Heli dogfighting, close in -- tips?

[kitchener]

I tacked this question on the end of the Heli tutorial but I imagine that thread's been read ad nauseum by the people who might have some suggestions so in case there's some good tips out there, I thought I might just start a thread on the subject.

One thing I can't practice in singleplayer (unlike gunning) is piloting in a dogfight. I'm passable at it, but I could be better (not talking about soloing, btw). No problem performing a good diameter over a ground target, all that, but I seem to lose my (better) opponents' location a lot when dogfighting. They'll get under me, past me, whatever, and before I can find where he's got to so I can get my gunner lined up again (and get my rockets lined up, too) -- if the guy's got a good gunner, BOOM. Any "advanced course" advice on piloting in a dogfight, particularly close in?

[Chris_Redfield]

Re: Heli dogfighting, close in -- tips?

What a lot of helo pilots wont use, are rear view and fly-by view. Use them to your advantage.

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Heli dogfighting, close in -- tips?

Multiple cameras.

Strafe left and right, using different speeds and angles to avoid being predictable. The following is key, and I usually keep this to myself, so pay attention: your goal is always to get into favorable distance for a TV shot. Ideally, if you can't do this, slowly inch forward or let him come to you while strafing to expose his broad side and when appropriate, unload your missiles. Always predict his movement so as to better position yourself to have the advantage. Keeping the higher ground is also favorable...

That right there, my friend, is GOLD. All you need to do now is practice: just keep in mind that a good soloer or duo will never let you get in range to initiate this technique.

[kitchener]

Re: Heli dogfighting, close in -- tips?

One thing I can start doing immediately is using my cameras more -- I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I tend not to use my "mouse look" too much because of the loss of control, but a quick switch to another camera view and back again is easily accomplished. Stupid me.

I re-watched those tutorials and I definitely need to develop better habits regarding strafing left and right, too. Let me ask this, though, regarding the firing of my missiles. Should I try to avoid unloading them until I have a broadside shot? Of course, this is outside of the optimum approach, my gunner getting him with the tvm...

[Sloi sauce]

Re: Heli dogfighting, close in -- tips?

Unless you're fairly confident they will hit him at least half the time, don't bother.