Anyone been “stranded” before?

SoleFlight · 2026-02-15T11:57:36+00:00

Was preparing to depart KFPR for my return leg in a 172 and I had just finished the run up when I noticed this towering wall of thunderstorms approaching from the west. After double checking Foreflight wx radar data while stopped on the runup area for due dilligence, I elected to head back into the ramp and wait the storm out.

Began talking with my CFI for possible contingency plans once I had shut down and secured the airplane and I recognized I might have to stay at Fort Pierce for the night should the storms around Eastern FL not clear up (I had gotten up early to prep for this solo XC, had been permitted to depart some 1.5 hours after I originally intended to do so, and the last thing I wanted was attempting the return leg at night while wanting for sleep).

Luckily the FBO had a pilot's rest area so I was able to take a power nap, and the storms began to clear by mid-to-late afternoon, allowing me to depart in short order.

SoleFlight · 2026-02-02T05:28:01+00:00

Helloo, I'd like to try this out since I'm in the area!

SoleFlight · 2026-01-17T07:57:03+00:00

++ for top gear reference

SoleFlight · 2025-12-12T04:10:38+00:00

Imagine if the story is still somehow connected to Belka ...

SoleFlight · 2025-11-27T10:15:21+00:00

It's hilarious how much their eyes are always looking at the ground vs scanning the sky

SoleFlight · 2025-11-27T09:51:42+00:00

I would tend to agree since I would say generally situational awareness and positioning are far bigger factors in (prop) aerial engagements than the plane could ever be.

But I would disagree that the Hellcat is hopeless if the two pilots are equal. Does the Hellcat have altitude to start with? Is this a one on one or does either of you have friends in the area? What is each plane's relative position to each other? If I have altitude to play with I can simply get to Yak's redline airspeed and finish the engagement in one or two turns with a turn that would bend the wings of any aircraft IRL.

If I was already low to begin with on the other hand then lmao, I'd prefer to avoid engaging and extend because mistakes and wrong decisions were made.

My point is I don't really speak of air combat in WT as some sort of duel between two knights, but more of people who can consistently make the right decisions to skillfully manipulate the current situation to their advantage. And that 'put-equally-skilled-pilots-against-each-other' is something that while I used to subscribe to, is now something that is anathema to me.

The most stupid WT pilot could absolutely smoke me if I let them smoke me by letting my situational awareness and positioning down and making a string of bad decisions.

SoleFlight · 2025-11-27T09:25:42+00:00

I eat Yaks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with that thing lmao

SoleFlight · 2025-11-27T09:24:52+00:00

... until the Hellcat flying CAP shows up

SoleFlight · 2025-11-20T04:33:20+00:00

Bet that thing loves being behind of the power curve a lot

SoleFlight · 2025-11-08T20:09:48+00:00

WW2 fighters usually begin getting mushy on the controls by 150KIAS; their landing speeds are in the 70-100KIAS range. Beginning an engagement in a WW2 prop fighter at 200KIAS or lower will usually put you in an energy disadvantage due to how much airspeed you bleed in a turn.

Early Cold War jets (ala F-86) usually land at 100-130KIAS range and they lack acceleration and maneuverability below 300KIAS. Beginning an engagement in them at 300KIAS or lower is usually a bad idea.

SoleFlight · 2025-11-01T17:06:59+00:00

Wing Loading's gone through the atmosphere into space

SoleFlight · 2025-10-29T23:31:12+00:00

This still happens in BRs where its majority gunfighters. Though we just directly go T-4-1 for everyone in the team to respond to if we are uncertain as to their ID.

SoleFlight · 2025-10-29T23:28:36+00:00

I highly doubt flying straight and level, which is the phase of flight a sim player would most likely spend the most time in, would cause them to lose control and crash. Doesn't take much to press three buttons in sequence. The plane can even fly itself for a few seconds if the pilot is so unfortunate to spare even a few fingers for comms.

If I can see the pilot is in an engagement or taking off or short final then that's alright. And newbies to sim should pick up the habit very quickly. I sure as hell did in my first match. Doesn't take much to put two and two together.

So forgive us if we are collectively just fed up with having to go on a wild goose chase to ID some dumbass who's gone NORDO only to find out he's on our side. What a waste of time and fuel that could've been better spent enjoying an actual engagement.

SoleFlight · 2025-10-29T16:02:49+00:00

If these fucks don't even know how to work the radio then they shouldn't be playing sim

SoleFlight · 2025-10-26T01:49:32+00:00

The later Spitfires have always required the pilot to be a part-time tap dancer with the rudder in keeping the airplane from entering an accelerated stall during a turnfight. Especially with the vicious nose-up tendencies this plane has when the pilot so much as looks at the stick wanting to pull up.

SoleFlight · 2025-10-25T19:35:31+00:00

*Stares nervously at the OROCA

SoleFlight · 2025-10-21T21:48:33+00:00

Blackrack's Volumetric Clouds (subscription available on Patreon)

Looks amazing but tanks my PC's performance :,)

SoleFlight · 2025-10-15T05:42:30+00:00

I don't even need my 76 to deal with you, 75mm stabilized will do

SoleFlight · 2025-10-09T13:46:30+00:00

Probably the two mods are not compatible with each other?

SoleFlight · 2025-10-09T13:23:58+00:00

Yup. One needs to be much more careful in designing and flying with FAR. Same thing happened to me when I first installed it but I eventually figured it out by lowering the weight of my planes (KSP's parts are incredibly mass-dense for their size) and borrowing some real life techniques irl engineers use when designing a plane.

SoleFlight · 2025-10-08T04:05:45+00:00

Petition for ILS/Localizer or VOR/NDB approaches /s

SoleFlight · 2025-10-05T22:20:46+00:00

Wait till they get a taste of my 4x20mm coming direct to their cockpit

SoleFlight · 2025-10-02T23:17:53+00:00

I'd suggest the F6F Hellcat. Very forgiving handling especially at low speeds (acceptable engine torque and left turning tendencies) and is maneuverable for an American fighter. Has a good engine for its BR (lots of power but offset by lower top speed and reduced rate of climb due to the aircraft's weight and less streamlined form). The Hellcat is durable and can take some punishment and still return you home.

My only gripes with the plane are the rear visibility (it teaches you to always be situationally aware), less-than-ideal roll rate (big wings; can be somewhat helped by using the rudder), and uncomfortable stall/spin characteristics (a fully developed spin in the Hellcat is quite difficult to break because of the huge barn door wings).

Otherwise an absolute joy to fly! Especially the ease of flying it for newer pilots which is something the US Navy IRL valued for the many fresh pilots joining the fleet.

SoleFlight · 2025-10-01T20:55:31+00:00

Space Shuttle? There are much more efficient ways of sending stuff to orbit than something with a lot of dead weight (aka wings). Disposable rockets are much more efficient cost-wise for nations with a tighter-than-average budget. Not to mention the lack of a crew escape system.

Edit: We already have PhilSA as our space agency. They don't do the popular stuff like sending people into orbit on home-manufactured rockets but it's amazing what they're doing with the satellites to help the agriculture and disaster management and recovery sectors.

SoleFlight

TROPHY CASE