Thanks SkyFox. Will give it another shot.

Hey! which side are you on tree, should be the other way round.
This waiting is killing me.

ah, the FMB :)
very nice, i realy enyoed the time i spent the last years in the FMB of IL2 , and that was a lot :D

two wishes i would have for the BoB FMB :
-it would be nice if there would be a watch/clock when you start a testrun out of the editor. this watch also should react when you accelerate the time. So you would have accurate times for the briefings.

- altitude over ground/MSL. The default setting should be MSL in SoW (there is no low flying IL2 anymore as main plane, at least in the moment ;) ). But it would be helpfull if you could switch in a waypoint to 'over ground'.


just a small consideration about the shown planes:
i still hope you consider a Bf109E-4 and E-1 (with deleting the than not anymore needed E-3 :D )..........as the MG/FF-M is already in the Bf110C-4, -/7 :)

Airfield/runway symbols on maps
 

In 1946 there only appeared to be 2 types of symbol to show a dual or single runway. On one of the maps in Oleg's update something was listed about 'Spline Road Runway'. Not sure what this is. Presuming we can add runways, or not, would like to see different symbols for the various types of air strip, field, port and weather it is dirt, grass or concrete and if it has single, dual or cross runways. The symbol on the map should be rotated to align with the placement on the map of that particular airport. Concrete runways should perhaps show a number.
Getting closer guys.

There is a clear distinction between bomber and fighter formations. ;)


Lets talk about fighter formations first:

According to Wikipedia the Luftwaffe was the first to use a finger four formation in World War II. This tactic consisted of two pairs (Rotte) flying together (in a Schwarm): the leader and his wingman, and leader's "deputy" and his wingman. This gave them an advantage over outdated 3 plane VIC's that RAF flew in the beginning which required all three planes firing at the bombers, and while in formation at the same time (for "added punch" of all their guns combined).

As anyone who has ever flown in formation will tell you: when in a formation you're not flying at your top speed, and your maneuvers are strictly limited. Needles to say, this outdated 3 plane VIC attack strategy was invented by someone had no idea on how to attack a bomber stream. Logically, the tactic was abandoned in favor of the finger four formations and flying in pairs (and not attacking while flying in formation, naturally).

I would be interested to know when it was abandoned, prior or during BoB - because it might be another cool feature we could see in SoW - 3 plane VIC's attacking bombers...


Anyway, back to the bomber formations. Lets discuss basics:

• A bomber stream usually consist of many groups flying in formation.
• A group (Gruppe) formation consists of several squadrons (Staffel) flying together, or just a single squadron.
• A group/squadron formation consist of elements. Element (Kette) is a basic formation, and depending how Elements are arranged one to another and in relation to the leader - defines a formation type.
• Elements can number from 3 to (usually) 7 planes or even more.
• The smallest element is a 3 plane VIC formation with one plane flying on each wing of the leader. Small elements can form larger elements.

So, we are talking about Elements here.

Bombers depended on their defensive guns - the goal was to put as many defensive guns on each side of the formation, and to spread them out evenly. Therefore a finger four would be an incomplete formation for an element, and you would need to add another plane to it. In other words - you need a VEE formation with 2 planes on each wing of the leader.

From my understanding, some of the formation types Luftwaffe used were:

• 5 plane VEE formations (Elements) stacked one behind and below another (~5 such VEE's forming a group). With more groups flying nearby (i.e. one on each side of the lead group).
• 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements), stacked closely behind and below one (forming a large element), with other large elements flying on each side of the lead one - all together forming a group.
• 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements), with additional elements on each side of the lead element (forming a large element), with other such elements flying behind or behind and below one another.

^^
The last one (just a large element) or a bomber Schwärme with 3 plane VIC formations (smaller elements or Kette), we were able to see in preview videos released so far.


I hope that this answers your question why I am interested in what is the limit on how many planes per element and what kind of formations will bombers fly in SoW. :)


This is something we were never able to experience in IL2 as the limit per element was only 4 planes. While IIRC (I never played the game) Rowan's Battle of Britain: Wings of Victory simulates this very nicely.

1) Weather map - I'm interested in story behind-
-Can we create custom weather maps?
-Download current weather from internet?
-Is with dynamic weather going well?

2) Some copy paste functions?

3) Is grid allways same distance? I think on picture one line is 50 Km...
Or, can we get some measuring distance tool? (like in G.Earth)

4) Airfields altitude are shown on maps or menu?

Thank you!

Where are the Italian airfields?
 

One question Oleg.

By looking at the map it seems that none of the airfields where the Italians were based (Ursel, Melsbroek, Maldegem,Chièvres) is on the map. I hope I'm wrong with this... Because it is strange that there's been put so much effort in modeling Italian trucks and other equipment if there will be no airbases for them.

And it seems that even if someone puts the effort in it to make the FIATs flyable, it will not be possible to fly historical missions as one of them...
A little bit sad that just by missing those crucial square kilometers a nice plane add-on will be in some way useless without a map add-on.

It becomes even more sad if you look from the perspective of the Italian AIpilots. They are ordered there to fly those deadly missions over England, when they could have been at the sunny Mediterranean. And as if that isn't enough, they now are also forced to stay in the air forever. No home in sight for them... No evening chats with their buddies that they just might lose in tomorrows fight... No letterboxes where they can post letters to their girlfriend... No kitchens where spaghetti is being prepared for the boys when they come home. The sad story of the homeless pilots... :)

Very interesting update and thanks for it!
I would like to know if storm of war could be played at HL?
Ps: I love the work you people are doing!!!!!!! Thanks for that.

Great update Oleg, mission building will be much improved, thanks.

One small request:
would it be possible to get the AA to lay a barrage in front of bomber formations as well as directly at them . At the moment most of the AA arrives behind the formation. I think this would add greatly to the visual effect for bomber pilots as they near the end of their final run to the target.
Waiting impatiently for the release of your work.:grin:
cheers,
Ibis.

+1 Great idea. And for authors of coop missions, this will add to the interest as they won't know what's coming like they currently do.