The Soviet set

[Anaxogoras]

Those production numbers are incomplete.  You need to start from a much earlier year, as types like the I-153 and I-16 that were being produced from the mid 1930s were still serving years later.  I'm also a bit incredulous about I-16 production ending in 1942.

I think it was wmaker who even mentioned that the I-153 was active over the gulf of Finland through the Spring of 1943.

[Rich46yo]

The Soviet set has no bomber. Thats 0%.

There are 5 major aircraft industrial players in the game, as there was in real life. USA, Britian, Germany, Japan, and The Soviet Union. Of the 5 only one doesnt have a level bomber in the game.The TU-2s is the natural choice cause it was their best bomber, as well as fitting the role of survivable attacker too.

As to the fighter needed? I have an inclination towards Yaks but theres a couple of fighters that I wouldnt mind. A Mid War bird wouldnt be a bad fit.

Still this is a great set only a few planes away from being 2nd to none.

[Easyscor]

Very nice! Makes me want to see the 153 in-game. I'll have to wait for my son to arrive next week to read it to me. What a plane for pre 1942 ('37), bombs, drop tanks and is that a rocket I see.

The link to the Mig 3 is broken this morning, but I'll try again later.

Thanks again. 

[-aper-]

The Soviet set has no bomber. Thats 0%.

There are 5 major aircraft industrial players in the game, as there was in real life. USA, Britian, Germany, Japan, and The Soviet Union. Of the 5 only one doesnt have a level bomber in the game.The TU-2s is the natural choice cause it was their best bomber, as well as fitting the role of survivable attacker too.

Bombers:


Tu-2 is the best choice for main arena while Pe-2 is the best choice for special events. So it's hard to make a choice

[Wmaker]

The Soviet set has no bomber. Thats 0%.

There are 5 major aircraft industrial players in the game, as there was in real life. USA, Britian, Germany, Japan, and The Soviet Union. Of the 5 only one doesnt have a level bomber in the game.The TU-2s is the natural choice cause it was their best bomber, as well as fitting the role of survivable attacker too.

As to the fighter needed? I have an inclination towards Yaks but theres a couple of fighters that I wouldnt mind. A Mid War bird wouldnt be a bad fit.

Still this is a great set only a few planes away from being 2nd to none.

I agree that AHII desperately needs a VVS level bomber. I just think that the Pe-2 should come in before Tu-2. If AH would only be about MA, then Tu-2 would obviously be a better choise in terms of usability. In the MA the country of origin doesn't really matter to the masses and AH already has a fast level bomber in the form B-26 and fast attack bomber in the form of A-20G. Therefore I would rather see the bomber that saw the most use historically ie. the Pe-2FT. Tu-2's effect on the MA would rather insignificant compared to the boost Pe-2FT would give to the eastern front special-event -planeset. Hopefully we'll get both.

[Tilt]

IMO the MA misses the Yak3 of 1944. The Tu-22 was fast by VVS standards and might see some usage.

The scenaraio never played in AH to its full potential is Kursk. For which we would benefit from

Yak1/Yak7 variants(Yak 1 b would be sufficient IMO)
Pe2 (almost essential)
La5/La5F/Lagg3  (one of them at least)

Panther (would definatley see MA usage IMO)

[Tilt]

Pe-2 was a dive bomber................

[Wmaker]

Pe-2 was a dive bomber................

Like the Ju-88, it was capable of both dive -and level bombing.

[Tilt]

I always thought it ( the Pe2) was never fitted with a level bomb sight and bombs were always released by the pilot (diving) using a PB 1 sight (same as the Yak and Lavochkin use) I suppose  the bombs could be released in level flight but there was no (level) bomb sight to target with.

The ju88 had level sights when so equipped.

[Wmaker]

I've always had the impression it indeed had a level bomb sight. It does have one in IL-2 -sim. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War Vol.2 mentions that navigator had OPB-1M as the day sight and NKPB-3 for night use for the PB-100 (the type that evolved into Pe-2). Also I have a flight manual drawing in another book showing a level bombing sight.

[Tilt]

In that case my knowledge was incomplete............ strange I read that very volume to check and missed the reference. What page/column? ahh found it! section describing the PB100. well the Pe-2 could have had it too.

[Wmaker]

well the Pe-2 could have had it too.

Yeh, I think so too although I couldn't find a direct reference. That particular sight was apparently also used in the TB-3:
http://gunsight.jp/b/english/data/sight-e-s.htm (no photo unfortunately).

[Easyscor]

Grabbed the Mig-3 pdf today.

Thanks Aper, at 110 pages, that looks very complete.

[-aper-]

Yak1/Yak7 variants(Yak 1 b would be sufficient IMO)
La5/La5F/Lagg3  (one of them at least)

Yak-1B (with M-105PF) does not cover the 1941 gap and is similar by performance to Yak-7B which is similar to Yak-9 which is similar to Yak-9T already modelled in AH except 37mm cannon. So it would be better to save time and money and just convert Yak-9T into "hybrid" version with different load outs. (20mm - Yak-9, additional fuel tanks - Yak-9D, 37mm - Yak-9T, etc)

To cover 1941 ("Barbarossa") gap the earliest version of Yak-1 must be modelled as well as MiG-3.

As for LaGG-3 it would be better to model "hybrid" version of LaGG-3 (M-105) which will represent all weapons modifications of late 1941 and early-mid 1942 (12,7mm , 20mm, 23mm and 37 mm). It will cover late 1941-early 1942 gap.

To cover mid-late 1942 gap La-5 (earliest version) must be modelled. It would be good to have Yak-7B as well but it can be substituted with Yak-9 20mm.

To sum up the results: Yak-1 (earliest), MiG-3, LaGG-3 (hybrid), La-5 earliest + Yak-9T converted into hybrid (Yak-9 with different load outs)

Pe2 (almost essential)

Yes, Pe-2 is a must. It's not quite clear which version though. Probably hybrid of 1941-42 to make it usefull for as many as possible special events.

[-aper-]

Grabbed the Mig-3 pdf today.

Thanks Aper, at 110 pages, that looks very complete.

You are welcome There is a pretty good book about LaGG-3 as well:
http://www.wuala.com/-aper-/AH/LaGG-3%20Fighter.pdf