Another addition to the main article. Here I will tell you about some of the tricks I use, special control techniques, combat. Many of them are well known, but the article, I think, will be of interest to both the veterans of the game, and, moreover, to the "cadets" on whom it is oriented.
It is necessary
A computer with an installed game on the Forgotten Battles engine (the Platinum Collection and other collections of games and mods will do), a little time
Instructions
Step 1
How to land a damaged plane if it is seriously damaged? Not a problem! In the control settings, assign a key to the "Fly propeller" command. If the engine of your aircraft has failed, then release the flaps to the landing position, if any (three Vs); Do not release the chassis! Press the key you assigned to feather the screw. Its blades will turn edge-on to the incoming air stream, and you will gain a few seconds to find a suitable place for an emergency landing. A useful thing if you are on a heavy multi-engine aircraft, and all the propellers of these engines put up serious resistance, slowing down the gliding speed. Suitable speed for belly landing is from 180 to 150 km / h (for biplanes and TB-3 bomber - 150-130 km / h). If the aircraft has a powerful enough engine (or engines) to pull it on one wing, do not rush to skydive or crash landings. You can drive the plane to the airfield, especially if you have fulfilled the conditions of the main task of the mission, and flop down somewhere nearby. The physics of the plane's flight is also affected by damage to the controls and the fuselage. So, if "Gustav" made a hole with a cannon in the wing of your "Donkey", it is better to jump right away, if the height allows. If you feel that the flight cannot be continued, then try to gain altitude "on the last gasp" by poking the plane with your nose into the sky, at the same time pressing the "Leave the plane" command (by default, ctrl + e).
Step 2
Please note that in early versions of the game bots (especially German ones) will attack your pilot after a parachute jump. Historical realism, which does not really fit into our understanding, even in the game! So, Pokryshkin writes in his book "The Sky of War", how he, during the interception of bombers, "avenged Ostrovsky" by shooting the crew of the downed plane from machine guns while they were descending to the ground. Therefore, if possible, jump as low as possible! The moment your pilot leaves the car, he should have at least 400 meters of height above the ground (not above sea level - the height that is displayed on your instruments or on the indicators on the screen). Therefore, the actual altitude on flat maps (Slovakia, Moscow-winter, Mediterranean, Smolensk, and the like) must be at least 600 meters. On mountainous terrain, try to direct your plane between the tops of the mountains into crevices, gaps, valleys.
Step 3
The "Default" keyboard layout in the game may be unusual for players who have switched from classic arcade simulators. This primarily concerns weapons. All this is easily configured in the same control settings. Also notice the command "weapons 1 + 2". Weapon 1 is machine guns. Weapon 2 - cannons. This command allows you to use all the unguided small arms of your aircraft at the same time. Let's turn to Pokryshkin again. In an interview with an American journalist, he talks about the trick he came up with for his P-39 Q-10 aircraft. On the steering wheel to control the weapon, and there are three types of them on the plane (7, 62 mm machine guns - 4 pcs., 12 mm machine guns - 2 pcs., 37 mm cannon), respectively, there were three different "controllers", which can be clamped simultaneously for firing all seven barrels was inconvenient. He just connected it all to one trigger! Now you can do the same without pressing two buttons on the keyboard at once, but using one. I find it convenient to use the Alt button.
Step 4
Be careful in the battle with fast and maneuverable enemy aircraft! Firstly, as soon as the unit attacks you, it breaks down into two parts: the plane that you capture and shackle with the battle and all the rest … You will immediately get on the tail of an "adjutant", or simply a wingman, tied directly to this plane. In the second turn, you will be attacked by a flight (the remaining one or two aircraft), if they are not connected by battle. Secondly, the target itself, without attacking you, will find a way to get rid of the "tail". Desperate maneuvering, she is able to simply drive you into the ground. Try to fight the MiG-3 with the A6M, and you will either lose it or overdo it and end up on land or in the water (however, if you have a certain talent for maneuvering, then this step can be completely ignored). Therefore, play on engine power and always stay above your opponent. Sooner or later, he will be forced to make an oncoming turn with a climb or a coup to attack you. If you are chasing him at low level, watch your altitude and speed and try not to overtake or lag behind. As soon as the enemy goes into a sharp set (usually for a coup), squeeze full throttle and make a turn with a "snake" set (first in one direction, then in the other) and turn at the enemy. It is unlikely that he will be able to aim attack and just rush past you.
Step 5
If you decide to add more visual realism to the game without changing the physics of flight, damage and professionalism of the enemy, then in the difficulty settings you can turn on the view only from the cockpit, turn off markers on the map, add overload, head movement, remove pointers from the screen, remove aircraft markers (colored inscriptions with the name of the aircraft and the distance to it), and so on. You can limit fuel and ammunition, enable realistic landing, new settings are available in updates (you should patch the game before version 4.10). If, on the contrary, you decide to feel like a terminator on a piece of aluminum or plywood, you can disable the vulnerability. Now, your plane will not have anything even after hitting the ground or head-on ramming. Check the command assignments for the keys (control). Add or change the keys on the commands you are interested in, learn the ones that you are going to use in battle. You can use keyboard shortcuts to assign - just hold them down at the same time.
Step 6
The good old American Hit and Run tactic is very effective when attacking slow bombers with powerful defensive weapons. Sitting on the tail of the enemy, bring the engine to maximum speed and stubbornly shoot at it, at the last moment, leaving under the belly of the "bomb-racer". Immediately take a small dive angle and make a loop (the speed at the beginning of aerobatics for monoplane fighters should be at least 340 km / h). When you get back to the starting point, the target will be far ahead of you. Chase and shoot again! For experienced pilots who have an idea of pre-firing, I can recommend a climb-out turn in order to go to the side of the enemy. Be careful with the He 111 bomber. No, the point is not so much in his defensive armament, but in one of his unpleasant features … If you cut off all the rudders (controls on the tail) with a heavy fire, he will instantly fall into a dive. If you did it too close, go around it from above, otherwise the bomber will take you along with it. You should be even more careful with the "Stuck" (Ju-87), if you tear off its wing. Then it will turn into a rapidly rotating meat grinder, which will grind all aircraft within reach of the whole wing. True, in older versions of the game this usually does not happen and he falls, not at all realistic waving his wings or sliding on a broken wing. To avoid direct contact with the lined piece, you should simultaneously press up the vertical rudders and turn them to the side with the ailerons. You should not be afraid of a corkscrew if it is disabled in the difficulty settings.
