FA off testing

Daveh

D
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the use of FA off for faster turning so I did some testing. I used a Viper with mostly A modules, targeted a Nav beacon from a distance, and started flying directly away from it so the hollow dot was in the middle of the screen. Engine was in the middle of the blue zone. I then timed 180 degree flip turns by pitching my nose up at maximum until the Nav beacon ended up in the middle of my canopy view. I did this multiple times with each of the following: FA, FA off, FA down thrust, FA off down thrust, FA up thrust, FA off up thrust, FA boost, FA off boost.

The only technique that had an average 180 time less than FA was FA off boost. Neither vertical thruster direction lowered times. FA boost appeared to start a rapid flip but rotation slowed as speed increased. The times for FA down thrust were significantly slower than for FA when I was expecting thrusting in the opposite direction of the pitch to increase turn speed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
 

Sexydino

S
Daveh said:
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the use of FA off for faster turning so I did some testing. I used a Viper with mostly A modules, targeted a Nav beacon from a distance, and started flying directly away from it so the hollow dot was in the middle of the screen. Engine was in the middle of the blue zone. I then timed 180 degree flip turns by pitching my nose up at maximum until the Nav beacon ended up in the middle of my canopy view. I did this multiple times with each of the following: FA, FA off, FA down thrust, FA off down thrust, FA up thrust, FA off up thrust, FA boost, FA off boost.

The only technique that had an average 180 time less than FA was FA off boost. Neither vertical thruster direction lowered times. FA boost appeared to start a rapid flip but rotation slowed as speed increased. The times for FA down thrust were significantly slower than for FA when I was expecting thrusting in the opposite direction of the pitch to increase turn speed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I use FA off about 50% of the entire time in combat, and mostly only FA-ON like the PAC system on the A-10C to steady the aim whilst I fire,

In my experience - which may be subject to placebo :) I'm generally aware of the following

Lateral thrust + opposite pitch + FA off, generally = *slightly* better turning speed, which gives you a slight advantage, but it also depends on how fast you're moving when you do it, and which direction you're facing. But can be significant if your opponent is NOT using FA-OFF, you'll find yourself getting behind him much quicker.

FA-Off boost, combined with lateral-thrust and opposite pitch also seems to be quite a bit quicker - it was much quicker in the Python and feels much quicker in the Anaconda - which turns like a dog anyway.

I'd also add, that sideways lateral thrust - combined with FA-OFF + opposite yaw can be really handy - like circle strafing in an FPS game, as you can stay on the target whilst avoiding things like dumbfires, and it also makes you more akward to hit.

my 2 cents :)
 
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