DD_Fenrir

I'm getting the map for free!

Hey Luka, No worries, no game updates in your absence - TF.5 won't be with us till next year sometime! Just fire 'er up and get on in. I'm going to be in Storm of War tomorrow eve to fly the flag for the Dogz and to check the lie of the land regards our a/c situation; I don't expect any others to bail on a committed Il-2:1946 eve and would not recommend it as I do not wish to put noses out of joint. If one or two would want to wingie with me then you would be most welcome, but let's not denude our other members of a well populated Il-2 co-op night.

Excellent guys! Can anyone who's interested in taking part please let me know well in advance as if this proves popular it could require us going hat in hand to other squads to enquire whether they have any spare a/c they can lend us - the earlier I know, the more I can do about it. Be good to have a strong representation of the Dogz on this one, plus it's likely to be one hell of an event!

I have no option but to wait it out and see if the forecast changes for a less inclement day on Sunday, as Saturday I'm meeting others in London and can't reschedule. If you lads decide to go Saturday I don't blame you in the slightest but rest assured you will remain 'Gits' for the foreseeable in my book!

Change of status! Fenrir is now Go for Shoreham! Sunday only but better than a swift kick in the wotsits.

Congrats Heather & Jess! Hearty back slaps all round! Ah university...! It is with nostalgia I think of all those mildly undercooked-baked-beans-on-not-quite-fully-defrosted-Birdseye-potato-waffle dinners; The unusual and vaguely necrotic smells emanating from the room two-doors down across the hall; Being dragged into the Student Union girls toilet by rather lascivious lady whilst I was dressed in drag as a female hockey player (I think it was the knee high sports socks and the mini-skirt combo that did it!); praying I've got enough funds to stump up for a beer come the end of term; vomiting what looked like Mountain Dew whilst showering (borderline alcohol poisoning); Getting punched in the face in Bognor Regis; My housemate sitting on my face and farting to arouse me from slumber; These things made me the man I am today. Kinda explains a lot. All the best of luck to the girls Colin, Nick. I hope they had as illuminating a time as I did!

D models glove vanes were deleted and RHAWS antennae installed in their place AFAIK - they were found to be superfluous (designed to both limit the extra stability incurred at supersonic speeds and relieve the tailerons of some load) after experience in service, so they were locked shut and the actuators physically removed from the airframe to save some weight. It does seem odd that the A variant does not feature them - unless they were deactivated in '83/'84 in which case it would make sense. Perhaps the Letherneck designed the 3D model with them and started the FM work with them included but when the ultimate decision was arrived at which eras to focus on then they became redundant?

Aircraft mounted video cameras don't generally bother with microphones FT - you know how much wind noise even a 20mph wind makes over a mic, imagine it at 200! No point, you'd never get close to a good representation of the subject a/c with all that wind noise. I like it silent - no questionable/cheesy music choice. Just drink in the visual spectacle without distraction!

Just stumbled across this on the BBC website and was left almost at a loss for words at how breathtakingly exquisite were both the footage and the subject: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33000234

Well just on Bongo's posted images and no further research, my gut says 'USA' - something about the tail shape, general proportions and the nacelles screams Uncle Sam to me. Warm?

Mustang? Blue-nosed? In cockpit? Oh, go on then:

Ki-43... though could also be a Ki-61... however the colour and hint of a modern UHF aerial would indicate a restoration/replica and I know only Oscars falls into that category.

Sweper gits it!

Tee-hee! Nice to stump you guys occasionally! Okay, bit more here and a clue; Sweper should have an advantage...

I winz! Hmmm. What to do... Ok. Try this for size:

Douglas B-23 Dragon

Some pretty cool development stuff happening on Storm of War server!

Put me down for a bit of that.

Thanks chaps! Spent the day picnicking on the Sunny Kent Coast with the lovely lady and some people type people that apparently are known as "friends" (not sure never encountered these types before). Glorious weather, good company and a spot of rowing thrown in too! All far too civilised for a heathen of my breed but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. Thanks again for the well wishes, see you chaps tomorrow eve!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=984tPA7k3yg#t=28

Shame that twin getting lead pumped in to it is a Mosquito...

Quality work Melly-boy! Just don't forget to stop at some point and fly the bugger!

Hello chaps, Whilst Phil Styles excellent video covers the subject of takeoff, I have created my own version, with a guide as to how I get down again also! Hope it is of some value:

Thanks FT

Whilst I agree in aerodynamic principal with Perfs suggestion, I would suggest that it is better to practise moving the stick to neutral (centre) position as you pick up speed, rather than trim nose down. Why? If you have any exponential set on your elevator, it's going to mean you are moving it into an area that is more sensitive and you'll have less fine control as a result as you try to rotate the a/c to flying attitude to leave the ground - this could (and I say could because it depends on the level of curve set in the controls) result in an inadvertent stall if you don't have a very sensitive feel for the elevator. For my takeoffs I personally follow this particular sequence: 1) Stick aft when taxi-ing or at stationary 2) Power to 50% to initiate roll 3) Right rudder - enough to compensate for torque dragging nose left 4) Small amount of right stick to compensate (this will vary with strength of any crosswind component) 5) As speed picks up beyond running pace, throttle up to 100% 6) More right rudder to compensate 7) Stick steadily to neutral 8.) Lessen right rudder and right stick input as speed increases 9) Nose will automatically tend to drop as speed picks up and tail starts to fly - can be helped with some very slight forward stick; just a breath! 10) When tail wheel is off ground hold stick in neutral till speed >90mph 11) Gently lift nose - and I mean gently, does not need much asking at all! 12) Voila! You are airborne! 13) Gear up 14) Reduce revs to 2800 (~84% Prop pitch) 15) Do not immediately attempt to climb steeply; let your speed build into a very shallow climb (sufficient to be avoiding such inconveniences as trees, buildings, high ground, NBA basketball players, etc) and don't start climbing proper till you have at least 150mph on the clock. Best climb in the Spit or Hurri is ~160-170mph Indicated Air Speed, you should be looking for a climb angle at which your plane can hold this speed. You'll need to trim the rudder to reduce the effect of torque induced wing drop at these speeds but it's easy once you have the hang of it. This is not a do-it-this-way-or-die thing (except for point 15 - I would recommend everybody adopts this approach to climb out); Perfs suggestion certainly has mileage, and ultimately, whichever works for you is the way to go.