visual tracking of other airplanes - tips and pointers?

[TheZiz]

Hello all - just getting started in earnest after having messed around with the game a few times in the past.  I know this is probably a very noob-type question but does anyone have any tricks, tips or pointers on how to track enemy (or even friendly) airplanes when they're in your "blind spots?"  There are a few very crude examples of what I'm talking about below.  In the top one, say that I'm trying to overtake a bomber formation and get on their 10 o clock high so I can make a diving pass through.  The problem is that when I'm moving relative to the bombers they could be moving entirely outside of my field of vision as I'm overtaking them.  I sometimes use the external cameras but aspire to be able to not do that.  SO how should I track this formation when it's in this realtive postion?  Do I have to roll right to open up my field of view?  Just go by practice and feel to learn where it's going to be?  Any other thoughts?

 

eell

 

In the below example let's say that I'm flying above the formation and want to come in 6 high to 8 high or so (or, as another example, trying to make a carrier landing).  Do I just have to dip my nose in order to get a view of the situation?  Invert? 

 

 

Thanks for any advice . . .

[Tipsi]

It depends if you are using track IR or not. 

 

But in any case, be methodical in your spotting. Start at friendly/enemy objectives as a focal point so you have a higher chance of spotting someone as it's likely to be in an action zone. Keep an eye on enemy avenues, such as towards enemy take off bases.

 

I usually scan left to right. Start from my left 6, move my head to the right a bit, keep it still and look for a second or too, scanning with your eyes. Then move head a bit to the right/front, rinse and repeat. Keep checking your 6 often. At least once every 30 seconds in a combat zone, maybe even more often if it's busy.

 

For planes like the 190 with lots of view blockages, roll your plane to the left and right to assist with spotting, pull some small G's while you are doing it to spoof any potential enemies on you (be unpredictable and less of a stationary target).

 

More specifically, the diving through bomber formation example, I really don't know how I would keep track on them without Track IR, so don't beat yourself up if your're using external views to keep track of targets.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2020 by Tipsi

[TheWarsimmer]

If you're in VR or track IR, move that head around to help as much as possible. In the situations that you took a pic of, where you are up high and have altitude advantage, I try to reference a point on the ground where the plane was at right when it crossed into a blind spot and remember it as it crosses over to the other side, or I roll over on top of them. 

 

As far as spotting in and of itself, personally, I have the most success by placing my eyes in an area for a few seconds and holding them still without focusing on any particular point, rather than actively scanning. I find it's easier to detect any movement in this way.