I will most likely buy the next release, too. BUT when it hits the bargain bin in a few months

Lurker, I'm only making the comparison because of the BS to BS2 situation is somewhat similar to the perception that CloD will be left behind for BoM, I fully realize that ED has a much better product. I agree with Furbs and Biggles last posts and that this title for what it's worth has failed to deliver the goods but, they may yet be able to pull their collective asses out of the fire. However, if it proves to be true that they abandon Clod for BoM I will not purchase it no matter how good it looks (personally, I hate the eastern front even in IL-2 and will quit a server as soon as one of those missions show up). I enjoy flying Cliffs, I hope they fix it but whenever I go online I very rarely see another player till my plane is exploding around me and by that time I've been flying around aimlessly for 45 minutes having no compass (that I can read) and being generally frustrated for having chased down ghost dots for nothing. Don't get me wrong I know it has problems but it seems like people spend more time looking to pounce on anyone in the Forums who has anything positive to say or trying to convince others that the crappy performance they get is what everybody should expect and therefore shouldn't purchase it and we all know as my Poll would suggest that it just isn't true. People quote me, thinking I'm some kind of fanboi and then ridicule my opinion, my biggest gripe isn't with the game it's with the pointless bickering and so much reading between the lines and coming up with facts that don't exist further muddying the already murky water.

Hi Bong,

I know exactly what you describe when online as flying aimlessly, no usable compass, and never seeing anyone, until suddenly you get shot down. Unfortunately, this is the experience of many, if not most, players who log on and, understandably opt to fly alone for a bit in search of a dogfight and/or enemy bombers to engage. I include myself here - especially those times when I don't really want to get involved with other players and just want a few minutes on my own. The map is huge, the players few, and even the AI enemy bombers are limited in order to preserve everyone's frame rates. The chances of random encounters are not huge, coupled with the fact that it's f'king HARD to spot other aircraft -- be they friend or foe. Even bomber formations don't exactly pop out at you from a distance.

Some recommendations:

Visibility:

Drop your resolution. The sim is beautiful at 1920 x 1200, but the pixels are tiny -- hence so are distant aircraft. Running at lower res is painful, but you WILL spot aircraft much, much sooner. Beautiful = death; ugly = life.

Set FSAA in the game menu to OFF. It doesn't work worth a shyte anyway. At lower res you're already in Uglytown anyway.

Locating other aircraft:

Teamspeak. Teamspeak 3 to be exact. You probably know this already, anyway. However, you now have a dozen or more pairs of eyes working for you, just as you can contribute anything YOU spot. Reporting "low flak over Hawkiinge" or "one of our ships off Lympne just blew up" is valuable intel and pulls fellow pilots to that area like flies to...........uh......honey.

If you get on Teamspeak, try to pair up with someone, then fly a half mile apart side by side. It's far easier watching your wingmate's 6 from a near distance than your own. And if you DO get bounced, you merely turn in towards your wingmate and give the enemy something to worry about.

Build a window on your screen and customise it with "server" (for enemy aircraft sightings), and incoming and outgoing chat (for the same reason).

Doing the above "plugs you in" and affords you some mutual protection AND a chance at scoring some kills. Remember the scene from The Battle of Britain movie when the new Squadron Leader ((Michael Caine) had to tell the Keith Parks character that another of his pilots had gone missing? The lone pilot had gone up "for an instrument check" and probably never saw the 109 that nailed him. This frequently happens on the ATAG server, also.

Hopefully I'll see you up there and we can team up some time!

You've described a common problem in RL as well. Pilots have often described being in the thick of things then suddenly everything was calm and nothing but blue anywhere. Aircraft were hard to spot and you had to rely on other's eyes (radar or wingmen or observers) to help you locate enemy. Being pounced was a common tactic and very, very effective for the non-observant pilot.

I know it's alot more difficult with the limitations of a monitor and pixels but despite all its flaws getting onto targets was never a problem for me playing in CloD at 5760x1080. Look for flak bursts. Know the terrain and where the target airfield is helps alot. Listen to info coming in. Make mental notes of where your bomber formation/target is heading relative to the coastline. Don't get target fixated, scan around keeping an eye on your bomber formation/target
Like in RL, experience will only make it easier. If all that doesn't do it for you then just turn on labels.