How to survive a "furball" dogfight!??

[DR. Thompson]

Hey all,

 

I was just wondering if there were any specific strategies to surviving a furball dogfight. I can hold my own in 1 vs1 2vs1 and other smaller engagements but when it's 8vs4 or any large dogfight I really struggle. There's just waaayyy to much going on. I get to task involved, panic and get blown out of the sky. I typically fly the f-15 because I have only been playing for 3 or 4 months on and off and haven't bothered to dabble into any of the Russian aircraft yet. Any help would be much appreciated

[Drona]

8 vs. 4 is really pushing it IMHO. One thing you can do is lure the bandits into mountainous terrain hoping to drive them into the ground. The other thing you can try to lure the bandits into a friendly SAM zone. :pilotfly:

[GGTharos]

when it's 8vs4

 

You're screwed. Divide them up and take them down one by one or you're dead. I have no idea why you'd even imagine being able to survive an engagement where you're this vastly out-numbered unless you're blowing away planes BVR before they ever reach you. Once the range closes, you're hosed with those sorts of numbers unless you're flying an F-22.

[DR. Thompson]

I only say 8vs4 because in on mission for the f15 (not sure which one..) this is basically what happens... But probably beacause the groups are spaced out a bit but cause I'm pretty new I'm not able to clear all the bandits from group 1 before the second group comes... Anyways ya just speaking in general terms of larger engagements..

 

Thanks guys :)

[GGTharos]

Ah yeah - in that case your engagement isn't 8v4 ... definitely pick'em apart when you can, don't wade into such erm ... disadvantage :)

[Vekkinho]

Break out of it...and pick 'em off from a distance

[SUBS17]

If they have missiles then you use the chain saw method. Runaway then turn back fire 1 Aim 120 then open the afterburners and do a u-turn and fly away from them again. Repeat once you've got enough distance to do it again. If its gunzo fly straight in and mix it up but get low so if necessary you can terrain mask behind hills while picking them off. I've won gunzo 2 vs 8 in Falcon and Lockon, for missiles 1 vs 4 is possible to win in F4AF/falcon. In BMS you can lock more than one tgt and engage at once but in FC2 we are limited to one missile to one tgt at a time.:doh:

 

BTW concentrate on one but keep an eye out for other tgts of opportunity.

Edited December 6, 2011 by SUBS17

[GGTharos]

in FC2 we are limited to one missile to one tgt at a time.:doh:

 

Nope ...

[Frostie]

Hey all,

 

I was just wondering if there were any specific strategies to surviving a furball dogfight. I can hold my own in 1 vs1 2vs1 and other smaller engagements but when it's 8vs4 or any large dogfight I really struggle. There's just waaayyy to much going on. I get to task involved, panic and get blown out of the sky. I typically fly the f-15 because I have only been playing for 3 or 4 months on and off and haven't bothered to dabble into any of the Russian aircraft yet. Any help would be much appreciated

There is no specific strategy to win when your so greatly outnumbered, against AI there is an easier chance of coming out alive because of the lack of teamwork they can achieve, but against other human opponents working together you're on a hiding to nothing. Your main tactic should be riding your luck.

 

Being in such a furball is a catastrophic error on your part, the key with the F-15 is TWS, use this to your advantage and you can go a longway to evening out the odds and not ending up in a no win furball.

 

With your mission assign your wingmen some targets from range and then engage several of the other bandits, at least two, with your own TWS and Aim-120's. Keep your distance from a group of bandits to at least 10nm, if you get too close recall your no.2 and extend, then pick up on how 3 and 4 are doing from their comms, if they are still alive recall them to you while you turn back in to support them. The AI are hard to work with but they give you an edge if you can use them right.

Edited December 6, 2011 by Frostie

[SUBS17]

Nope ...

 

I might have to wipe the dust of my FC2 and re-read the manual then. Let me guess F-15C?:D

[DR. Thompson]

Am I able to lock up bandits with TWS mode if they are using ECM?

[Blue_Skies]

Am I able to lock up bandits with TWS mode if they are using ECM?

 

I think you are, but you won't get range information, and you need to "eyeball" when you're getting close.

[Frostie]

I think you are, but you won't get range information, and you need to "eyeball" when you're getting close.

You will get burn through at over 20nm which then gives you range etc. But this thread is months old so who's listening. In fact this is not even a reply it's just a necrollusion.

[Pyroflash]

Wow Frostie, talk about the bitter truths..