4-12 wish list (Merged)

[SPAD-1949]

Originally Posted by TheGrunch

I would love if the AI could cope better with occasions where they find themselves ahead of their formation and on a similar heading. At the moment they must loop right around to the back of the formation or do some wacky vertical manoeuvres in order to get back into formation. If they could simply recognise that they are on the correct heading already and throttle back, they might behave a bit more sanely.

It might just be me but at the moment, using the Pairs or Line takeoff waypoint options looks and works great, except where the leader ends up behind the rest of the formation after takeoff, or even where an element leader ends up behind his wingman, as the wingman then performs violent (and often fatal) manoeuvres in order to correct his position as soon as the first normal waypoint is called out - usually a nose-dive straight into the ground.

+1
I prefer to set a start delay and put spawn planes for my AI flight on the runway.
My spawn plane is somewhere at the Airfield.
If I do it correctly, I can start and line in before they start. What bugs me about this is the delayed engine start and the immediate takeoff run of the commrades with cold engines.
If I manage to line in before they start, I can try to start with my wingman, who happens to accelerate faster on the first half of his takoff run, then suddenly falls back.
Sometimes I take off as second or last and AI shows this stupid circling behaviour.
Now my trick is to let an enemy spotter fly low in a not to far distance and order my flight TAB-1-2 and TAB-2-2 to attack evrything. As soon as Im airborn, I hook rectangular and order Tab-1-1 and Tab-2-1 to cover, followed by Tab-2-8-3 or Tab-2-5-4 for close or 4 finger formation.
Then they immediately aligne to formation without wasting time by circling around.
Its a little noisance, but it works for me.