... And how historically correct is this?
Many aircraft offer the possibility of replacing the "iron sight" with an optical device (Aldis - also trophy - Le Chretien, Oigee). But how advantageous is this in simulation (and compatible with historical correctness)? For example, in the case of the SE5a the choice of the Aldis is almost obligatory (both for the bad position of the ring and bead in this fighter and for historical fidelity), but in the Hanriot HD1 the installation of the Le Chretien optical collimator forces pilot to a position lower which reduces visibility to the outside; then I don't know how often Belgian pilots used it.

It depends on the pilot of the day.

Dont think you would see many german pilots with one though, even the trophy thing. Germans liked the crosshair of the wiring, and on inline engines just used the lit radiator cap way in front and your good to go.

But for allied planes, some really improve with it. Others its helpful, although its put in the way of proper visibility for flight.

And overall its a reall really big #%&*$# to get the tube site set up as the default controls dont work the way they claim in the manual.

Thanks for your reply.

Eventually, I chose optical sight wherever available, for the reason that I tend to get confused between various iron sights in view (I mean those on top of deck machine guns), or have problems to "detect", in the excitement of a dogfight, the radiator cap when it cross the target, among all the "protuberances" on the engine. The optical gunsight, instead, can't be confused. In addition, like in reality, it does not require a perfect alignement: bullets always land in its centre, also if misaligned. OTOH, it has annoying reflections when sunlight hit it from rear. Moreover, as you too mentioned, I sacrificed some historical fidelity making this choice.


Sorry, I don't understand what you mean...

Thinking back, I don't even understand this tale of aiming with the crossing of wires or with the radiator cap: how do you collimate with a single reference? It would be like aiming only with the ring or only with the bead: you definitely miss the target! I am more inclined to think that the German pilots were aiming with the collimator of one of the two machine guns ...

Um seriously, i know the user name your using from il2 sturmovik, and even i believe from the ROF website forums.. and on those two forums this username is well known for "being an #%&*$# know it all" about the most trivial things to do with the games and the planes in them.

SO ill take the bait and have some fun.


IF you get into the cockpit of a ww1 plane, youll see between the cabane struts, bracing wires that create an X shape when viewed form the piliots seat.

normal german behavior and even allied behavior was to use the intersection of these two bracing wires as a primitive cross hair. Its fast, easy, and relatively effective.
The only downside is that it works best with the standard ww1 manner of 100-150 sight in distance and shooting ranges actually used in the war.

the tube sites do work, but most are placed in locations that really really suck to use. And the way the controls are actually set up, to move the pilot head view around do not work the way the user manual says.

Meaning, the user manual says you are setting up a "instant snap view button" that will take you directly to the gunsight view when hit, when in REALITY you are changing the permanent "pilot centered view button" location.

And the actual method described in the manual, and the official rof website key board command lists, do not jive with how it actually has to be done by the buttons your told to do when you do a thread search on that website.

and you HAVE to have the head view centered on the gun sight, just like the collimator sight. and the iron gun sights.

And thus its easier and more accurate to just use the bracing wire and the radiator cap.