Flying Circus — the utility of solo flights

[Lufberyjaa]

One of the best things (in my opinion, anyway) about IL2-FC are the solo flights. I use them to practice take-offs (pretty easy), aerobatics, spin recoveries, and landings (surprisingly hard in some planes).

I can make a DH-4 touch down like a feather and perfectly straight, but the SSW D.IV ground loops nearly every time -- thankfully without damage. I obviously need more practice in that plane.

I get a kick practicing Immelmann turns while flying a Fokker E.III marked with Immelmann's colors. 🙂 One key I learned is that for the Fokker E.III, it works best to cut the engine at the top before hitting the rudder and bring it back on when pulling out.

I think the key is that this game's flight model, while not without flaw, is good enough that the planes feel pretty good and require real skill to fly even before you get into combat.

[Catch]

It takes an individual of extraordinarily great taste, class and intelligence to extol the virtues of these crates from the very beginnings of aviation. Yes, some would argue they were merely crude instruments of war and not worthy of exploration, but gosh, what instruments they were, and crudity does not exclude beauty. Why some forsake the opportunity to experience such wonder baffles me. I could offer an explanation, but as a gentleman, it would be beneath me to do so.

 

[Avimimus]

I've found touch-and-gos with the WWI aircraft to be particularly satisfying. The aircraft all have their quirks, which makes the whole cycle of take-off, aerobatics, landing, taking-off again etc. quite enjoyable.

Another thing I had fun doing was flying the Sopwith Triplane down city streets - for a while there I had a bunch of different race-courses with different degrees of difficulty mapped out (but that was on the old Arras map).