<<renamed thread to "First time with an SLF pilot" to avoid being confused for a conversation about commanders working in wings.>>
Tor said.....
First things first.
You only need one pilot.
Hire the lowest possible ranked one, level them up.
They level fast, which is good.
Get the fixed beam slf' s. I use one taipan one g9.
The condor is worthless. Utter utter shit.
The fixed beam slf's has about the same dps as a fixed beam vulture and immune to chaff.
Learn and bind the fighter commands and send them in with a little tactical thought.
I agree with all of the above.
I use the GU-97's with fixed beams. Fast, deadly, and I don't care if it's a thinner glass cannon than the Taipan. Lynn knows how to fly that thing like a beast!
Binding buttons for at least "defend" and "attack my target" (or whatever it's called) are the minimum you'll need to be able to control your fighter (or ship if you swap). Using the menu on the lap HUD panel is a joke when you're in combat.
Learn and bind the fighter commands and send them in with a little tactical thought.
This one is a biggie. I see a lot of guys just leave their fighter on defend all the time. That's okay, but an SLF can do soooo much more....
Up against a wing of 3? Send your pilot after one NPC while you attack the other two.
Nose to nose with an Elite conda that's scanning you? Send your fighter after it, and the conda will turn to engage your fighter allowing you to get a LOT of shots in before the conda turns it's attention back to you. (in most cases the fighter will survive the conda attack, too)
Just had two condas spawn? How many times have you killed one, and the other conda has disappeared off of your sensors before you can engage? When two spawn, you can send your fighter after one while you attack the other. When you finish the first NPC, go help your fighter finish the other conda (or whatever ship you sent her after).
Pesky eagle circling your conda/vette/cutter and you can't turn on that damn gnat to save your life? It's childs play to an SFL to take down an eagle.... or a wing of three of them.
See a juicy target, but the NPC you're killing still has 40% hull left? Leave your fighter to do your clean up work while you head off to scan the fresh meat that just dropped into the RES.
These are a few examples of how an SLF can help you in a RES.
***The above strategies assume that your SLF has been ranked up a fair amount and is combat capable.***