Basic flying instructions please.

[Echo38]

1. I have great trouble attacking ground targets. When I get the recticle on the target the aircraft moves off target: At which point I can sterr the aircraft in any diirection except back onto target! Why is that?

There are several reasons why, and most of them aren't your fault. The biggest problem is that, unlike real fixed-wing combat aircraft, the ones in Arma do not have their guns aligned with the aircraft's boresight. They're pointing off-center, so you have to "inverse lead" as well as lead the target. That is, you have to not only compensate for bullet drop and for the enemy's motion, but you have to compensate for your own motion as well. You don't have to do that last part in the real deal, because the gun is pointing the same direction that you are.

So, for example, the Arma A-10 has its gun pointing downward, about 10 degrees IIRC. So when your gunsight is aiming at, say, a tank, and you're flying directly toward it, then your bullets will land over and behind it when you fire. So you need to aim under the tank (at the ground between you and the tank, close to the tank). Again, real A-10 pilots don't have this problem because the gunsight is aligned. (Also, they have a computer-assisted gunsight, I believe, but they don't have this problem even if they turn it off.)

Another problem with the gunsight not being aligned properly is the one you're having--rolling the aircraft moves the gunsight around, because the gunsight isn't close to the roll axis. This makes shooting extremely difficult, even for a highly-accomplished virtual pilot. The solution is mostly to zoom in, use rudder, and walk your tracers on target. Do a minimum of rolling; as long as your nose is "mostly" pointed at the target, you can use rudder to do the rest. Practice, as with any virtual (or real) flying activity, is the most important part. Oh! I nearly forgot--the SU-25, alone of all the fixed-wing aircraft in the game, has a cannon which is correctly aligned. Unfortunately, there is very little ammunition in it, so learning gunnery on it can be tricky, but it'll be much, much easier to aim with it.

[Joe98]

When flying a fixed wing aircraft from time to time I need to turn and so I bank the aircraft.

1. Is there a maximum bank angle such as 45 degrees. Beyond the maximum bank angle is bad because......

2. Is there a perfect bank angle or does that vary from one aircraft to another

3. I presume some aircraft can make a tigher turn: What is the reason for that? ( in terms that relate to playing the game).

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[EDcase]

To turn a plane, bank to about 80 degrees and then pull back (nose up). This will make you turn as fast as possible but note that it slows you down so don't let speed get too low or you stall (lose lift).

Banking to much will make you lose lift and extreme bank will make you turn into the ground. (Just experiment)

Same can be done in a helicopter but again, watch your speed. Turning like this is the best way to stop a helicopter as pulling up in level flight will make you gain altitude even if you drop the collective (throttle)

Doing straffing runs is really a case of practice, practice, practice.
You have to get used to predicting where bullets and rockets will hit and turn the aircraft a bit earlier.
Do not get target fixation. Its better to over-fly and try again than end up in the ground (which does happen in real life too)
Remember that throttle setting is important as that affects the height of the impacts, ESPECIALLY in a helicopter.

[TedStryker]

Joe98, I fly with the xbox360 controller, both helo and fixed wing, and it seems effective enough for basic flight. You may have trouble with SA, unless u have trackIR. More advanced (flares, chaff) options require remapping ALL the buttons and thumb sticks though, which is gay. Why the hell cant i just remap the buttons. 360 controller works well otherwise.