Here are a few low tech planes I would love to see in a sim near me anytime soon!
Dewoitine D.520
Powerplant: 910 hp Hispano Suiza 12Y-45 V12, three bladed prop
Dimensions: Span 33’ 5”, length 28’ 8 ½”,height 8’ 5”
Weights: empty 4612 lb; Max loaded: 6129 lb
Armament: 1 x 20mm firing through propeller hub (60 rounds) and 4 x 7.5 mm mg’s (500 rpg)
Peformance:
Max Speed: 329 mph at 19,685’; 280mph at sea level
Cruising Speed: 230 mph
Climb: 2362’ /min; 5.0 min to 13,120’
Ceiling: 36,090’
Range: 620 miles
The best French made fighter of the war. This small, elegant, modern, sleek and very aerodynamically clean (if underpowered) monoplane was said to be both agile and maneuverable. Did well in combat against Me 109E, though of 915 produced, only about 403 got into service before the armistice, and less than 50 were available when hostilities started. (According to Baugher: In comparative trials on April 21, 1940 at CEMA at Orleans-Bricy against a captured Bf 109E-3, tests showed that the German machine had a 20 mph speed advantage owing to its higher power. However, the D.520 had superior maneuverability owing to its superb handling properties.)
D.520 equipped 5 air groups and claimed 114 confirmed kills for the loss of 85 of their own* (with 54 of these losses being due to direct enemy action, Baugher) This is not a bad record considering that the pilots obviously had very little if any time to familiarize themselves with the new plane before entering combat.
The Vichy French used it in North Africa (where it was used against the USAAF very briefly during the early days of the Torch landings) and later 72 were given to Italy, 150 to Bulgaria, and 96 to Romania, where they fought for the rest of the War (including in the Polesti B-24 raid)
It’s well armed for an early war fighter, probably has good speed retention judging by the superb aerodynamics, fair climb rate, and was described by contemporaries as a very maneuverable bird. This should be a good low tech addition to any Sim and bound to bring in that French fan base!
Polikarpov I-16 /24 “Rata”
Powerplant: 1,000 hp M-62 Shvestov nine cylinder radial, two bladed prop
Dimensions: Span 29’ 1 ½”, length 20’ 1 ½”,height 7’ 10 ¾”
Weights: empty 3,252; Max loaded: 4,542
Armament: 2 x 7.62 mm mg in nose, 2 x 20mm ShVak cannon in wings, provision for 2-6 underwing rockets or one 441 lb bomb
Performance:
Max Speed:304 mph at 15,750’
Climb: 5.8 min to 16,405’
Ceiling: 31,070’
Range: 373 miles
A stubby little interceptor (makes the F4F look streamlined) made of mixed wood / metal construction. Retractable gear low wing monoplane. 7000 were built by Russia. They were used by Russia, China (where they fought against the Claude, below), Finland, and by the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. They held their own in most theatres and did well in the Spanish Civil war but were said to be outclassed by 109E during operation Barbarossa. This might however been partially due to pilot quality in the early war years (Stalin having purged many good Soviet pilots right before the war). They were said to handle well and have a phenomenal agility (the aeleron’s take up almost the whole length of the wings). This plane equipped 2/3 of the entire soviet fighter force at the time of Germany’s invasion in June 1941* so it is a very historically significant aircraft, in fact you can’t really do a historical scenario of the first year of the Russian front realistically without these little pudgy bastards. The optional rocket armament makes the I-16 potentially interesting as more than just an agile (if slow) interceptor for arena play as well, particularly in an early war millieux…
(two seat trainer version of A5M)
Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude
Powerplant: 785 hp Kotobuki 41 KAI, three bladed prop
Dimensions: Span 36’ 1”, length 24’ 9 3/4”,height 10’ 8 ¾”
Weights: empty 2,784; Max loaded: 4,017
Armament: 2 x 7.7mm machine guns provision for two 66 lb bombs
Performance:
Max Speed: 270 mph at 9845’
Climb: 2790’ / min
Ceiling: 32,150
Range: 746 miles (with drop tanks)
Japanese navy carrier based fighter. An all metal fixed undercarriage low wing monoplane. The Predecessor to the zero. Over 1,000 were built, they were the main naval fighter used in the initial Japanese conquests along the Chinese coast and the Indies, and they were still in fairly wide use through most of 1941.
By the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour, the single-seater A5M4 Claude fighter was in front-line service only with Vice-Admiral Kondo's Southern Force on the light fleet carrier Ryujo. The type was withdrawn shortly after Claudes from the Ryujo were used to attack a US seaplane tender on 8 December, 1941.
Claude fighters also took part in the attack on Wake Island and fought against the AVG in China, and against I-16 fighters from both the Chinese and Soviet air forces in Manchuria.
Said to be incredibly maneuverable, I think it would make an interesting addition to early war scenarios. The ultimate ultra light.
Macchi Mc. 200 Saetta
Powerplant: 870 hp Fiat A 74 RC 38 14 cylinder radial
Dimensions: Span 34’ 8”, length 26’ 10”,height 11’ 6”
Weights: empty 4450lb; Max loaded: 5710 lb
Armament: 2 x 12.7 mm mg in nose
Performance:
Max Speed: 312 mph at 14,765’
Climb: 3215’/ min time to 9840 3.4 min
Ceiling: 29,200’
Range: 354 miles
Open cockpit, radial engine Italian predecessor to the Mc. 202 and the Mc. 205. Her two charming and elegant nieces are modeled in Aces High already, here’s their unmarried Aunt who pulled the load in the early war years! Actually it has a good climb rate and (this is sounding redundant after the last two but) was reported to have “a very high level of maneuverability and good flying characteristics”* 1,153 built. One of the most common opponents faced by the British & Commonwealth forces in the early days of North Africa, said (due to remarkably nimble handling characteristics) to hold it’s own fairly well against P– 40’s and Hurri’s in spite of speed and armament deficiencies..
Lavochkin LaGG -3
Powerplant: 1,240 hp Kilmov M-105PF V-12; three bladed prop
Dimensions: Span 32’ 2”, length 29’ 2 ½”, height 8’ 10”
Weights: empty 5,776; Max loaded: 7,231 lb
Armament: 1 x 23mm cannon in propeller hub and 2 x 7.62 mm mg in upper cowling. 1 441 lb bomb or 6 x 82mm rockets underwing.
Performance:
Max Speed: 307 mph at sea level, 348 mph at 16,405’
Climb: 2950’ per min, time to 16,405 5.9 min
Ceiling: 31,495’
Range: 497 miles
The immediate predecessor to the La 5/ 5FN /7 family. As such it should be somewhat easy to model as they have the same wings and nearly identical airframe except for the (smaller) inline (versus radial) engine. With over 6,500 produced, together with the I-16 and a handful of other less successful types (such as the positively weird MiGG 3) this theoretically capable though unglamorous aircraft bore the brunt of the initial onslaught of the Luftwaffe.
Said to be very rugged due to largely wooden structure, reportedly the LaGG-3 suffered at the hands of Luftwaffe fighters. But web sites I recently reviewed stated that the problems with the aircraft were mainly production related. It was built in several factories with a great deal of variability in quality. Some factories built aircraft which were barely airworthy, others delivered models with top speeds 30 to 40 mph slower than the normal production version. In a sim where presumably these manufacturing problems would not be a factor, the LaGG –3 could make a better showing for itself as a fighter, and like the I –16, the optional rocket armament makes it even more interesting as a multi role fighter-bomber, with capabilities unusual for the time period.
Short Sunderland Mk III
(derived from C class Empire flying boats)
Powerplants: 4 x 1065 Pegasus XVVIII, 3 bladed props
Dimensions: Wing span 112’ 9 ½ “ Length 85’ 4” Height 32’ 10 ½”
Weights: Empty 30,600 Loaded 45,210
Armament: 8 x .303 machine guns in tail and dorsal turrets, plus two .50 cal or 4 x .303 mg in nose turret and two .303 in beam positions; 2,000 lbs of bombs, mines, or depth charges.
Performance:
Max speed: 210 mph at 6500 ‘
Normal Cruise: 178 mph
Climb: initial climb 720’ per minute
Ceiling: 16,000’
Range: 1780- 2900 miles
Somebody somewhere was talking about float planes, such as the Japanese H8K. I salute the concept (think of the strategic implications of being able to have float planes operating from tiny unnoticeable float plane bases on tiny far flung islands) Though the H8K is a similarly formidable machine, the liquor – ration, two stoves, flush toilet, elegantly leather upholstered chairs, and eight rest bunks make this aircraft the ultimate high class luxury granddaddy of all combat aircraft. It is in fact the Rolls Royce Limousine of the battlefield, if you will, and it makes a fairly formidable bomber too with all the defensive gunnery. I don’t know how difficult it would be to model float planes landing and takeoff (I doubt very hard given my tendency to “land” my fighters on the sea in Warbirds all the time…) but if it is done it sure would be unique in combat sims.
For the record if floats are used I think it would also be important to consider using the various float plane fighters too such as the Rufe (Zero with Floats), N1K1 Kyofu (predecessor to the George) the Aichi E13A (“Jake”) and E16A Zuiun (“Paul”) as well as the late war American Navy SC-1 Seahawk, as well as the other amphibious recon / bombers such as the Cant Z.506B Airone (Italian three engine float plane torp bomber) the PBY Catalina (of course!) the German Do 24, and the elegant Fiat R.S. 14 (Italian twin engine float plane torp bomber), as well as the Japanese H6K and H8K heavy recon bombers and not to mention all the other armed amphibious recon planes produced by practically every country in the War… in short there would be a lot of room to grow into the realm of float planes!
Further low tech planes I would like to put in a vote for, which are either well known or have already been described here:
The Hawk 75 / P-36 ; the PE-2; P-40B/E/N, the P39D and P39Q, the SM 79, and the Bristol Beaufighter, and Vickers Wellington.
*(Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, ISBN 1 875671 35 8).
Just so people here don’t think I’m prejudiced, I found a few Uber planes for the development chalk board as well…
Fiat G.55/I Centauro
Powerplant: 1,475 hp Fiat RA 1050 TC58 Tifone (DB605A) inverted V12; three bladed prop
Dimensions: Span 38’ 10”, length 30’ 9”, height 10’ 3 ¼”
Weights: empty 5,962; Max loaded: 8,179
Armament: One 20mm Cannon in propeller hub, 2x 12.7mm Mg’s in nose cowling, 2 x 20mm mg in wings.
Performance:
Max Speed: 385 mph at 22,965’, (391 mph with WEP)
Climb: 3300’ / min, 7.2 min to 19,685’; 10.2 min to 26,250
Ceiling: 42,650’
Range: 1025 miles (external tanks)
This is the Ferrari of World War II aircraft. Beautiful, rare, graceful, and fast.
On paper this looks like one of the best aircraft ever produced during the war. It appeared in 1943 and only a fairly small (but given the scale of combat in the Med, not utterly insignificant) number flew in combat, one squadron of 16 making it to the Reggia Aeronautica, and about 150 partially equipping 6 fighter groups for the “Aeronautica Nazionale Reppublicana” (the post German-takeover fascist Italian air force created after the Reggia Aeronautica was disbanded). A few later flew for the Italian co-belligerant air force as well.
With an amazingly light unloaded weight for its size, huge wingspan and wing area, this is probably a good turner. The wings were supposed to be of a special pseudo elliptical design which was superior both to the Laminar flow concept used in the P 51 and the elliptical design of the Spit, providing superior lift with minimal drag and allleged to be immune to the effects of high speed supersonic compression. Whether this is true, anyone familiar with the shape of Italian sports cars can believe Italian engineers know something about aerodynamics!
The German DB605 engine provides a good climb rate and top speed for the large craft (a monster compared to the otherwise similar looking Macchi C205), given the ceiling and high alt climb rate it clearly had remarkable high altitude performance, and the armament is nothing short of miraculous! (can anyone say focke wulf eat your heart out?) This is the Uber plane to beat all in my opinion, and I’ve never heard of anyone using any in any sim yet either.
Heinkel He 219 Uhu
Powerplant: 2 x 1,800 hp DB 603E inverted V-12; three bladed props
Dimensions: Span 60’ 8”, length 50’ 11 ¾”,height 13’ 5 ½”
Weights: empty 21,826; Max loaded: 33,730
Armament: 2 x 20 mm cannon in wing roots; 2 x 30 mm in ventral tray; two upward firing (‘Shrage musik”) 30mm cannon in rear fuselage wings. (version A5 had them in wings firing straight ahead)
Performance:
Max Speed: 416 mph at 22,965’
Climb: 1810’ / min
Cruise speed: 335- 391 mph
Ceiling: 41,667’
Range: 1243 miles
A bad bellybutton but underdeveloped German Uber Night fighter and one of the minor what if’s of history. Though an obvious killer by any standards, it was unpopular with high command. In fact they showed a somewhat characteristic streak of bloodyminded fascistic obstinacy which was truly remarkable even for the Nazis in keeping development of this plane on the back burner. On the initial combat test flight which took place on 11-12 June of 1943, according to one web site I just visited, the pilot, a certain Major Werner Streib, took off from Venlo, Holland, infiltrated a stream of RAF Lancasters bound for Berlin, and shot down FIVE in 30 minutes. FIVE LANCASTERS shot down by one fighter in 30 minutes. Imagine if they had built say 1,500 or 2,000 of these things?
Luckily for Lancaster crews, in spite of the good showing, in accordance with the whim of the Uber Party-Bosses preference continued to be given to the Ju 88G, and only 268 Uhus were completed before the end of the war. This aircraft was also supposed to have been a serious check to the mosquito, though I haven’t seen any documentation of this yet. In any event I for one am glad the German high command never did recognize its immense value as a night fighter. On the other hand I hope some ambitious sim developer does!
I’m not familiar with the current status of night fighting in air combat sims, but I think this aircraft could also probably wreak havoc as an effective heavy fighter / bomber killer in most arenas and even historical scenarios. It’s speed is excellent, maneuverability was supposed to be very good, and it has amazing firepower to say the least!
Yokosuka D4Y3 Suisei (“Judy”)
Powerplant: 1,560 hp Aichi AE1A Atsuta 122 (DB 601A) inverted V12, 3 blade prop
Dimensions: Span 37’ 8”, length 33’ 6 ½”, height 12’ 3 ½”
Weights: empty 5,379 lb; Max loaded: 9,370 lb
Armament: two 7.7 mg in nose and one 7.92 mm mg in rear cockpit ; 1,234 lb of bombs
Performance:
Max Speed: 357 mph at 19,850’
Climb: 4.6 minutes to 9840’
Ceiling: 34,450’
Range: 945 miles, or 1796 with external fuel
An excellent dive bomber appearing in 1943. Though 2,000 were built, it wasn’t encountered that often as a dive bomber because the IJN used it mostly for recon (due to the strategic situation at the time and it’s high speed and range) and later for Kamikaze missions. In any sim the speed of this puppy would make a formidable flak gun eraser / ship killer indeed!!! Few fighters especially from the 1943 era would have an easy time catching this bird in a dive, methinks, and it should make an excellent surprise attack on airfields.
Aichi B7A Ryusei (“Grace”)
Powerplant: 1,800 hp Nakajiuma Nk9B Homaria 11 81 cylinder radial; 4 blade prop
Dimensions: Span 47’ 3”, length 37’ 8”, height 13’ 4”
Weights: empty 8,400 lb; Normal loaded: 12,568 lb; Max Loaded 14,330
Armament: 2 x 20mm cannon in wings, 1 13mm mg in rear cockpit; one 1,764 lb torpedo (or equivalent in bombs) under centerline.
Performance:
Max Speed: 352 mph at 21,490’
Climb: 6.9 minutes to 13,120’
Ceiling: 29,365’
Range: 1150 miles with full load, or 1888 with external fuel
A Japanese uber torpedo bomber to go with the uber dive bomber described above. Though it was produced in early 1944, due to the poor strategic situation and an earthquake only 100 were built and only two combat squadrons were ever equipped with this marvelous plane. Good thing for the US Navy it wasn’t put into large scale production especially when there were still carriers to fly from!
Reported to have a superb maneuverability in spite of it’s giant size, this beast would be tough to tangle with, and could probably give many fighters a decent fight after it’s torpedo run…
Quoted from a website: “True to its Japanese design heritage, this aircraft retains its low wing loading (once its ordnance is dropped) which makes it an incredibly agile aircraft. With an empty wing loading of 23.37 lbs./sq. ft, it would possess sustained turning ability roughly comparable to the Spitfire IX or the N1K2 George.”
Nakajima B6N Tenzan “Heavenly Mountain” (Allied codename “Jill”)
Powerplant: 1,870 hp Mitsubishi MK4T Kasei 25 14 cylinder radial; 4 blade prop
Dimensions: Span 48’ 10”, length 35’ 7 ¾”, height 12’ 5 ½””
Weights: empty 7,105 lb; Max Loaded 12,456
Armament: 1 x 7.7mm in ventral tunnel; 1 x 13mm mg in rear cockpit; one 1,764 lb torpedo (or equivalent in bombs) under centerline.
Performance:
Max Speed: 299 mph at 16,075’
Climb: 1,885’ / minute. 10.4 minutes to 16,405’
Ceiling: 29,660’
Range: 1085 miles with full load, or 1892 with external fuel
Not quite the uber super plane as the Aichi B7A, the B6N was still very fast for a torpedo carrying airplane and was produced in enough numbers (1268) and early enough (late 1943) that it could be considered more realistically to be an actual WW II combat plane. As such it did appear too late to do much good for the IJN, but in a Sim the vast superiority in performance of this type as a bomber over the US Grumman TBF for example will make it a good late war replacement for any scenarios or arena actions requiring torpedo bombing. Unfortunately it’s poor armament leaves any maneuverability and speed this craft may be capabale of largely irrelevant with regard to dog fighting, this one is not the danger to fighters that the B7A is, but it is probably a very lethal weapon for use in fast or surprise attacks against shipping.
