From: bill@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (William Logan Lee)
Subject: Re: To mouse or stick, that is the question.
Organization: Uni Computing Service, Uni of Sydney, Australia
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 12:50:10 GMT

In article <1992Apr7.074803.57@sleepy.bmd.trw.com> auerbach@sleepy.bmd.trw.com writes:
>To those who gave me advice on attacking the bomber in Scramble, thanks!  Seems
>thae best advice is to climb to about 8,000ft, wait for the bomber to pass
>beneath you, turn behind him and start a shallow dive at full throttle.  When
>you catch up to the bomber, increase the dive angle and come in with guns
>blazing.

My favorite method is:
0) 1/3 Fuel and no bombs
1) Full throttle from time zero.
2) Turn left and take off from the taxi-way
3) Just after take-off, hit the autopilot ("a") key and hold it down. This
   should automatically raise the gear (no flaps ever needed).
4) Hit the pause ("ESC") key and centre the cursor.
5) Resume the game.
6) (Optional) Triple Time until planes just show on the 3-mile radar, then
   turn it off.
7) When the closest enemy plane is 1/2-2/3 of the 3-mile radar screen away
   from you, turn down the throttle to 40-50%.
8) Keep that "a" key down!
9) Switch to 1-mile radar, and as soon as the planes appear, there are two
   possibilities:
   a) linear formation.  Closest plane, on left, is a fighter.
   b) arrowhead formation.  Centre plane is bomber.
Two threads here - the a) and the b):
10a) It's a bit trickier without the autopilot, but still can be done.
   Turn off the autopilot and throttle up to 100%. Get ready on the rudder.
11a) Ignore the closest plane and try to pilot yourself towards the second
   closer plane.  Its likely to be high and you'll need to climb and turn
   to get to it.
12a) go to 16)
10b) Keep the "a" key down, get ready on the rudder controls.
11b) Start firing when the enemy bomber is 2/3 of the way out on the 1-mile
   radar.  Don't stop firing.
12b) When the bomber is recognisable on the main screen, drop the autopilot
   and zero in with mouse and rudder.  Keep firing.
13b) If all has gone well, by the time the bomber passes, it should be
   smoking. Stop firing.
14b) Once the bomber has passed, make a turn and go to 100% throttle.
15b) The bomber is the one that is furtherest away.  Go for it.
16) Use the rudder! Stay level so that you know how much deflection to give
   to the bomber and still hit it. Throttle back or you'll pass the bomber.
   Fire short bursts, rather than long bursts, unless you are sure you're
   able to stay on target.
17) Ignore the fighter escort.  Try to get 1/3-1/6 of the radar screen away
   from the bomber. Stay at that distance and pump lead into the bomber until
   you see flames.  Don't get any closer for a look: the rear gunner is still
   active!
18) If your engine is shot out, keep going - you can still take out the
   bomber and make a dead stick landing on the runway; after all, you are
   already heading the right way.
19) If you are not too badly damaged and the fighter escorts are still
   around, and you've got 20% or more ammo left; go get them. If you do
   don't forget to check for punctures in the fuel tanks and don't get
   too close to your airfield flak - remember there is no such thing as
   "friendly" fire.
20) Go home, get some bombs and "Go West, young man".  Get the base.

Simple, huh! :-)


Bill Lee