[stansdds]

Talk of flight models always gives me a headache. So much has been written about the flight characteristics of many aircraft and some of it is contradictory. Flight characteristics are affected by so many things. Air temperature and pressure, wind, fuel load and distribution, weapons and ammo load, presence or absence of armor plate, fuel quality, mechanical state of the engine and flight controls, and I'm sure there are even more subtle things that affect the way a plane flies. So which flight model is correct? I don't know, you certainly can't base it on how a restored aircraft flies as they do not fly with guns, ammo or armor and the fuel available today will not allow the engines to operate at their maximum rated output.

I do agree that in Il2, pilot skill is very important. I'm a dedicated Corsair pilot and I hear lots of gripes about how poorly it flies and how the 50 caliber machine guns won't damage or flame a Zeke. My experience has been different. If I get shot down, odds are it was my fault for not paying attention to what was going on in the rear view mirror. It's always the one that managed to sneak up on me or three that are tag-teaming me. If it's just one or two, I can usually get away from them by using tactics that were known by real Corsair pilots, roll over and dive or enter a gentle, climbing turn to starboard. The 50 cal's? I set Japanese planes on fire or disintegrate them routinely, but I pick my shots and only shoot when I am within the convergence distance.