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Most of us, as "accomplished combat flight simulator pilots", may think we know how to fly just fine. We're probably correct. Others are new to the hobby and lack the "finesse" involved in pushing the pixels around the screen so skillfully as to justify being called an "ace". All of us, at one level or another, believe that the IL2 platform provides an unsurpassed level of realism, and that when we "strap on our virtual plane" we are, in some way at least, experiencing what it must have been like to fly the "real thing". Very few of us know how the "real thing" would have been flown, from the moment the pilot first sat in the cockpit before each mission, through the engine start-up, taxiing, take off, and ultimately the approach and landing. The web is full of sites that provide tips on combat maneuvering, situational awareness, and "do's and don'ts", but there is a dearth of information on how to approach the role of simulation pilot from a "real world" perspective. In the following pages Ramblin' Jack offers the inquisitive pilot, or would-be pilot, an approach to sim flying from the perspective of actual aeronautical knowledge and flight methodology. While some of the information is a bit dry, all of it is helpful and mastering it, or even putting some of it into practice, will make us all better "virtual pilots". At the very least, learning these lessons will make the immersion level of our hobby much deeper. Here, for your enjoyment, are Ramblin' Jack's lessons. If you have comments or contributions, please feel free to contact RJ by or join in the discussions on our forum (reachable at the link in the menu above). |