The planes we truly need most.

[glock89]

More versions of the Me-262

Me-262 A1 i think it was called littel faster only 2 cannons the ki-44 wouldnt be bad to have or some new planes for Italy
 

[wantok]

I'd still go by numbers produced in WWII for the various countries for adding planes, with some ordering based on what would be nice to fill out scenarios.  The list below are the most-produced planes, for each country, that are not already in the game.  I then shuffled and interleaved the order of countries based on a preference for which aircraft are most useful for scenarios.  For example, the Japanese plane set is missing its major bomber (the G4M) and it's best and most-produced torpedo and divebombers (the B6N and the D4Y); and the Russian plane set could use one of its major attack planes (the Pe-2) and more representation for early and mid war (I-16, Yak-1, etc.).

He 111, 7300 -- for Battle of Britain
Pe-2, 11427 -- a major Soviet attack plane, 2nd only to the Il-2
G4M (Betty), 2446 -- the main Japanese bomber
D4Y Suisei (Judy), 2038 -- the most-produced Japanese divebomber (better and faster than the D3A)
B6N Tenzan (Jill), 1268 -- the most-produced Japanese torpedo/carrier bomber (upgrade of the B5N)
I-16, 9004 -- for early-war German/Russian scenarios
Yak-1, 8720 -- for early-war German/Russian scenarios
Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar), 5919 -- a much-used Japanse fighter in the earlier years
LaGG-3, 6258 -- for early-war German/Russian scenarios
Ki-21 (Sally), 2064 -- a much-used Japanese bomber
Yak-7, 6339 -- for mid-war German/Russian scenarios

Indeed, not to mention:

Beaufighter, 5928 -- British heavy fighter/nightfighter/torpedo bomber/attacker used in every theatre.
Halifax, 6176 -- British heavy bomber
Wellington, 11461 -- widely used British bomber

[Brooke]

Beaufighter, 5928 -- British heavy fighter/nightfighter/torpedo bomber/attacker used in every theatre.
Halifax, 6176 -- British heavy bomber
Wellington, 11461 -- widely used British bomber

Yep, I agree.

[moot]

Brewster Buffalo?

[Brooke]

Brewster Buffalo?

Good reminder.  Yep, I'd add that, too, just not in my top 10.

[SmokinLoon]

IMO... AH2 needs to concentrate on Soviet, Japanese, Italian, and Frenchy aricraft.  Oh, and maybe a German plane or two.  Otherwise, leave the US and UK on the back burner for a few updates.  Instead of adding more US or UK planes, fix the ones we've got.  If a US or UK plane just HAS to be added, then add in another Mossi variant.   

Fill in the glaring gaps.

[Rich46yo]

We need a Soviet level bomber. For the 1,000'th time we need one.

The best they made was the TU-ll, "and Im having visions of Soviet missions where they strike airfields while escorted by P-39s and LAs."

Man that would be awsome. All that speed and steam heading to an airfield near you.

[Brooke]

We need a Soviet level bomber. For the 1,000'th time we need one.

The best they made was the TU-ll, "and Im having visions of Soviet missions where they strike airfields while escorted by P-39s and LAs."

Man that would be awsome. All that speed and steam heading to an airfield near you.

Here are the attack and bombing aircraft the Soviets used, with numbers used.  For level bombers, I'd go with the SB-2 or Il-4 before the Tu-2, although the Soviets used mostly attack aircraft rather than level bombers (Il-2 and Pe-2 are 70% of the list below).

Il-2, 29937

Pe-2, 11427
SB-2, 6656
Il-4, 5256
A-20, 2700 (supplied from US)
Tu-2, 2527
DB-3, 1528

[Krusty]

bombers, I'd go with the SB-2 or Il-4 before the Tu-2,

Il-2, 29937
Pe-2, 11427
SB-2, 6656
Il-4, 5256
A-20, 2700 (supplied from US)
Tu-2, 2527
DB-3, 1528

The numbers don't tell the whole tale. There were well over 2000 Cr.32s or 42s in Italian inventory when the war broke out but none of these were front-line fighters, they were phased out into training units and were so obsolete they couldn't even perform as night bombers. Yet the next most common plane produced in the war, the C.202, was the frontline fighter, and took over and surpassed its predecessors (c.200/g.50), and was the most common plane after 1941 to engage the allies. The C.202 only had 1500 built.

So numbers don't quite tell the tale here. The DB-3/IL-4 (same plane)  is a design so old it competes with the I-16. Early versions (early for WW2's time I mean) have WW1-style cowlings housing the motors. It was completely obsolete, and while it was pressed into combat, it was not what folks look back on and consider one of the keystone aircraft of the VVS.

The SB-2 is just as old as the IL-4, and just as obsolete.

Really, the workhorse aircraft for ground attack and bombing were the IL2, the PE-2, and the TU-2.

The Tu2 is a 1944 plane, the Pe2 fills in before that point, and the il2 runs alongside both. We may need an extra version of the IL2 and maybe a couple of PE-2s, but with these three planes you have, basically, covered the entirety of the key bomber/attackers in the VVs (not counting lend/lease)

[dirtdart]

How cool would it be to have the Cr-32 or some of the last of the fighting biplanes in the EW arena.  The Hs-123, the swordfish.... 

[Greebo]

I wonder if there is any practical limit to the number of planes AH can have? Each plane increases the game download size since the art for it has to be included in the base file. Are there any other considerations? Do more planes slow up the game for those with slower computers even if they don't load skins? Just curious.

[Krusty]

I think the largest issue, resource-wise, is the many skins for each plane.

I think each plane isn't a concern because you're not displaying every one on your screen at the same time. On top of that, you only need to display the many little bitmaps/etc on your own ride, you don't have these on enemy planes.

I think it's other things, not the addition of craft itself

[Ack-Ack]

How cool would it be to have the Cr-32 or some of the last of the fighting biplanes in the EW arena.  The Hs-123, the swordfish.... 

Would be cool if we actually had an early war plane set in AH other than the couple of planes we do have that actually fall within that time line.  They way it is, the early war is the largest hole in the AH plane set, closely followed by the Mid War plane set.



ack-ack

[Magoo]

That Ki43 Hayabusa (Oscar) is really a glaring omission. It was the most important land based fighter for the better part of the war. It was also a great ride in Air Warrior.

Magoo

[Motherland]

The numbers don't tell the whole tale. There were well over 2000 Cr.32s or 42s in Italian inventory when the war broke out but none of these were front-line fighters, they were phased out into training units and were so obsolete they couldn't even perform as night bombers. Yet the next most common plane produced in the war, the C.202, was the frontline fighter, and took over and surpassed its predecessors (c.200/g.50), and was the most common plane after 1941 to engage the allies. The C.202 only had 1500 built.

What?

The Regia Aeronautica's OOB on June 10th, 1940 (the day Italy entered the war with France);

1^Squadra Aerea
3^ Stormo-Cr.42
53^ Stormo-Cr.42
54^Stormo-C.200
9^Gruppo-Cr.42

2^ Squadra Aerea
1^ Stormo-Cr.42/32
6^ Gruppo Autonomo-C.200

3^ Squadra Aerea
51^ Stormo-G.50
52^ Stormo-G.50/Cr.32

4^ Squadra Aerea
2^ Gruppo Autonomo-Cr32

Aeronautica della Sardegna
3^ Gruppo Autonomo-Cr.32

Aeronautica dell'Albania
160^ Gruppo Autonomo-Cr.32

Aeronautica dell'Egeo
163^ Squadriglia Autonomo-Cr.32

Aeronautica della Libia
2^ Stormo-Cr.32/42
10^ Gruppo-Cr.32

Aeronautica dell'AOI
410^ Squadriglia Autonomo-Cr.32
411^ Squadriglia Autonomo-Cr.32
412^ Squadriglia Autonomo-Cr.42
413^ Squadriglia Autonomo-Cr.42

Total fighters in frontline service available on June 10th, 1940- 77 C.200's, 88 G.50's, 177 C.32's and 200 Cr.42's. Much of the fighting in France by the Regia Aeronautica was fought by Cr.42's of 1 Squadra Aerea. Outnumbering the French, the Cr.42's still did poorly against D.520's and Ms.406's.

When Italy finally started participating on in the Battle of Britain in October 1940, they're contribution to the front was 50 Cr.42's, 48 G.50's, 75 Br.20's and 5 Z1007's.

Again in Greece and Albania, most of the fighting was done by G.50's and Cr.42's.

Again in Africa, near the beginning of the war in the theater, the Regia Aeronautica's presence in the region consisted mainly of Cr.42's, G.50's and C.200's, with C.202's being slowly phased in.