[saunders1953]

who when it comes down to it, don't hate IL2 and so they want to hack it, but they love IL2, and want it to be the best it can be.

Hit the nail on the head there, Spidermonkey! Like you, I've been flying this sim since nearly the beginning, and have spent more money on equipment and comp upgrades than on any other hobby. As many others have said, these mods have breathed new life into the game. Two years ago this week, I stopped playing IL2 and visiting the UbiZoo cold turkey, because the game was getting stale and the the PTO was so underdeveloped (and R/L issues). Then, sort of spontaneously, I started checking the UbiZoo again last October to see what was new and stepped into the Great Mod Debate (more like Great Mod Bashing), discovered 4.09b and AAA, and have been back it for 3-4 hours a night and more on weekends since. I visit this forum several times a day at work and more at home, but only check UbiZoo or 1C once a week at most. (It's fun to read the continued mod bashing, with the occasional posting from persons who are weakening in their resolve to avoid the mods at all cost, but just won't quite commit.) :wink:

There are so many mods and re-textured and new maps, we're in an embarassment of riches here. I jump around from PTO to MTO to ETO to Eastern Front and can't get focused on staying in one place or one plane for any length of time (I'm a 100% offliner.) Vive la Mods!

It's a great bunch of guys here--modders and "moddees" alike.

Cheers to all!