One of the first things I noticed about air-to-air combat in this game is that its impossible to sneak up on an enemy fighter in this game--it's like the AI has perfect knoweldge of where all other aircraft are.  Fighters carrying bombs don't react until you get close, but they still suddenly break when they can not possibly see you because you are below and behind them.

This is particularly unrealistic, because, based on all I've read about air-air combat in WWII, surprise/seeing the enemy first was the most important thing!  I recall reading somewhere that most fighters were shot down by planes they never knew about (didn't see).

I recently read the biography or Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring ace of WW II and all time (352 victories).  You know what his view on ariel combat was?  Avoid dogfighting at all costs!  He would just fly around, looking for opportunities to attack Red fighters that didn't see him (twice, near the end of the war, he would see patrols of U.S. and Red fighters warily eyeing each other.  He would sneak in, shoot a Red fighter or two, then watch as the Americans and Russians would start dogfighting each other).

I also read Chuck Yeager's biography (about 15 years ago), and seem to remember him saying that his most valuable asset as a fighter pilot was his ability to see German fighters before anyone else--seeing the enemy first was essential.

So it seems to me that the designers of this game have left out the most important part of WW II air combat--the element of surprise.

I've bounced aircraft in CFS3... Just go in fast.

Also in CFS2. I've sneaked right into enemy formations before blowing up the leader. At which point both wingmen break and collide which means an entire formation has been destroyed with about 20 rounds.

what?  Whiskey_Zulu, have you tried going under and behind a fighter? that works for me, they dont see ya and speed does count, the faster you go and the slower there responce is

It's because there ready for a fight just like you are. Try flying a mission of some type and try boucing them then.

Also speed has alot to do with it. The faster you go the less time they have to respond to your attack.

I was playing the game in a regular mission (not a quick mission), and it's impossible to sneak up on an enemy fighter in the middle of a dogfight.  I was fighting against a rookie pilot, who was busy shooting at a plane on my side, and I couldn't close to within 400 yards without the enemy pilot breaking.  This is highly unrealistic because:

(1.) I was directly behind him, and he would have great difficulty turning his head to see me.

(2.) He was busy shooting an aircraft on my side, so he would be very unlikely to take the time to do (1)

(3.) The enemy pilot was rookie, who historically lose focus of everything in a dogfight but what's right in front of them, especially if they are firing their guns at an enemy.

It's obvious that, except in the instance before firing between squadrons has begun, the AI pilots have omniscience.

The more I play this game, the more I think it sucks.  It's just not very realistic, especially considering the available technology.  I played air combat simulators ten years ago that were just as realistic.  It's sad considering how easy it would be to make it much better.

i LOVE this game it gives me a rush especially trying to bellyland,if ya want mostly dogfights go back to cfs2.
if i did not like this game so much i wouldn' t spend s mush time trying to make it run smoother.

by the way how do you pick out a rookie all from a vet? 8)

Quote:

Is this a joke?

Quote:

I recently read two books on WW2 combat, and one thing I noted is that rookie pilots tend not to follow these rules that well.  That's why they tended to get shot down a lot.

Quote:

While he is shooting at the plane in front of him?  I just read the biography of Erich Hartmann, the WW2 German ace with 352 kills, and the only times he ever got shot down were in the middle of a dogfight, because he was occupied with shooting the aircraft in front of him.

Your points might be more valid if occasionally in the middle of a dogfight you could sneak up on an AI plane.  The point is (based on what I've seen) you never can do it.