They say that imitation is the best form of flattery. Well, IAHM-COL's virtual airline gave me an idea ( thanks Israel..) to start virtual WWI operations, from Belfort-Chaux and doing training flights, observing, leafleting, ( yes, both of the English and French leafleted the Germans.) bombing raids and cover flights for observation and bombing flights. The Luxeuil and Belfort aerodromes of the early to mid WWI period are quite famous for their Groupes de Combat and Escadrilles as were the German Eindekker and two-seater squads of Colmar, Freiburg, and Ettensheim.
Now I'll be the one in charge of setting up and deploying the various flights, and I have no illusions that there will be very many volunteers, but this is early on, until we get better acquainted with Bombable and implementing new animation features, I expect things will be a bit quiet. As I'm trying this out in a concurrently and centennially historical way, the advances we will try will be available as time progresses. Yeah I know, you want to go out and dog-fight with Camels and Fokkers.
Unfortunately I'm the Commandant, I set the time, aircraft used and missions to be accomplished, so to advance in the squad, you have to complete missions. Plus there will be training and formation flying if I have the time. Unfortunately if you also crash land you will have to start over again, I, E, either dead or wounded. WWI kites are not all that easy, and I'm going to be recruiting for fighter squads with touchy and demanding to fly rotary engine powered fighter airplanes.
You will get to like the sound of the braa-a-a-ap.....braa-a-a-ap...braa-a-a-ap of a 'couped' LeRhone as you make your final approach, no?
I'm presently setting up some 3D landmarks and aerodrome features for Belfort-Chaux, although the Belfort area is pretty distinctive in it's landscape, and getting to know the area (practice, practice, it will help, especially if we have weather changes, and yes I expect we'll want to use real weather fetch.
Hopefully we can get someone to take up the reins of running a German FFA and Jasta Command across the Rhine so we've got some missions with opposing teams.