Turns

[TremblingBlue]

I thought I was quite good at staying on people's tails. But a few times now I've had people in the same aircraft completely out-turning me.

What am I doing wrong? I break into the turn and throttle up out of the turn...yet the plane I STARTED chasing is now on my back-side. It's extremely frustrating as I have no way I can think of to perfect it.

[edal86]

Depends on:

1. are you using controller or stick?

2. are you on arcade, realistic, or sim (check flaps)

3. if identical planes, then, check and adjust your sensibility settings (check the sticky thread "A guide to the Planes" for sensibility setting tips)

[bobbysocks]

remember the laws of physics. the faster you go....hence the more kinetic energy... the larger the "circle" or circumference. some times chopping throttle...and other tricks can give you the edge. but the biggest thing is PM the guy... most will give you an honest answer...

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by bobbysocks

remember the laws of physics. the faster you go....hence the more kinetic energy... the larger the "circle" or circumference. some times chopping throttle...and other tricks can give you the edge. but the biggest thing is PM the guy... most will give you an honest answer...

This is one case where the video game "sim" world is very different from real life. Pilots in the real world almost never reduce power while in combat. Instead, they convert kinetic energy into potential energy by pulling into a climb and converting speed into altitude. The trick is to do this while keeping your opponent in sight, something that is very difficult given the limited field of view with a video game.

[bobbysocks]

Originally Posted by flynlion

This is one case where the video game "sim" world is very different from real life. Pilots in the real world almost never reduce power while in combat. Instead, they convert kinetic energy into potential energy by pulling into a climb and converting speed into altitude. The trick is to do this while keeping your opponent in sight, something that is very difficult given the limited field of view with a video game.

depends on the type of ac and dogfight. in my research i have read a ton of pilot reports where they were in a turning battle and riding the edge of a stall ( after chopping throttle and dropping flaps) to get to the inside of their opponent.

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by bobbysocks

depends on the type of ac and dogfight. in my research i have read a ton of pilot reports where they were in a turning battle and riding the edge of a stall ( after chopping throttle and dropping flaps) to get to the inside of their opponent.

True, but this situation is more the exception than the rule. If you miss the shot or the enemy's wingman shows up, then "chopped throttle and flaps out" is a very bad place to be. Converting excess speed to altitude allows you fight at full power, clean configuration and with an altitude advantage.

[vdomini]

Originally Posted by TremblingBlue

I thought I was quite good at staying on people's tails. But a few times now I've had people in the same aircraft completely out-turning me.

What am I doing wrong? I break into the turn and throttle up out of the turn...yet the plane I STARTED chasing is now on my back-side. It's extremely frustrating as I have no way I can think of to perfect it.

I can suggest you to check what edal86 told to you but also you initial speed when you enter turning.

If you are to slow you might start in WEP and then cut ...