I've got a great book by I dunno, some NACA test pilot about the history of NACA and test piloting in general. Of course the Airacomet is featured (as is the P-80, did you know early engines had a habit of cutting the airframe in half when the turbine impellers let go...).
The Airacomet is a pivotal design, but it was never really intended for front line service (although Bell was hopeful for profits), as much as a development and conversion type. Those ordered were essentially used for jet conversion, by pilots who would fly the first operational US jet fighter, the P-80.
It is interesting to have one in IL2 certainly, but there was no way historically it was going to enter service.
wrt its performance, which was indeed marginal as a front line combat model, the engines were very low thrust (which like the Meteor and Me-262 necessitated a twin engine layout), but flying with the jet equivalent of a six cylinder development motor it instantly matched the performance of the best fighters in the world. This and the fact that early demonstrations were run with one engine (due to the unserviceability of the second), was the reason it impressed all who saw it. It was well understood the first jet fighter to actually enter service would be a far greater performer, if this hack was already as good as the best. The Airacomet was indeed the aircraft which initially served notice on all piston engine fighter development in the US.
Significant, but not a combat aircraft per se.
Yes. We have first russian(MiG 9) and german(Me-262)jet why nt the first american.
We do, the P-80.
The P-59 never saw nor was it ever going to see combat, however I'm in no way against having it in game. In fact, I'd love to have it.
Whenever you say "never was"(in THIS case it's "was in service"), Remember that IL-2 1946 Is based on "never was". We all know WWII, personally I'm a fan of alternative histories, which is what IL-2 1946 is.
And just because it wasn't the fastest plane of the time isn't a reason not to add it :wink: .
Just because a jet doesn't mean it has to be the fastest or no add...
Two Bombers:
Another great idea is to mod a Heinkel He-343 Jetbomber... if we talking about "what if" in 1946.
It was the powerfully follower/ addition of the Ar-234 and Heinkel was still working on this project.
Btw.: Horten brothers began to planed their big Bomber, the Ho XVIII, in the last days of war - Hermann Goering personally, gives the order to build a prototyp, as fast as possible.
A firstflight of this aircraft was planed in 1946-47.
The P-59 isn't a good idea because it was as Hap Arnold put it, "No Damn Good." You can see why if you look at the size and the thickness of the wing. It looked more like the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley scaled down to fighter size. It's a flying barn door.
I'd like to see the F9F-8 Cougar, the swept wing version of the Panther in which to take on Mig 15's. The Navy's version of the F-86, the FJ-2 to Fj-6 Fury are good choices too.
Brit planes should be the Gloster Meteor (why they left that out of the original game perplexes me), the DeHaviland DH-108 Vampire, and don't forget the great Hawker Hunter, with more concentrated firepower than any other plane of the 50's 4 30mm Aden cannons and the looks and performance of a VERY souped up Sabre. There is also the Folland Gnat, that the Indians used to great advantage against Pakistan in the 50's. It has the better performance than the F-86 and it literally HALF the Sabre's size. (The Gnat starred in the movies Hot Shot, and Hot Shot Part Deux) Lastly, possibly the greatest of all this generation of aircraft, the Mig-17, many of which are still in service today.
The present Sabre (XP-86) flight model needs to be updated as soon as possible. The simulation looks great but is a real dog to fly. The Cougar is probably a quick adaptation from the Panther AND I think someone could graft the NEW F-86's onto the Panther but with higher weights and stall speeds.
lordish
