IL2 Birds of Prey: Hints, Tips, and FAQ's Thread

[Lost Apiarist]

Trim is the A button is it not?

[The Globalizer]

New to the forum, so excuse me if this the wrong place to ask. (I did search first.)

What are the concensus "hardest missions" on Simulator? I'm working on the campaign on Simulator difficulty (on the Xbox 360) and am curious to know which missions are considered to be the toughest.

I'm now breezing through most missions, now that I've gotten the trim down, learned to avoid spins, and figured out how to eyeball ground targets. I had considerable trouble on Hornet's Nest, but finally got past it this week.

Any other fussy missions I should be aware of?

EDIT: Never mind, the answer is a resounding "no". I breezed past the rest of the missions and finished Simulator difficulty today.

[canofhumdingers]

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to toggle flaps in "realistic mode" on the PS3? I don't have a flightstick, just the regular ps3 control pad. I know I can toggle them in "Simulator mode" but the default control layout is slightly different between sim & realistic modes. I've tried making a custom layout but that doesn't seem to work. I thought perhaps I just couldn't use flaps on realistic mode but I saw a npc plane using them while playing a training mission offline. Thanks!

Oh, I use the default ps3 controller layout. I tried to make a custom layout that was the same except using the square button for flaps instead of zoom but it gave me all sorts of problems when I tried to play that way (such as elevator able to pitch down but not up...?).

[Akula]

Originally Posted by canofhumdingers

Can anyone tell me if there is a way to toggle flaps in "realistic mode" on the PS3? I don't have a flightstick, just the regular ps3 control pad. I know I can toggle them in "Simulator mode" but the default control layout is slightly different between sim & realistic modes. I've tried making a custom layout but that doesn't seem to work. I thought perhaps I just couldn't use flaps on realistic mode but I saw a npc plane using them while playing a training mission offline. Thanks!

Oh, I use the default ps3 controller layout. I tried to make a custom layout that was the same except using the square button for flaps instead of zoom but it gave me all sorts of problems when I tried to play that way (such as elevator able to pitch down but not up...?).

As far as i know, you can't use Flaps on Realistic difficulty.

[Robotic Pope]

Originally Posted by Akula

As far as i know, you can't use Flaps on Realistic difficulty.

yes you are right.

If you read the info in the encyclopedia on the difficulty modes you will see that arcade and realistic planes were ment to have automatic flaps. But in fact there is no automatic flaps, you have to make do without. This means some planes (especialy the Mustangs) perform far worse in a turn in realistic than in sim.

[canofhumdingers]

Ah, thanks for the help. That is frustrating that the NPC planes can use them though... I don't suppose a patch is on the way at this point.

Realistic mode is my favorite way to play & I was really hoping I could use the flaps. Ah well.

[Korsakov829]

Here are a few early unlocked easy going planes for Realistic and Sim.

Fighters:
Yak-3 (Decent turn radius, field of view, and firepower)
Hurricane (Excellent firepower, can carry a bomb, decent speed)
Bf109 series (Fair planes all around)

Bombers:
IL-4 (Outstanding turn, 4 250kg bombs, fastest firing guns in game perhaps)
A20G (almost considered by myself a Heavy Assault Fighter, but a bomber still)
He-111 H-6 (Unlocks 32 50kg bombs early, excellent in CTA)

And some advice, don't fly a American/British/Italian plane over Berlin, Stalingrad, etc. Or a IL-2 over Britain. It doesn't go right, and many players will refuse to play if this is the case. Its just wrong to see such things.

[Gilly]

Originally Posted by Korsakov829

And some advice, don't fly a American/British/Italian plane over Berlin, Stalingrad, etc. Or a IL-2 over Britain. It doesn't go right, and many players will refuse to play if this is the case. Its just wrong to see such things.

Why would you not? Britsh and American planes all flew over Berlin during the war!!! And rubbish about players refusing to play. The only time I've seen specific historical fact being followed is when we've endeavoured to organise BoB raids on Canterbury or raids on the Reichstag.
At the end if the day it's a game. It's not real life.

[Korsakov829]

Originally Posted by Gilly

Why would you not? Britsh and American planes all flew over Berlin during the war!!! And rubbish about players refusing to play. The only time I've seen specific historical fact being followed is when we've endeavoured to organise BoB raids on Canterbury or raids on the Reichstag.
At the end if the day it's a game. It's not real life.

Your right in a way, as there were long range bombing runs. But it was the Soviets who had fighter planes over the skies 24/7. A Soviet Hurricane, maybe, but I doubt it.

[bobbysocks]

there were 357th FG mustangs in russia. they escorted shuttle missions. on the way back they threw away all or most of their ammo and filled the wings with vodka and other souvenirs....luckily they didnt get bounced. they did this on a couple occasions.