Wingman training or trapping the Rat

[BigRat]

I'll get off my soap box now and get back to the training stuff.  Maybe we could try something a bit larger tonight.  As most of you know we have a good bunch of the squad with me in this next scenario.  Some practice with that along with teamwork practice would be mutually beneficial.  My scenario squad will be flying 109G6's for the first two frames, the allied plane set against it are P-51B's, 38J's (I know daddog just got interested), and P-47D11's for the first two frames.  So if anybody wants to try and spar these against each other at a high alt field, that would be great by me.

 
BigRat

[Malap]

Sorry can't make it tonight, I feel like I'm getting a cold, I just took some nyquil and i'm off to bed.

[Dichodog]

You know me I like the lumps and bruises but I completely agree with you Big.  Speaking of what are you doing Wednesday night? I could use a little formal training.   

Friday night I let my emotions overrule my intellect and was desperately trying to 'save' someone.  Already committed when I heard the 'we're all down call' I tried to extend and wound up with a conga line on my tail. 

Clear, concise, and effective, communication will raise our survivability in FSO's and every other arena. 

Now, personally, I don't give a hoot about scores.  I play this game to have fun.  Having a fun flight and dying is not a bad night.  Kicking the tar out of the 'bad' guys and everybody getting home safe even if I didn't get a 'kill' etc is much more fun in my book

[BigRat]

Dicho,

I can do Wednesday night, I normally plan from 9 central to 10 central as my training window.  I could do 8:30-9:30 if that works better.  I normally find that after an hour, attention seems to wain, on both ends.  Let me know along with what aircraft you want to work with.

 
BigRat

[Dichodog]

Wed works.

I've got to work on my merges and break the habit of over controlling.  A problem since day one in AH.  Gunnery is awful but I can work that offline.  SpitVII is what I usually train in but I'll take whatever you suggest. 

[BigB]

Well... Now that BigRat is off the soap box, I'll step up and on for a turn... * clears throat *

Juuust kidding... But I did want to toss some thoughts out there. They may be not the best
or inaccurate all together, but maybe will keep or get some additional conversations going.
With only being around the 332nd hanger for 9 months and only in game not much longer, I
guess I would say these are thoughts and observations from the noob..! .. LOL...

Picking a wingman can be tough. ( at least for me ) First, who wants to be saddled with the rookie !! NOT..
But also a true wing pair will need to fly together ALOT. I would think you would want to get to the point that
you not only have your own key words and phrases that you use, you actually get to the point where you just
know what the other will or won't do without even saying it alot of times. To me just picking a guy on the roster
that you know or like a bit better but only flying together in FSO just aint gonna get it. That's more of just a flying
buddy than a true wingman.
I can use myslef as an example just over this last week or so. In the DA I was paired with Daddog and Droptine for a few sorties also with Mookdog for another this past few squad nights. I did horrible. ( sry dad,drop and mook btw )
I was flopping around all over the place and couldn't communicate worth a dang. Yet if I fly BigRat's wing, I feel much more comfortable and feel I do ok for a noob. Why ?.. I think it's because between spending an hour every week with Rat one on one, plus flying in his flight in FSO.. I know how he flies, what he is probably going to do, etc. We don't ( I don't ) comm much, because I don't need to much. BigRat calls out, I respond.. I know my place in the flight. I would dare say BigRat knows my noobness, what I'm gonna do without saying it and he reacts accordingly as well.( poor guy..LOL ) Again, this is my perspective and BigRat's is probably 180deg., realizing that at his skill level winging with a rookie just has to far worse than with an experienced stick. But the point is still the same. I know how he flies and he me.. good or bad..

Just something to consider when looking at wing pairs. Some guys on the squad may not have the desire and/or time to dedicate to AH more than they do now. That is totally fine, but if you pair that guy with someone who wants to take it to a different level, well.. that isn't going to work well and could lead to some sticky situations. Gets kind of tricky for the squad as a whole, I think. This could be the source of some of the hesitation to wing up. It is for me to some extent.

All this said, I will consider it an honor to wing with any of you. ( anybody want to take on the noob ?..LOL )
All I would ask is that we actually fly together somewhat often. In FSO, in the MA, in the DA.. The more we can work together the faster we will become a very deadly pair.. To me that's when it gets fun. When you look forward to seeing your winggie online and the two of you can go out and have a blast.
If no one is ready to babysit the new guy right now.. that's totally aok as well. I will keep learning and practicing and improving until I am at a level that warrants being a good asset to a wingman and thus the squad.
I'm in for the long haul and the betterment of the squad as a whole. Or, until you guys run me off or that thing behind the toilet in the hanger bites me again.

Hope I didn't ramble to much and also that I didn't overstep my bounds or ruffle any feathers here.. not my intent..
Just sharing my thoughts.. right or wrong..

Big <S> to all.. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the pack... BigB...

[Dichodog]

I'd say that about sums it up BigB... 

[BigRat]

BigB,

Actually you being my wingman works out.  If you think about it, that's how the German's normally were setup.  The put the veteran pilot with the less experienced pilot.  If you can think like your wingman, it removes a lot of the need for communication.  For example, If there is a winged pair coming in, I'm always going to go for the trailing one, as to not put me out in front of the trailing mans guns if I went for the lead.  BigB has been taught by me long enough to know that if I can get an alt advantage with a hog, I'm going to change my fighting style to B&Z, rather then continue to try to T&B.  So he knows these things just from watching what I normally do. I'm not the best wingman by any means, I tend to be a better flight leader then a wingman.  BigB also don't sell yourself short, I'm sure you have had more formal training now, then most of these guys have that have been playing for many years.  Think about how your flying was 6 months ago, compared to now.  Huge difference.  I'd feel confident to put you up against most two year players with a Corsair without hesitation.  So BigB I'm happy to have you as a wingman

 
BigRat  

P.S. Oh yea G6 tonight, this will probably be a tough night so be prepared

[Dichodog]

see ya tomorrow large rodent

[BigRat]

Dicho,

Did you want to start at 8:30 or 9 tonight?

 
BigRat

[Dichodog]

whatever works if I can get my comp unwonked..

it started freezing up tonight.  don't know what the deal is. 

Probably an ID10T error.

If you see me on vent I'm golden