AA is absolutly brilliant. Im not a goot pilot at all, so I never fly. But its damn fun taking them down.
From my experience, it takes 3 direct hits from missiles to take down a heli, and 2 or 3 for a jet. Thats powerful is it? Thats an entire set of rockets, and you might as well fire the last one at the ground so you get a full set for the next target when it comes along.
The AA cannon is a superb infantry killer, and it also rips the hell into helis - when they are lining you up, fire it like crazy at them, and when they spin round in the air, they are more or less a sitting target. Aim for the cockpit - there goes the gunner. Its pretty much useless then. Although, the cannon is next to worthless against planes, and they will always get you - but when they are diving at you, put some shells into it. Ive taken em out a fair few times doing this (dying in the process, but thats no worry).
As for the missiles - get a lock on the heli, wait for the flares to go, relock and 4missiles at their fat ass, and thats 2 kills. Provided that the heli isnt going for you that is. With the planes, wait for them to turn away or get that lock on when they are diving at you. Since they are coming straight at you and are only concerned with dropping their payload - they aint gona be flaring. 2 missiles and some cannon shells, thats that plane gone.
Ive had many success with this on Smoke Screen, earning all of my AA awards on that map: all 3 badges and the ribbon. And my expert came from taking out helis and jets alone - didnt kill any infantry. Believe me, AA is really easy to master and is great fun. Get 2 of you together on a hill, both as engineers, then there aint much thats gona take you out from the air. Get a supply crate for ammo. Voila.
O, and another fun thing, is that the enemy commander will always UAV you when you are in AA (on smoke anyway), so just use the cannon and blow it out the sky
Last edited by Snake (2006-06-21 13:26:00)