IL2 Sturmoviks 1946

[Pursuivant]

At least one V-2 launches about 30 seconds after the scenario begins.

Set your settings to allow external views and to allow you to track your course over the map before you start the game.

When the game starts, press A to get the game into autopilot and use the Ctrl-F2 key to switch to the V-2 launch pad camera. As soon as you see the V-2 launch, pause the game (the P key) and hit the M button to bring up the map. That should give you an idea of where the V-2 is relative to your position.

Press F1 to switch back to your cockpit view, then press M twice to bring up the map with your current location - your location will be marked by the white airplane in the middle of the map. While in map view, you can use the mouse to move the map around and the mouse wheel to zoom in or out on the map. Find your location relative to the V-1 launch site.

The V-1 scenario is also a bit tricky. It's a small target that tends to blow up and kill you if you shoot it. If you're a complete newbie, I suggest going to the Quick Combat Editor. Choose the A6M2 Zero as your plane and then select a flight of 4 friendly C-47 to accompany you. Choose the altitude and map of your choice, but no clouds and no flak. Lower altitude is easier.

Once you're in the mission, treat the C-47s like targets and shoot them down without colliding with any of them. Once you're done, try to landing at the nearest airfield without crashing. Repeat until you get bored.

Next, do the same thing, but choose a flight of ace enemy C-47s - they're scatter and try to maneuver to avoid your guns. Shoot them down and then land until you're bored.

Next, choose one relatively hapless enemy fighter, like the F2A Buffalo. Give the AI Rookie level skill and set Advantage to

Now, M again to make the map go away. Press P again to unpause the game and press A again to cancel the autopilot. Pour on speed and maneuver until you have visual contact with the V-1.

It will be flying slow enough that you can overtake it.

From there, there are two ways to kill the V-1:

The easy way: Hang back at 300-500 meters at 6 o'clock level with the V-1 and blaze away at it. Eventually you'll get a lucky hit and it will crash or explode. If you do this, there's a chance you'll get caught in the explosion - which is bad.

The hard way: Try to catch up to it and "flip" it by gently matching speeds while you're slightly below it with one of your wings "overlapping" one of the V-1's winglets. Then gently climb or roll so that you flip the V-1.

I'm no great shakes as a pilot, but I strong suggest you start off with full realism for gunnery and aircraft performance settings so you teach yourself good habits from the start. To make things easier, though, give yourself unlimited ammo, external views and the possibility of using the "invisible cockpit" view.

Once you get the hang of how a particular plane flies, try to wean yourself off of those things and use cockpit view and limited ammo but still retain external views. Finally, wean yourself off of external views once you learn more about situational awareness and maneuvering to improve your visibility .

Actually, the V-1 scenario is a bit tricky. Try using the Quick Mission Builder first. Choose a hard-hitting manueverable plane like the A6M2 and practice shooting down a flight of friendly C-47s. Do that until you're bored. Next, do the same thing but with a flight of Ace enemy C-47s. Do that until you're bored. Then, choose a single hapless enemy fighter (like the F2A Buffalo) and give the AI Rookie level skill and fly that mission until you're bored. Repeat using better levels of AI skill until you can consistently beat Ace AI. Gradually give the opposition better planes until you feel really challenged. Then vary altitude, advantage, cloud cover, etc. with a single plane or take on two or more planes at once.