

[Zooropa_Fly]

Your gunnery will improve with your flying skills, when I started I remember the plane bouncing all over the place when I pulled the trigger.

I wouldn't necessarily put a deadzone in your stick. I have a small one in my Track Ir which helps keep my looking down the sights, and makes re-centering quick and easy.

Can you put a DZ in VR ?

Anyway, for ground vehicles I'd wait until you're 50-100M away before letting off a sharp burst. Focus on getting your sights lined up for this, you'll likely do more damage than if you start spraying at it from 500M away. And remember to pull up in time !

The AA are stupidly good if set to 'ace', you need to go in fast and not fly straight for more than a couple of seconds. Then extend a bit before turning back - so you can pick up some speed , and again not flying straight.

Trains are a big target with no return fire if you want to avoid the AA for now.

 

Have fun S!

[ShamrockOneFive]

On 9/4/2018 at 11:14 PM, LickingDogMuff_Huggar said:

That's correct. I forgot about that. Thanks.

 

Later...I noticed in the ground units setting, you can turn on and off various vehicles (trains, tanks, etc.). You can turn off AA there, too, but being invincible is a little better because you can see the punishment you would be taking if you weren't invincible. Boy do I stink; it took me around five runs to destroy a wounded transport truck. Things seem really smooth until the last second or so and then it just starts jumping around. I wonder if putting in some deadzone on the joystick might help that because may squeezing the trigger causes the stick to move just enough.

 

Two techniques that may help you:

 

1) It's already been mentioned. Some people tense their end hands when depressing the trigger. I've watched friends do it and it means that you loose all of the fine control you have in your hand and that translates into a bumpy flight when you really want to be flying smoothly. Practice pulling back on the trigger without moving the rest of your hand. You should be relaxed in this regard and it should become a "muscle memory" thing.

 

2) Stop trying to fly the gun onto the target and fly the plane onto the target. I've seen some people try and correct at the last second onto target to secure their gun solution but the better technique is to understand what you're plane is doing and let it fly onto the target. If you're a trimmed a tiny bit nose high for example, put the gun pipper below the target and let the plane fly up onto the target (I'm talking about very small increments here). Why fight what your plane is doing when you can let it do what it does?

 

Hopefully that helps a tad

[Muff_Huggar]

I think #2 is my main problem. 

Edited September 7, 2018 by LickingDogMuff_Huggar