Trouble finding enemy jets...

[fugz890]

This may not have an answer but im sure there are general flying tips which may help to solve my issue... I find that im constantly on the defensive when flying i can never seem to be on the enemies tail instead they are always on mine, i can never seem to find any other planes in the air is this because of my flying patterns? height? speed? poor vision? what is it?

Everytime im in the air i find that an enemy jet is on my tail locking on with missiles i very rarely find a jet and am able to chase it down... Am i flying too low? too high? in the wrong spots? or is my vision just poor? What are some general flying tips that may help to put me in the offensive position rather than defensive...

what is a general rule of thumb for height of flight? what altitude is generally best for spotting enemy jets and/or avoiding them

[Chris_Redfield]

Theres really a lot of things it depends on. These forums are full of excellent jet guides that, if not help, will at least open your eyes to a lot of factors. Start looking up "jet guide" and other such keywords in the search function. Youll find everything you need to know.

As I said, your problem isnt specific enough to have a solid answer, it can be caused by all kinds of issues. Like you flying F35B agaisnt J10 for example.

[imported_Chael]

I have a lot of experience killing jets, especially J10s.

I fly at about 400 - 500 meters, checking my rear-view (F11) constantly. I stay in bomb mode (2) until I'm close behind an unsuspecting jet and ready to fire.

Piloting a jet really just takes a lot of practice, and maybe a joystick if you don't have one.

[RW-RogueWolf]

Piloting a jet really just takes a lot of practice, and maybe a joystick if you don't have one.

I agree with the practice part but as for a joystick, mouse & keyboard all the way, keeps it simple.

Um yes fly with bomb enabled, saves any unwanted mis-haps. Fly as slow as you can without falling out of the air. Save your thruster, we'll hit that later. Pressing your CTRL key whilst in the jet lets you have a free look in the cockpit, use it, keep looking left right, up down, everywhere, stay in the region you deem safe and circle, eventually you'll run into an enemy jet. Now if you can before he see's you go high, when your high you have an upper advantage.

then the rest is history. To shake off an enemy jet i use the thruster into a loopty loop slash barrel roll out to the side technique, usually gets them off long enough for you to capitalize, thruster your way around a circle until your in range of there jet, then you can have your shot to bring him down.

[=98=]

The real key to finding other jets is using the other views such as looking behind or fly past. It's like checking the mirrors in your car.

I check the behind view as sometimes you'll see a plane sweeping across behind you, then you can go attack them. But, always fly at around 400-500ft, or if in an F35, i dive bomb from about 600ft and then swoop back up again to the same height looking behind me for more targets or enemies.

Another beginner mistake is to stay in air to air missile mode. Don't. Stay in bomb mode as it doesn't immediately alert other planes to your presence. Wait for them to fly straight and flat, flick on air to air, force them to drop flares, flick back onto bomb mode, follow for 10 seconds until they calm down thinking you've gone and then let them have it.

Experienced pilots who check all cameras will know your there even if you don't lock, with them, you just have to have experience

and, btw, i fly keyboard style and it hasn't let me down

[Chris_Redfield]

My favourite "recon" move is to fly around the edges of the map, turn the jet 90 degrees to the opposing side of the border and use mouselook. Ive got my JS axii binded as mouse in mouselook mode, so I get to perform this function with a simple CTRL button press. However, this will give you more intel, and a probable attacker position, which is not really whats troubling our OT. He basically wants to be a "better pilot" and only knowledge and experience does that. But in order to save time, he you should just gather up the experience, skill, tips and suggestions from others, and take your game serious.

[DOGGiE52]

There is not a single skilled jet pilot (except for flyjetandkill) who flies with mouse and keyboard. This issue has been discussed so many times only a fool would call it "simple" to fly without a joystick.

[waaah_wah]

You just coz you cant fly without a stick doesnt mean that others cant. Practise is the deciding factor, not whatever you fly with

[=98=]

There is not a single skilled jet pilot (except for flyjetandkill) who flies with mouse and keyboard. This issue has been discussed so many times only a fool would call it "simple" to fly without a joystick.

I have flown with keyboard since 1942 came out, and i consider myself good in the air. I can keep up with experienced joystick pilots.

It's all about practising, and whilst it takes longer to become as good, a competent keyboard pilot can match a joystick, in BF2.

[Shask]

I agree with the practice part but as for a joystick, mouse & keyboard all the way, keeps it simple.

Don't kid yourself . I could "keep it simple" by flying with my feet. Actually, I'd still probably beat you :laugh:

It's all about practising, and whilst it takes longer to become as good, a competent keyboard pilot can match a joystick, in BF2.

To summarise the Joystick vs Mouse debate, here's a little graph I just made comparing the 2 variables:

[Chris_Redfield]

I can keep up with experienced joystick pilots.

I´d like you to name a few. And not some names you know yourself, but known names, names recognised by the top BF2 pilots.

-

Having played against BF2s best joystick, mouse, keyboard pilots and knowing their own personal opinion (based on their experience) sheds a lot of light, which goes far beyond just the "IMO".

There are extremely talented mouse pilots, there are extremely talented keyboard pilots, but whenever or if they make a transition to a joystick, they tell the same tale.

Not to mention that purely statistically, the "best" pilots in BF2 are joystick pilots. Stick doesnt fly for you, but a stick holds certain advantages which are undeniable.

There are a few names that dont use a stick, and fly exceptionally well with either KB only, or mouse and KB. Serhend, a newly registered user on these forums, is the best KB only pilot Ive ever seen, and has topped most top joystick pilots. But as he said, he was already good with a stick, and using a KB put a huge dent to his skill set.

As for Flyjetandkill, a mouse pilot, I remember how cocky he was after being compared to Cali, and how much talk he had. You might see a definite humbleness in his tone when he went toe to toe with Rabbit.v2.

Bottomline is, "joystick is better" is not a myth, and while extensive practice will go beyond a peripheral device, this argument has ended with one conclusion a thousand times- joystick has far more potential, and limits your abilities far less, than any other peripheral device (bar gamepads) do.

[imported_Joey]

Also I find that looking around like others have said Is a must, also if you can enable high graphics do it because when i put my system onto high you get white trails (don't know technical name) where the enemy has flown, but they don't kast for long tho. Also if the enemy jet is damged look for smoke trails and follow them, also if you have evaded missiles and the enemy has broken off, there is one place is is going to go and that is the airfield, so try cut him off while he is rearming, also when i am groundpounding i try to spot enemy jets from the ground because I know that helps friendlys get them self onto them. Also Stay clear of UAV's IMO, or atleast don't stay to long near one other wise you show up as a nice picture on the enemy fighter pilots minimap :) Also if youre teams UAV is up check ya minimap it might show an enemy jet:P
Hope this info helps

[Skaggy]

Also I find that looking around like others have said Is a must, also if you can enable high graphics do it because when i put my system onto high you get white trails.

All you need is effects on medium. :)

[imported_Joey]

Ahh ok, I didn't know that:P i went strait form low to high graphics:P

[Hedgie]

When I first start I had the same issue as the OP. Couldnt find an enemy jet anywhere, but always got one on my tail. The biggest and simplest change I made to my style was to fly higher. Depending on the Jet, I usually cruise around 300-600 feet.

As for teh advice to go slow.....ummm, try and stay at full throttle. A slow jet is minigun bait.

The rest is just practice, but I strongly agree with checking your tail constantly. It will save your life many times.