[CrashLanding]

I have more than 150 jet kills and consider myself pretty good, though I've seen some people with well over 400 kills already.

I use the cannon almost exclusively. Air-to-air missiles have become mostly useless against other jets as more people have unlocked flares. I do well enough with the cannon anyway.

I only use air-to-air for helicopters. A hovering chopper is much tougher to take down with the cannon, though it's possible. The air-to-ground missiles are almost useless and cause little damage. Rocket pods are about the same, but can be semi-useful on ground strafing runs. The A-10 and the Su-25 have good cannons for ground strafes but the F/A-18 and Su-35 seem weaker.

The physics are ok considering what the game is. I still prefer Birds of Prey and can't wait for Birds of Steel, but it's fun to show off my flying skills with my friends that don't play flight games. They keep asking how I'm so good (especially when I'm on the other team) and I tell them I have plenty of practice in real flight sims. Same with the choppers, which handle closer to Apache: Air Assault than Bad Company 2.

Flying is getting to be a bit of nuisance though because more and more engineers are carrying stinger anti-air missiles. Plus the attack choppers have amazing anti-air capabilities and range. That's not to mention how most jet pilots jump out before the jet goes boom after you shoot it down. They jump out and you don't get credit for a kill. Very annoying.

I'm working on the air warfare medal, which takes 30 air warfare ribbons. Each ribbon takes six air kills in round, which is very difficult when jet pilots keep jumping out. I'm relying on chopper kills to get me there. It's easier with choppers, though you still have to worry about stingers, the other choppers, jets with cannons that literally knock your chopper on its side, and the indestructible anti-air cannons in every base.

I've been flying less since getting the first service star with the jet and the fun is hit or miss on the ground. The game is still fairly buggy and there's a lot of things I'd like to see changed. Some of my friends are threatening to quit playing, which will be disappointing since I think the fun outweighs the annoyances.