Der_Fred

Yes i know how difficult it is... for 'in the box stuff' (saying this this kills me :) ) Neural networks, FFTs, computer algorithms, applied math, math, physics, Asm, C, C++, Basic, VBasic, ..etc (Done it all 'wink' ) BUT... basic common sense and imagination seems to be left out of the equation :) 'additional wink'

.. and if you knew my aka for the banana forums ( actually that wouldn't be hard to work out), I have nothing but nice things to say about DCS, in comparison to IL2. We should be able to make comparisons between games, as this would help the devs get the best of both worlds.... Maybe this sort of thing hasn't surfaced on you side somewhere... there. :)

Did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning ?? As mentioned in a previous post.. Most (if not all) AI game programming is seriously lacking.. not just DCS. A fact is a fact, simple. Just because I mention it here (as I and many others would on IL2).. you get all babba with me. My heart bleeds custard. :)

To beat the AI one has to equal or better it's energy tactics. As the AI is a 'computer' it's limited to the imagination of it's programmer. OK it will fly perfect, but it's programmer is somewhat a dull person :) You've trimmed, with rudder a few notches to the right, works ok. You don't want your coolant and oil to overheat, so just open both radiators full. Set prop speed to around 2700rpm (you can go to 3000 but you limit your time here). You don't need flaps.. I repeat :) Now comes the fancy bits If you keep 'total energy' up and fly higher than the AI... it's freaks out and will fight you. This is programmed into it. If it gets higher than you with more energy it just runs away - you might as well replay at this point. Ah!! keeping energy up you say... yup.. this is how you do it. Don't turn too tight, make it tight enough to turn just inside the AI. Fly in the vertical, as mentioned, it 'forces' the AI to fight. While going up and down... 1) On the way down push throttle to 60MP - this helps you gain speed real fast. 2) As you bottom out to go up.. start reducing throttle until you top out at around 40MP. You're always gently shoving the throttle back and forth.. you temps never budge.. within a turns you will be solid behind the AI.. then it's boring = no challenge I should program the AI... my pilots will nab you all the time :)

Had these in my 'collection' for sometime now... https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ghya808djo3hqk/DS%20Trailer%201.wmv (22MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/6qy9i3agngldu2l/DS%20Crazy%20Horse%20Runup%20to%20TkOff%201.wmv (48MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/0tx8d2n6qulybsk/DS%20Crazy%20Horse%20Rolls%20and%20Flight%201.wmv(48MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/8lf82vr7b1mq1t4/DS%20Crazy%20Horse%20Loops%20amd%208s%201.wmv (57MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/qs9u3gmxf3ed631/DS%20Crazy%20Horse%20Landing%20%26%20Shutdown%201.wmv (53MB) Look at Rolls and Flight at 05:14-16 for 'unannounced' accelerated stalls

WildBillKelsoe: I can probably assist in setting flares on your azz... I'm sitting at GMT+2.. but you must provide a IP for a server, and some TS if available (We have one) We have a few guys here (+- 3 or 4) that will join, but we're sitting at a ping of around 200ms... which isn't too bad. all I must do now is wrestle my stick and bandwidth from my protege's... we can make a plan :)

You're Sooo lucky... I try do that on purpose, and the a/c won't listen to me :-)

That is one way, but another 'nicer' way is to chase the AI down with speed wrt engine management (CEM). May I suggest learning CEM until it's 'natural', and you'll fly the P51 better than the 'Russian' P51 AI. CEM requires a different type of 'thinking' flying, and the tactics that go with it - practise a bit.. you'll get the hang out it.

AFAIK there is NO 52 profile.. you have to work it over yourself, as I have. I haven't posted as I'm not the normal, and everyone is different

Ahh yes.. sorry, forgot about that - I'm thinking too modern :)

Maybe they meant separate electrical systems.. then they should explicitly say so !!

Been holding my breath for a while.. but need to breath sometime - hur hur :)

All this info doesn't sound right If it's an electrical compass, it would certainly lose direction with rolling the a/c and would take time to reset once in level flight - just like a/c today. some compasses manually need resetting in flight An Oxymoron of note.... gyro's require electrical power to operate So who's the cowboy/girl that wrote this up ?

That is a quote from a real aviation forum. What plane the guy is flying I'm not sure, as he doesn't mention it - definitely not a P51 :) Anyway he does mention that if you have the engine performance chart (does on exist for the game P51?), you can work this all out. Maybe someone can link it if they find it.

Saw this a few years ago. Probably was 'locked up' as it shows allies shooting pilots in chutes. We were good friends of a vet (RIP last year at 95) from the pacific, who made a comment out of the blue 'you shot them anywhere you found them'. This was the sentiment of that time, that was still with him.

I've set myself up as tag for the ME109.. if definitely has 'ACE' marksmanship and once on your tail it actually flies like a human, except when you 'mow the lawn', then it acts like IL2 and gets stupid and misjudges everything. Not only that, it should outfly the P51 when slow, but it tends to stuff that up as well, coz with slats and flaps it should kill the P51 anytime.... Waiting for improvements.. tick tick tick

I'm curious, as I've never heard of this 'great circle' in actual combat other than 'sitting on station', although I'm well aware of the hit-and-run method of the Me109 pilots. I'd like to see that documentation if available. :)

Gaud.. that look awfull (editor problems) let me try again A constant speed propeller/governor is not a controllable pitch prop in the sense that the pilot sets the prop control to determine the RPM, not the prop pitch. The governor will adjust the propeller to whatever pitch it needs to maintain the RPM, as long as the prop pitch is not at the high or low stop. Normally the propeller control is set to full forward or full in for maximum RPM. Full throttle and maximum RPM are used for takeoff and climb. In the old days, you would be taught to reduce the manifold pressure and RPM after takeoff and add back manifold pressure as you climbed, for example 25 square, which means set the manifold pressure to 25 inches and the RPM to 2500. This was found to be harder on the engine than leaving the throttle at the wide open position. The reason for this is that the throttle linkage provides for additional fuel at the full forward position and provides extra cooling in the climb. When you retard the throttle, the mixture is leaned, the engine runs hotter, and performance is reduced. Most engines are rated for continuous operation at full power which means full throttle and maximum RPM. Typical maximum RPM values are between 2500 and 2700 RPM. I would recommend a full power climb to altitude and then reduce the RPM to the cruise setting. If you level off at an altitude below 7,000 feet, you may want to reduce the manifold pressure to a cruise setting. Above the 7000 foot point, most engines will be run at wide open throttle. There should be a performance chart that goes with the installation and included in your POH. When you are operating the engine on the rich side of peak EGT, the amount of air you deliver to the cylinder will determine the power setting. The amount of air delivered to the engine is based on several factors, the manifold pressure, the altitude, and the temperature, so you will see these factors in the POH performance table. If you are at full throttle and leveled off, the only control you have to set power is the RPM. A higher RPM will result in more power. One can always reduce power by either reducing the manifold pressure or the RPM or both. If you set a power setting and can adjust both manifold pressure and RPM, the lower RPM with the highest manifold pressure allowed will normally be the most efficient. Most engines have RPM limits for a given manifold pressure, for example on my engine, I can use any RPM down to 2200 with a manifold pressure of 24 inches. Below 2200 RPM, I have to reduce the manifold pressure according to a chart. I never operate at the lower RPM’s because the engine runs smoother above 2300 RPM, in fact my engine has a sweet spot between 2400 and 2500 RPM. So where to run your engine. Follow the POH and use it to determine and set your power. There are more choices than needed, but it is up to the pilot. In my case, I climb full power and after leaving the pattern will just make a reduction of my RPM from 2700 RPM to 2500 RPM for the cruise climb setting. I lean as I climb. When I level off, I let the airplane accelerate and then lean to cruise setting. For me, I don’t touch the prop control for the rest of the flight, with a possible exception to advance it on short final, although that isn’t really necessary as I would have more than enough power for a go around if I needed it at 2500 RPM. If you want to get the airplane anywhere near the service ceiling, you will have to increase the RPM or you won’t have the power to get there. So for me above 12,000 feet I will increase the RPM to 2600 and above 14,000 I will go to 2700 RPM and keep it there for the cruise at high altitude.

Bare metal is also difficult to spot at high alts, where they were most of the time... but they were good sun reflectors :)

As your speed increases you need less control movement for the same effect. Naturally if you want to move the stick the same distance, you'll need more muscle force, but the movement in the axis of application is that much more. This as far as I can see is modeled nicely in DCS, and it catches sim players who'd hold their controls in the same position when going from slower to faster speeds, not realising that they're pushing their a/c beyond the accelerated stall point. It'll be nice to have decent Force-Feedback, but who can afford this for a computer game :)

Have a look in some of the RL aviation forums. Here's one such explanation.

I'm willing to take a bet that the AI 'run away' point is calculated on total energy (Potential + Kinetic and maybe a constant or two) At the moment it's total energy is greater than yours, it bugs out on the great wide circle. They should give it a bit more 'imagination' when you catch it, as its line of flight is too straight, making it an easy target. :)

After playing with the 109, here's a few thoughts.. - If you higher than it, it'll fight you - if it get's higher than you and can run, it will.. and it goes around in 'endless boring' circles. - when it runs, its good practise for engine management and deflection shooting. Keep the fight in the vertical, and if it runs, make sure you have the speed to catch it.. otherwise just restart the mission. It actually does make mistakes. In the '001' trk, the AI looks like it's a bit 'confused' before it starts to run = valuable time lost. I prefer the Russian P51 - it has more 'guts' I must be getting blind, as I can see zip when the plane moves off a few 100m Me109_001.trk Me109_002.trk

gdotts: The P51 is a very simple a/c to fly (except when you require extreme maneuvering - DCS that is)... In combat situations, open coolant and oil radiators. Watch your temperatures when your speed is below 200mph. Manifold pressure you generally don't need to go beyond 55, 45 is a good average RPM is also good at around 2800 If you keep these settings you'll never blow an engine... So it's now all about combat and maneuvering. Like the AI, 90% of human pilots lack any imagination required to kill. There are the few that can fly their a/c to the max and kill, but of those there is a minor proportion that have both skills. It takes time but you'll get there :)

Open coolant and oil flaps fully. Set rpm to 2800 Fly elliptical orbits, using full rudder at the top. On the way down push throttle to 55 manifold pressure, and throttle back just after bottoming out to 45 at the peak of applying rudder. The AI will run like chicken-shiet.. a few circuits and it's swiss-cheese :)