Several times I thought it could be interesting to have possibility to enter to game with multiple aircrafts from my Hangar.
Purpose:
In Air Battles (Arcade mode) when you are not in a squad you can hardly see anybody to cover you. If you ask to be covered, rarely someone could fly with you to be your wingman (#2 or #3). But if you could take your own aircrafts into the game, you could form such formations like these:
The main reason to take more aircrafts would be an advantage: you could simulate more natural conditions of flying. In a war, there was rarely a solitary aircraft flying to battle. Usually they were at least 3. In a game every player goes his own direction and you cannot have control above it. But if you would take your own aircrafts, then you would have the control above it.
Controls and formations
My suggestion would be to use tab key to switch between your airplanes. E.g. I would prepare Spitfire, Typhoon and Hurricane at the begin of game. Then I would started in game with Spitfire and the Typhoon would be on my right hand but behind me in a Wedge formation. The Wedge formation would be default formation. So the Hurricane would be on the right hand but behind the Typhoon.
The first aircraft would be a leader until it is killed. I would start in the first aircraft as a leader and if I would be killed then I would jump to the second aircraft. During a flight I could use tab key to switch between the vehicles. But still the first vehicle would be a leader until it is killed. This means, that If I would like to change direction of flight the formation I would need to turn with the first aircraft. Then I could switch to Typhoon with the tab key.
The aircrafts would follow the leader, but I could switch to the second aircraft and the #1 would continue straight direction (!). Then I would fly around with #2 and the #3 would follow the me. If I would switch to #1 then the #2 and #3 would turn back to #1 leader. Of sure there is now some distance between us but I can turn back to them.
Flying in formation
Let's suppose I fly in the Wedge formation and I am the leader within the Spitfire. I can fly as fast as possible so the aircrafts which should cover me will be slower. The distance will be bigger and bigger... I could attack some ground targets and the formation fighters would come to me. They would follow all the flying actions which I do, but according the possibilities they have. I think like, there should be computer correcting the actions, so they do not hit ground or a rock.... They should have AI. But they should not be allowed to attack ground targets or air targets until I give them a command.
The aircrafts would be there especially for this reason: if I am killed, I can take next aircraft. I cannot defend myself when I am aiming tanks and dropping bombs on myself, but the enemy aircraft has to do a decision. He can attack me because I am attacking tanks. Or he can attack the two aircrafts behind me because they cannot defend themself. They would be pretty easy target at that point. That is disadvantage. But if he shoots on the two aircrafts of mine, then I would have more time to drop the bombs and then to defend/attack against the enemy fighter.
The advantage of this is that the computer pilots would be intelligent so less possibility to hit/crash to planes, but of sure, human enemies still could crash them especially if they do not see him.
Commands
If I would say (T key) "Reloading..." because I have no ammo, they could shoot. If I would fight with some enemies I would make some turns in the air and couldn't shoot, but they could. Also if I would say "Kill him" so they would shoot too on a particular target. But this would be very special situation.
Markings
The formation would be marked with one single name or all aircrafts would be marked with one name. Here are two possibilities:
A) highlight the name of the aircraft where the human player is
B) do not highlight the name of the aircraft where the human player is
Advantages
When you would fly against formation made from one human player you wouldn't want to risk. Because in the case that the human pilot's aircraft would not be highlighted you hardly can know what he could do. So you don't want to fly against 3 fighters face to face. Rather you need to find your way how to get on the tail of the #3 or how to attack them from sight. This fight would be more hard because you are not quite sure who is human and who just computer.
Flying in formation would be a way how to discourage enemy or how to attract players who like challenge. If you take 3 bombers instead one, you could reach your target pretty fast. This would be advantage because some bombers are very vulnerable. But you still could select 2 bombers and 2 fighters. This is also solution. Here is a chance to get higher score until you meet some good player / enemy fighter who will clear you out of the sky.
Disadvantage
If you attract too much attention and been attacked by 3 human enemies then you are in big disadvantage because you are practically only 1 even that you have 3 aircrafts. You will probably get less points because if you try defensive and not aggressive you will either have less kill points or you will be killed too early (and all your aircrafts too).
