First go... keeping the planes steady?

[von_Michelstamm]

Is there some trick? In a turn fight I’m bobbing all over the place and having a hard time keeping my crosshairs on him horizontally too, always too fast or too slow, ahead or behind. I’ve tried using the rudder a lot more than ailerons+elevators and that sort of helps. Any advice?

edit: I’ve been using a DR1. First time flying WWI birds

[AndyJWest]

If you've not flown WWI aircraft before, you will find the Dr.1 very difficult. It is unstable in pitch and yaw, and the short-coupled rotary engine adds a lot of gyroscopic weirdness as soon as you try to turn. I'd fly something easier first. Try the Pfalz D.IIIa or the Spad XIII, and leave the Dr.1 (and the Camel) until you've mastered the easier aircraft.

 

And yes, you will find yourself using a lot of rudder in turns. The ailerons in WWI kites all create a lot of adverse yaw, so you have to lead with rudder.

Edited May 27, 2019 by AndyJWest

[von_Michelstamm]

3 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

If you've not flown WWI aircraft before, you will find the Dr.1 very difficult. It is unstable in pitch and yaw, and the short-coupled rotary engine adds a lot of gyroscopic weirdness as soon as you try to turn. I'd fly something easier first. Try the Pfalz D.IIIa or the Spad XIII, and leave the Dr.1 (and the Camel) until you've mastered the easier aircraft.

 

And yes, you will find yourself using a lot of rudder in turns. The ailerons in WWI kites all create a lot of adverse yaw, so you have to lead with rudder.

 

How fun, i always feel my pedals are underused. Looking at the ball is almost an afterthought.

Does the natural rudder expertise translate well to WWII planes too?

[AndyJWest]

Yeah, I think flying the RoF aircraft probably helped me make more coordinated turns with WW2 ones, though you don't usually need anything like as much rudder input, except at low speeds.

[JGr2/J5_Hotlead]

I would second everything @AndyJWest said. The Dr 1 is a mangy beast to tame. Some people grow to love it and it becomes a turn fighter extraordinaire in their hands. Others (like me haha!) wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole and fly it with reluctance because of the very quirks you’re experiencing. It’s really up to personal preference.  

 

If you want a more docile experience, give the Pfalz D.IIIa a go. It won’t out-turn the Dr 1, but its stability gives me a much more effective gun platform in my experience.

Edited May 27, 2019 by JG1_Hotlead_J10

[56RAF_Roblex]

 

There is a link between stability and maneuverability.  The DR1 was very nimble because it was very unstable. Something that happily flies straight & level with little adjustment will be more sluggish when you try to make it change direction.   The most recent jet fighters have been deliberately made to be so unstable that they are only flyable with the assistance of the onboard computers that are making multiple adjustments to the control surfaces every second regardless of how steady the pilot is keeping his flight stick.

 

[AndyJWest]

Just now, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

There is a link between stability and maneuverability.  The DR1 was very nimble because it was very unstable. Something that happily flies straight & level with little adjustment will be more sluggish when you try to make it change direction.   The most recent jet fighters have been deliberately made to be so unstable that they are only flyable with the assistance of the onboard computers that are making multiple adjustments to the control surfaces every second regardless of how steady the pilot is keeping his flight stick.

 

 

All that is true, but a significant factor with the Dr.1 is gyroscopic procession from the rotary engine. A Dr.1 with a radial engine would be just as manoeuvrable, but less counter-intuitive in its behaviour. Though judging from what Chill31 has said about his replica (see here), and what he says regarding other peoples' experiences with Dr.1 replicas with rotary engines, the RoF/FC Dr.1s may have overdone the instability in yaw and the gyroscopic effects a little.

[Zooropa_Fly]

Don't be put off by the fact it's one of the free planes..

 

The Alby Dva is the ultimate machine to learn in, in my book.

Super stable and pretty nimble with it.

Excellent energy fighter that you can learn to be very aggressive in, just watch you don't rip the bleedin' wings off.

 

S!

 

** Oops I'm in RoF mode - the Alby's out soon in FC as it happens

Edited May 27, 2019 by Zooropa_Fly

[40plus]

Lots and lots of rudder use along with a dancing stick. I find the WW1 birds a lot easier to fight in than the WW2 variants but my stick and throttle are never still when in a furball. With enough practice you can stay glued to an AI target's tail for minutes on end.

 

I'm still learning myself and recommend practicing in a Pfalz or D7 . . . . . they're easy mode as far as I'm concerned.

Edited May 27, 2019 by pfrances

[von_Michelstamm]

Totally was the plane. These birds are so much fun.

Achieving victories is way hard though. Even with balloon bullets.

Rarely I’ll set them on fire, once in a blue moon i’ll Snag a pilot.

[RNAS10_Oliver]

1 hour ago, von_Michelstamm said:

Totally was the plane. These birds are so much fun.

Achieving victories is way hard though. Even with balloon bullets.

Rarely I’ll set them on fire, once in a blue moon i’ll Snag a pilot.

 

I've been finding the opposite and that it's much more common now that my chosen combats are ending in flames or a slumped over German. Though I'm basing this experience in relation to Rise of Flight, which I am guessing you did not have the pleasure of flying on.

Edited May 28, 2019 by Oliver88

[Trooper117]

Wait until the Albatros turns up... then you will find life in the WWI skies a little better.

The S.E.5a will be an easier experience than the Camel as well.

[Diggun]

'"The SE5a is the best gun platform made.It's rock steady. It won't dip, or wobble, or swing, or scratch it's ass when you tell it to keep still. I want two things from an aeroplane. I want it to fly me up to the enemy, and then lie still while I shoot the enemy down... Nobody ever killed the enemy by flying rings around him. you kill him with guns, not the aeroplane. I have always maintained ... that the way to avoid a long argument is to shoot the other man before he starts. All you have to do is get up close, keep your temper, and shoot straight. Camels wobble. Spads wobble. Bristols wobble. Se5a's do not (burps hugely) wobble'.

[Trooper117]

That is of course if it has exactly the same fm as RoF.

[Diggun]

/ if it fit's the description of it's attributes in Derek Robinson's classic 1971 'Goshawk Squadron'

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goshawk_Squadron

 

Available on Amazon for a bargain 55p!

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goshawk-Squadron-R-F-C-Quartet-Robinson/dp/0857052241/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JH5NNGS87DOU&keywords=goshawk+squadron&qid=1559049895&s=gateway&sprefix=goshawk+sq%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

[Trooper117]

Yes I bought the original book years ago... it's a great read, even for a work of fiction.

[Sgt_Joch]

Yes, the Camel and Dr1 are both unstable firing platforms. Too nervy for my taste.

 

I personally find the Dvii is the best fighter overall to learn on, stable firing platform, good blend of speed, maneuverability, diving ability, ease of operation with the SPAD a close second.

[escobarrr]

I suggest you to use the S.E.5a it's better and easier.

 

_{SHAREit MX Player}

Edited November 1, 2021 by escobarrr

[Parmentier]

I really love the DVII F, I'm winning most of my furball quick missions now, 8 VII Fs against 8 Camels, all in ace mode. I'm still horrible though in planes with rotary engines, I usually get into unrecoverable spins very quickly. Looking forward to the SE 5 in Flying Circus, I hope to be able to support the Entente powers for a change.