Just got the sim and was setting it up as I read this review. Good review and some helpful information to get going. I also experienced some frustration getting it set up and configured... but that first "free" flight around the country side was worth the price and the set-up time in itself. The flight model and feel, the sounds, the sights (flying low above a train in its smoke trail), the smell of the oil(OK... that was the WD-40 I just used on the door hinges). I am sure I will find many of the problems and bugs that were mentioned above, but that first flight was wonderful and shows some real long term promise.

Well, zoom climb isn't really clearly defined as it depends on circumstance. A zoom climb could be a climb at a steep but still not over the top angle, maintaining optimum climb rate to regain as much of the lost altitude after the dive. Usually this is not a straight up 90 degree climb affair, it's about finding the sweet spot between angle-of-attack induced drag that bleeds your speed and nosing up enough to climb before your speed bleeds back to normal in level flight. Too much nose up and you'll stall before reaching your initial altitude, not enough nose up attitude and your speed will drop back to normal figures before you can take advantage of it. This is a case of optimum climb rate.

A zoom climb could also be a very very steep climb, one that doesn't give you an optimum climb profile but it's preferable at that time. Why would you choose that one? Because the guy in your six has an energy state that prevents him from pulling up to that angle without stalling fast. This second case is one of exploiting superior climb angle.

If you have any IL2 experience, think of the DVII as an equivalent to the ME109. The 109 might be outclimbed by other fighters in a certain altitude band, but it can keep a 20 degree nose high attitude even at near-stall speeds when the other guy can't.

Climb angle advantage simply means that you can pull more degrees of nose up for a given speed. You don't make the most of it in terms of altitude gains per unit of energy bled, but the simple fact that the other guy can't follow the maneuver without having an initial speed advantage is enough to get you in the clear for the time being.

The way to use this is make him commit to energy bleeding maneuvers and get him slow first. If you see him in time break, if he follows reverse your direction and break again. If he takes the bait again you're effectively in a scissors fight and are both going relatively slow. That's when you level off and pull up, waaaay up.

What happens in such a case is that you can see the guy in the Spad trying to follow you, then as he stalls you bring it around and dive after him.

The other possibility is that instead of following you he uses an energy-efficient climb (example one) and puts some space between you (he turns away and looks at you climbing to the side) to assure a comfortable reaction time in case you decide to bounce him while he's still lower.

The thing is, if you allow him to do this you'll probably be in trouble. At some point your DVII will have to level off and you didn't use an energy efficient climb. He on the other hand did and his Spad is better in that regard. So, all he needs to do is avoid getting bounced while he's climbing off to the side, then turn at you with a few hundred meters of altitude advantage.
He might not even take the bait to commit to scissors in the first place, opting to extend and climb for a second boom and zoom pass, i know i would.

In short, the climb angle advantage is not something i would prefer over a solid climb rate and speed advantage. It's a neat trick but a highly situational one, it depends on your opponent choosing to fight you on your comfortable speed range, plus to make the most of it you need to be vigilant enough to attack again before the opponent can catch up to your altitude. Even then the Spad might be able to nose down and outrun you, gaining enough separation to disengage altogether.

The only thing that will prevent the Spad from being top dog in the online matches is that planes of WWI had inadequate firepower and aiming stability for single-pass kills, or even the ability to cripple the enemy in a single pass and finish him off at leisure. Unless they include the experimental Spad with the 20mm cannon that is

I agree everything else, but my understanding is that BMW powered DVII were pretty much equal in climb at lower altitudes and superior higher against SPADXIII. This you can read from pilots opinions where they tought that BMW powered DVII outclimbed any other plane. Also there were DVIIs powered with 200hp mercedes engine (D.IIIav engine), but even those were tought to be inferior to BMW powered DVII (because BWM was much superior higher altitude and about equal lower).


EDIT: Also my personal opinion is that this BMW powered DVII was the reason why french and brits were very worried and demanded all DVII planes.

Review is spot on, a promising product that can have a good potential, just requires some polishing. Setup was a bit hectic, but manageable. MP is weak, but i am sure this will be addressed. Training is annoying, sorry

Ricob, you wouldn't happen to be the one that once flew with me in the MH would you?

Nice to see you here too Ivan!

We need to all get together again one of these days.

Good to see you too Eco
Yes we do Just pop on teh messenger, you know where to find me

No Ming a Zoom climb is a decelerating manoeuvre. When discussing Climb I am referring to 2 different constant airspeed manoeuvres. For each type there are 2 different airspeeds. There is your best rate of climb speed and your best Angle of climb speed. Max Angle speed is generally pretty close to your best Lift/Drag ratio speed (which is in effect your Min Drag speed as well). Max Rate speed is always a little faster (typically about 1.3 x your best L/D ratio speed).

If you want minimum time to a specific altitude you climb at Max rate speed. If you want to cover the greatest altitude over the smallest distance (like to clear an Obstacle) you climb at Max angle speed.

Nothing deep here...so bring it on shills.

ROF is cr&p out of the box. Eight days later it still is. Yah Yah Yah...I know: Potential is that it will be immortally Great, 10 out 0f 10 rating..just give it time! Right. On my $40 in 2009 they MIGHT be great in 2011. Good business plan.

After setting up controls (we all know how horrendous that process is), I'm getting comfortable with various views, cameras, etc...variations of the Fkey settings mostly. All seemed fine. Today I fire up ROF, go flying, and the keys don't work as they were SET to work...and after exiting the game as the keys were STILL set to work in the Cr&p GUI. Suddenly disfunctional keys, not working, untouched. WHY not??? Who TF knows!

ROF s&ckx. Ohh, I did get into the Spad campaign and Jeez...the English is Atrocioius in Briefings and text notices!! Doesn't neoqb or whoever have an English translator to help out??? It's BAD!!!! I'm not Anglo-Centric, trust me...In fact, I do speak Russian... But I would NEVER attempt to translate a game or text or book myself into Russian, for some sort of Product for Sale to Russians! Not in a product for Sale intended to appear Professional...and Complete! Just another example of the second class, unfinished and unpolished level of competence evident in ROF.


Once again, did the Beta boys get to see any of the Campaign briefings??? Or GUI??? Just curious. Never been a Beta person, so maybe all they do is Fly and check out FM's??


All above humbly submitted as one man's experience/opinion. Call this Day 8 impressions....I think that fits the thread theme.

Good to see you around Ivan, I remember the good old Ubizoo days with our wonderful Il-2... Pls stay around this site is the place to be.

I never left Freychinet, good to see you too mate. I just don`t post too often, but i do read

Doolittle, dude, you need to calm down a bit, even that i agree to some extent that things could have been more finished, but give those guys a break a little, they`ll get it right sooner then you think I did have quiet a few negative experiences, but it`s no biggie, it`s a start. We all seen major bloopers even from big shot dev companies, we got over it. These guys are young team on the market, they will get it right, somehow i believe in it