[kozzm0]

To get through Hornet's Nest:

) Be fast and efficient. Try not to depend on your wingmen too much. You've gotta get the transports before they land.

Try to hit them from the top or bottom which maximizes their profile. They're easier to spot if you are around 1500m or so, but make sure you're flying top speed if you fly that low. If you time it right, and keep some separation between your flight paths as you approach them, you can gain altitude while turning, set your flaps and end up on a perfect lead pursuit going slightly faster than the target. Then attack from 9 to 3 or top to bottom with a weave pattern, aiming at the body and engines; or set up under the target, jinking to stay out of the gunner's cone, and shoot a bunch of rounds into the side of the plane. You'll probably be shot down if you do this too much, but you'll beat the clock.

Free Hunt is even harder to beat, but you'll see that when you get to it.

Your wingmen are likely to ignore you, so if they all swarm on the same target as you, pick another one.

the wireless controller-aviator layout is the best by far for being able to keep track of the target.

) to land: there's no wheel brakes except on the controller> standard layout. It's hard to look around with that layout, but it's the only one with automatic brakes, and there are no manual brakes in the game (yet). You can slow faster by applying elevator to drag the tail wheel, but this makes you more likely to tip over also. For the inspection mission I just used aviator layout, then switched to standard after setting up the approach.