How Realistic Is The Simulation Mode?

[Doktorwzzerd]

First forum post here goes:

I love the demo, but I'm curious, how realistic do all of the IL-2 veterans out there think the Simulation mode is? I'm not a total sim noob, but the last sims I played were the old Dynamix and Larry Holland games, ok maybe that does make me a noob, but it seems like the stall characteristics in the Sim mode are a little too unforgiving to be realistic.

I've read through the threads on this and seen various people's suggestions about turning down the sensitivity, which I have done, but it still seems unrealistically harsh. I've gotten pretty decent at flying the Spit, but the Mustang handles like an airborne freight train no matter what I do, even after firing off all of my rockets its still amazingly sluggish for such a renowned airframe. Is that realistic?

I guess I am more soliciting the opinions of others than venturing my own, being that I feel mine are a bit noobish. Also I realize other threads have touched on this, but I thought it might be constructive to have a thread specifically dedicated to people expressing their opinions on the faithfulness of the different airframe's stall characteristics, mods please delete if you feel this is repetitive.

So what do you guys think?

[TexRoadkill]

I don't know how realistic the handling is and anyone here who would claim to know would just be comparing it to other video games. But I can say that using a flight stick makes it 100x easier to control the planes without adjusting the sensitivity.

I don't know if it's because the devs used flight sticks more often when tweaking the controls or what but it's a night and day difference. Although the P51 is still a bit harder to fly in comparison to the Spitfire.

[Doktorwzzerd]

Yeah of course, but if there happen to be any WW2 vets out there please come forth! Is Adolf Galland still alive? Chuck Yeager? Maybe their ghosts?

Barring the near impossible, what I really mean is how do the stall characteristics compare to the original IL-2, which I assume most people on this forum trust as a gold standard.

[Desode]

Originally Posted by Doktorwzzerd

Yeah of course, but if there happen to be any WW2 vets out there please come forth! Is Adolf Galland still alive? Chuck Yeager? Maybe their ghosts?

Barring the near impossible, what I really mean is how do the stall characteristics compare to the original IL-2, which I assume most people on this forum trust as a gold standard.

The flight models/ flight dynamics are very close to the pc version. As for your question about realism. Digg around the web, the characteristics you are experiencing with the P 51 are pretty close to the descriptions of WWII pilots.
There are videos out there where Vets talk about the p51 doing things just like it does in the game.
DESODE

[Doktorwzzerd]

very helpful, guess I just need to get more better-er.

[loopdreams]

So when the P-51 is referred to as the "Cadillac of the Skies" it's because it was a horrible barge that couldn't turn properly?

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Desode

The flight models/ flight dynamics are very close to the pc version. As for your question about realism. Digg around the web, the characteristics you are experiencing with the P 51 are pretty close to the descriptions of WWII pilots.
There are videos out there where Vets talk about the p51 doing things just like it does in the game.
DESODE

~S~

Desode is right-on.

[Jeevz]

Flight model feels like IL-2 4.x to me.

[Doktorwzzerd]

OK here's a historic question:

In a real Spit or P-51 would you even be able to turn the plane way beyond its threshold at 250 mph, given that the controls are purely mechanical? Would you have to be He-Man in order to do it? I've seen WW2 pilots talking about how in high G maneouvers it takes a huge amount of physical strength to work the stick.

My problem isn't so much with climbing stalls, that I totally get, its with turns. The Spit is a joy to fly, the P-51 on the other hand, uhh it seems like the plane itself was more of a threat than the Germans, but I've read that most pilots really loved the P-51.

I can't wait to see how the other planes fly though, esp the 109 and the Fw-190 D-9, thats my baby!

[butterfield]

Originally Posted by Doktorwzzerd

OK here's a historic question:

In a real Spit or P-51 would you even be able to turn the plane way beyond its threshold at 250 mph, given that the controls are purely mechanical? Would you have to be He-Man in order to do it? I've seen WW2 pilots talking about how in high G maneouvers it takes a huge amount of physical strength to work the stick.

The only time high G's come into effect is at higher speeds. Like trying to pull out of a dive at 650kph. I've heard a story of I believe a P-38 pilot literally breaking his leg pulling on the stick under a load. The elevators become harder to operate the more wind resistance they have... it's like sticking you hand out the car window at 65mph versus say 200mph.

Originally Posted by Doktorwzzerd

My problem isn't so much with climbing stalls, that I totally get, its with turns. The Spit is a joy to fly, the P-51 on the other hand, uhh it seems like the plane itself was more of a threat than the Germans, but I've read that most pilots really loved the P-51.

That's becuase the Spitfire is a plane designed for turning fights. The P-51 is not. Most if not almost all american planes were "hotrods"... big powerful engines, fast with poor low speed manueverability. forget what you see in the movies. Pilots of say a p-51 / cosair/ p-47 / f4f /etc would use tactics involving speed and superior position. dive in fire off a burst then climb to a higher positioni. If there was no energy and they were caught at low speed with a bandit on their tail they were already dead.

Originally Posted by Doktorwzzerd

Fw-190 D-9, thats my baby!

Another Boom and Zoom hotrod...but it's small with powerful cannons, quick roll rate, and good high speed turning. Which means its actually good at the scissors at speed. It can hold its own with the turn and burn planes...just got to keep the energy high. If you drop airspeed with no way to recover you are a sitting target.