IL2 and other flight sims.

[Geek44]

I'm a big fan of combat flight sims as long as they don't involve 'fire and forget' weapons. I've played tons of 'Red Baron', 'Aces Over Europe' and 'Aces Over the Pacific'. I've also dabbled with 'Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe' but my all time favourite would have to be IL2 Sturmovik and all the associated add on stuff for this game.
Any other virtual fighter pilots out there?
Tally Ho!

[McCoy]

I've got the whole series of IL-2 n' fell in love with it from the very first moment that I did manage to take of n' land a 109. Boy, that ain't the easyest little bugger to land.

[gi-rene]

Playing Il2 with my club right now... Love doing it with others on teamspeak.

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by McCoy

I've got the whole series of IL-2 n' fell in love with it from the very first moment that I did manage to take of n' land a 109. Boy, that ain't the easyest little bugger to land.

Ever tried taking off in an I-16? I've read it was dangerous to fly.
Never played against (or with) other people gi-rene but it's something I'll get to sometime.
What do you guys think of 'Pacific Fighters'? I think it's a little less 'finished' than IL2.

[McCoy]

You should get the whole package n' not just Pacific Fighters. That means IL-2: Forgotten Battles, IL-2: Aces Expansion Pack n' IL-2: Pacific Fighters in a merged instalation. Or even better, IL-2:1946 as it's the latest release but not only that 'cos it comes with those other releases jamed together in the 1946 code. In that way you'll get an incredible amount of flyable a/c's n' quite a lot of different maps in just one package. IL-2: Pacific Fighters is really a addon that was released as a stand alone, that's why you think it's a little on the thin side.

The I-16 is really a little gem to fly but the Hurri is sweet n' lovly to fly. Another nice a/c for the pilot is the Beaufighter. Or another nice experience that you can have, take out yer looseteeth, buckle in hard n' take the Me 163 for a spin at full throttle 'gainst a horde of B-17 head on, climb n' dive through the formation n' when your juice is gone glide away tryin' to stay away from the escorting fighters.

[Geek44]

I've got 1946 mate. It's not bad either but due to some problems I had, I uninstalled it and only reinstalled Forgotten Battles with the Aces pack.
I enjoy flying the Komet and I have a single mission saved with 16 Komets vs 16 BI...I forget the number, but it's the Russian rocket plane. It makes for some pretty fast and furious dogfighting. I also have a great mission saved with 16 He 162s vs 16 P-80s. I've NEVER survived that mission.
I really like to fly the I-16 as well but it took me a very long time to master take offs. And I use the word 'master' very loosely...sometimes I still drag my starboard wing tip or even crash. One time, I broke my port main wheel off on the little tower by the runway. It made for a pretty interesting landing.
My favourite a/c is definitely the Messerschmitt 109 in all it's forms except the 'Z'. Easy to fly, stable in the air and excellently armed (not so much the 'F' series...the guns are small).
Of course I like the Beaufighter as well given that many RAAF units were equipped with them. We actually have an old Beau at the local RAAF museum. I have a photo on my fridge. It's in pretty fair condition too.
Have you ever tried to fly anything under a bridge? I have and it's possible. I once flew that giant Soviet four engined monstrosity (I forget the name Tu-2 I think) under a large bridge. It tore off my tail fin but I survived it. For stunts, I like the LaGG.
Peace.

[Whiterook]

Sounds awesome! Do you fellas play it with a joystick, or keyboard keys?

[McCoy]

I've got an Microsoft Force Feedback 2 joystick that i'm quite happy with but it sure would be nice to try a HOTAS setup.

[Whiterook]

Thanks Urban...I'll have to look into that joystick. The closest thing I own to a flight sim is a PS2 game that I've yet to pull out of its packaging yet...I think it's called Secret Weapons over Normandy? I'm too lazy to go all the way downstairs to look at it

[McCoy]

It's a popular stick but it's sadly discontinued by Microsoft. So if you stumble upon one you shouldn't hesitate in buin' it.