ATAG Bomber Group?

[InvaderZim]

As many of you know our conversation on forming an ATAG bomb group primarily for the North American time zones (or any corresponding time zone), turned into an event.

Many of the organized bomb groups are in the EU time zones and are hard for the North Americans to participate in. To that end I am asking the question here and now to see if there is “any” interest!
Without interest and participation the effort is DOA.

If ATAG allows it we could run bomber keyboard set up, start up, and infrequent formation training and mission planning. Talking once or twice a month on ATAG 1 or 2 as agreed.

No firm commitments needed. Just a desire to “play to win” by rolling maps and willingness to join in when the call for bomber pilots officially goes out.
The remainder of the flying for combat practice would be done in ATAG server 1 on adhoc nightly basis (just jump in and play) and maybe organized events and sorties as agreed within the group.

We will need 2 or 3 committed volunteers to organize and lead training when one leader can’t make it due to time and family demands (life).

We will need ATAGs blessing to use the cockpit training channel.

We will need to advertise the training by word of mouth in server, posts etc.

We will need to actively recruit!

If we get volunteers we will need follow through for an indefinite time training pilots and maintaining a training staff to ensure new pilots have a place to turn without feeling they are interrupting something in the main channel.

I will volunteer 1 night a month for training and give up game play for at least an hour to anyone at any time they request training provided I am not in the middle of a bomb run. I will move right to them when the run is over. The same would be expected of bomb leaders and willing bomber pilots.

IS THERE INTEREST?

[ATAG_Colander]

Feel free to use TS and the servers.
That's what they are there for

[bryandraves]

More than happy to organize and train.

[Decay]

Post Dates and Times Please.

Will come Timezone permitting.

[InvaderZim]

Copy, WILCO when we are firm.

[InvaderZim]

Fighter pilots don't be afraid. We want fighter pilots who are interested in being dual role. If all of a sudden on a map we have enough bombers and no escorts, it''s nice to have pilots who can quickly hop in a 109 or Spitty to cover us.

We will cover all the bombers in CLOD, RED and BLUE.

[InvaderZim]

Would appreciate a renowned RED bomber volunteer to cover the Blennie particulars.

[PhilipWebb]

Hello;
I would like a piece of this action. I can fly all of the bombers and with a decreased work load, bomb at higher altitudes as a bombardier. Man the defensive MGs too. Of course I can do low level and navigate fairly well now.
I can be found online most of the time and one night a week is no problem. PM or TS contact anytime - I shall respond.

Von Webber in Luftwaffe side
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[bryandraves]

I'll be on later today If anyone wants to practice some high level runs.

[SlowerBanterSir]

I'm happy to help with Blennies, if needed. I've flown 'em enough to train a newbie, at least -- and I've been perfecting my altitude bombing skills recently, in case anyone needs the basics there.

Not one for the Blue bombers, but let me know if you can use my help for Red. My work/life schedule sometimes precludes me from whole nights of continuous playing, but I'm free for at least an hour or two most weeknights and longer most weekends (Eastern time).

[ATAG_Paranoid_Glitch]

best of luck with this chaps- organised and dedicated bomber groups add tremendously to this sim.

A few months back we had a very strong "band of blennies", but it has thinned out a bit recently. Would be great to have a revived bomber presence on the server.

I am in the UK so can't cover the US timezones, but I would be happy to be available to anyone in the UK/Europe timezones to pass on the knowledge Septic and DRock taught me about Blennie level bombing and the like.

I work full time, but if anyone would like some training sessions, feel free to PM me and I'm sure we can arrange something, work commitments permitting.

S!

Paranoid

[InvaderZim]

I will start building a list of interested folks here and we can keep bumping it up. At some point when we think we have enough we will begin the the time zone planing and set the time for organized basic training nights. If turnout os good we will be in prep for an even bigger bomber event in the future.

Interested Parties:

InvaderZim
bryandraves
SlowerBanterSir
PhilipWebb
Decay


Folks who already bomber train bomber newbs (like me) routinely on adhoc basis:
ATAG_BKellum
ATAG_DRock
ATAG_Paranoid

[InvaderZim]

THX, Paranoid and SBS

I neeed Blennie bombsight training myself. Very cool, thank you.

Thanks for the offer on the EU time zone help. I certianly don't want to leave them out. Just thought y'all had already done this on your side of the pond. Truly all are welcome and I am glad to see the EU time zone step up! Somthing we can add to our timezone planning perhaps?

[InvaderZim]

BTW, I will restate my comment on trainning in the middle of a bomb run: If you want, I will stick ya in the bombadier seat and do the sight training right then and there in the proverbial batisim of fire.

[InvaderZim]

Feel free to use TS and the servers.
That's what they are there for

Thanks Colander. And A BIG THANKS for the support on Saturday.

[SlowerBanterSir]

I neeed Blennie bombsight training myself. Very cool, thank you.

Sounds good. You (or anyone else) can always PM me to discuss bombsights, altitude work, etc.

The good thing about learning Blennies is that you don't really have to learn high-altitude work, so it'll be easy to teach new guys the basics just at low altitude (I taught myself high-alt partly in preparation for the Wellington's eventual arrival, haha). Students can move on to the fancy stuff like bombsights whenever they feel like it.

Thanks to a few guys on this server, I went from twin-engine rookie to tolerable Blenny pilot in, like, two days. So, given just a handful of teachers and some interested learners, we should be able to churn out North American bomber pilots at a good pace. ...At least on Red. I don't know how the heck those Germans do things.

[PhilipWebb]

PM sent

[InvaderZim]

Germans got it a bit harder but not much. If Blennies go 2 days Germans go 3-4 days. We do high altitude frequently and plenty of low level but we have several bombers to discuss (88,87,111,110,BR20 and the E4B). Variety is the spice of life!

[DRock]

If you are going to pass the knowledge to others, teach perfection.

Start bombing from 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20,000 ft+. Get accuracy, before altitude.

Use the LOTFE 7 chart to get target altitudes, and convert IAS to TAS for Axis bombers.

http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/utils/lotfe7.html

Account for wind (drift), and level the aircraft. Nose up will cause bombs to carry for a bit, nose down will drop bombs sooner.

Also, weight of bomb seems to be modeled. The 250s seem to have greater accuracy.


Good luck, and have fun.

[xvii-Dietrich]

-

[ATAG_Flare]

I'd be interested on bombing for Red, but I'm away from home for the next six weeks. (My high alt bombing skills need work as well!) But when I get back id be interested in this.

Flare

[InvaderZim]

I will start building a list of interested folks here and we can keep bumping it up. At some point when we think we have enough we will begin the the time zone planing and set the time for organized basic training nights. If turnout os good we will be in prep for an even bigger bomber event in the future.

Interested Parties:

InvaderZim
bryandraves
SlowerBanterSir
PhilipWebb
Decay
flare2000x


EU Contingent
Rain
xvii-Dietrich



Folks who already bomber train bomber newbs (like me) routinely on adhoc basis:
ATAG_BKellum
ATAG_DRock
ATAG_Paranoid

Names added, see above.

[InvaderZim]

Ok, looks like there is enough interest. I will use the “build it and they will come” philosophy.

This is what I envision:

All ATAG players wanting to bomb learn both Blue and Red! This facilitates balancing sides on lopsided nights and provides a mechanism by which, if another server group challenges ATAG, ATAG bombers are able to fly any side bombers to which we are assigned.

1) We select a time and date and post it here.
2) We post the time and date in the General - Pilots Bar and Flight School threads.
3) We meet in the ATAG 2 server so we can literally take flights unmolested.
4) We use the cockpit training channel on ATAG 2.
5) We spawn in as a JU88 and move to item 6. (Key assignments, I give this, it works on all bombers and the 88 requires the most assignments. So when done it applies to all bombers Red or Blue.)
6) We go over key assignment “suggestions” and necessary in game windows set up for bombers. I will give the ones given to me by ATAGers and reasons why it works.
7) While on ground we go over the Lofte7 bombsight commands for Ju88 while looking through the sight so folks can see how it works. We WILL NOT do a long bomb run. Just explain. We can do runs in the main server later if folks want.
8) We (I) explain Ju88 compass, auto pilot and controls, and we take off. We do a quick form up around the base, auto pilot set up and engage, do mode 22, drop bombs (on nothing) and land. This takes care of the basics for JU88 and most of the German twin engine bombers and basic Blennie (next).
9) We take and answer questions.

10) We hop in a Blenheim and “WHO” is going to explain the easiness of flying the Blennie. I can but would rather have an experienced RED Pilot explain.
11) The RED Pilot goes over the Blennie bombsight (key assignments) compass, auto pilot and controls while we sit on the ground and fidget with it.
12) We take off in the Blennie form up, set up auto pilot, mode22, drop bombs and land.
13) We take and answer questions.

End lesson 1. Estimate 1 hr 45 minutes.

We do 110 and Stuka in the next session.

I propose the following times and date in order to recruit a Red instructor, give recruiting time on the channels/web site and let instructor prepare for the training event:

February 21st 2015

GMT= 2000 hrs
USA PAC= 1200 hrs
Centra US= 1400 hrs
US East= 1500 hrs
Central EU= 2100 hrs
OZ Melbourne= 0700 hrs

Just a suggestion. If somebody wants to offer another time date sooner just say. All aspects are open to comment and suggestion.

ZIM

[PhilipWebb]

Very good....I'll be there

Post Script: I do find that the Blennies are easy to fly and trim-out than the He-111 and JU-88s.

[InvaderZim]

We got a half a..ed RED Blennie pilot wlling to show us the ropes?

You ain't gotta be a GURU, just willing to share!

Maybe show us the SNARGLE?

[bryandraves]

Hey guys,

How about for the next event we bomber pilots fly 111s? I know they're a little slower but the defense armament is greater and they can take a pounding and still fly.

[hauggy]

I'd love to join such an event, where do I sign ?
I'm in France but North American time zone shouldn't be an issue for me.

[InvaderZim]

Hey guys,

How about for the next event we bomber pilots fly 111s? I know they're a little slower but the defense armament is greater and they can take a pounding and still fly.

Sure. No Big!

Bryan can you do us a favor and come up with a several leg sorti map for HE111 and mixed bombers for a map like the "bomb the night fighters/Winter night raiders"(Forget the real name of it). Similar to the one I sent you for sealion/Hellfire. Perhaps we can get a tactical library of full game sorties going so we always have a plan going in to any map.

No pressure or obligation, Just a request.

ZIM

[InvaderZim]

I'd love to join such an event, where do I sign ?
I'm in France but North American time zone shouldn't be an issue for me.

Welcome,thanks for the interest and no worries, adding your name to the list. We will notify you when we are firm with a plan.

[InvaderZim]

LIST UPDATE

I will start building a list of interested folks here and we can keep bumping it up. At some point when we think we have enough we will begin the the time zone planing and set the time for organized basic training nights. If turnout os good we will be in prep for an even bigger bomber event in the future.

Interested Parties:

InvaderZim
bryandraves
SlowerBanterSir
PhilipWebb
Decay
flare2000x
69th_Turn


EU Contingent:

Rain (Croatia)
xvii-Dietrich (Norway)
Hauggy (France)



Folks who already bomber train bomber newbs (like me) routinely on adhoc basis:
ATAG_BKellum
ATAG_DRock
ATAG_Paranoid

List Updated 2/11/2015