Glad to be on-board

[Speed]

Hi Gents,

Thanks to Wolverine for extending an invitation to join 401 Sqn. Been flying CoD solo since last April and have absolutely embraced the mission builder but feel that now is the right time to continue to develop my flying skills with and against human competition. I have been engaged, in a minor fashion, in the 1C Maddox CoD forum and noticed a number of postings from Canadians and Americans flyers so I asked Wolverine earlier this week which server 401 flew under. So now I'm happy to join the fun. I have been flying a MkIIa Spit so I'll have to get back to hone my skills in a Mk1 Hurricane prior to taking on your pilot training (the Hurri has some nasty stall characteristics that my Spit habits might not take kindly to).

Bit of background on me. Still on active service in the Cdn Army as a staff Major here in Kingston (I also do double duty as an Inf Company Commander). Been in the flight sim realm for about three years now having switched back into PC based sims a year ago after having destroyed my PS3 twice (flying an assortment of console flying games that I would not compare to CoD). Have all the gear and a decent rig so hoping that my flying skills will add some combat power to 401. I'm big into historical accuracy but like to have fun mostly. Spent considerable time researching the Spit MkIIa flying characteristics and have taken a special interest in air gunnery, munitions effects and gun convergence settings. Have also found some good references on air combat tactics, formations and Wing operations. I've been off-line for about three weeks as my fancy new Quattron blew a fuse and has gone to TV heaven. George Takei said that he would beam a new one over this Tue so I should be airborne again early next week.

I'm looking forward to getting started. Might need some guidance on servers and comms protocol but that should be straight forward.

Cheers, see you at Angles 10.

[Wolverine]

Great introduction!

Definitely looking forward to flying with you soon. If you haven't already, check out our steam group (No.401 Squadron) and join up. That way you'll be able to see if there are any 401 pilots flying and you can join them. Not everyone is on there (some of our pilots don't appear active), but we're continually gathering new crew!

We try to offer a more complete historically accurate game experience to those who want one. Obviously we have to make a few concessions as it's a game. Participating in the Flight Log and tally board is a great way to make your flights have more value and also allows adds a persistant quality to your aircraft where taking damage is important on those big missions. Once we start getting into campaigns (when the game is patched up properly) we'll be using these logs more and more. Another thing that our server does well is put up historically accurate raids. The server is currently running actual sorties from the 12th of August, 1940. 401 is stationed at Croydon AF. We should change it to Northolt at some point since that is more accurately where they were (they switched fields just before the opening of the battle) but Croydon keeps us closer to the other squadrons and makes it easier to form up.

There should be plenty of flying tomorrow afternoon and Sunday afternoon. No.501 and No.64 squadrons usually have quite a few pilots flying around 3:00pm EST, so hop on the teamspeak server (you can find the settings in the 401 barracks section of the forum) and just jump right in. The brits might give you some stick as a guy from the colonies, but we get our own back. 401 squadron single handedly pulled all the fighter escort off the bombers coming in to Ventnor CH last Sunday and came out with all pilots safe and a few kills to boot!

Hope to see you on the weekend!

MORS CELERRIMA HOSTIBUS

[Speed]

Wolverine, et el,

Ack and thanks for the welcome,

I expect delivery of a replacement TV on Tue as the PC I use for flight sim currently lacks a monitor. Once I get that system up and running my intent would be to join the 401 group forum within Steam on Tue night, download and test Teamspeak 3, and log onto the game server using the IP data/timings provided.

If I can complete that on Tue and get an AC assignment between now and then, then I could complete the pilot training session that night if you or someone from 401 is ready to moderate the flight testing. (I've not flown in almost a month waiting to resolve this TV issue, so I'll get some off-line practice in on the Hurricane earlier in the day). I have no particular preference for a AC assignment, you pick. If R is aval, I could go for that but I don't see it listed. YO-A P3069 would match my avitar but I see that's taken.

I need to know if you have any specific protocol for signing on via Steam and Teamspeak? Normally in the Army when one joins a combat net, they identify the net control call sign they are attempting to communicate with, identify their own callsign, request permission to join the net from the net control station, and then ack when permission is granted. If that's a bit too formal, no problem, I'll treat it as any teleconference and just start talking till someone notices a strange voice. Call sign is DNR until I'm assigned a plane.

I also need to know how to go about setting up AC config in multi-player. If AC are assigned to each individual, can we set up and save our own settings as we do in stand-alone? I have all my gunnery set to 250 yards hor/vert convergence and all inner guns loaded with .303 AP, outer guns loaded with a mix of OC marker, tracer and incendary. Works great.

Have not had a chance to ping the server yet as I'm still on my laptop, so anything I do with respect to the Steam/ATAG/Legio servers I want to do with my tower PC. Same with login to Steam, I already have an account, but don't want to confuse things with a difference IP address between PCs. Also checked out your vids and SOPs etc and am more than willing to help out with anything you need. Been training soldiers and writing plans for 30 plus years so I have much to offer. As for air ops, I'm strictly a novice with some fundamental individual skills in combat flying that I now need to translate into section/squadron flying.

Tue nights are good for me. Sunday afternoons are mostly clear but I do works some weekends (this coming weekend 23-25 Mar 12 is one). As I'm an avid CFL/NFL fan, Sundays might get problematic in the fall, but I'll work that out via TSN2 replays. Once the campaign begins, can't let the Sqn down!!

[Wolverine]

It'd be cool to play on a really big screen. Currently, I'm using a 27" samsung monitor and it's pretty good. One thing I definitely recommend if you don't already have it is a Track IR setup or FreeTrack setup for looking around in the cockpit. A lot of people I know (myself included) have referred to the Track IR as the single most experience enhancing piece of computer flight sim equipment purchased since getting a joystick.

Our comms is a little less formal than that. I like to keep it a little 'task oriented' but there are some evening where it can get chatty with off-topic subjects. We have our own 401 squadron section of the overall group teamspeak server and I can use a separate channel to communicate directly with other squadron leaders while on operation. When you jump in the teamspeak server, just announce your presence, your handle (dnr), and your squadron as well as whatever aircraft markings you'll be using.

I've had BW829 repainted with YO-R markings for you to use. The nice thing is that when you join a multiplayer server and set up your plane, it will save. It's a separate setting when you're in multiplayer so you'll have to set all the guns and convergences again, but you only have to do it once. The squadron codes and serial numbers will save as well. If you fly different aircraft, you need to set each up individually, even for the different marks. Setting up the Spit I will not set up the Spit Ia.

I should be around on Tuesday no problem for flight. I'm currently dealing with an insurance claim to my house caused by damage done by our neighbours, so it's not etched in stone, but I'll make every effort.

[Speed]

Wolverine,

Ack that. If all goes according to plan, I'll log on Tue and get into the pilot training. Thank's for the new skin, YO-R is great. If you're busy with your claim I'm sure someone will enjoy watching the newbie strut his stuff. TrackIR5 is in the bag. Ordered that a week ago and should be here tomorrow. The 70" TV as astonishingly realistic. The cockpit is actual size (around three feet across) so I really get a sense of space. Should be an advantage to the Sqn as well since I might pick up bogies a bit further out than would be possible on a smaller screen.

Tally Ho!!

how do you say that in Canadian?

Tally eh?

[Wolverine]

Finally got a chance to fly tonight. I'll be in for the remainder of the evening on the 401 comms on teamspeak.

[Wolverine]

I'll be on Steam later tonight and flying for certain at some point. Probably starting around 8 or 9pm EDT.

Cheers



Wolverine

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