Post by Dutch Owen on Sept 5, 2019 12:08:24 GMT -5
I've been trying dogfights with different combinations of aircraft to see what the differences really are. It's a fascinating thing to do.
When I say dogfight I'm talking about usually drawn-out affairs between two fairly equal opponents with guns. Missiles change the dynamics so much that the fight usually ends very quickly one way or the other. But gun battles can go on and on. The AI pilots are pretty good with evasion, although they have some bad habits we need to fix.
My traditional duel is the classic one-on-one between ME109 and Spitfire. I usually fly the Flight Replicas 109 against an AI Spitfire. I tried the A2A Spitfire against an AI 109 but lost badly because the A2A Spitfire is very realistic and it's too easy to overheat the engines and die. AI pilots don't have to worry about that.
Right now, given the skills of me and the AI, the FR 109 Vs. AI Spitfire is an even match that usually lasts 20-30 minutes before one of us goes down. We constantly maneuver against one another and get shots in every once in a while. The one that gets the most the fastest wins. I feel like my skills are getting better and once I get to a certain point I will win every time. After a while you understand the AI pilot's patterns and can anticipate where he will be. Without that, you just chase and chase and hope to catch him low on energy with you high, and not overshoot. Sometimes it's a turn chase, other times we scissor back and forth at the edge of the envelop. He's better at that than me, but rarely good enough to actually hit me. But I stay on offense more than he does.
So, I tried it against the Milviz P-38, and it's a completely different experience. The P-38 can't turn like the Spitfire can and it can't climb like the 109 can. So as a result in the one-on-one fight I'm always chasing and frequently catching him. He doesn't last more than 5 minutes usually and never gets a shot on me.
I had thought every AI airplane would be pretty much like any other but so far that's not the case.
Gun combat is so totally different than missiles. Missiles it's who shoots first usually. Guns it's who maneuvers better. Guns are much more fun.
I am enjoying it so far. Unlike in DCS, where I never stood a chance. I'd like to get the AI in FSCAI to that level, then introduce blunders based on skill level to make them beatable.
Dutch
When I say dogfight I'm talking about usually drawn-out affairs between two fairly equal opponents with guns. Missiles change the dynamics so much that the fight usually ends very quickly one way or the other. But gun battles can go on and on. The AI pilots are pretty good with evasion, although they have some bad habits we need to fix.
My traditional duel is the classic one-on-one between ME109 and Spitfire. I usually fly the Flight Replicas 109 against an AI Spitfire. I tried the A2A Spitfire against an AI 109 but lost badly because the A2A Spitfire is very realistic and it's too easy to overheat the engines and die. AI pilots don't have to worry about that.
Right now, given the skills of me and the AI, the FR 109 Vs. AI Spitfire is an even match that usually lasts 20-30 minutes before one of us goes down. We constantly maneuver against one another and get shots in every once in a while. The one that gets the most the fastest wins. I feel like my skills are getting better and once I get to a certain point I will win every time. After a while you understand the AI pilot's patterns and can anticipate where he will be. Without that, you just chase and chase and hope to catch him low on energy with you high, and not overshoot. Sometimes it's a turn chase, other times we scissor back and forth at the edge of the envelop. He's better at that than me, but rarely good enough to actually hit me. But I stay on offense more than he does.
So, I tried it against the Milviz P-38, and it's a completely different experience. The P-38 can't turn like the Spitfire can and it can't climb like the 109 can. So as a result in the one-on-one fight I'm always chasing and frequently catching him. He doesn't last more than 5 minutes usually and never gets a shot on me.
I had thought every AI airplane would be pretty much like any other but so far that's not the case.
Gun combat is so totally different than missiles. Missiles it's who shoots first usually. Guns it's who maneuvers better. Guns are much more fun.
I am enjoying it so far. Unlike in DCS, where I never stood a chance. I'd like to get the AI in FSCAI to that level, then introduce blunders based on skill level to make them beatable.
Dutch
