wulfer posted 12-21-98 02:51 PM ET (US)        

In WB, how effective is it to use the sun to hide. I have not really been able to use the sun for attack purposes (its always either too high, or on the other side of my target).

I have tried to use it some to escape, when the on-line time was late or early, and the sun was low enough for me to fly directly into. I really don't know how effective it was against my attacker. I have seen it used (intentionally or not) by pilots trying to get away from me. It sometimes worked fairly well, but I've never lost my target in the sun for more than a few seconds. Even then, I was able to reacquire him.

So, have you been able to use the WB Sun to good effect? If so, how is best?

Oh, and just how long is a WB day anyway?

wulfer

from out of nowhere! Check six ya'll!

Bino posted 12-21-98 03:27 PM ET (US)            

The first time I did, it was almost by accident... In the WaterWorld map, my Gold homeland's F30 was under assault from a steady stream of heavy Green fighters flying West from F22. I took off from F1 in an FW-190A-4, well to the South of that furball. As I climbed North toward F22, I noticed that the sun was low on the Eastern horizon, so I turned to about 020. I arrived just East of F22 at about 5 Km altitude, up-sun from the field. I spotted a P-47 climbing out slowly toward the West, with his back to me. I dove steeply to just below his altitude, raced in on his six and blew him up: he never even saw me. Having the sun at my back didn't hurt, I reckon. I then climbed out to the North, circled around to the East, and repeated the successful formula on an F4U.

bino--

II./JG54

bino.warbirds.org

"Wow, you people from New Jersey, you're the Gypsies of the Galaxy!"

funked posted 12-21-98 03:59 PM ET (US)            

I do the same exact thing Bino described. Go to the sunward side of a field where people are flying away from the sun. Easy kills on climbers.

Also, most of the embarrasing bounces I have suffered were accomplished this way. -corn- and retnuh have both hosed me this way in the last few weeks.

Funked Up

=925 CABS=

Mors Ab Alto!

DGSBDY posted 12-21-98 07:10 PM ET (US)            

I always take the sun into account. Just alter your course to target to arrive on that side of field. Also usually climbing into the sun is a good idea, to thwart unseen bounces and especially after a bounce. Try this:approach head on to a bandit (or from 11 or 2 oclock) high and with the sun at your back, An overhead run curving down on his tail is extremely effective as he usually doesnt know you're there until you are visible close in at his high 6. Running into the sun has helped me escape on at least 2-3 occasions basically 'cause sucker on my tail just ran himself out of ammo shooting into the glare, and hilariously called me "lucky" and a "sun dweeb" LOL

carrie posted 12-22-98 02:14 AM ET (US)         

A Warbirds Day is 2 hours.

I've hidden my massive B17 in the sun. It's especially effective when taking off from a vultched field.

Carrie

Bombom posted 12-22-98 03:25 AM ET (US)            

:So, have you been able to use the WB Sun to good effect? If so, how is best?

I try to stay upsun at all times, and attack with the sun in my back if at all possible. I rarely escape into the sun - I've had many easy kills on people who think they're invisible in the sun. Not!

Dawn and dusk seem to yield best bang/ray... with the sun overhead at midday, it's mostly good for making the nme lose sight, not for masking the attack. IMO.

-bmbm-, CO Royal Swedish Air Force

Fighting for Bullens Pilsnerkorv and lukewarm beer worldwide

Deft posted 12-22-98 04:21 AM ET (US)            

You can't really expect to "dissappear" in the sun as its next to impossible to stay directly in between all nearby enemies and their line of sight to the sun.

As far as using the sun to evade an enemy you are already engaged with, it will only help if you have superior energy and accelerate away from your attacker toward the sun. You can use the sun to partially cover a reverse.

Running blindly to the sun really wont help if that direction doesn't lead you home. It also blinds you of any plane that may be coming down your 12.

What its good for is masking what kind of plane you are in. A planes icon dissappears long before the sun will completely mask the plane. You can effectively conceal your plane type from a much larger group. This gives you the advantage of knowing your enemies capabilities when they don't know yours.

Your reactions are different depending upon what an enemy con is. Your not going to HO a superior alt FW but you might climb to a p40 in a 109. If you don't know what kind of plane your enemy is in until he is upon you, he is dictating the fight, and you will probably lose .......... part of your plane

deft