How do you use aerospace properly?

[Come and See]

Hey there. I'm having a tough time with using the aerospace fighters. It took me a while to figure out some of the "tricks" that you had to do with the throttle control, altitude, and radar swapping. I'm using the keyboard and mouse and it's really rough, especially when zooming, to line up your targets. The problem I have is, I use the LRM20 4x variant, is that the 1000 meter range is so short that when I go in for attack runs I'm basically getting blasted out of the sky before I even get a chance. I cut my throttle down to 60% so I can line up my target, usually attacking from the side or sky, then I try and launch my payload, and bail.

If I get a successful bombing run, I usually have to afterburn away from the entire team going after me.  I die a lot compared to riding around in a mech or vehicle when I'm doing aerospace mainly because I'm getting shot out of the sky so easily.

So what advice can you give me to make me better at this? I really feel that aerospace doesn't have much of a place in game because of how easily they are shot down.

I think it would help if the aerospace bomber got upgraded to the 1500 range missiles.

[Taemien]

I'm interested to know as well. I've seen you ingame a few times and you're definitely alot better at using ASF then I am. Though I've seen some pilots recently that pull some sick maneuvers. I know when I go up in a ASF, I'm good as long as the enemy has none up, but admittedly I have trouble avoiding missiles, much less direct PPC/Guass or AC5 fire.

I also have a tendency to hit my tail on the ground or mountains when I try to do a fast pull up or turn. Wouldn't mind seeing a guide or even a youtube tutorial about piloting. Same goes for Vtols, I pilot those very well outside combat, but can't avoid fire worth a damn.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

The problem I have is, I use the LRM20 4x variant, is that the 1000 meter range is so short that when I go in for attack runs I'm basically getting blasted out of the sky before I even get a chance.

Well, there are 2 problems that you fight with now... well, 3:

• The Anti-Aircraft cannons are overpowered now, so Aerospaces are VERY hard to use. It's a great shame... but next patch will fix it
• LRM80 variant is very difficult to handle. I nearly never manage to destroy anything before getting myself dead. Go with Tbolt Sulla or Firebombs Aero
• Shiva is big == easy target

As for bombing hints:
Try to dive bomb from 1000 meters, drop the cargo, than go up to 1000meters as fast as you can, go passive radar, fly to the base.
Requires some skill, doesn't work if there's any Partisian around, but can be deadly for mechs busy with other stuff than looking on the radar for you

[Taemien]

Haven't tried the F-bomb variant in a while. Though in the patch before .2 I was pretty decent with it, I'm good enough at flying to get a bomb off, reload and get another.

How the heck does someone avoid missiles though? Whenever I fire missiles I never seem to hit, but I feel like a missile magnet trying to fly.

[~SJ~ Xarg Talasko]

Do tight sideways turns, the missiles can't turn fast enough to stay on you.

[(TLL)KitLightning]

Target Practice

[Monkeybonk]

I think it would help if the aerospace bomber got upgraded to the 1500 range missiles.

o god no

Honestly I think ASFs should have most if not all of their A/G loadouts replaced with weapons ineffective or incapable of being applied solely by the pilot against single units.

The TBolt Sulla, for example - remove their NARC launcher - all that does is remove the entire point of a team. Pilots should have to rely on ground units TAGing or NARCing (though TBolts are supposed to be totally unguided anyway, we can ignore that) to say "BLOW THIS UP. RIGHT NOW." Tadah, instant air support teamwork. Two TBolts streak in and explode the arm off the ebil Timberwolf.

Some sort of strafing weapon to be used against mechs lined up (for example, behind a hillside). Perhaps change FBombs so they have a limited 'rate of fire' and can only be dropped one-by-one?

What about an incredibly inaccurate pair of RAC-20s? Lack of accuracy would limit its use against a single target and encourage it to be applied against a cluster of units.

I don't see ASFs useful as support weapons because their weaponry pretty much precludes any kind of teamwork. It's too easy for pilots to go do what they want and ignore the whims of their team. An ASF would be useful for bombing the hell out of a skirmish line and overheating them all, but it's more lucrative for the pilot to try to explode solitary mechs walking around posing no threat to anyone. Soloistic killmobiling should be, if anything, the realm of the VTOL. Right now there's not a lot that separates the two kinds of aircraft.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

The VTOL we have no is a scout with ASF weapons. Something that should be not there at first place.

Aside from the fact that I don't see how VTOLs should kill solitary mechs (especially with these weapons... duh) - The ASF pilot have quite as much free hand to ignore the whims of the team as Mech pilot or Tank driver do. Everyone can move and attack what they want, when they want. The only difference I see is that ASF due to their speed can more easily attack behind the front lines, though... it's nothing extraordinary - some Clans used ASF solely for this role.

[~SJ~MausGMR]

Sorry monkey, don't agree. As far as I'm concerned, Aerospace fighters are flying mechs in battletech. Theyve got armour, similar armaments, heatsinks, and similar HUD/Control schemes. Clan aerospace pilots specifically compete against ground based mechwarriors augmented in blood trials. The accuracy and ability to employ the weapons of the platform is purely up to the pilot. How do you expect pilots to be able to dogfight with each other if all they are shooting inaccurate RAC 20's that spray a massive area? Your real life counterpart, the A10, is expected to be able place 80% of its shots within a 10 metre area, insanely accurate from 4000ft away.

As far as I'm concerned, in organised play a unit/single aerospace fighter can be used in conjunction with a ground unit to deliver accurate powerful strikes to an enemy unit, and also provide much faster and more accurate recon information than most light mechs, due to the Sulla being mainly outfitted with BHP's. No one wants to pilot something where, if he points his aimpoint at the target, when he pulls the trigger the projectiles go miles off target. Everyone wants to be able to up their game and understand their chosen weapon platforms better, this is heavily limited when you start adding the word 'random' to accuracy.

[Redvan]

you dont use them properly...  all it takes is one partisan to eliminate everything in the air... aero's haven't been worth anything since last patch.

You'd do better to get good at a mech.

yes, i'm saying that as someone who used to love aeros.

[Come and See]

Well, I would think 80 LRMs would be enough to take out targets. It take's about 3 passes to kill anyone.

I tried kamikazing an Atlast today. I ejected at the last minute and BOOM! went my plane, but then the Atlas only went yellow on its chest.

[SquareSphere }12thVR{]

I've been know to wreck havoc using the 80LRM Shiva.  Just know how to pull up and not over heat when launching.  also pay attention to where the partisans are, go for targets far from them.  Alternatively you can try to take them out .  it's hard but can happen in 1 pass.  My missile dodge tech is a downward spiral.  all the left right down movement f's up LRMs.

[Come and See]

I've been know to wreck havoc using the 80LRM Shiva.  Just know how to pull up and not over heat when launching.  also pay attention to where the partisans are, go for targets far from them.  Alternatively you can try to take them out .  it's hard but can happen in 1 pass.  My missile dodge tech is a downward spiral.  all the left right down movement f's up LRMs.

The strategy I use is I cut down to about 50% throttle, line up my sights, shoot a narc, and then my LRMs and then book it. It's fun when the missiles come at you cause its whirly time till they go away. I watched somebody earlier backflip 80 LRMs at the last second and they all went zipping by him. Was pretty pro.

[Taemien]

I wouldn't say that ASF are useless. All it takes is three to decimate a team. One partisan isn't enough to take them all down. And if a team takes too many partisans (3 partisans for 3 ASF is too much), weakens their defense against enemy mechs.

[(TLL)Sky_walker]

It depends on skill of a guy running partisian and the skill of ASF pilots.
I seen one partisan massacring 4 Sullas during their approach with Tbolts on friendly Mechs.
Since than I fly as far away from these beasts as possible.