when flying at low altitudes it can be harder to navigate with landmarks, the key to me is is to take the map in small sections. follow a road , train tracks , from city to city, or a river from lake to lake or river junctions, and work your way across the map that way. i always keep in mind a general reverse course heading in case i get lost. sometimes it might take a while and some effort but you can usually find your way eventually. if you do get completely lost find a city - lake- river junction or some kind of distinct landmark and circle it and climb until you can identify it on the map
That method takes longer and is more prone to failures. if you dont see "that" landmark to follow or its covered by flak. Even worse if you get intercepted and u have to fight for a while. But if you use directions and then landmarks you are much saver.
i still use general headings. but if you are in an attack a/c where you have to stay low this seems to be a good way. if u take the map in small sections u can find your way going from point to point. works for me anyway . cheers
It really bugs me that I have to fly at super low altitidude in order to not be spotted by other low fkying aircraft and also so I can see enemy aircraft against the big blue sky before they see me, Im sure this was not the way ww2 pilots flew?
@@markstuart-howie5242IL2 shows you how WW2 pilots flew. In formation and at a higher altitude, not only for landmarks but also because engine efficiency is higher since all fighters had some sort of turbo charger. There are specific scenarios such as surprise bombing runs with JU-88’s or other similar twin engine bombers which were done at low altitude, in which case they would just use heading and visual references. In real life these pilots were probably familiar with flying to these specific destinations as well as they had flown them many times.
This is good advice, I have some real world competition gliding ( sailplane ) experience, although it was a long time ago, where navigation really is all about map reading. Been watching your vids for a while now, I've been waiting for VR before I really embrace IL2, but inspired by your vids, I decided to jump on TAW server last night, I rolled a HE111 from the furthest airfield from my target to give me plenty of time to climb. All was going well, and then at some point I got totally disorientated. I thought no problem, I should be able to pick out some landmarks, but the map was all forests and rivers. I decided to turn back on my course to see if I could pick something out, then flack started firing, I took some damage, and an enemy fighter took me out. I must have spent over an hour on mission, with at least 30 mins totally lost lol. Good fun though. Can't wait for VR
Thank you for this advice from 4 years ago Sheriff. I'm trying to get the ropes of sim flying and made the mistake of jumping into FVP first thing. I've decided to go back and train on AI/Berloga DD for a while to actually be useful once a fight comes around instead of just praying to god I find an enemy who's as bad of a pilot as me. This should come in handy in the future, as in my first match I got hopelessly lost on a winter map and couldn't even find my way back home.
I find river junctions most useful for navigating. I fly from one to the other until I reach my target. Granted winter maps make them much harder to spot.
Thanks for the video! Very helpful to a newbie like me. Thanks to you and other people like you I'm actually feeling like a semi-compentent pilot (at least in the Yak ser. 69, with nothing automated 😁). Also, you never need to apologize for your english! You are very fluent, and that is an accomplishment to be proud of, regardless of whether or not you make a mistake now and then!
Good Tips! I also like to use the radio beacon receiver on the peska. Small Airfields are great for navigation too, you just have to look where the runway points! Often I just follow roads or rivers to my targets.
I know this may be one of those hoarded trade secrets of other simmers, but I couldn't help but notice how amazing your TrackIR profile is. I've been using Requiem's profile and although it is good, your profile just seems so fluid and accurate. Is there any chance that you may be willing to share it(Sorry if this has been asked a lot, I just discovered your channel)? I get it if not, but you would make my day twice if you would be so generous. Regardless, this video really has definitely helped me. I just got back into BoS after picking up BoK and I really needed to sharpen my skills(Especially navigation) before the full release of Kuban and the Dynamic Campaign(Also so I can be competitive against players). Thanks
Depends what you are doing. For normal online play in fighters this makes little sense. But if you want to hit a long-range target with a bomber it makes sense. There are other situations where a clock helps. Like linking up with another squadron or so at a precise location and time.
@@SheriffsSimShack Thanks, mate! I've recently decided to kick off the training wheels in my IL2 1946 campaigns so this video will be super helpful seeing as there are no VFR stations to my knowledge
It takes practice, but there are very very good pilots who use just the numpad for example. U have to read yourself a little into those things. Each number represents a certain view angle, and they just zapp trough those angles to look around. But track IR wont create magically a better pilot.
thx a lot for the detailed answer .... btw i am an old IL-2 veteran and back in the days i played with the coolie-hat on my joystick but quite often i felt totally outclassed when not being able to f. e. take a quick look at my 6 (it takes several seconds to turn yr head 180 degrees) in a fast and brutal dogfight. but im thirsting for the good old days nonetheless ....
On a side note, there are some really cheap TIR5 alternatives around like the delan clip which has a much higher build quality in comparison to the TIR5 but much much cheaper. I cant recommend the get the original TIR for that price.
Sheriff's Sim Shack do you know how to get rid of that annoying flickering for distant ground textures? I already changed that textfile like described in the forum, but it smoothened the effect just a little bit.
To navigate in the air, you follow a heading for a set time and look at the clock to see how far down track you should have gone, then confirm where you are by trying to identify landmarks on the map. You cant just swan around and guess what those landmarks are, on your map. So this is not a very useful video.
"Here's a bridge, and here's a bridge..." and right next to those 2, there were 2 other bridges! And not far from those 2, there were 2 others. Not very helpful, Mr Shack. Same earlier on in the video when you were making assumptions about the lakes and the city. If you were a navigator in a former life in The War, I doubt that you (and your fellow crew) were flying for very long before being captured, because you thought your assumptions were correct about the last few lakes you flew over. I'm new to BOS, and I,m lost before my wheels are off the ground! edit; The bit at the end made me laugh; "If you get lost, try to fly in the direction of home".
its always important to verify you sightings. And that is what i did. Its not important if you mix up lakes when you spot your mistake a couple of seconds or a minute later. We fly for hours on servers without any navigation aid and we find our way to the target and we find ur way back. We find where we are after a confusing fight. Making mistakes is not the issue. Spotting that you made a mistake is important.
"and on wings of liberty you generally have what the fuck is happening here"
Truer words were never spoken.
when flying at low altitudes it can be harder to navigate with landmarks, the key to me is is to take the map in small sections. follow a road , train tracks , from city to city, or a river from lake to lake or river junctions, and work your way across the map that way. i always keep in mind a general reverse course heading in case i get lost. sometimes it might take a while and some effort but you can usually find your way eventually. if you do get completely lost find a city - lake- river junction or some kind of distinct landmark and circle it and climb until you can identify it on the map
That method takes longer and is more prone to failures. if you dont see "that" landmark to follow or its covered by flak. Even worse if you get intercepted and u have to fight for a while. But if you use directions and then landmarks you are much saver.
i still use general headings. but if you are in an attack a/c where you have to stay low this seems to be a good way. if u take the map in small sections u can find your way going from point to point. works for me anyway . cheers
What ever floats your boat!
It really bugs me that I have to fly at super low altitidude in order to not be spotted by other low fkying aircraft and also so I can see enemy aircraft against the big blue sky before they see me, Im sure this was not the way ww2 pilots flew?
@@markstuart-howie5242IL2 shows you how WW2 pilots flew. In formation and at a higher altitude, not only for landmarks but also because engine efficiency is higher since all fighters had some sort of turbo charger. There are specific scenarios such as surprise bombing runs with JU-88’s or other similar twin engine bombers which were done at low altitude, in which case they would just use heading and visual references. In real life these pilots were probably familiar with flying to these specific destinations as well as they had flown them many times.
This is good advice, I have some real world competition gliding ( sailplane ) experience, although it was a long time ago, where navigation really is all about map reading.
Been watching your vids for a while now, I've been waiting for VR before I really embrace IL2, but inspired by your vids, I decided to jump on TAW server last night, I rolled a HE111 from the furthest airfield from my target to give me plenty of time to climb.
All was going well, and then at some point I got totally disorientated. I thought no problem, I should be able to pick out some landmarks, but the map was all forests and rivers. I decided to turn back on my course to see if I could pick something out, then flack started firing, I took some damage, and an enemy fighter took me out. I must have spent over an hour on mission, with at least 30 mins totally lost lol.
Good fun though. Can't wait for VR
So how do you read the map in VR? Is the map still available?
@@SteveSmith-fh6br you can view the map in VR, I think the default shortcut is O but I remapped it
Thank you for this advice from 4 years ago Sheriff. I'm trying to get the ropes of sim flying and made the mistake of jumping into FVP first thing. I've decided to go back and train on AI/Berloga DD for a while to actually be useful once a fight comes around instead of just praying to god I find an enemy who's as bad of a pilot as me. This should come in handy in the future, as in my first match I got hopelessly lost on a winter map and couldn't even find my way back home.
I find river junctions most useful for navigating. I fly from one to the other until I reach my target. Granted winter maps make them much harder to spot.
Thanks for the video! Very helpful to a newbie like me. Thanks to you and other people like you I'm actually feeling like a semi-compentent pilot (at least in the Yak ser. 69, with nothing automated 😁).
Also, you never need to apologize for your english! You are very fluent, and that is an accomplishment to be proud of, regardless of whether or not you make a mistake now and then!
Excellent tutorial... I haven't yet mastered aircraft identification at a distance.... but it will come with time, patience, and practice....
It's always those small channels that make the best content. Keep it up, pal! 👍
That's the plan!
Good Tips!
I also like to use the radio beacon receiver on the peska. Small Airfields are great for navigation too, you just have to look where the runway points!
Often I just follow roads or rivers to my targets.
I need to re learn TDS equations. Another great helpful Vid. Thanks Sheriff.
"cant wait for midway dlc ;D i am gonna buy japan vodka and drink before starting as kamikaadze"
2:54
🤣🤣🤣
Thank you for this as this was my next learning for the sim
what do you use for view controls/head tracking.
I know this may be one of those hoarded trade secrets of other simmers, but I couldn't help but notice how amazing your TrackIR profile is. I've been using Requiem's profile and although it is good, your profile just seems so fluid and accurate. Is there any chance that you may be willing to share it(Sorry if this has been asked a lot, I just discovered your channel)?
I get it if not, but you would make my day twice if you would be so generous.
Regardless, this video really has definitely helped me. I just got back into BoS after picking up BoK and I really needed to sharpen my skills(Especially navigation) before the full release of Kuban and the Dynamic Campaign(Also so I can be competitive against players).
Thanks
Bless you, you have made me very happy today.
Thanks
I would like it too. It looks like the comment containing it was deleted
goo.gl/kB18YT
Sheriff's Sim Shack thank you!
Speed 1, Full Smoothness, ingame as well
And thanks!
How do I program the map button so I can call up the map easily?
I have only 360p option available probably a bug
No I just released the video a little to early. Wait a few mins
now it's ok!
so really you are just following the railway line that goes from near your airfield all the way to your target. :)
Thank you Sheriff
for full length missions (1-2 hours) would it just be worth using the clock and airspeed to calculate long-range distances for navigation?
Depends what you are doing. For normal online play in fighters this makes little sense. But if you want to hit a long-range target with a bomber it makes sense. There are other situations where a clock helps. Like linking up with another squadron or so at a precise location and time.
@@SheriffsSimShack Thanks, mate! I've recently decided to kick off the training wheels in my IL2 1946 campaigns so this video will be super helpful seeing as there are no VFR stations to my knowledge
A very useful video.
How do I know the server settings?
by joining and trying
How come your head is moving around so smoothly at the start in the cockpit
head tracker. if you want to try it out for free search for aruco and opentrack
@@t173hfl63
I see.
Thank you, I‘ll check it out.
Btw. Nice profile pic. Has a very nostalgic feel to it
OMG! will there be a Midway DLC in IL2 as they are talking in the in-game chat??
Yes coming in 2018 as it seems and it will be a full game.
fantastic! tnx for the info. and good video as always. S! :)
holy crappppp
does it make any sense trying to play this game without track IR or a VR-device ??
yes
that was a fast one ..... well, im going to take you at your word
It takes practice, but there are very very good pilots who use just the numpad for example. U have to read yourself a little into those things. Each number represents a certain view angle, and they just zapp trough those angles to look around.
But track IR wont create magically a better pilot.
thx a lot for the detailed answer .... btw i am an old IL-2 veteran and back in the days i played with the coolie-hat on my joystick but quite often i felt totally outclassed when not being able to f. e. take a quick look at my 6 (it takes several seconds to turn yr head 180 degrees) in a fast and brutal dogfight. but im thirsting for the good old days nonetheless ....
On a side note, there are some really cheap TIR5 alternatives around like the delan clip which has a much higher build quality in comparison to the TIR5 but much much cheaper.
I cant recommend the get the original TIR for that price.
thank you Sheriff for the dedicatio. do you play in 4k?
no 1080p
Sheriff's Sim Shack do you know how to get rid of that annoying flickering for distant ground textures? I already changed that textfile like described in the forum, but it smoothened the effect just a little bit.
MrCarvion mhhh do you have that texture factor to the max?
Sheriff's Sim Shack yes. and it doesn't look as sharp as in your vids
MrCarvion this map here is generally speaking a bit sharper than others
Here's to all my homies from longish cities. Bulkier cities ain't shit.
To navigate in the air, you follow a heading for a set time and look at the clock to see how far down track you should have gone, then confirm where you are by trying to identify landmarks on the map. You cant just swan around and guess what those landmarks are, on your map. So this is not a very useful video.
Good luck doing that in combat in a fighter. You can do that while enroute, sure. But in end its adhoc navigation again after each engagement.
"Here's a bridge, and here's a bridge..." and right next to those 2, there were 2 other bridges! And not far from those 2, there were 2 others. Not very helpful, Mr Shack. Same earlier on in the video when you were making assumptions about the lakes and the city. If you were a navigator in a former life in The War, I doubt that you (and your fellow crew) were flying for very long before being captured, because you thought your assumptions were correct about the last few lakes you flew over. I'm new to BOS, and I,m lost before my wheels are off the ground!
edit; The bit at the end made me laugh; "If you get lost, try to fly in the direction of home".
its always important to verify you sightings. And that is what i did. Its not important if you mix up lakes when you spot your mistake a couple of seconds or a minute later.
We fly for hours on servers without any navigation aid and we find our way to the target and we find ur way back. We find where we are after a confusing fight.
Making mistakes is not the issue. Spotting that you made a mistake is important.