(EDIT: I've added some tips on how to do VERY effective merit grinding with friends. See page 3. Come play with us!)
I have a small group of 7 playing Elite most nights (average turnout is usually 2-4 players. I play almost every night). All from the US. All in the -7:00 (Mountain Time) timezone. We usually start playing around 9:00pm our time. Combat's not the only thing we do - but it's how we spend 90% of our time. We usually start the week gaining merits, then switch to bounties for fat stacks of cash. Almost all of us own and fight in Vultures with a few exceptions (a Viper and a Python). We are all building up towards Federal Corvettes (assuming they are nice. Otherwise, probably all Pythons or Anacondas). It doesn't matter what you fly, just that you leave lots of smoldering debris and crying orphans in your wake. We are toying with the idea of the start/support of a minor faction... maybe that'll be fun?
So, if you're interested and can fly with us a couple times a week, let me know and we'll blow some stuff up. I'd love to get a group closer to 4-8 players every night if possible.
I suppose the only real restriction on who we play with is the ability, and desire, to fight mostly in federal space (we all fight for Hudson, but you don't have to).
We have all of the most common ways to communicate too (in-game voice chat, TeamSpeak, Mumble, Skype, Steam voice chat, Google Hangout, etc.).
Questions?