OT: a fair few people have played IL2 since the beginning...

[AndyJWest]

Pah! Call this nostalgia? I've still got my first air combat sims - and the computer to play them on (Amstrad CPC 464) - from the mid 1980s:

Fighter Pilot (1985)from Digital Integration (1985). F-15 sim.
Tomahawk (1986) also from Digital Integration. AH-64 sim.

They both worked (or at least loaded) when I tried a year or so back. If I get the chance, I'll try them out again, and take some photos.

From the Fighter Pilot instruction leaflet:

← - Joystick LEFT
↓ - Joystick BACK
↑ - Joystick FORWARD
→ - Joystick RIGHT
Z - RUDDER LEFT
X - RUDDER RIGHT

Q - Increase THRUST
A - Decrease THRUST
W - Flaps UP
S - Flaps DOWN
U - Undercarriage UP and DOWN
B - Brakes ON
N - Next Beacon
M - Map
F - ILS/Flight Computer
<Space> GUNS (active only in Combat mode)
H - Hold
J - Release
<ESC> To return to menu

No complex engine management in those days...