After you have read all of the chapters in this manual, done all of the exercises, and flown a modest amount of time on-line against real opponents, what's next? You can learn more about ACM by reading FIGHTER COMBAT, by Shaw (Naval Institute Press) -- see the "Recommended Books and Movies" appendix. There's also more flying, of course. I hope that this manual helped you to progress much more rapidly than if you had just dived into the on-line arenas of Air Warrior without it -- but the real key to increased skill is a lot of flying. Also, since by now you should know your way around Air Warrior pretty well, you might want to consider participation in squadrons, historical scenarios, and war nights.
Squadrons are groups of Air-Warrior folks who fly together occasionally. For example, in the "More on ACM" appendix, you might have noticed some pilots putting a "=>DFA<=" after their handles -- that's for "Death From Above," one of the oldest squadrons in Air Warrior. Squadrons sometimes get together on certain nights (squad nights) and form up missions to do various mischief. Sometimes, two squads arrange to be on at the same time so that one squad can battle the other. Some squads have themes or certain flying styles. Some squads have become part of Air-Warrior lore (like the Aggressors). If the idea of belonging to a squad appeals to you, you can ask around on the radio when you fly, or ask in the "alt.games.air-warrior" newsgroup, to find out what's out there.
Historical scenarios are set up to give people, as much as is possible, a more realistic taste of combat missions. Sometimes, scenarios are based upon actual WWII missions or situations. Regardless, scenarios have definite objectives, missions, and resources. Many people feel that scenarios are a whole new level of fun -- that they are to regular arena play what arena play (with its multi-player action) is to playing stand-alone flight sims. I'm with them. It's a blast, and it gives me the same feeling I get when reading exciting accounts of real WWII aerial combat. You'll hear about scenarios in radio chatter when you fly or if you keep up with the "alt.games.air-warrior" newsgroup. You can get more of a feel about what a scenario is like by reading the "Historical Scenarios" appendix.
War nights are like mini-scenarios. Scenarios, while being great fun, run infrequently because they are so involved to set up. War nights are less involved and run much more frequently (usually once per week) -- and they can help mollify one's craving for scenarios in the times between scenarios. If you are interested, ask on the radio or in the "alt.games.air-warrior" newsgroup when war nights occur on the on-line system you use.
There are also (usually about once or twice per year) Air-Warrior conventions, where folks get together for some on-line flying, trips to plane museums and air shows, etc. I went to one in the early 1990's in Los Angeles, and it was a blast. It's a lot of fun to meet folks you've known for years but have never seen. (No one looks like what you thought they'd look like.) The conventions are talked about on the radio and in the "alt.games.air-warrior" newsgroup, among other places.
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