Coming Back Alive: European Air War by Jim "Twitch" Tittle
	Fighter vs. Fighter Fighter vs. fighter can be an endless tactical dialogue. For now we will touch on the basics. The German A.I. never challenges my formation head-on like I tackle them when I fly as an Ally. I have always taken the cue from Bob Johnson's real P-47 experience in sim flying- break up the enemy attack head-on. Mimicking the real head-on attacks has mixed results. If the aircraft are axis to axis and at equal altitude or a hair below, you can usually score. The P-47 has high marks here with its firepower. It you are not intersecting exactly nose to nose you can easily miss the deflection. Use the magnification key "+" to see ahead. Remember that distances close rapidly when you are flying head to head. Aim carefully. Enemy artificial intelligence seem to use mostly the same moves over and over. The Germans will roll over and split-S repeatedly until they run out of altitude, then they will roll a lot to throw off your aim. However, their constant rolls allow you to close the distance. They also do a maneuver that appears to be the beginning of a split-S then they twist around rolling, toward their original heading. Avoid getting too close; 700-900 feet (225- 300 meters) is good. Much closer and you miss quick moves. The Germans especially love to chop the throttle and make you over-shoot. Outside loops are a usable defense if you begin with plenty of altitude. They seem to throw off the A.I. If you don't have the energy you will know soon enough as the plane will not bend over and through in comparison to the rate the ground is rushing up at you. At least you can turn your outside loop into a dive and hopefully distance yourself from your pursuer. Click to continue		I recall the gripe of pilots in Aces Over Europe that you could do nothing to get away. The A.I. had a single-minded mission - to get you. Unlike AOE you will find that during the initial clash of combat you will not feel as though every enemy fighter is gunning for you. If you are over friendly territory and damaged you can use the "shift e" command to locate an airfield. Landing there will not improve your score apart from landing in a field but doing it lends the "feel" of an emergency limp in. I have noticed that late '44 on to the end the German A.I. uses a unique move. They put their planes into extremely SLOW maneuvers which throw you off tremendously. I have heard that they have been known to even drop their landing gear in order to slow down though I've not seen it. There are other other complaints I've heard about the A.I., but this is sophisticated stuff! ENTER THE PATCH After installing the version Me 110. Heavier aircraft will be at a disadvantage in vertical manouvers as speed bleeds off. If you do not nail your enemy first the lighter planes will out maneuver you at slow speed and likely end up on your butt! Shoot from as far away as your skill allows. Post Patch Modeling Flaws The patch definitely makes the Me 110's better than reality. A P-47 can no longer turn with them, they seem to always be going too fast, and they perform the same vertical stunts as the single-engined fighters! Their low altitude split- S exhibitions leave my jaw on the table. Yes, they do smack into the ground sometimes while fleeing you but usually they survive. Go to Page Four
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