Do you shoot on the first pass.. or position to pursuit?

[Nil]

Since the Ai-Lagg seems so bad at headon passes, I don't insta-kill the poor bugger anymore, But position myself to practice deflection shooting.
But vs a human opponent, do you squeeze the trigger and pray you aimed better then him/her?
I don't remember what I used to do in IL2 1946, but i think I never did a headon on purpuse except in a p-38 or 47

[ParaB]

Depends on my and my opponent's aircraft.

[1./KG4_Blackwolf]

I try to avoid the HO if I can.

[dburne]

If I am comfortable enough and seem planes seem lined up for a good head on shot, I will go ahead and take a quick burst or two before banking to get into position...

[ScotsmanFlyingscotsman]

I'll go for head on any time, you do damage, he has a problem, you mess up and he or she,there were quite a few women pilots in the vvs,

The enemy gets the jump on you ..I'd prefer them to be battling in a damaged plane any time...I don't always hit them in the twitchy 109 anyway

[6./ZG26_Emil]

I always avoid a head to head, too much like Russian roulette.

[Requiem]

I like to avoid head ons unless I severely outgun the other aircraft, in which case he's probably making a mistake by trying for a shooting head on anyway. Otherwise I'll maneuver to try and make him over-commit himself for a shot which should (hopefully) give me better position afterwards.

[MarcoRossolini]

I prefer to use the time the other guy wastes pointing straight at me for the head-on firing solution to do a half-loop and then and immelmann to get onto his tail, high-risk-high reward.

[=jg52=yobbo89]

I usually would do a head on as a last resort,usually in a position if someone is on your 6 and you have an enemy hot 12 clock head-on, you'll want to eliminate  a 2v1 on your 6 asap, another opportunity is flying in a low turn able aircraft like a 190 which is not in a position to run from the fight, firepower and a slim aircraft profile could win you the head on fight.

[Finkeren]

Never go head to head with a fighter. All it does is give him a free shot.

 

Always go head to head with a bomber if posible. Increases the chance of a kill on the first pass.

[LLv44_Mprhead]

For me it depended on planes in the times of IL-2:1946. If the other guy had a plane that has better speed and climb and was atleast trying to fly by his strenghts, I would try to get a head on. Or maybe also if I had a plane that was heavily armed and could take a lot of punishment.

[Feathered_IV]

If I'm using a type with nose mounted guns, and the other fellow has wing mounted ones (zero vs allied types for example) I'll go for a quick patter at range and get out of the way quick before getting within their cone of convergence.

[Blakhart]

Every situation when your nose is pointed at the enemy is a shooting position.

[=69.GIAP=C0NAN]

What is your intent? To engage or to run?

 

The best possible running scenario (other than never being seen) is from a near head on pass - never give him a weapons solution. You are close to 180 out and this gives you the most time to show skirts and run.

 

Engage? NEVER from a head on if avoidable when engaging a fighter. Finkeren is correct about the bomber. Seek turning room prior to passing the 3-9 line to enter the fight with angles of advantage and more energy than him if possible.

[6./ZG26_Emil]

What is your intent? To engage or to run?

 

The best possible running scenario (other than never being seen) is from a near head on pass - never give him a weapons solution. You are close to 180 out and this gives you the most time to show skirts and run.

 

Engage? NEVER from a head on if avoidable when engaging a fighter. Finkeren is correct about the bomber. Seek turning room prior to passing the 3-9 line to enter the fight with angles of advantage and more energy than him if possible.

 

The exception to this rule in my opinion is (as has been mentioned) if flying an inferior fighter. I might take a chance if I was flying the LaGG against an F4 because after the merge that 109 is going to spiral above me and take his sweet time to set up an attack.

[Scarecrow]

Every situation when your nose is pointed at the enemy is a shooting position.

My sentments exactly. It's rare that I ever get the enemy infront of me and I normally die 45s after the merge so head on is my best chance, then I run away as fast as I can.

[Zoring]

Better to never put yourself in a position where the enemy can blast you, I avoid head ons always.

[SR-F_Winger]

My opinion is true headons are never a good choice if you are the pilot in the superior plane. If you have the inferior plane and the pilot in the superior one is dumb enough to do a headopn then you should do it since it might be the first and only oportunity to get a shot on the enemy. At least in a one on one situation.

When flying with a wingman its never a good choice.

Edited March 2, 2014 by VSG1_Winger

[Bladderburst]

Head on passes are an option when I know that I'm facing a faster airplane with light frontal armement, otherwise, it's wiser to avoid it in my opinion.

 

Hmmm Thinking about it, frontal attacks are a must if you intercept american heavies.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Boussourir

[Georgio]

Head on but with some side-slip to throw off their aim, jink it for a high yo-yo and hope that they're leaking oil...^^

That was until the B17 got it's chin guns...^^

 

 

Hmmm Thinking about it, frontal attacks are a must if you intercept american heavies.

[Bladderburst]

Head on but with some side-slip to throw off their aim, jink it for a high yo-yo and hope that they're leaking oil...^^

That was until the B17 got it's chin guns...^^

 

 

Still better than coming at 6 level. You can have pretty nice shots when coming from above frontal and the turrets have less time to shoot your ass.

 

Speaking of which, the LAGG3 is really pathetic as an escort fighter, am I the only one to have noticed? You can really just ignore them. All in all I really find that fighter plain awful... which makes me admire more those who have success in it.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Other than attacking bombers, why would you ever intentionally be in front of your opponents 3/9 line? In a 190 A or a P47 I will go head on against other aircraft if I have no other choice because I can hide behind those airframes/radials and pour lead. Otherwise, maneuver or RUN.

 

Why would you ever intentionally put yourself in a 50/50 position rather than maneuvering for the 90 percent solution?

 

Head on is a simmers solution, for points, that would be used by a RL (mortal) pilot only as a last resort. It's the equivalent of noob-tubing in FPS games.

 

The best solution, however, is find a capable wingman