Ground attack tips, IL-2 Sturmovik?

[Laurwin]

I tend to get killed by German flak quite a bit, no matter how I "weave" or try to turn when approaching ground target area. Attacking enemy airfields usually results in crippling damage to my plane no matter what I do.

Attacking flack trains, with two flak wagons is not a welcome ordeal most of the time (although long range cannon fire can, at least stop the train in it's tracks)

My favorite versions are IL-2 early (series 3), because it has reflector gunsight, as well as vvya-23mm cannons. Very nice for strafing, very good for air-to-air, you can even take out cars easily with only 2x 7.62mm Shkas.

Otherwise I like also, mid-war type 3, because you can often take cluster bombs, or PTAB. And you get the rear gunner also.

Model 3M, has the ridiculous 37mm cannons which are quite good against all tanks in the game.

I have noticed though, that sometimes you can even kill panzerIIIs from behind with the 23mm cannons, on regular sturmoviks. I wonder if you can also kill panzerIV ?

What about side sector shots?