I spent some time on the training server tonight. It's a great place to get some practice in. They have the option – depending on which aerodrome you deploy from – to fly against AI targets of varying difficulty, or to dogfight with the other live opponents on the server.
I got shot down quite a few times, but managed to take a couple of fliers out. I think that combined with teamspeak, this would be an excellent training environment.
Something I've decided as I've dabbled with this game online, is the complete necessity of mastering Boom 'n Zoom tactics before mixing it up in a big furball. The planes do not take damage nearly as well our old Red Baron crates. They're genuinely frail, and your "pilot" is extremely vulnerable. If you dive in with unbridled zeal, someone is going to bounce your six while you're target-fixated and send you down in flames.
I may know this from experience…
Gunnery skill and B 'n Z tactics are THE two most important things to work on (beyond flying the damn planes, which ain't exactly a cakewalk either). You can fly a turn fighter like the DR1 and Camel with energy tactics, but you can't Turn 'n Burn with any of the faster, more stable planes and hope to get anything accomplished other than making a hole in the ground in the shape of – you guessed it – YOU.
I think I'll make a thread just to elaborate on this a little further before we manage to get guys in the air for some group or 1 on 1 training.
S!
-Amish