Flying... I just dont get it.

[imported_Scarz]

On the ground, I kick ass. nobody can get the drop on me. I'm too quick and too smart and have reflexes like a cat on speed. Depending on the experience (and ping) of those I'm up against I have been known to wipe out whole squads by myself at close range...

Yes, you're right. I'm full of sh!t. But yeah I'm pretty damn good. So why is it that I cant stay alive for longer than 30 seconds in a jet or attack chopper? I spent hours practicing on private local servers, tweeked my joy stick endlessly to get just the right sensitivity, practiced all manner of aerial manuvers and can do barrel rolls and loop the loops in choppers. I can stop on a dime and hover perfectly to line up that TV shot...

Oh hell, you get the idea. So why is it that I shoot the crap out of anything that flies with AA, .50 cal, APCs, whatever I can get. But rarely do I get to bring one down.

But for some strange reason, I get into a chopper or a plane and can get off the ground and fly one quick lap around the map, maybe even get some bombs dropped or some rockets fired and then BOOM. dead.

I have tried every common sense tactic in the book, avoid flags with AA emplacements or where AA vehicles spawn, I dont just waste flares the second somebody locks onto me. I jink, I juke, I jive. I hide behind buildings and mountains. I fly back for repairs whenever possible. I keep a close eye on my map. I communicate with copilots. So WTF am I doing wrong?

Dont even get me started on dogfighting. I have heard that certain jets have better turining capabilities than others. So why do I always seem to be in the one that turns like a morbidly obese beached whale?

And bombing? I'm clueless. Everyone else seems like they can casually ricochet the bombs off the enemy flag pole like its nothing. Me? I fly over an enemy flag where I know enemies are bound to be and end up feeling lucky that I didn't TK any of my buddies.

Does anybody else feel like this?

[sarb]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

everyone will just say practice

but here is something i learned...practicing on an empty server isnt going to do much. i spent a while on empty servers getting the feel for air vehicals, and hwo to manuver. but when you get into a real server with other real people, you will get owned. so thats why you keep trying in real combat, rather than an empty server.

[d3sc3n7j]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

Well, when I fly a jet, I generally fly about 10 feet, and BOOM...I smash into the ground...so jets are out...choppers are a little easier, but I'm still gettting the hang of the attack choppers....transport...I can fly them all day...so pretty much...I have no clue

[sarb]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

oh, if you are having problems in a dog fight and keeping behind your enemy tail...slow down. when the guy infront of you starts to pull up to avoid you, pull up with him, but your goign to have to slow down, because he is slowing down too.

[Sorrenart]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

http://wiki.bf2s.com/tactical-guides/aviator-tactics <---some good tips there.

And practice. A lot.

[Saureco]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

My two cents.

Helos

I've learned that you will never get as good of control of a helicopter with a joystick compared to a mouse. My mouse and keyboard flying is hands-down 500% than a joystick when I'm in a helo. What I sincerely suggest is that you hammer away at the single player campaign until you can pretty much own the map with almost just you flying. The bots gunning for you need a second or two to aquire ground targets, but they don't use the TV-guided missiles. (This also makes for great stress preparation when flying in a public server and a helo noob--not necessarily an insult--is flying with you. Just be prepared to have guys not use the TV missiles.) Once you can take out the AI's troops, armor, and even opposing helicopters, you're ready for public servers.

Once you get into public servers, I suggest joining one that has VOIP, then make a squad called "Helo pilots". Once you get people to join you, lock the squad. This should be your dedicated helo attack/transport group. You will get people accusing you from time to time of helo-whoring, but just tell them that it's the only way to overcome your noobishness. (Trust me, it worked when I was learning.) Now that your squad is up, mix and match your helo skills as much as possible. Trade off between pilot and gunner in the attack helos. Trade positions in the transport helo (when it has landed), and learn to side strafe with the transport helos while talking to your gunners.

Master these roles and skills and you will be a formidable foe.

Jets

Like the various helicopters, each jet has its niche. Anyone who has flown or witnessed the J-10 in action will tell you it is an air-to-air killing machine. The speed an maneuverability are hard to match. The F-35 is versatile as a skirmisher, but the tricks of flying it can be found in these forums. The MiG is somewhere lost among the other two fighters, but it trades speed for slightly better armor IMO. Bombers are like attack helos--a two-man team to really make it shine. We all know that the pilot can carpet bomb a base into next week, but if you know how to hit a target with the guided bombs from your copilot, then you can cause some major headaches.

All jets, however, should be flown with a joystick. There may be some pilots that will profess otherwise, but I suspect that they have not experienced the gooey goodness of a well-tweaked joystick. Royal barrel rolls, Immelmans, and various other maneuvers are better possible with a joystick. While your flight skills with a joystick will prove beneficial, try to get a wingman whenever possible. Again, create a squad called "Jet whores" (or some similar variant) and lock it. You will almost always get resistance from your teammates, but just find a server where they're pretty lax about it. Besides, any team that refuses to have dedicated roles, pilot and ground-pounder alike, is just being stubborn. If they let you learn the ropes and excel at what you're doing, then you become an asset.

Enjoy.

[TOAO_VTEC]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

I was in the same situation not long ago. For Choppers, I find being a gunner much more beneficial for racking up kills (duh). If your not the gunner, then make sure your gunner is using the TV missles first, and only firing the gun at infantry or an enemy vehicle that's smoking and about to blow up. Otherwise, stay in TV mode at all times. Also be sure to know how to guide the TV missles (duh). And spot everything. :)

Okay, jets. I avoided jets like the plague for a long time. I always ended up with major teamkills from bombing runs. The trick is to quit flying by eye and start staring at your radar/minimap. Find an enemy checkpoint with zero blue dots (friendlies). Line it up early, get your cannon going nice and early and spread the love. :P Then drop your payload and look for another enemy checkpoint without any friendlies that is close by and easy to lineup for a cannon run. The cannon on every jet is totally OP. :) Then get back to base while looking for any enemy jets that are ripe for the picking. But unless you're good at dogfighting (I'm not), just focus on rearming those bombs. This works way better in the bombers. :)

As for bombers, start setting your co-pilot up. Fly way out of bounds and comeback for a full lenght bombing run on maps like Oman. Slow down, let off the throttle to buy your gunner some extra time. Don't be afraid to fly up up and away from trouble. And of course, always use the cannon on AA sites. Fly with your bombing sights up at almost all times so you see enemy ground targets.

And the key is consistency. Insist on getting 1-2 kills with every run, focus on accomplishing that and basically ignore dogfighting for now. Once you're racking up kills against ground targets, start flying way out of bounds and coming back, looking for enemy jets that are flying straight and don't see you. Get right in and then switch from bombs to misslelock, don't be afraid to let off the throttle to keep the enemy in your sights. Dog fighting's hard for me though so listen to others first. :)

But I turned a .5 k:d ratio in jets into a 1.5 quite quickly by focusing on pwning ground targets and by watching the minimap for enemies rather than staring out the jet. Learn to lead with your bombs. Make sure you can hit moving APC's most of the time.

Also, I use the cockpit view where you can't see anything in the cockpit. The windshield and controls get in the way. Be sure to use this view when flying or gunning in the chopper. :)

[specter]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

KLol i know what u Mean I SUCKX At FLYIng

[dohdohmanduh]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

just play it safe and use this saying. If it likes the air then who the fcuk cares

[[2bit]Modmaven]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

Another quick tip on jets.....When dogfighting, and you are behind them lead the plane a bit....for instance if they are in a turn aim your crosshair at the nose of the plane, after you get the lock, but before you fire. Fire off a couple of shots, and they should be toast. I am certainly, not an expert, but this helped me a lot.

[PsYcHo.KiLLa]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

Lol, you had me amazed at your modesty in the first paragraph, until I read the second .

[govedob]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

On the ground, I kick ass. nobody can get the drop on me. I'm too quick and too smart and have reflexes like a cat on speed. Depending on the experience (and ping) of those I'm up against I have been known to wipe out whole squads by myself at close range...

Yes, you're right. I'm full of sh!t. But yeah I'm pretty damn good. So why is it that I cant stay alive for longer than 30 seconds in a jet or attack chopper? I spent hours practicing on private local servers, tweeked my joy stick endlessly to get just the right sensitivity, practiced all manner of aerial manuvers and can do barrel rolls and loop the loops in choppers. I can stop on a dime and hover perfectly to line up that TV shot...

Oh hell, you get the idea. So why is it that I shoot the crap out of anything that flies with AA, .50 cal, APCs, whatever I can get. But rarely do I get to bring one down.

But for some strange reason, I get into a chopper or a plane and can get off the ground and fly one quick lap around the map, maybe even get some bombs dropped or some rockets fired and then BOOM. dead.

I have tried every common sense tactic in the book, avoid flags with AA emplacements or where AA vehicles spawn, I dont just waste flares the second somebody locks onto me. I jink, I juke, I jive. I hide behind buildings and mountains. I fly back for repairs whenever possible. I keep a close eye on my map. I communicate with copilots. So WTF am I doing wrong?

Dont even get me started on dogfighting. I have heard that certain jets have better turining capabilities than others. So why do I always seem to be in the one that turns like a morbidly obese beached whale?

And bombing? I'm clueless. Everyone else seems like they can casually ricochet the bombs off the enemy flag pole like its nothing. Me? I fly over an enemy flag where I know enemies are bound to be and end up feeling lucky that I didn't TK any of my buddies.

Does anybody else feel like this?

If you are very quick and smart as you are saying you are, you should have no problem flying jets, and choppers should be even easier. BTW is that your BF2 nick also. I wanna check your stats to see how good you really are.

[Chris_Redfield]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

Lol, you had me amazed at your modesty in the first paragraph, until I read the second .

Govedob.

[phen0m]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

If you can't fly please dont attempt to in a MP game. I had a guy today straight up tell me he couldn't fly so he always hopped in the 2nd seat of the F-15. Thats how it should be done.

[imported_Scarz]

Re: Flying... I just dont get it.

Hey, thanks for the tips guys. I really appreciate it. Given me a lot of food for thought.

As for Govedob, hahahahah. My stats are embarrassing. I was really bad at BF2 for a long time and almost gave up. But, I worked hard and busted my ass to learn and have gotten pretty decent for my rank. My in game tag is SLV0248 if your really want to have a good laugh. As for my death streak in there that reads "32"... I dont know what the hell happened there. Maybe I was drunk that night or something.