How to dogfight with guns only

[Owl]

Hello!

 

I looking for help and advices to have succes in dogfights with guns only. I´m an experienced DCS pilot, but mainly flown a/c and heli, where air to ground missions are the priority. Dogfight haven't really interrested me before now, maybe because I don't really know that do do. I have a little more succes with missiles, but they also fly towards the target, like the gun don't.

 

It is not specific for the F/A-18C, but I'm begun with the Aggressor BFM campaign, there I fly the Hornet. Sometime, I have succes, sometime not, and to be honest, I don´t know why and that I do right/wrong.

 

I am looking for advices from the beginning. (I will mention that I only fly in single player). Your opponent are 10 miles away in front of your nose, fly directly towards you, and at the same level, What are you doing from here?

 

regards

Henrik

Edited February 13 by Owl

[hotrod525]

I'm a bit into the same situation, play DCS for over a decade (OMG it make me feel so old in an instant), focused almost exclusively on ground pounding with A10C, AV8B and F18C.

 

Depending on the situation, FCS Over ride button comes handy, you point the nose and burst, but you might lose alot of energy depending of the opening stage that lead to you over riding FCS. 

For you're scenario, i'll go afterburner, radar lock and in the very very begining of the merge i'll try to shoot it down before we get into the circle. (In other word as he's racing towards me, i'll try to shoot before we start dogfighting) If it didnot work, i'll check what the AI does act accordingly. Depending what i'm fighting too. I wont go into a turn rate fight with an F16 (ex).

There is plenty of content maker (Growling Sidewinders to name one) that make video braking down dogfight, explaining why they turn that way instead of the other, the term etc. It help alot, also, keep in mind that AI dosent follow the same "flight logic" as client does in DCS, it might do things that you cannot do in the same craft.

Edited February 13 by hotrod525

[leon737]

The key is watch your speed. Max sustained turn rate in our Hornet is maintained at 300-350knots. If you're faster, then load bird and\or get out of burners.If you're too slow, then unload and fire your cans. Keep visual on target. I prefer two circle fight on Hornet to get on his six. The Hornet is very capable bird when slow and if you're inside the bandit's circle you can actually steer your nose by rudder and elevator to take a fire solution.

 

[Owl]

Thanks for your replies. I have watched some of Growling Sidewinders videos, and I can for sure recomment them. About turning speed, It was a thing I wasn't thinking about before now. I can see that I before began the merge with speeds around 450-500 kts, because I thought high speed was essential. Now I understand the importence of the right turning speed. Before I also think I was pulling the flightstick to much back, and turning the aircraft to much vertical, so I wasn't aware of loosing too much speed, then buzy with visually follow the opponent.

 

Thank you

Henrik

[Burt]

https://discord.gg/mZ5bqjuH
 

https://discord.gg/V2WR9F6c

 

https://discord.gg/tacticaldcs

 

 

 

here’s a few discord’s that cater to BFM

Lowblows BFM clinic twitch videos are great and he explains tactics as he’s fighting. The best why to fight with guns is to get on multiplayer dogfight severs and fight against humans. If you can take the beatings you will get better. 
 

Edited February 15 by Burt

[wilbur81]

The Hornet is THE BOSS in the gunzo fight. Give her lots of rudder.

[markturner1960]

On 2/15/2021 at 1:29 PM, Burt said:

https://discord.gg/mZ5bqjuH
 

https://discord.gg/V2WR9F6c

 

https://discord.gg/tacticaldcs

 

 

 

here’s a few discord’s that cater to BFM

Lowblows BFM clinic twitch videos are great and he explains tactics as he’s fighting. The best why to fight with guns is to get on multiplayer dogfight severs and fight against humans. If you can take the beatings you will get better. 
 

 

Hi Burt, that Twitch channel for Low Blow seems unavailable, do you have a better link? Cheers

[Burt]

LowBlowTTV

https://www.twitch.tv/lowblowttv

 

try this

[Burt]

Hey Mark I notice your VR settings. What are putting your steamvr video multiplier % at ? I have the G2 and in the tweaking stage. 
Thx

or this one.
 

Watch https://twitch.tv/lowblowttv with me on Twitch! LowBlowTTV

[Burt]

I just checked that link and your right it doesn’t work. I’ll check with him to see what’s up it maybe down, I’ll get back with you.

Edited February 17 by Burt

[Burt]

Ok it should work now , let me know if not

 

thx and take care