Hi
I,ve been interested in aircraft since I was 5-6yrs old. I,m now 52. mainly WW12 types, but a smattering of other stuff too. I have ammassed a reasonable library over the years, and I used to make models in my youth, dont have time these days. My father was a navigator in Lancasters during the latter stages of WW2, and spent some time as a guest of the Reich having bailed out over France.
I wondered whether others have tried piloting aircraft through computer simulations. Specifically the Russian coded Il 2 programme, and its add ons, and how accurately these represent the relative performances of the aircraft themselves. Certainly the programmers had input from several ex WW2 pilots, and there are several testimonies to the programme from them.
I've always been interested in the obvious contrast between what are considered aces from one combattant to another, and why German Japanese and Finnish pilots seemed to be far more deadly than their allied counterparts. Obviously the allied tour of duty system had a major hand in this, but even so, it is striking that the worlds top 100 scorers, would ALL be Germans. (US, UK commonwealth both c40, USSR c60).
Using the computerised flight simulation, its possible to fly in, and attack bombers and fighters of most of the major combattants. One of the most interesting aircraft, is the Brewster F2A/Buffalo/B239. derided by almost everyone except the Finns, many of whose high scorers (Jutelainen and Wind certainly) scored multiple victories flying it. Known as "The Sky Pearl" by them, the simulation of the B239 shows that it handles well, has good warning pre-stall, and if stalled doesnt spin aggressively. Its short on a little pace, but in a turning fight is perfectly capable against I15, I16, Mig 3, Lagg 3 and Yak 3. Does anyone have any experience with this, and its relative accuracy between aircraft. (ps landing the various incarnations of Bf 109 is hyper tricky, and usually involves leaving the undercarriage legs some way down the runway.)
I,ve been interested in aircraft since I was 5-6yrs old. I,m now 52. mainly WW12 types, but a smattering of other stuff too. I have ammassed a reasonable library over the years, and I used to make models in my youth, dont have time these days. My father was a navigator in Lancasters during the latter stages of WW2, and spent some time as a guest of the Reich having bailed out over France.
I wondered whether others have tried piloting aircraft through computer simulations. Specifically the Russian coded Il 2 programme, and its add ons, and how accurately these represent the relative performances of the aircraft themselves. Certainly the programmers had input from several ex WW2 pilots, and there are several testimonies to the programme from them.
I've always been interested in the obvious contrast between what are considered aces from one combattant to another, and why German Japanese and Finnish pilots seemed to be far more deadly than their allied counterparts. Obviously the allied tour of duty system had a major hand in this, but even so, it is striking that the worlds top 100 scorers, would ALL be Germans. (US, UK commonwealth both c40, USSR c60).
Using the computerised flight simulation, its possible to fly in, and attack bombers and fighters of most of the major combattants. One of the most interesting aircraft, is the Brewster F2A/Buffalo/B239. derided by almost everyone except the Finns, many of whose high scorers (Jutelainen and Wind certainly) scored multiple victories flying it. Known as "The Sky Pearl" by them, the simulation of the B239 shows that it handles well, has good warning pre-stall, and if stalled doesnt spin aggressively. Its short on a little pace, but in a turning fight is perfectly capable against I15, I16, Mig 3, Lagg 3 and Yak 3. Does anyone have any experience with this, and its relative accuracy between aircraft. (ps landing the various incarnations of Bf 109 is hyper tricky, and usually involves leaving the undercarriage legs some way down the runway.)
