+1

In the FMB, you could automatically have ground vehicles follow roads by using a variation of the "select similar color" function (AKA "Magic Wand" or "color picker") used by graphic design programs. Since on just about every map roads are lighter in color than the surrounding terrain, the "color picker" selects adjacent pixels of "road color" and plots a line based on that info. (For winter maps, the process is reversed and the color picker selects the darker colors.)

That, plus a bezier curve tool option would allow "realistic enough" turning.

Yes, something like that would be the easiest way as far as ground units are concerned. All the more so, as maps are generated from a set of greyscale images, where the 'tile map' actually uses a brighter shade to specify tiles with roads. So summer and winter maps are all the same in this respect. Nevertheless, the tile map is a low resolution image, so keeping on the road could not be guaranteed that way, unless combined with bezier curve calculations between waypoints.

Now it works like you go from A to B in a straight line, there you turn for C, and go from B to C in a straight line again. All three waypoints are specified in the mis file. But with A, B, and C we also have all the coordinates for a bezier curve between A and C. All you need is to add the info that B is only a virtual coordinate to be used by the plotting algorithm.

Possibly, the "color tracking" method of keeping on roads would still work if the game took a large enough sample of nearby pixels, or if a particular color of pixels was reserved for roads. In the latter case, the "road line" could be a line just 1 pixel wide, invisible to the human eye in most cases. The former solution would require more processing power, the latter would require a lot of reworking for roads and railroads.

This would work as well, possibly better.

Hopefully, someone from DT is reading this!

for all of these things we need programmers ....

You guys should launch a recruiting Campaign here and on Mission4today and other similar sites were you are represented. Maybe it would bring in a few new programmers and modellers for you. :)

Bf-110F (the best of the 110 series)
Early P-38 versions

I have a small question:

Would it be possible to add the flyable aircrafts that have been added in the last few updates as flyable options in the stock offline campaigns?

For example could the Hawk 75 be added to the offline Finnish fighter Campaign as an flyable option alongside the Bf-109, the J8 or the rest of the fighters thats allready present?

The problem is, I don't think there are any missions made for those aircraft.
So you would have to make the missions first, then add to the campaign.

I do think there is a campaign for the Finnish Hawks though.

Thank you for your answer!

Do you know if it's possible to extract one of the stock campaings and open them in the FMB and replace the players aircraft with one of the newly added flyable aircraft?

AFAIK, you can open any stock mission with FMB and to change or to add whatever you want into it: planes, objects, waypoints, etc.

But, if you want to keep the original mission, you should use "save as..." using a different name.

The original stock Campaign missions aswell? Interesting! Thank you for your quick reply!

Yes!

But also you can randomize a campaign adding new missions to a given "stage".

Following this link, you will can learn how to do it:

http://www.mission4today.com/index.p...p=show&kid=686

And, if you want to learn the most important matters about FMB, then you should read the old but amazing Flying Nutcase FMB Tutorial ;)

Thanks, mate! :D

Why F is best of the series? and btw have you any info about cockpit and ordnance loadout of Bf 110 F ?

http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=111279
http://www.wardrawings.be/WW2/Files/...f110F-4-U1.htm
http://www.maquetland.com/article-10...glish-version-
http://germancontrolsticks.blogspot....tt-bf-110.html
http://plane-crazy.k-hosting.co.uk/A...e110/Me110.htm
http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=147093

That's a no then :)

F it's almost the same to G.

But do you know for sure?

When engines changed the cockpit could have changed as well. There were probably also little external changes.

This site has some good info on the Bf-110D, E and F series, such as minor external changes.

http://forum.valka.cz/category/view/...mpaign=topmenu

As does this site, including a cockpit picture of the "D0" variant.

http://airwar.ru/enc/fww2/bf110f.html


Other than that, the vast majority of resources for the Bf-110 available on the web relate to the various C or G variants. The D, E, and F series are forgotten by comparison.

The good news is that there is a Bf-110F-2 in a museum (Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin), but so far there are no interior shots available on the web.

I struck gold in my search for good documentation on the Bf-110D, E, and F series.

This site has the original German manuals for installing ventral cannon packs, and the various ETC bomb racks.

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...cmitt%20AG.htm

Absolutely comprehensive technical report for captured unnamed Bf-110 variant, but very likely the D-2, E-2, or F-2 variant since it included a rescue raft compartment and ETC 500 bomb racks. The only weakness in the report - other than not describing the exact variant - is that all armor appears to have been removed from the plane, so no information exists.

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...20Me%20110.pdf

Installing ETC bomb racks on BF-110E:

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...%20Wartung.pdf

R-1 ventral cannon installation for F & G:

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...eiheft%202.pdf

Manual for installation of drop tanks and "dackelbauch" tank for D model:

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...atzanlagen.pdf

Installation of ETC bomb racks on E model:

http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/arch...%20Wartung.pdf

Plenty of good pictures here - with Russian captions:

http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft20512.htm

Apparently, the F series had the best compromise of speed, armor, and maneuverability as compared to the rest of the Bf-110 series. It had vastly improved engines, improved armor for the crew, and considerably improved performance over previous models.

For IL2, the big changes are that the D, E, and F series had a slightly longer fuselage and slightly revised cockpit due to added armor glass. Engine profile is similar to that of the C model, except that some versions had the tropical air filters similar to those mounted on the Bf-109F or G.

Internally, it appears that the cockpit was slightly revised to include gauges, selector switches, and indicator lights for the auxiliary fuel tanks, as well as jettisoning equipment for drop tanks and/or bombs. This might make it identical to the cockpit for the G model.

At least for some aircraft, the single flexible rear gun installation was retained, whereas the G model often had a twin gun mount.

D models were mostly used in Norway, with some use in the Mediterranean. The "dackelbauch" version saw limited use during the Battle of Britain, when planes from Norway attempted to raid Scotland. But, they were no match for British fighters. Thereafter, they were used for patrols and convoy protection.

E models were used on a limited basis in Russia, as well as in Europe and North Africa, but they weren't a success and the crews hated them because they were slow and underpowered.

F models were used with some success in Russia, but were gradually withdrawn from the Eastern Front to provide air defense against Western Allied bombing raids. Many were converted to night fighters, or purpose built as such.

Not true for "F". That one already has the engine fairing like the "G"

http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2.../bf110d-c6.jpg

Hello Sita,
Here's another link (with no sources given):
http://www.jagdgeschwader4.de/index....schmitt-bf-110

It gives some armament info, and suggests the E and F have very similar equipment - except for additional armoured glass.

Also, this picture http:///img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4408..._e8eed409_orig from yt2 seems to have elements of the G cockpit - could that mean it is an F?

Luftwaffe unit OOBs shows that the F version was widely used, and in general such units had a mix of C/D/E/F variants up to early 1943 when the G arrived in large numbers. I do not have much idea about internal changes, except that the Bf 110F had a DB 601F engine, similar to the DB 601E of the Bf 109 F-4 but with different reduction ratio.

The book "German Aircraft Interiors vol.1" show the very same picture posted above, and the captios says it is a F version. Not sure if it is enough to model it though...

You are right. Thanks for the correction.

So, arguably you could use the G model as a base for 3d, since I think that it retained the longer fuselage, and certainly retained the improved armor of the F series. The only difference is that the rudder and vertical stabilizer assembly would be that of the C model, since it was only altered with the F-4 variant.

Cockpit might be similar to G, since that model could also carry drop tanks, bombs, and rockets.

Gunner position might be similar to C model, with single rather than double MG 15 gun.

Loadouts would be slightly restricted since Bf-110F-2 didn't carry rockets.

I'm not sure about other minor details, but they could presumably be handled using a skin rather than 3d.

What we're really looking for is great cockpit documentation to tempt Sita into making this plane his next project (unless he wants to stick to Soviet planes and do cockpits for the Su-2, R-10, or Tu-2). :)

This is useful info. There's a lovely picture of the D variant (mit dackelbauch auxiliary fuel tank) flying over the Mediterranean, and it's quite likely that the captured plane that US engineers examined was taken from North Africa. My ignorant guess is that it was the F variant. So, its clear that the D, E, F variants, as well as the surviving C variants, were used in the Mediterranean.

The surviving F-2 variant aircraft in Berlin was used in early 1943 in Finland, until it was damaged by flak, landed on thin ice, and sank into a lake. That happy fact accounts for its survival.

Other Bf-110F units (probably with surviving D & E models) were used around Stalingrad. They were fairly effective on the Russian Front, and it appears that the only reason they were withdrawn was because of the increasing threat of Western Allied heavy bomber raids into Germany. So, the F variant is a gap in the mid-war Eastern Front German Order of Battle.

I believe that the D,E,F series used roughly the same engine nacelles as the G series, albeit possibly with minor changes to air intakes and exhaust manifolds. Tropical air filters would have to be added if they're not already present for the C model.

Cockpit would have had to have been different from the C to accommodate bomb and drop tank release controls, and fuel tank selector switches for the auxiliary tanks (dackelbauch, drop tanks, or both).

Gunner's cockpit is hard to figure out. I'm not sure if any of the D, E, F series got the twin MG defensive guns of the G model, but it would have been an easy field mod if they did have them.

If someone could take a look at the cockpit photo of the US technical report and compare it to the C and G versions of the Bf-110 cockpit, that would clear up a lot of confusion.

The US report is wonderfully detailed for most things, but I'm not sure that they actually tested the engines which came with the captured Bf-110. They just say that the engines are DB601, but don't get into any further detail.

If it turns out that the US example was the F-2 variant, it will be a great source of documentation.


What we really need is good pictures of the cockpit of the Berlin museum aircraft. Is there a Berliner with a cell phone and a selfie-stick reading this? :)

1443
 

i would like to see some of the major planes to be added for the pacific rather than odd balls...in order

1.P-38G essential mid pacific
2.Ki-48 useful JAAF Lbomber and Dbomber 1,900 made served 41-45
3.Ki-51 JAAF version of Val 2,300 made!
4.Ki-44 served 41-45 high speed JAAF fighter! 1,200 made
5.D4Y replaced Val in JNAF unreliable, but a fast Kamikaze!
6.SB2C meant to replace SBD but not that popular

The official plane i miss most is P-38G the version that made its reputation in Pacific but served "everywhere".

A Ki-48-II would be interesting multi-role plane, fast light bomber with dive bombing capability. Used everywhere by JAAF from 42 on, and a kamikaze mod in 44-45.

Ki-44-II fast japanese interceptor that served throughout 1942-45. 2x12.7mm in nose, and wings choice of 2x12.7mm or 2x40mm "mortar cannon".

Ki-44 would be awesome

I would like to see the Blenheims, the Beauforts, the Wellington and
the MS 406 (/410/Mörkö aswell) allready present as AI aircraft made flyable to be used on the up comming Channel map. :)

The Dewotine 520 would also be a nice addition to have. :grin:

Also the Swordfish would be a nice addition to the RN. ;)

It's a LOT of work to make all those bombers flyable.

I'd just be happy with a flyable Blenheim since it could double duty with both the Finns and UK/Commonwealth forces. Of all the British medium bombers in the game, it was probably the most ubiquitous.

The D.520 is on my short list of fighters to be added to the game. Given that it was used in limited numbers by the Italians, and was used by the Vichy French in North Africa, it would be a nice addition to a Mediterranean campaign.

You're in luck! There's alrelady an AI Swordfish I in the game.

But, a flyable Swordfish would be another great addition to a Mediterranean campaign. It also saw some service in the English Channel, notably during the "Channel Dash." There's also that little incident with the German battleship . . .

And, if TD wanted to do a quick and easy upgrade, they could add the Mk.II (early) Swordfish to the game. The main difference between the Mk. I and early versions of the Mk. II Swordfish was that the latter had metal reinforcements on the lower wing so it could carry rockets and the inner bomb racks were removed. Later versions of the Mk.II added a more powerful engine with slightly enlarged oil cooler and extended flame-dampening exhausts, as well as greater overall mass.

The Mk.II, as well as later war versions of the Mk. I also were fitted with ASV radar - with antennae fitted below the lower wing or onto the wing bracing wires.

Yes it would be a massive amount of work, but I would be happy with atleast one flyable British bomber. And I agree with you that the Blenheim would be a prefered addition since it was used by the Finns as well! :)
And the Mk.IV is a beautiful aircraft aswell. :D

But since there are flyable German, Soviet, Japanese, Italian and US medium bombers present in the game allready it would be nice to have a British one like the Wellington aswell just for the heck of it. So from that aspect I would actually prefere a flyable Wellington to a Blenheim.
The Beaufort would be a nice addition as it can be flown for both conventional bomber missions and torpedobombing. However it's last on my interest list when it comes to these three.

Yeah I know the Swordfish is already present as AI, so it was a flyable one I was thinking about in my last comment.
I do like your idea about the Mk.II. Would be nice to have for some sub hunting with rockets hehe. And it would be nice to have some other British carrier born aircraft than just the Seafires. A Sea Hurricane would also fit in here.

Oh well, the wish list just goes on and on haha ;) But no matter which aircraft TD will add in the near or a more distant future, they will be appreciated! :grin:
If one is lucky it might just be the ones on that wishlist hehe

Of all the a.i. aircraft in the stock game the Blenheim IV is the one I'd like to fly the most because it was so ubiquitous. Basically wherever the RAF flew, regardless of the theater, the Blenheim served at some point during the early and mid war periods... BoF, BoB, Norway, Malaya, Burma, NEI, all over the MTO and also with the Coastal Command and with the Finns of course.

But seeing as Channel maps are being developed I'm inclined to make what must be the eleventy billionth request for a flyable mid 1940 production spec Mk I Spitfire! ;)
I realize the maps won't be available for some time and the BoB era version will be the last one to be implemented but as it stands we have three flyable 1940 LW aircraft but only one British, hence the call for the Mk I Spit... and the Blenheim IV :razz:

I agree! :grin:

Given the choice for a real Brit medium bomber, I'd probably go for the Beaufort, just because it looks cool, and is okay in performance.

For the new Channel map, I second the request for an early Spit.
Also while we're in Dreamland, a perfect fit for a Channel map would be the B-26. It looks pretty awesome, was initially hated and then later adored by its crews, was very common over occupied France. Yes of course I know its role can basically filled by either the A-20 or the B-25 for almost any mission, but neither got the same reputation, or the same lines.

The B-26 would be a nice addition! :) Preferably as a flyable off course but AI would be good to! :)

Not sure if this quite classes as a plane or ship request...

But would it be even remotely possible to add CAM ships? That would be quite a different experience, launching with a rocket's kick in the pants, climbing all the way up to splat a HE-111 or a Condor, then seeing if you had enough fuel left to fly to an Allied airbase, crashland on friendly territory, or have to ditch in the sea for pickup!

For a 1942-44 English Channel map the B-26 would be a nice addition.

For the UK, the planes which were most associated with that area are the Typhoon and the Griffon-engined Spitfires, and perhaps some of the mid-war variants of the Beaufighter.

CAM ships and catapult take-offs exist as mods, so they are feasible - although I don't know if the "under the hood" details of the mods iin question would be acceptable to the stock game.

While the Tiffy would absolutely be welcomed, my personal opinion is it looks like a Tempest, performs like a Tempest, is armed like a Tempest, so a Tempest is a very good replacement for it. A Griffon engine Spit would be absolutely nice for later war years, especially against the D-9 and K-4. Beaufighter, any British model would be welcome, even early war ones, and they would also make welcome addition to all Med maps.

Not true on the Typhoon.
Typhoon doesn't perform like a Tempest. At least on the diving speed department.

The existing catapult mods dont really work properly for CAM ships.

Aircraft should take off with landing gear folded and supported on an animated launch trolley. If TD were to add these elements then that would be something new, not in current mods.

Of course a properly modelled CAM Ship would also be required, but that is not a big deal.

That would make it possible to use other ship borne aircraft aswell, like the Arado 196 direktly from the German battleships and battlecruisers for example. That would be cool! A reason to make ship borne planes like that flyable aswell :)

Once the catapult feature gets worked out it should be possible to add it to all appropriate ships.

I'm not sure it would be possible to add seaplane pickup, however.

Actually is already there.
Pick up is well represented by getting near and using the same sistem as chocks or whatever.
Or like the docking function on i16, the oine you activate to get attached to a TB-3

Pickup mod does not work for ai only "piloted" aircraft.
The stock ship models like Essec Class CV, were modelled to allow for animated AI action after landing. The model would allow for taxi to lift and descent inti hanger to despawn, rather than existing despawn on deck. This feature still needs some coding in the stock game to bring it to life. An easy gain for a coder with access to all the code maybe?

With this code added other stock carriers could quickly be modified to benefit from the same feature.

I agree.

Results so far;
~ Squared off the forward carb opening
~ Squared off the 50cal gun fairings
~ Rounded 50cal mgun barrels
~ Lowered the carb scoop
~ Lowered the angle front top cowl right behind the prop
~ redid the rudder (no longer looks like a waffle)
~ added full wheel strut doors (original had 1/3 doors, original mod by ME)

Not-A-Mod :lol: :
https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...80293458_o.jpg

Also added a couple key features to the Hawk81-A cockpit, infamous prestone warnings among many other things:
https://scontent-yyz1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...07083257_o.jpg

I was thinking of the proper animation sequence for plane to land and be loaded aboard the ship.

To recover the plane, the parent ship had to turn 30-60 degrees to windward (across the wind) to create a relatively calm wind-free zone. Simultaneously, a "sled" was lowered overboard from the ship's stern using a crane.

On a signal, the plane then landed the wind-free zone, then taxiied until it was floating over the "sled". The plane was then hauled up and the crane swung inboard so that the plane could be placed back on its catapult rail.

http://www.pacificwar.org.au/Midway/...Crecovery.html

This requires not just a bunch of animation for each ship that has catapult-launched aircraft which could be recovered (obviously, not needed for CAM ships, so they'd be easiest), plus some AI programming for ships, which doesn't exist at all!

Wise Owl
 

Since this list is so big, one more aircraft will not seem too much.

If I could choose just one, I would like to see the Fw-189 Uhu made flyable. It is also especially relevant to the Russian Patriotic War.

If this is not possible then please, more Hurricanes!:-D

good choice))

That would be a cool aircraft to see as a flyable.
There are plenty off already present AI-aircraft that deserve to be upgraded to flyable status if possible. I'd rather see that beeing prioritized than adding other aircraft that are not present at all at the moment.

And of course I do hope to see the Wellington, the Blenheim or the Beuforts upgraded to flyable status to give the British atleast one light or medium bomber of their own and the Fulmar and the Swordfish to give them something more carrier borne than the Seafire. :grin:

Fw-189 flyable, why not? It would even have a minimal ground attack capability, with 4x 50kg bombs, and of course the two MGs. Quite able to devastate a lightly defended truck convoy, especially due to its slowness (= easier aim, just like the R-5, which is inredible fun to fly)

Anyway, Im still hoping for a flyable Ju-88C6a

Would it be difficult to introduce a BoB era Spitfire with the aid of the allready present ones?
Or would it have to be scratch built?

I'm no 3D modeler so my opinion won't be worth much but I suspect it'd be a lot of work even if an existing version is used as a starting point. I'd suggest the Vc trop as at least some of the external elements (especially the length of the engine cowling) are transferable and one wouldn't have to deal with the poor mapping of the Vb if that was used. But regardless there'd have to be a whole raft of detail changes both externally and in the cockpit to make it a mid 1940 MkI.

Having said that, in my previous post on this thread I too suggested a MkI but as the August 1944 map will be first perhaps an F.XIVe would be a good idea, although as we already have plenty of era appropriate aircraft (and the MkIX would be the most numerous anyway) perhaps the XIV wouldn't be a priority.

It's probably not that hard, considering that a Mk I Spitfire was the first modded plane in the game.

I believe that the cockpits are identical between the Mk. I and Mk. V versions. The only 3d work needed would be to remove the cannon barrels which extend ahead of the wings. FM and DM work would need to be a bit more extensive.

Sorry but I'm inclined to disagree. I guess it depends on what one considers to be hard or to be a lot of work but to expand on my previous post and after a quick look at the stock Vb and Vc in-game, the "whole raft of detail changes" includes, but isn't limited to, the following:

External
New spinner and prop blades (regardless if the Rotol or DeHavilland type is chosen), new exhausts, new oil cooler radiator, cannon barrels and bulges removed, mg's added and a new canopy.

Cockpit
New gunsight, radio controller, landing lamp controls, radiator flap control and of course a revised boost gauge.

There're other details I could add but this gives an idea of what would need to be changed... and also I'd just end up looking like toooo much of a rivet-counter! ;)

Ah, Spitfire I... Who needs that... Hurricane Mk.I, british, 1940 variant! That is what we need! :) Seriously, that would be the easiest thing to do. Only FM change is needed! Also, contrary to the myth, it wasnt the Spitfire that won BoB for Britain. It was the Hurricane!

I agree. I was mistaken. That's what I get for posting without looking carefully source materials first. There are lots more internal and external 3d changes than I first imagined.

Apparently, there are some mapping problems on the Mk. V skins as well, which make it difficult to make good skins.

Arguably, the Mk V Spitfire could be used as a base model, but it wouldn't be nearly as simple as I thought.

But, what might be simple to do is create an "A Wing" Mk. V Spitfire, as were used in 1941. That really would just require simple modifications to the wings. FWIW, Douglas Bader was flying a Spitfire Mk.Va when he was shot down.

Were a Mk I Spitfire added to the game, the logical version to add would be the MK. Ia, brought up to June 1940 production standards (3 bladed constant speed prop, rearview mirror, 2-step rudder pedals).

Other than that version of the Mk. I , the only other early Spitfire version which was built in significant numbers is the Mk. II, which was commonly used in early 1941. The Mk. IIa could use the "A wing" of the Mk. Ia, while the Mk. IIb could use the "B wing" from the Mk. Vb. But, both versions would need 3D changes to cockpit and fuselage.

Well, I don't agree. I do thing early spits are needed aswell for the upcomming channel map. But I do agree that a 1940's bersion of the Hurricane is needed. So is a few Sea Hurricanes.

Flyable Blenheims, Beauforts, Wellington and Swordfish are also both needed and wanted.

CAC CA-13 Boomerang would be a great addition to the stock game for the SE Asian theater of operations.

You misunderstood me. You didnt notice the smiley. Of course we need the Spitfire I! My point was that the british 1940 Hurricane variant would be so much easier to do, (only FM) and so should be done first. After that, obviously Spitfire Mk.I! I'd also love to fly it! (Ok, I admit, if we are talking about the Spit, my preference would be the XIV...)

There's a whole airport's worth of UK and British Commonwealth aircraft that aren't in the game. Along with an equally large airport's worth of French aircraft.

But, +1 to the 1940 Hurricane Mk. I.

It would be an easy addition, for the reasons Gaunt said.

It was more numerous and got more kills in the Battle of Britain (although the more kills thing might be because Hurricanes were detailed to attack bombers, while Spits dealt with the Bf 109s).

Hurricane squadrons were actually sent to France in 1940 as part of the BEF.

I agree about the French aswell! I've been hopeing for years that the M.S. 406 and the 410 would be made flyable and a bit larger generic western/central Europe map for some Phony War and Battle of France action. The Hawk 75 was a great addition but te M.S. made flyable would be awesome aswell since they will be just as useable for the Finnish front.
Off course the D.520 would be nice to! :D

The channel map under construction actually covers a fair bit of the area that was fought over during the "Battle of France". It cover the area which was fought over at the culmination of Fall Gelbe, and the eastern portions of action during Fall Rot.

A flyable MS.406/410 is on my short wish list, too.

It would also be nice if the French had at least one bomber type. I've always assumed that turning the A-20C Havoc into a French DB7A would be the simplest route, since there isn't that much 3D work needed. But given that cockpits and crew stations would have to be extensively reworked, I'm not sure it would be that much of a time savings.

Yeah, your right! But it would be very nice to have an area that could be used as the French-German border area so it could be used for th Phony War scenarios or Campaign just as much as late 1944, early 1945 ones aswell. And if generic It could off course be used for other scenarios in other areas aswell. THe stock game has one such map but I feel it's just a tad to small haha

The only problem is that the area you describe didn't see that much aerial action - either tactical or strategic.

In 1939, both sides flew occasional patrols along the French-German border, but there wasn't that much action. There's a good reason why the period on the Western Front from September 1939 to May 1940 gets called "The Phoney War."

The Colmar Pocket (in the Vosges Mountains, just west of the Rhine) was a scene of intense action during 1944-45, but due to the weather, tactical air ops were limited. Same for the capture of the Saarland in 1945.

A potentially more useful map would be one that follows the Belgian-French border from approximately Saarbrucken to Lille and Nancy to Amiens. (Or, perhaps 2-3 maps, depending on actual population density.) Ignoring its potential to be modded as a WW I map, this area saw a plenty of action both in 1940 and in 1944-45.

In 1940, the map covers both the Sedan bridgehead, and the middle phases of Fall Gelbe. In 1944-45, it covers Western Allied Tac Air Ops during the Lorraine campaign and the liberation of Northern France.

This map also more or less follows a line from southeast England to southern Bavaria, which literally makes it "flyover country" for USAAF or RAF strategic bombing raids aimed at Augsburg, Munich, Regensburg or Stuttgart.

French Aircraft of the Battle of France
 

The announcement of the English Channel map and discussions on this thread got me wondering about what a decent order of battle would look like for the Armee de l'Air in May 1940.

Note that this post is not a request, since it would take a massive amount of effort to even produce a stripped-down selection of French aircraft!

Anyhow, here's my list of which French aircraft were used in significant numbers during the Battle of France. Note that it doesn't take into account the fact that some types were obsolete and were quickly withdrawn from the combat zone.

Starred entries represent particularly important aircraft. Numbers in parentheses represent number of aircraft in service at the start of the campaign - more or less.

Attack: Breguet Bre.693 AB.2 (~200)* (Also used by Vichy France and Italy)

Bomber, Medium: Amiot 354 (86), Amiot 143 (138 ), Bloch MB.200 (200) (also used by Vichy France, Bulgaria, Luftwaffe), Bloch MB.210Bn (257), Liore et Olivier LeO 451* (~373)(also used by Italy, Luftwaffe), Martin 167 (<200) (also used by South Africa, UK, Vichy France).

Bomber, Light/Recon: ANF Les Mureaux 115 R2B2 (119), Bloch MB.131RB4 (121), Bloch MB.174A.3 (56), Breguet Bre.270, Douglas DB-7 B-3 (64), Potez 63.11* (730+) (also used by Greece, Italy, Romania, Vichy France, Yugoslavia, Luftwaffe)

Dive Bomber: Latecoere Late 298D (<121)*, Liore Nieuport LN.411 (45), Vought V-156 (40)

Fighter: Bloch MB.152 (482) (also used by Greece, Romania, Vichy France, Luftwaffe trainer), Caudron C.714 (~90) (also used by Finland, Free Polish), Curtiss H75-C1 (316), Dewoitine D.520 C1 (~900) (also used by Bulgaria, Italy, Vichy France, Luftwaffe), Koolhoven F.K.58A (11), Morane-Saulnier MS.406* (~1,000) (also used by Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Luftwaffe)

Fighter, Heavy: Potez 630 (85) (also used by Vichy France), Potez 631.01* (206) (also used by Greece, Vichy France, Luftwaffe), Potez 633 (63)

Liaison: Caudron C.270 Luciole (>700)*, Caudron C.635M Simoun (489), Hanriot H.182 (346)

Patrol: Liore 130 M (125)

Trainer: Hanriot H.436 (50), Hanriot H.230 (35) (also used by Finland), Mauboussin M.123 (65), Morane-Saulnier MS.230 (~1,000)(also used by many other nations), Morane-Saulnier MS.315 (350), Nardi FN.305A, Nieuport-Delage NiD 629 (50), North American NA-57 (also used by Vichy France, Luftwaffe), Romano R-82 (177)

Transport: Dewoitine D.338 (30) (also used by Lufthansa),

Utility: Caudron C.445M Goeland (404) (also used by Belgium, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Luftwaffe)

In my arrogant opinion, there's a good case to be made for adding any of the following aircraft to the game, either because of numbers of aircraft involved, subsequent use in other theaters of war, or both:

Breguet Bre.693 AB.2, Caudron C.270 Luciole, Latecoere Late 298D, Liore et Olivier LeO 451, Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (flyable), Potez 631.01, Potez 63.11.

Arguably:

Douglas DB-7 B-3 (could converted to Havoc Mk. I or Mk. II without too much trouble), Dewoitine D.520, Liore Nieuport LN.411 (dive-bomber float plane, major plane of Aeronavale during the campaign, and very effective), Martin 167 (AKA Martin Maryland), Vought V-156 (AKA Vought Vindicator - could be more or less easily modified to USN standard).

RAF In France & Belgian Aircraft
 

Continuing my list of common 1939-40 aircraft

RAF British Expeditionary Force

Light Bomber: Fairey Battle Mk II

Medium Bomber: Blenheim Mk. I, Blenheim Mk. IV

Fighters:

Hurricane Mk I Early (1,029 HP Merlin II engine, 2-bladed wooden Watts Propeller, 87 octane fuel, fabric-covered wings, no armor glass, no armor or self-sealing fuel tanks, "rod" radio antenna mast, ring and bead sight)

Hurricane Mk I 6-Lb. Boost (Merlin II engine, 100 Octane fuel reserve, GM2 reflector gunsight, otherwise as Mk. I)

Hurricane Mk I 12-Lb. Boost (Merlin III engine, 3-bladed constant speed metal propeller, 100 Octane fuel, metal-covered wings, armor-glass windshield, head and back armor, "Linatex" fuselage fuel tanks, tapered radio antenna mast, revised engine exhausts)

Hurricane Mk. IIA Series 1 (Merlin XX engine, revised wing - blisters for cannon breaches, 4 20mm Hispano Mk. II cannons. Actually not involved in Battle of France, but did appear in September 1940)

Liaison: Westland Lysander Mk. II, De Havilland Tiger Moth


Royal Belgian Air Force

Light Bomber: Fairey Battle Mk. I (18 ), Fairey Fox II (43).

Fighter: Fairey Fox IIIC (48 ), Fiat CR.42 (24 or 27), SABCA Hurricane Mk. I (As for Hurricane Mk. I early, but 4 12.7mm FN-Browning MG instead of .303 Browning MG) (~12).

Reconnaissance: Fairey Fox VIR (24)

Liaison/Coop: Renard R.31 (20)

That's why I said I wanted a GENERIC Northwest Europe map a bit bigger than the one already present in the stock game. And that it COULD be used for Phony War missions or Campaigns, not that it had to. A generic map like that can stand in for any number of areas for any number of types of missions and campaings, historical or fictional. The key bit here is generic and a bit bigger! That's what I'm after since the already present one is so tiny.

And besides a Phoney War Campaign in the area Lorraine-Alsace and into the Eastern side of the Franco-German border would be a perfect campaing from a training point of view. Relative little action and enemy encounters that then finally escalates into the Batte of France is perfect for that. The inexperienced pilot will get time to learn before he gets to the real action.

With 389 flyable planes, perhaps aesthetics should be the one and only deciding factor. And by golly, does the Fairy Fox look cute or what! Another beautiful plane I didn't know that existed.

Due to the way that maps are created, it's actually easier to create a map of real area of the world as to create a fictional map.

Most fictional maps in the game are probably maps of real parts of the world but scaled up or down. The exceptions are things like the online islands or the online mountains maps. But, they're probably very small because it takes time to create an original map rather than just importing satellite data.

Sadly, the fact that it's easiest to import STRM data, but hard to create maps "from scratch" or from historical documents means that some existing maps have errors in them, since there has been 70+ years of development, as well as changes to coastlines, river courses, and forest boundaries.

In particular, development and changes in physical geography make it impossible to make accurate period maps of places like China, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Hawaii, Philippines, or Rabaul.

The Fairey Fox is one of the prettiest biplanes out there. The Hawker Hart and its derivatives are also very nice looking. Some saw limited action in WW2.

If you can stand to use hacks, the Avia B.534 is a reasonable stand-in for both the Fox and the Hawker Fury (fighter version of the Hart).

An utterly obscure Belgian plane which also looks very sweet is the Renard R.31. 20 were built and it was used in limited numbers during the invasion of Belgium, although most were destroyed on the ground. I forgot to include it in the list of Belgian recon aircraft.

But, if you're just going by esthetics rather than criteria like "actually entered production" or "actually used in combat", that opens hundreds of possibilities. Too many to possibly be added to the game.

Continuing my posts on early war RAF aircraft which are appropriate for the new English Channel map.

This is a very stripped down listing of RAF aircraft in service on "Eagle Day" (August 18, 1940). Starred aircraft are those which played a particularly important role in the Battle of Britain.

Heavy Bomber: Stirling I

Medium Bomber: Blenheim IV, Hampden I, Whitley I

Light Bomber/Patrol: Anson I, Beaufort I, Battle I, Hudson I

Flying Boat/Heavy Patrol: Lerwick, Stanraer, Sunderland I

Fighter: Hawker Hurricane I (mid)*, I (late)*, IIA, Supermarine Spitfire I, IA*, II*, IIA*

Night Fighter: Blenheim IF, IVF

Turret Fighter: Defiant I

Coop/Liaison: Lysander I, Anson I.

To have a decent "Battle of Britain" order of battle for the RAF, at minimum the early marks of Hurricane and Spitfire are needed for the UK (Say Hurricane I (late), Spitfire IA and IIA). "Nice to have" aircraft for the RAF would be a flyable Blenheim IV and the Defiant (AI).

There's a good enough selection of early war Luftwaffe aircraft that no additions are needed. But, "nice to have" Luftwaffe aircraft which were commonly used during the battle are the Bf 109E-1, Bf 109E-1/B, Bf 109E-3, Do 17Z-2, He 111A-1 (flyable), and He 115B-1.

Aircraft which weren't that important to the actual battle, but which became more important later on, are the Anson, Beaufighter IIF, Hampden, Hudson, Stirling, and Sunderland.

RAF June 1942 Channel Aircraft
 

This is a listing of RAF aircraft in service as of June 1942 serving in the UK. Many were used over the English Channel.

Heavy Bomber: Halifax I, II, Lancaster I, Stirling I, III

Medium Bomber: Blenheim IV, V, Hampden I, Manchester I, Mosquito IV, Wellington IA, IC, II, III, IV, Whitley V

Flying Boat/Patrol: Catalina IB, IIIA, Sunderland I, II, III

Light Bomber/Patrol: Boston III, IIIA, Hudson I, II, III, V, VI

Heavy Bomber/Patrol: Fortress I, II, IIA, Liberator I, II, III

Fighter/Attack: Hurricane IIA, IIB, IIC, Mustang I, IA, II, Spitfire IIA, IIB, IV, VA, VB, VC, Tomahawk I, IIA, IIB, Typhoon IA, IB

Night Fighter/Intruder: Beaufighter IIF, Defiant II, Havoc I, Mosquito II

Heavy/Strike Fighter: Beaufighter I, II, VI, VIC, Mosquito II, IV, Whirlwind I

Coop/Liaison: Lysander II, III, IIIA, Dominie, Hudson IV

Note that many of these aircraft are already in the game, although some aren't flyable.

To my mind, the most iconic mid-war RAF planes are probably the early Beaufighter and Typhoon variants, as well as the Stirling and Sunderland.

For early Lend-Lease aircraft the big omission is the Boston III (and possibly the easiest to add since it possibly could be converted from the A-20C), although the Hudson would be almost as useful to have.

Note that this list just covers RAF aircraft and omits useful FAA aircraft types like the Fairey Albacore and Supermarine Walrus.

A nice list, Pursuivant!

To bad we can't hope for the Catalina in the stock game though! :(

Operational Aircraft of Fleet Air Arm (RN) - Early War
 

This is a simplified listing of aircraft which were used operationally by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1939 to 1942.

In the first part of World War II, the Royal Navy had three major goals: Keep the German fleet "bottled up," protect convoys from patrol bombers and U-boats, and maintain control of the Suez Canal by controlling the Mediterranean. It was also called upon to protect evacuation operations as British and allied forces were evacuated from the continent in Norway, France, and Greece.

Due to pre-war treaty and budget constraints there were relatively few FAA aircraft and just a few large aircraft carriers. Rapid changes in aircraft technology, as well as some faulty assumptions about carrier aircraft performance, meant that many FAA aircraft were obsolete before they entered service.

Starred aircraft are those which played particularly important roles that year. Depending on which element of the FAA's history you are studying certain aircraft become more or less important.

1939
Carrier Fighter: Sea Gladiator I, II
Carrier Fighter/Dive Bomber: Skua II*
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Swordfish I*
Carrier Turret Fighter: Blackburn Roc
Catapult Recon Seaplane: Seafox, Swordfish I (float)
Catapult ASR/Recon Flying Boat: Seagull V, Walrus I
Liaison & Transport: Dominie II, Flamingo

1940
Carrier Fighter: Martlet I*, Sea Gladiator I, II*, Field Mod (extra guns)
Carrier Fighter/Dive Bomber: Skua II
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Fulmar I*
Carrier Turret Fighter: Blackburn Roc
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Albacore I, Swordfish I*
Catapult Fighter: Sea Hurricane IA*
Catapult Recon Seaplane: Seafox, Swordfish I (float)
Catapult ASR/Recon Flying Boats: Seagull V, Walrus I*
Land-based Fighter: Buffalo I.
Land-Based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I
Liaison & Transport: Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo.

1941
Carrier Fighter: Martlet II*, III*, IV*, Sea Gladiator II*, Field Mod (extra guns), Sea Hurricane IB, IC*
Carrier Fighter/Dive Bomber: Skua II
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Fulmar I, II*
Carrier Night Fighter: Fulmar NF II
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Albacore I, Swordfish I*
Carrier Torpedo/Dive Bomber: Barracuda II*
Catapult ASR/Recon Flying Boat: Seagull V, Walrus I, II
Catapult Fighter: Sea Hurricane IA*
Catapult Recon Seaplane: Seafox, Swordfish I (float)
Land-based Fighter: Buffalo I
Land-based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I
Liaison & Transport: Avro 652, Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo, Lysander IIIA

1942
Carrier Fighter: Sea Hurricane IB, IC, IIC*, XIIA, Seafire IB, F.IIc*, L(F).IIc*
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Fulmar I, II*
Carrier Night Fighter: Fulmar NF II
Carrier Recon Fighter: Seafire FR.IIc
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Albacore I*, Swordfish I*
Catapult ASR/ Recon Flying Boat: Sea Otter I, II, Walrus I, II
Catapult Fighter: Sea Hurricane IA
Catapult Recon Seaplane: Kingfisher I, Seafox, Swordfish I (float)
Land-based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I
Liaison & Transport: Avro 652, Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo, JRF Goose I, Lysander IIIA.

Operational Aircraft of Fleet Air Arm (RN) - Late War
 

This is a simplified listing of aircraft used operationally by the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from 1943-45, with a few aircraft which were introduced just too late to see service in World War II but which were important in Britain's post-WW II conflicts.

This period of the war sees the UK gradually winning its battles in the Atlantic and Mediterranean and then going on the offensive, with strikes against the remaining German capital ships in Norway and support of allied invasions of North Africa and Europe. 1943 saw the culmination of the "Battle of the Atlantic," where combined US and UK forces were finally able to destroy U-Boats in large numbers.

Starting in late 1941, the Royal Navy also had to divert some of its forces to protect its remaining territories in the Far East from Japanese invasion, and to keep supply lines open to India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Australia, and New Zealand. With the rapid pace of Japanese expansion, and with the battles for the Atlantic at the Mediterranean becoming more intense, there was little the RN could do in 1942. But, starting in 1943 the Royal Navy began to stage offensive operations in the South Pacific, preventing the Japanese fleet from attacking Ceylon and India, and supporting US and Commonwealth forces as they pushed north and east from New Guinea.

In part due to lavish US military aid, as well as an economy fully-converted to war production, the late war Royal Navy had more ships than it ever had before, with numerous aircraft carriers. Smaller carriers were used to escort convoys and used older aircraft types such as the Martlet and Swordfish, while the big fleet carriers were equipped with newer and more powerful aircraft - both British and US.

Starred aircraft are those which were particularly important that year, although importance might vary depending on your area of interest.

1943
Carrier ASW Patrol: Swordfish III*
Carrier Dive/Torpedo Bomber: Barracuda I, II*
Carrier Fighter: Corsair I*, II*, Gannet (Hellcat) I*, Martlet (Wildcat) IV*, Sea Hurricane IIC, XIIA, Seafire F.IIc*, L.IIc, III (hybrid), F.III*, L(F).III
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Firefly F.I*, F.IA, Fulmar II
Carrier Night Fighter: Fulmar NF II
Carrier Recon Fighter: Firefly FR.IV, Seafire FR.IIc, FR.III
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Albacore I*, Tarpon/Avenger I*, II, Swordfish II
Catapult ASR/Recon Flying Boat: Sea Otter I, II, Walrus I, II
Catapult Recon Seaplane: Kingfisher I, Swordfish I (float)
Land-based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I
Liaison & Transport: Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo, Harrow, JRF Goose I, Lysander IIIA.

1944
Carrier ASW Patrol: Firefly AS.5, AS.6, Swordfish III
Carrier Dive/Torpedo Bomber: Barracuda II, III*
Carrier Fighter: Corsair I, II*, Hellcat I, II*, Seafire F.III*, L.III, F.XV*, F.XV (late), Wildcat VI*
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Firefly F.I, F.IA, F.IV*, Fulmar II
Carrier Night Fighter: Firefly NF.I, NF.II, Fulmar NF II, Hellcat NF.II
Carrier Recon Fighter: Firefly FR.I, FR.I (late), FR.IV, Seafire FR.III
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Avenger II, III*, Swordfish II
Catapult ASR/ Recon Flying Boat: Sea Otter I, II, Walrus I, II
Helicopter: R-4B Hoverfly
Land-based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I, Baltimore IV, Va, V
Liaison & Transport: C-45 Expeditor, Dakota IV, Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo, Hudson III, IV, V, VI, JRF Goose, Lysander IIIA, UC-81 Reliant I

1945
Carrier ASW Patrol: Firefly AS.5, AS.6, Swordfish III
Carrier Dive/Torpedo Bomber: Barracuda II, III, IV*
Carrier Fighter: Corsair II, IV*, Hellcat I, II*, Seafire F.III, L.III, F.XV, F.XV (late)*, F.XVII (early)*, F.XVII
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Firefly F.I, F.IA, F.IV*, Fulmar II
Carrier Night Fighter: Firefly NF Mk.II, Fulmar NF II, Hellcat NF.II
Carrier Recon Fighter: Firefly FR.I, FR.I (late), FR.IV, Seafire FR.III
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Avenger II, III, Swordfish II
Catapult ASR/ Recon Flying Boat: Sea Otter I, II
Helicopter: R-4B Hoverfly
Land-based Recon/Light Patrol Bomber: Maryland I, Baltimore IV, Va, V
Liaison & Transport: C-45 Expeditor, Dakota IV, Dominie II, D.H. 86 Express, Flamingo, Hudson III, IV, V, VI JRF Goose, Lysander IIIA, UC-81 Reliant I

1946
Carrier Fighter: Sea Fury, Seafire XV, XVIII
Carrier Heavy Fighter: Firebrand F.I
Carrier Fighter/Torpedo Bomber: Firebrand TF.II

46' ...............

What about the Sea Hornet F.20, NF.21 and PR.22?

Not to mention a Sea Vampire FB.5, seeing that on the 4th December, 1945 Eric "Winkle" Brown made the first jet landing on the aircraft carrier HMS Ocean with a modified prototype Vampire.

Very good calls for a Korean War plane set, or for a hypothetical "Cold War Goes Hot" campaign ca. 1946-48.

But, I had to draw the line somewhere, so I limited my "1946" selection to just planes which were in testing (and went into service after the war in 1945-46) or were "working up" for the Invasion of Japan when the war ended in August 1945.

IMO, the regular D.H. 103 Hornet Mk. I (not the Sea Hornet) and the D.H. 100 Vampire Mk. I would count as a "1946" aircraft for the RAF, since they were in production in early 1945.

Heinkel He 115 please (non-flyable is fine by me :))

I second that! The He 115 would be a great addition! A big plus if flyable off course. ;)

Operational Aircraft of RAF Coastal Command
 

This is an extremely simplified list of operational RAF Coastal Command aircraft from 1939-42.

Coastal Command was charged with protecting Great Britain's coasts and shipping. Its primary task was to destroy U-Boats and to provide convoy protection, but Coastal Command aircraft were also used to attack German shipping and patrol aircraft.

Additionally, Coastal Command provided an unsung but vital service with its meteorological flights, which gave the Allies advanced knowledge of likely weather conditions over Occupied Europe. This research was typically used to plan bombing raids, but most famously was used to determine that there would be a break in bad weather on June 5-6 1944.

There was a constant tension between Bomber Command and Coastal Command for priority in getting medium and heavy bomber types, and between Coastal Command and Fighter Command in obtaining heavy fighter types. Coastal Command variants of common aircraft types were typically fitted with Air-to-Surface Radar, extra navigation aids, and weapons systems which were specific to hunting submarines.

Coastal command also operated a few lighter aircraft, such as fighters, but these were primarily used for recon and meteorological work.

Coastal Command Aircraft 3 September 1939
Light Patrol Bomber: Anson
Medium Patrol Bomber: Hudson
Heavy Patrol Bomber Seaplane: London, Stranraer, Sunderland
Light Torpedo Bomber: Vildebeest


Coastal Command Aircraft 1 November 1940
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Swordfish
Heavy Patrol Bomber Flying Boat: Lerwick, London, Stranraer, Sunderland
Heavy Patrol Bomber: Whitley
Heavy Strike Fighter/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufighter
Heavy Torpedo Bomber/Light Patrol Bomber: Beaufort
Liaison/Light Bomber: Battle
Light Patrol Bomber: Anson
Medium Patrol Bomber: Blenheim, Hudson
Transport/Medium Bomber: Botha


Coastal Command Aircraft 12 February 1942
Fighter/Light Recon: Gladiator, Spitfire
Heavy Patrol Bomber Seaplane: Catalina, Sunderland
Heavy Patrol Bomber: Fortress, Liberator, Whitley
Heavy Strike Fighter/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufighter
Light Bomber/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufort
Light Patrol Bomber: Anson
Medium Patrol Bomber: Blenheim, Hampden, Hudson, Wellington

Operational Aircraft of RAF Coastal Command 1943-45
 

This is a very simplified list of common RAF Coastal Command Aircraft from 1943-45.

1943 saw the Allies beginning to win the Battle of the Atlantic, in part due to more and better patrol bomber types, as well as improved ASR and other submarine detection aids. This period also saw the first airborne Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) equipment, which was fitted to certain specially modified aircraft. If properly used MAD allowed aircraft to detect even deeply submerged submarines. Additionally, improved Air-to-Surface radar made detecting surfaced submarines even easier.

By 1944 the U-boat menace was almost defeated, and Coastal Command turned its attention more to providing convoy protection and air superiority over the English Channel, both before and after D-Day.

By late 1944, with the capture of the majority of the Kriegsmarine's U-boat pens in France, and with strategic bombing seriously damaging German industry, Coastal Command saw reduced action, although it still staged anti-shipping strikes against targets along the Norwegian and Dutch coasts.

Coastal Command Aircraft 15 February 1943
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Swordfish
Fighter/Light Recon: Gladiator, Spitfire
Heavy Patrol Bomber Seaplane: Catalina, Sunderland
Heavy Patrol Bomber: Fortress, Halifax, Liberator, Whitley
Heavy Strike Fighter/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufighter
Heavy Strike Fighter: Mosquito
Liaison/Light Patrol Bomber: Anson
Light Bomber/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufort
Light Patrol Bomber Seaplane: Northrop N-3PB (Norwegian)
Medium Patrol Bomber: Blenheim, Hampden, Hudson, Ventura, Wellington


Coastal Command Aircraft 6 June 1944
Carrier Torpedo Bomber: Avenger, Swordfish
Fighter/Light Recon: Spitfire
Heavy ASW Patrol Bomber: Whitley (ASW)
Heavy Patrol Bomber Seaplane: Canso, Catalina, PBY Catalina, Sunderland
Heavy Patrol Bomber: B-17 Flying Fortress, Halifax, B-24 Liberator, Liberator, PB4Y-1 Privateer
Heavy Strike Fighter/Torpedo Bomber: Beaufighter
Heavy Strike Fighter: Mosquito
Liaison/Light Patrol Bomber: Anson
Light Flying Boat ASR: Walrus
Light Recon/Liaison/Fighter: Gladiator
Medium ASW Patrol Bomber: Hudson (ASW)
Medium Patrol Bomber: Hampden, Hudson, Ventura Wellington

These are some very interesting lists, Pursuivant! You should compile them in a thread of their own for reasearch/facts purposes. :)

The B-25H would be nice to have in the stock game as a flyable!

...

Thanks Sita!

Wonderful that we'll be getting flyable Gladiators! It will fill a huge hole in the early war RAF Order of Battle, especially for the Mediterranean Theater.

It will also also give the Belgian, Chinese, Greek, Iraqi, and Norwegian air forces more of a presence in the game. Admittedly, they'll mostly serve as targets for Bf-109 and A5M2, but I'm looking forward to biplane vs. biplane match-ups against the CR-42.

Lovely. We'll read gauges without Swedish dictionary. ;-)

Flyable Gladiators
 

Looking epic, Sita!

in that case step two

https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/1427...aac03f_X4L.jpg

https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6894...bfc800_X4L.jpg

Looks really good, Sita! Well done TD! :D

Actually it IS epic! :)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!11!!! 1000++ :)

Its fantastic, thank you TD! :grin:

I'd like to see the addition of a realism setting to block all other stations than the pilot seat on multicrew aircraft. As was pointed out to me a few moments ago in another thread here on the forum it's not realistic to be able to change position in the aircraft during a mission. So for the sake of realism it would be nice to have the option in the settings to be able to choose if one can play as pilot only or be able to switch positions. Or maybe even settings for playing gunner, bombardier and so on only.

Historically the He111 Ju88 crews flew the aircraft if the pilot was wounded/killed.

sure, in an emergency you would do that. Who wouldn't. But it wouldn't be normal for the pilot to change places with his gunners unless he was so badly wounded that he could not continue flying the plane now would it.

This wasn't unheard of for any plane where other crew members could reach the pilot.

The only problem was that few crewmen had any piloting skill, and almost none were likely to have had experience piloting a heavy, multi-engined plane under combat conditions.

For example, in the USAAF aviation cadets who failed to complete primary or secondary flight training were often sent to flight engineer, navigator, or bombardier school.

Very rarely, you'd have a private pilot who somehow didn't qualify for pilot training in the military (mostly due to educational requirements), but who was still qualified for some other crew position.

Ideally, IL2 would allow different crewmen to have different skill areas, so you could have experienced gunners who are poor pilots or bombardiers, or some other combination.

Older combat flight sims which specifically focused on heavy bomber operations would often give you the ability to assign different crew to different positions in the plane as sort of "3rd person" plane commander, and give the different crewmen different skill sets. You could play as any crew member, and change positions as the various crewmen died or were too badly injured to fight.

Well you could always come fly some co-ops with us. If another player is in the plane, then you cant switch to that spot.

Alternatively, and for single player just switch to whatever position you want and the reassign you switch key. So you cant switch. As I pointed out to the individual in the other thread. I don't believe we need extra settings for things that are already there. Otherwise it gets cluttered and confusing.

When we fly a bomber, we must be multi task: bombing , aiming for ground targets, navigating and defend the plane against fighters.
And that is why many people like me love to fly bombers

If we get stuck in a single seat, it would be boring . Going straight from A to B in a slow and big plane is not very entertaining . Especially in this IL2 with its outdated graphics.

And when a fighter comes, we want to do our best to defend the plane because it is OUR plane, our property.
So not being able to do that would be very sad and will make flying bomber much less attractive.

It is not what we want as most players choose to fly fighters, and a battle depends on destroying ground units.

i found something intersting
https://html2-f.scribdassets.com/9tn...981fd3b56d.jpg
i didnt know that Russians used hurricane IId also

I don't fly online at all. I only do single player stock game.

But I do understand your point. But to me it feels far more cluttered or complicated to go in changing control keys mid game. As a diciplined person I can just choose not to change crew station station.

But to me a realism setting, just like the rest of them, were you have the option "Pilot only - on/off" for example I don't see making anything cluttered. It would be useful for mission or Campaigns for multicrewed aircraft were the maker only intends for the player to fly as the pilot and nothing else.

Anyway, it's not a big deal. Personally I'm fine with things the way they are when it comes to this. I don't have any problem with it. But since others seem to have big issues with the way the multicrew aircraft works if you like to jump around all the stations during missions to "multitask" and using realism as a reson for complaint I thought this was a good solution for it in the name of a bit of extended realism. ;)