A flyable GST?

[dimlee]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

GST - Soviet license-built version of PBY (probably PBY-1) with Shvetsov M-62 or ASh-62IR engines, Soviet armament, instruments, and crew equipment. First produced in 1939. Unknown number built, but widely used.

Just 27 a/c were built according to:
http://www.hydroplanes.ru/gidrosamol...rosamolet.html
http://www.navylib.su/avia/katalina/03.htm

Production stopped in 1940.
There were 11 in the Black Sea Navy (9 lost in 1941-1942) and 7 in the North (at least 4 lost in 1941).
4 planes survived WWII. Engines: М-87А, M-88, M-62, M-62IR.
Superior to other Soviet flying boats, but same destiny - high losses due to reckless (or desperate) tactics in early war period, poor maintenance, low crew qualifications, lack of spare parts.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by dimlee

Just 27 a/c were built

Thanks for the additional information.

So, a much rarer bird than I thought. That means that the GST is rare enough that it shouldn't be included in the list of historically important Catalina variants.

[Verdun1916]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Thanks for the additional information.

So, a much rarer bird than I thought. That means that the GST is rare enough that it shouldn't be included in the list of historically important Catalina variants.

Indeed you are right! The reason I suggested the GST was because on a mistake on my side since I thought there was a connection between the US-built Catalinas and Northrop-Grumman thus prenventing them from beeing made flyable in the stock game. But I was wrong and Sita corrected me on it.

Of course the easiest to add would be the already present AI PBN Nomad in the stock game.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Verdun1916

Of course the easiest to add would be the already present AI PBN Nomad in the stock game.

+1

An actual Catalina I or PBY-5 would basically be a new plane due to changes to exterior model, as well as many minor changes to crew stations. Canso-A/Catalina IV, PBY-5A, or PBY-6A would require changes to the game engine to allow amphibious aircraft.

[Verdun1916]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

+1

An actual Catalina I or PBY-5 would basically be a new plane due to changes to exterior model, as well as many minor changes to crew stations. Canso-A/Catalina IV, PBY-5A, or PBY-6A would require changes to the game engine to allow amphibious aircraft.

How come the last three you mention would require changes to the game engines? Has that to do with the ability to land both on water and on land?

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Verdun1916

How come the last three you mention would require changes to the game engines? Has that to do with the ability to land both on water and on land?

Discussed previously in the thread. IL2 currently lacks the capacity for the same aircraft to take off and land from both land and water.

All three Catalina variants I mentioned were redesigned to be "amphibious" - allowing them to do just that.

I believe this has been altered in modded versions of the game, and that true amphibious planes have been successfully added. So, not impossible for the game engine, just not done yet for the official version.

[Verdun1916]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Discussed previously in the thread. IL2 currently lacks the capacity for the same aircraft to take off and land from both land and water.

All three Catalina variants I mentioned were redesigned to be "amphibious" - allowing them to do just that.

I believe this has been altered in modded versions of the game, and that true amphibious planes have been successfully added. So, not impossible for the game engine, just not done yet for the official version.

Yes, I read that! And I do know very well what an amphibious aircraft is. But I was hoping for a more in deapth aswner to my question. In what way does the game lack the capacity to handle aircraft that can land and take off on both land and water. Is it the AI that can't handle both options for one and the same aircraft? Or is it some limitation on the aircraft themself that makes it impossible to have a workable landing gear on an aircraft with a shiplike hull?

Since I'm not a programmer I want to get a little more info on why and what these limitations are.

From a playable aircraft stand point I can't see (or understand is maybe a better word) why and how there are limitations. A player controlled amphibious aircraft would be handled lika an ordinary land based Aircraft (if it has workable landing gear): you want to land on land you push the toggle gear-key and out comes the gear and you land on an airstrip. And if you want to land on water you don't lower the gear and you land using the aircraft hull like with the ordinary seaplanes on the water instead. Off course an additional key would be needed to toggle wing-tip pontoons like the ones Catalinas and Nomads have.
But maybe that is were the limitation lies? That you can't have both retractable gear and retractable wing-tip pontoons on one and the same aircraft?

Maybe it would work for a player controlled aircraft but the AI can't handle it due to AI-limitations? And if so, could there be a work-around using two versions of say the Nomad? One version like the AI-one we have today that can only take-off and land on water and another with works just like ordinary land-based aircraft with working landing gear that is programmed to only take off and land on airstrips on land. That way you choose the "water" or "land" version depending on what kind of airbase you want to use in the mission you are building.

I hope you understand what I mean here haha

I just don't want to know that there are problems with handling amphibious aircraft in the stock game. I want to understand what the problem is and why it's there. I want to understand exactly what the limitations are.

Cheers!