Jabo Tactics
by BBGun
KEY! Have a RELAXED STICK when you release the package.
Know your target BEFORE you start your run. Try to line up your run so you
can adjust to a secondary target if your's dies before you get there.
My preferred "I've got time to set up a run" tactic is to approach the field at
about 9,000 to 11,000 feet. I fly past my target to verify it is up. I then
chop throttle and bring the nose UP to drop my speed to near zero. I then wing
over into an approximately 70 degree dive, using my stick to push my nose onto
the target. This angle of the dive is why you want your starting speed near zero.
The planes we fly pick up speed quickly in a dive - if you start with a good amount
of speed, you will either lock up, shake apart, or snap a spar during the pullout.
I line the target up to be about 1/8" (at 1024 resolution on 17" monitor) above the
center of the gunsight. If I have time and/or have set up a good approach, I hit
"Auto angle" trim to trim my plane to that dive angle with the target lined up. If
not, I use manual trim and, um, vigorous stick movements to wrestle the nose into
position. Ideally, you are lined up and ready to drop at about 2500 feet, and are
applying NO pressure to your stick to keep the nose on target. You then shut off
autoangle or stop clicking your manual trim and let your nose float up so the target
passes through the center of your gunsight. When it reaches about 1/16" to 1/8" below
the center of the gunsight (you should be at about 1500 feet), pickle the egg, continue
your pull out, and hit full throttle with wep for a long rolling extension. You need
to get horizontal distance as well as vertical to protect yourself from the ack. Gentle
e-conserving rolls generally throw the ack's aim off enough to allow a clean getaway and
a return for another pass.
That's all there is too it. As usual, I find the pony is the easiest to control doing
this, but all planes with good high speed authority (read: Rebel's Jug) are good dive
bombers. The Stuka really is a killer bomber, for early war strikes. The P40 is NOT a
good dive bomber because of its control stiffness at high speeds.
Some people advocate doing a pure vertical drop. I have trouble doing this and usually
end up dropping the egg long. As you practice with this technique, you can start your
runs lower and lower as you get more and more used to how your plane responds to stick
and trim input in a dive. You can also learn to "loft" eggs if your dive is too shallow
or your speed is too low. I.e. if you KNOW your egg is going to be short, you can give
your nose a soft pull as you release the egg to "toss" it onto the target.
Rockets use the same technique, but the dive angle can be shallower. Again, the key is a
relaxed stick when you pickle the rockets off. But, you can't "toss" rockets. :)
I will get some screenshots up of my sight picture soon, so you can see what it looks like
from my view.
Good luck, now go out and PRACTICE!
BB
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