Bullet physics

As a newbie to WOFF II my aerial shooting remains prototypically woeful.

I wondered to what extent bullet physics is modelled - for example should I be allowing for bullet drop, and should I be leading a target flying across my path?

I've found btw that it's even harder to hit the target with TrackIR on, as the front and rear sight alignment is very difficult - I've mapped a joystick button to pause TrackIR just before squeezing the trigger.

Having lots of fun - in Campaign I've finally reached France hurrah!

Thanks

Alan

if bullet drop is a concern, then by WW1 standards, you're too far away. Get in close! and when you're in close, get closer!

Ah yes, loftyc. I see what you mean! Good answer! That will explain a lot...

Alan

I turned on the little label that tells you how far away you are, and I was suprised to find that what I thought was 'close' was 150 yards.

So I waited till I got to 30 yards and gave him a burst. By Jove, his wing fell off!

Alan

Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes Alan

Hello Adger. Yes I think I'd forgotten I wasn't flying an F-16 anymore!

By the way, and slightly off topic, I'm just in the process of returning to radio-control flying.

Check this out: Microaces

These chaps make 1/24 near-scale kits of WWI fighters, with elevator/rudder/throttle control, the Camel's about 14 inch wingspan and weighs an ounce and a half with motor and r/c gear, made from thin Depron sheet (kit arrives in a jiffy bag) fully painted, fiendishly ingenious and looks like a load of fun. They fly beautifully. I think the DVII has ailerons as well.

It'll keep me out of mischief over Christmas.

Alan

In WOFF, you do see the effects of bullet drop, time to target, target speed, and gun accuracy and spread . Even if you don't normally use tracer ammo, use it for target practice to get an idea of where your shots are going. but even in ww2, I think it was Erich Hartmann who noted that he'd just wait until the enemy filled his sight, and then he'd be sure of a hit. And of course, go for "meat or metal!" You'll get a much quicker kill than by making fabric holes.

Alas for RC fun, I have way too much trouble being sure of which way I want to turn, or just how far away those trees are. I even have an RC sim for the computer, and I can say it's just like real life - oops, not that way!, and oops, into another tree!

Yes bullet drop is modelled. Getting in very close is how they did it, unless you were René Fonck - but even so he usually got in close.
Don't forget there's a lot of vibration in these early birds, high wind etc, MG accuracy wasn't great.

BTW this here is a great read about >> Fonck <<

He's one interesting cat. Arguably the greatest ace of The Great War. Despite his alleged flawed character, he got results and that's all that counts in war. I do have a soft spot for Nungesser though. The archetypal womanising, hard-drinking ace imitated in movies thereafter. I'm looking at you Errol.

Thanks for the link Polovski.

The archetypal womanising, hard-drinking ace imitated in movies thereafter. I'm looking at you Errol.
.

I can relate to that...

loftyc you did make me chuckle - I am waiting until 25/12 for Santa to deliver my new transmitter and SE5a kit. I too am using an r/c sim in the hope of re-wiring my brain to reverse the controls as necessary. We'll see. Mind you at 1.5 ounces including motor radio gear and servos the occasional tree collision probably won't be fatal.
I hadn't realised you could load tracers so I'll give that a go.
Polovski thanks for the link, really interesting read. I loved "Fonck, in contrast, flew, fought and lived by a philosophy that dying for one’s country was less desirable than making one’s opponent die for his".
Festive good wishes to you all
Alan

I couldn't figure out how to use tracer ammo. Could you point me to it?

Alan

I think it is just the regular ammo? Or maybe the incendiary choice? Either way, it's not very visible. Until (if) DX 11 effects get put in, there are no real glow effects, so the tracer is just a small fire-ish sprite that spawns for a frame or two at various points along the bullet path. If you are at a distance where it is too close to the plane for the sprite to spawn its next incidence, you won't see it near your target and it makes it hard to adjust aim. There is a mod that makes the sprite larger and a little easier to see... Additionally, since it is basically two dimensional, it's hard to see the tracers speed away from your plane, but you will be able to see them quite easily as they race past your head when you are being shot at, which is quite disconcerting...