Help dogfighting (and moderating speed)

[Haklangr]

Hello all. I've recently picked up the game, and I've read a few basic guides for it. I think I know most of the basics: I can fly/recover/take off/land alright, and all that. I have the settings all the way over on the "Realistic" side -- except I do have map icons, player map icon, and minimap path on, because I'm rubbish at navigating and want to concentrate on mastering the flight portion first. I am trying to make sure I know what all the gauges in the cockpits of my chosen planes are, though, as I do intend to turn every "cheating" aid off eventually.

Anyway, I've been flying a few missions, but I'm having trouble getting to grips with the enemy. Current example: a flight of enemy planes (Russian LaGGs? Il-2s? I can't remember -- it's a Bf109G-6 mission) appears heading directly toward me and my wingmen, at about the same altitude. Considering our respective planes... what do I do?

It seems to me like the name of the game is getting behind the enemy... on their six, so to speak. My idea is to head off to the side, then turn to try to end up behind them. (Sometimes I think about trying to do this vertically -- a loop -- but I've not tried it yet.) I read somewhere I should not attempt shots with greater than 30 degrees Angle Off, but I've not yet managed to end up within 30 degrees of directly behind my target... or even within shooting distance (300m); I think the closest I've come to having a viable shot was 60 degrees off, 400m away, and that didn't last long. It's quite difficult to keep the enemy in my sights, or to stay on/get on their tail at all!

I think I may be ending up getting out-turned, but perhaps I should be able to out-turn them. I'm not sure what to do if they can out-turn me -- how do I end up behind 'em? Is it viable to attack from another direction, like above (but in front)? I know "boom 'n' zoom" tactics are viable, but I'm not really sure how.

Another problem I know I have is that I don't know how to control my speed at all; I always end up zooming by in a split second when I do get somewhat close (if they haven't somehow turned around and zoomed back by me). I can only think to slow down by switching from combat flaps to landing flaps (or by pointing the plane up...?); I've tried to get enemy planes to overshoot me, but no luck. What should I be doing with the throttle, anyway? I nearly always put it at about 95% and leave it at that (I don't mess with prop pitch yet, so I assume the RPMs are being kept at a healthy level and my engine is not overheating, heh). Perhaps I should be using the throttle...

Thanks in advance, from the bottom of my wanna-be-pilot's heart; I'm continuing to look around for guides, of course, and I will keep reading, but any and all advice is appreciated.