Flew CLOD online last night...
 

Was on the ATAG server for over an hour.

Started in a Rotol Hurri from Lympne, and was immediately jumped by multiple 109s on take off. Jerry always seems to like to hit Lympne for some reason. Fortunately for me there were some Spits in the area and they took the brunt of the Bosch attack. One 109 was on my six but I managed, through some on the verge of stall turns, to loose him. So I flew West to get away from that mess and began climbing out. The rest of the sortie was without incident. I tried to see how much altitude I could get out of the old bus. It seems the in game contrail height (approx 22,000ft.) is the absolute ceiling. Bogus. No combination of mix, prop pitch, or throttle could get the aircraft above that altitude. The engine simply coughs and dies.

Still, at 19,000ft the new build of the game looks pretty good. So I patrolled about for a while then landed at Manston, as I wanted to try a Spit Mk. 1a.

I acclimated to the new office of the Spit 1a with the now working constant speed prop. What I forgot was that the mix control works differently in the Spit. After some false starts because of this I remembered and warmed the Merlin up (takes less time in the Spit which is historical) and got airborne. At first I thought that it didn't seem all that much more peppy than the Hurri, then I looked at the altimeter. OK, it climbs a whole lot faster. It's also more demanding to fly, as it is less stable in the roll axis, and requires a lot of down trim on the elevator for level flight. I took the sexy Supermarine up to 16k~17k ft. and headed back towards Lympne as Jerry seemed to be keying on that area last night. When I was almost over RAF Tangmere I spotted 5 bogeys crossing the shoreline below me at my 11:00. So, Jerry wanted to bomb my home field eh? I gently pushed over and dove on the unescorted Do 17s.
I was cursing beneath my breath for being in a Spit and not a Hurri at that point as the Hurri really is a better gun platform. I keyed on the last Dornier in the line and let loose with my .303s and got the message that I killed the top gunner. As I zoomed up for another pass, one of the dirty Huns plinked me in the cockpit. My vision now decidedly very red in colour, I decided that landing was probably a good idea.

I made it back to Lympne and got the aircraft on the ground in one piece.

All in all the game is improving. If there were more people on the server, and more I was flying with on comms... (hint to my squad mates), it would be doable now.

One thing that I believe they have spot on is the staccato nature of aerial combat at this time in history. One minute you are flying along in a peaceful sky, and then instantly you are plunged into a "life or death" struggle, then just as suddenly, it's over. So many real pilot accounts from WW2 describe aerial combat in just that way. It's uncanny really, and much different from IL2.

With a flight report like that you should join us. You'd fit right in :D

Thank you found that a pleasure to read, wish there were more like it.

Great After Action Report. When you can, download Teamspeak 3 -- a free communication utility. You can assign one of your joystick or throttle buttons for "Push to Talk" (or any keyboard key -- but it's easier to scream for help with two 109's on your tail using a joystick button! LOL). Many of us on the ATAG server use TS3 and it's great to hook up and coordinate in flight. Plus we're a friendly bunch. :)

Good for you figuring out the mixture control is reversed in the Spit vs the Hurricanes. It's an error in the sim and hopefully the Spitfire's mixture control will be fixed in a future patch.

Good stuff.. I'm enjoying the online experience as well, and yes, after years of online flying with IL2 it is different.. a lot more to think about with the more complex control system.

Interesting to note your experience with the altitude test in the Hurrie. I tried the same thing in the last patch and found 27,000 to be the absolute ceiling, though I was in single player (I'm not sure what that would have to do with it). I'll have to give it a go again. I did not have any trouble with the engine though, it just would not go any higher without stalling. My sources show the service ceiling to be about 32,000, so the absolute ceiling should be somewhat higher, definitely some work to be done there.

I have had TS 3 for some time.

Just not bothered to log on yet to ATAG's server.

The BlitzPigs and our friends all are still on TS 2, not that it matters as I use both.

I'll log in next time I'm on and say hello.

Is there a readme somewhere about flying on line?

In game go into multi-player > client and get the server list, then connect. Different servers have different settings though.

You can join in on our comms if you need some help:

1. get a headset
2. get ventrilo 3.0.5 client
3. connect to server: xiiilegio.killervent.com PORT: 9918

What's funny is that most of my BlitzPig and other friends from the IL2 days call me a CLOD fanboy.

And I admit I am. I dearly want the game to succeed.

I have had many flights on ATAG when I have shot nothing down, and still had a great time! Just flying the plane is such a huge step up from il2, which I have not even started since CoD came out.

This afternoon was one of those times when the unfinished nature of the sim stood out.

Tried the Repka 2 "Steppe" server. Poor frame rates, choppy play, warping, etc... I realize it's from Russia, but even my friends from the UK had trouble flying there. I honestly think there is a direct correlation between ping and instability in the game. It was the first time I have ever had a CTD in CLOD. Methinks the netcode needs more than a bit of work.

After mucking about in there for a while, we switched to ATAG. Flew for some time defending the Lympne area and managed to bag a Stuka that was attacking shipping in the Channel. It's the first time I really wanted a Gladiator. Man that Stuka is so slow, even the doggy old Hurri can barely slow down enough to put rounds on it.

Was going to land and call it an afternoon when a flight of 9 BR 20s showed up. I still had fuel and ammo, so I set out in pursuit. Took a long time to climb up to them and just as I was ready to open up, BANG! I was blown to bits by Insuber in his diabolical cannon armed Bosch machine.

:grin:

I don't know what he hit but my Hurri just fell to bits, and I was instantly killed.

Good shooting.

El, Russia's a long way from the UK as well you know...
I just won't fly any other map in a BoB sim than the correct one. Otherwise it just becomes arcade for me.
ATAG definitely has the edge right now.

Agreed.

LOL mate this post made me and wife laugh loud :D ... btw I didn't catch that it was you in that Hurri ... :).
Regarding the episode, I dove with a mild angle from 300 or 400 m above, and fired with all weapons only when I was at 20-30 m, to see your plane burst to flames and a "pilot kill" message.
See you online mate !

Cheers,
6S.Insuber

Well it probably has something to do with HAL9000 we use as a dedi machine.

Hehe... Glad you got a laugh Insuber. Ciao.

Bliss, whatever you are doing, just keep doing it!!!

S!

A report from ATAG:

It was 5:00am as i climbed into the pit of my BF109E4. The French horizon was cracking with sunlight as a ragtag collection of 109s stirred at Pihen Airdrome. Only 10 miles southwest of Calais, our intent was to lift and head over on a freijagd to England and scout for some spitfires to satiate our morning hunger.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/...2b62dfa4_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00001 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

I decided to lift before the Ju88s to get an early start in my hunt for birds in the Dover area. The skies were known to be a tad unbalanced this morning with a few more krauts than limeys expected in the sky... my early departure would ensure some uninterupted dancing.

I climbed to Angels 4 and began my trip to England - it was nothing short than beautiful watching the shadows dance across the french terrain. Climbing west I could see dover clearly in the morning sun. Saddling up in my perch I strained to pick up any movement below. I focused on a patch of land and waited patiently for my peripheral vision to fire off a few neurons alerting me to my lunch.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6036/...8f379ae7_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00002 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/...88b5945a_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00003 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

The radio crackled to life and a friendly 109 called out in desperation... he was in a low level fight against a tenacious Spitfire near Folkstone. I swung my nose South along the cliffs and dove hoping to silouette the pair against the dawn sky and thus have an easier time finding them.

I was quickly rewarded with a clear sight to their fight.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6172/...9541da26_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00005 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

A delicate dance ensued as our 109s desperately tried to maneuver against a Spitfire clearly operating within his performance envelope. The fight dragged on for a few minutes until i landed a fatal blow to the Spitfires starboard wing. Watching his crate shudder i saw his Aileron drift away as he turned for Folkstone airfield. Not willing to risk a pass through the Bofors 24mm ack ack protecting his egress, my wingman and I could only watch in mild satisfaction as his attempt to rtb was rewarded with a plume of smoke ash and fire...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/...2433a1a4_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00007 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

Tired and low on fuel and ammunition I knew it was time to leave. The Spitfires demise and the ack ack puffs around Folkstone were sure to have alerted our presence to his friends. Turning East, I began a low egress across the channel.

Whack... thwack!!

Blood collected in the wells of my eyes as i strained to look over my right shoulder to see what hit me... was it a Bofors? Or worse.... was it a Spitfire?

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6218/...e7868e92_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00008 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

My heart sank as i realised I had a vengeful foe close on my wounded tail. With blood in my eyes I struggled to make his passing shots as difficult as i could for him. yaw left - nose down, pull up , down, yaw right....

Suddenly the tracers stopped and the terrifying sound of hammers on my thin crate ceased... did he run out of fuel? did he run ot of ammo? Was I saved by a friendly I did not see? The fog of war was heavy but i didn't care... France was in sight.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/...65440b61_b.jpg
2011-10-20_00009 by dooomdooom, on Flickr

My cockpit was in tatters as I touched down on a short grass field near Wissant. There were no cheers, there was no applause ... only the angry faces of locals whom wished my luck was not so apparant.

It must have been so lonely for those german pilots... you almost die on the good days and you're surrounded by hate on the ground when and if you make it home...

Oh - yeah.... i agree the game is indeed getting better.

Hi,

We have RAAF squad in thier own channel on our TS3 server, I'm sure our communication's officer (ATAG _Striker) can make a room for the Blitzpigs for the time being until you guys get sorted.


ATAG_Spinfx.

Nice one d0o0m :)

And yes, get on Teamspeak 3 and join us. We've got channels for many languages etc, and everyone I've met is a friendly bunch.

We also have an unlimited amount of slots. So anyone and everyone feel free to use it. That's what it's there for! Get tactical and never fly alone :)

TS3 IP: 216.52.148.29:9987

Nice story Doom, and nice screenshots!
So many trees! What are your system specs and resolution you play????


Congrats Bliss for the HAL9000 !!!!
Excellent game quality, I was also there yesterday, watching the big JU-88 and JU-87 groups forming up above France, without any stutters, was a nice experience :)

~S~

Excellent report D0o0m. As far as the French hatred, reichmarks made wonders to trigger good smiles of the locals, with their 1:10 war exchange rate ... ;)

Thanks Guys !-)
Good stories and Great inspiration these "pireps"!

Was playing in ATAG myself yesterday, before and after server "update".
Was great improvement for me.
THX to Bliss and His crew !

In pure giddy joy I jumped three 109`s on a evil fighterbomber mission, at
`bout 10k feet over the drink. All alone in my Hurrie with half ammo load.. :-/
How stupid..but wow, so much fun in 5 min is hard to get..!

~S~ :)

Good to see how you dealt with enemy AC jumping you on take off. No crying, no tantrum. You took it as a challenge.

I salute you ~S~

Doom I'm pretty sure we established that that tiny little field is called Doggleville ;)

Aye... henceforth that little tuft shall be known as Doggleville indeed. In fact i may apply the term to the kibbles and bits of a few of the maidens in the neighboring village too if you keep inspiring me so...