One observation I would offer is this. Now that laser shots and instant snapshot kills rarely occur (a good thing), I seem to be seeing many more cannon planes rather than MG planes flying.
Is it possible that the tougher gunnery will actually induce some players to fly the Spit, La7, N1K, 190, Yak planeset even more ?
I hope not. I flew the P40-E around a little bit this past week and it was actually fun.
That's a very interesting question Hyrax.
If any one remembers, I've analyzed the reason for such high popularity in Spitfires and N1K2s previously when comparing IL2 series with AH.
Obviously such
"well balanced" planes - usually, planes with a spectacular mix of average speed and excellent maneuverability - do also exist in IL2 series. In the recent add-on of AEP Spitfires have also been added to the roster. But what intrigued me was that these planes are relatively unpopular in FB/AEP than compared to AH.
My theory, was that in AH1 the planes were hitting out to very far distances than compared inreal life, whereas FB/AEP gunnery model limited the 'effective range(not 'effective' as in machine specs, but 'effective' as in a reasonable distance to expect real kills..) of planes to more realistic levels.
The planes like the Spitfire 9 and the N1K2 have average speed. With a bit of altitude advantage it is capable of coming within 500~600 yards of any plane, and it had a chance to shoot them down in AH1. However, they are rarely fast enough to come within 300 yards or so.
Since AH1 allowed easy/regular kills at the former listed range, those planes were a very popular choice despite its lacking speed. In FB, those same(or simular) planes, weren't fast enough to come within some 200~300 meters to actually kill a faster enemy plane.
After change in the gunnery, AH2 is now more or less simular to FB/AEP, and I distinctively feel a change in plane usage - it would need actual confirmation with statistics after AH2 is officially in service.. but empirically, the Spitfires and N1K2s do seem to be much less popular and abundant than it was. So I would expect that despite cannon armament, Spitfires and N1K2s will be less popular than it was in AH1.
The La-7 and Yak-9U seem to be a logical choice in combat as they are both very fast and maneuverable, but these two planes are plagued by another factor - limited flight range. They are still very excellent planes as short-range point defense fighters, and skirmishers between two hostile bases... but they are definately not suited for CAP missions above enemy bases. Yak-9U usage would be more or less the same, but the La-7s also seem much unpopular than comapred to AH1.
In turn, like you've pointed out the Fw190 and the Bf109 indeed seems to be much more popular than it ever was.. with the former being practically a German version of P-51D with cannons, and the latter a very fast, relatively nimble, medium-ranged(with use of DTs or throttle management) fighter which posesses incredible tactical value due to its capability to climb like mad.
So, my guess is, if there is any fighter which tougher gunnery, along with various many factors in work, has induced players to use more, its the 190s and 109s.
AH2, is now definately an arena which is heavily dependant on late-war planes to be competitive. Being in a slow plane has some serious disadvantages, and being in a slow plane with only MGs, seem to be a very large disadvantage.
