Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: flakbait on February 02, 2001, 05:37:00 AM

Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: flakbait on February 02, 2001, 05:37:00 AM
There's a big complaint around here about too many US planes being present. Just through reading various sites about some specific aircraft I can tell you they're here in numbers for a reason. That reason is data. US aircraft had more testing done on them, and some are still flying today. Which means if you don't have the max roll rate of the P-47 at 311mph and 19,551 feet you can easily find out. Test one that's still flying. You can't do this to any other plane really, since the numbers are very rare or just plain don't exist. You can do some rare aircraft by spending a mongo amount of cash or time to get that data.

You can plug what you know into Pyro's little FM Builder, but that doesn't help any. Why? Hardly any info about the Ki-45 (an example, nothing more). So you stick planes in the game that you can do fairly quickly. Surprise! US aircraft have more info about them available than any other country. So we end up with a load of US planes in AH. There's the obvious foriegn AC; Bf-109s, Fw-190s, Ki-84s, Yaks, Bf-110s, Ki-43s, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Zekes, and Il-2s. They have info available about them, but what of the other aircraft you rarely see?

We each have our own baby, the plane we'd marry if given the chance. But if the guys at HTC don't have the numbers, we're kinda screwed. When Pyro puts the Me-410 in here he's gonna have to fight me for the first flight. It's big, loaded with guns, and flys like a Buick; she's damn cute too. So on with the show...

We've all listed our baby in other threads. So let's make this one count. List below your choice for a new aircraft in AH. It CAN NOT be of US manufacture or origin (no Russian built P-39s, etc...).

My pick? Me-410 with full load-out options.

Ohh, and Pyro when you put the Me-410 in here I'm gonna fight ya for her hand!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"With all due respect Chaplian, I don't think God wants to hear from me right now.
I'm gonna go out there and remove one of His creations from this universe.
And when I get back I'm gonna drink a bottle of Scotch like it was Chiggy von Richthofen's blood and celebrate his death."
Col. McQueen, Space: Above and Beyond

 (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6/htbin/headbanger.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: nonoht on February 02, 2001, 05:51:00 AM
a Me410 ?
easy meat with an AAMRAM    (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

but in AH, i'm sure that i'll love it
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: RAM on February 02, 2001, 06:17:00 AM
That is only half true.

AH has so many US planes because most players are american and their preference is to fly the US Planeset.

Simple ,and quite understandable.
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: straffo on February 02, 2001, 07:07:00 AM
too many (reletive to other country plane in AH)
too few (missing P61 (yes rip  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)) and lot of others ...)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Ghosth on February 02, 2001, 08:08:00 AM
While I understand the reasoning, & the difficulty of getting good data. I do hope that HTC concentrates on bringing the Japanese, Italian, & russian planesets up to par soon.

If for no other reason we do not currently have the planeset for a realistic PAC sceneario, or even a Russian one.

On the other hand, the next 2 US planes I'd like to see added are the P39, & the P40.
But please, Jap bomber, dive bomber, torp bomber first!
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Westy on February 02, 2001, 08:14:00 AM
Ok. I say we all petition HTC to model a Spanish made WWII fighter!

 -Westy
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Jochen on February 02, 2001, 08:15:00 AM
No matter what planes HTC will give us, only late war mosters get air time because events and scenarios in general are rare and almost nobody flies mediocre planes regardless of their nationality in MA.

You can have P-39 in planeset but despite it is US plane it would not get more than few hundred kills per tour, maybe bit more if it could kill tanks. Early and mid war planes are simply ignored by most of the players.

------------------
jochen Gefechtsverband Kowalewski

Units: I. and II./KG 51, II. and III./KG 76, NSGr 1, NSGr 2, NSGr 20.
Planes: Do 17Z, Ju 87, Ju 88A, He 111H, Ar 234A, Me 410A, Me 262A, Fw 190F, Fw 190G.

Sieg oder bolsevismus!
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: J_A_B on February 02, 2001, 09:51:00 AM
RAM--

I don't think HTC made more American planes because it has mostly American customers.  It IS possible, though.   Personally, I think they made more American planes because, unlike Britain or Germany, the USA produced in large numbers many different fighter designs--and as noted above, data is available easier.


That said, a non-US plane I would like to see is the Ki-61-II (the one that still had an inline engine, 99 completed).  That or a regular Ki-61

J_A_B
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: M.C.202 on February 02, 2001, 10:12:00 AM
Westy said:

> Ok. I say we all petition HTC to model a Spanish made WWII fighter!

> -Westy

That's one way to get a FIAT CR32 :-)


------------------
M.C.202
Dino in Reno
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Westy on February 02, 2001, 11:19:00 AM
"Fiat"?  Sure that's not "Seat"?   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

-Westy
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Karnak on February 02, 2001, 11:21:00 AM
Flakbait,
Heres my pick:

Il-2M3 with full loadout options.

BTW, There are also MANY British aircraft still flying, particularly various marks of Spitfire, as well as several Mosquitos and Hurricanes.  The British have quite a bit of data on theirs as well.

J_A_B,
Here's some of the few aircraft that were possible in the British and German inventories:

Spitfire MkVIII (airframe does exist in AH)
Spitfire MkXII (airframe does exist in AH)
Spitfire MkXIV (airframe does exist in AH)
Spitfire MkXVI (airframe does exist in AH)
Mosquito FB.MkVI
Mosquito B.MkIX
Mosquito NF.MkXXX
Tempest MkV (being done now)
Meteor MkIII
Firefly
Hurricane MkIIc
Wellington MkXIII

Fw190F-8 (airframe does exist in AH)
Fw190G-8 (airframe does exist in AH)
Fw190D-9
Me262A
Bf110G
Me410A
He162A
Hs129
He177
Ar234B (being done now)
Ju88C-6 (airframe does exist in AH)
Ju52

Claiming that the Germans and British just didn't have any more aircraft that were worth doing is kind of silly.  The Japanese and Russians also have many worthy aircraft, but data on them is harder to get.  The Italians still have some to offer as well.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Sisu
-Karnak

[This message has been edited by Karnak (edited 02-02-2001).]
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: flakbait on February 02, 2001, 11:42:00 AM
Karnak your list certianly shows a load of planes that may still show up. I'm just wishing for some of the rarer aircraft that you don't see often in flight sims. The bad part is, those rare planes usually go along with a lack of info.

-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"For yay did the sky darken, and split open and spew forth fire, and
through the smoke rode the Four Wurgers of the Apocalypse.
And on their canopies was tattooed the number of the Beast, and the
number was 190." Jedi, Verse Five, Capter Two, The Book of Dweeb

  (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6/htbin/headbanger.gif)  

[This message has been edited by flakbait (edited 02-02-2001).]
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: J_A_B on February 02, 2001, 12:23:00 PM
Okay RAM, I'll post a list of "worthy" American aircraft (produced in large numbers).  The Germans and British have many VARIANTS "worthy" of being modeled, but relatively few actual new airframes (unles you count little-produced models or utter failures).  

In my original post, I did NOT consider variants to be a "different plane".  This time I will.  I can understand that it is a positive thing to model variants, too.

P-39D; P-39Q; P-40B; P-40E; P-40F; P-40N; P-38F; P-38G; P-38J; P-38L; P-47C; P-47D razorback; P-47D bubble;
P-51A; P-51B; P-51D; F4F-3; F4F-4; FM2; F6F; F4U-1A; F4U-1D  (note--I did not mention the 1-C); F4U-4

Those are 23 widely produced fighters which had a large impact on the war.  It does NOT include little-produced airplanes like the P-43, or American planes which fought mainly for other countries (P-63).  It doesn't include airplanes which had no real importance in the war (like the german He-163). Finally, it doesn't include nightfighters.

The fact is the USA DID produce a greater number of designs in large numbers.  However, total production of a given type tended to be lower than in Europe.

35000 Bf-109's
25000 (give or take) Spitfires

compared to:

14000 P-51's
12000 F6F's

The Japanese also preferred to make many designs.  Once AH reaches maturity, expect to see a lot of Japanese aircraft, too (except data for many Japanese planes is scarce).

I feel the best thing to do is act like the USAAF and USN are different countries. They had different tactics, different design requirements, and different purchase methods.  Japan is the only other country which had a navy that greatly increased the numbrer of airplane designs in use.  Germany did not have a naval airforce to bolster its planeset, and the British tended to modify existing fighter designs to do the job (Seafire, Sea Hurricane, etc).

Using my same criteria, here is a list of German fighters which are "worthy"

Bf-109E3; Bf-109F4; Bf-109G2, Bf-109G6, Bf-109G10; Bf-109K4; Fw-190A3; Fw-190A5; Fw-190A8; Fw-190D9, Me-110C; Me-110G; Me-410; Me-262

That is 14 planes, or just over half the total for the USA.  These fighters are the ones that dominated the German output for the war.

Notice that my list closely parallels the planeset of several other online flightsims.  Also notice how utterly predictable it is.

HTC has shown that they are willing to move away from the "major types" and model some airplanes of lesser historical signifigance through the use of the "perk planes". This move WILL result in more non-American aircraft being modeled.


Do I think the USA had a larger number of major designs?    Yes.

Do I think airplanes of lesser historical signifigance should be modeled?   Yes.

Do I understand why HTC modeled the F4U-1C so early in the game's development?     No.

Do I think the USA planeset has too many planes already?   No.

Do I think other countries need better representation?    Yes.


I am sorry that this post seems to ramble a lot and is Off Topic.  I am trying to make several points; I hope I am not just being confusing.

J_A_B
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Karnak on February 02, 2001, 01:00:00 PM
J_A_B,
Whatever. You missed my point.

And I'm not RAM.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Sisu
-Karnak
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: leonid on February 02, 2001, 01:18:00 PM
Actually, flakbait, you're dead wrong.  I could tell ya why, but then I'd have to kill ya  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Tac on February 02, 2001, 01:27:00 PM
Russian, Italian and Japanese planes are already in the game and I would like to see some more models, but I'd prefer to have at least one or two fighters of French, Swiss, Finnish, Dutch (etc) design.

I go for the exotics  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)

I am very surprised however, at the lack of US variants. I expected to see earlier version of the P51, P47 and P38. And the P40 is certainly overdue (fang nose art fetish..  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif) ), but there are more than enough US fighters now.

Bombers and attack planes from other nations would be very nice to have too.
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: LJK Raubvogel on February 02, 2001, 02:24:00 PM
Yes, I think there are too many US planes right now. And the fact that 4 out of 6 carrier planes are US doesn't help.

What I'd like to see:

Me-410  (you'd have to fight me too flakbait  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif))
Fw190D-9
Ki-61
Ki-100-II
Il-2 (the 2 seater-M3?)
Pe-2
G.55 Centauro
SM79 Sparviero

------------------
LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps (http://www.luftjagerkorps.com)

 (http://raubvogel.tripod.com/signew.gif)

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 02-02-2001).]
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: flakbait on February 02, 2001, 03:12:00 PM
There seems to be a little confusion about the Il-2 Sturmovik, so here's some info:

 
Quote
As taken from the Russian Aviation Museum...

Il-2 Type 3

Seating: 2; pilot and rear-facing gunner
Total Production numbers: 36,163

Introduction Date: Type 3; December 1942
Engine: 1,780hp AM-38F
Empty weight: 9,975.8 lbs
Maximum weight: 14,021 lbs

Wing span: 48 ft
Length: 38 ft
Wing area: 126.28 sq/ft

Top speed: 250.8 mph
Range: 474.4 miles
Service ceiling: 11,480 ft

Armament(standard):
2x 23mm VYa cannons, penetration of one inch armor plate steel at 440 yards
2x 7.62mm ShKAS
1x 12.7mm UBT (rear gunner)

Loadout options:
750 kg of bombs
4x RS-82mm rockets OR
4x RS-132mm rockets

Source Link: http://hep2.physics.arizona.edu/~savin/ram/il-2.html (http://hep2.physics.arizona.edu/~savin/ram/il-2.html)


Just for the hell of it, here's the Me-410 specs:

 
Quote

Wingspan: 53 feet 7¼ inches
Length: 40 feet 11 1/3 inches
Height: 14 feet 5 inches
Empty weight: 13,550 lbs
Max weight: 23,500 lbs

Engine: 2x DB 603A rated at 1,750hp

Armament(standard):
2x 7.92mm MG-17 w/1,000 rounds each
2x 20mm MG151/20 w/350 rounds each
2x 13mm MG131 w/450 rounds each

Armament(optional; can't resist!):
Me-410 Rustsatz kits: added in addition of standard armament except where noted.

B6-R2: 2, Mk 108 30mm cannons in the bomb bay. Aircraft fitted with Zaunkonig radar in the nose. All normal nose armament deleted.
R2: 2, 30mm Mk. 108 cannons in the bomb bay in addition to normal armament.
R3: 2, 30mm Mk. 103 cannons in the bomb bay in addition to normal armament.
R4: 2, 20mm M.G. 151/20 20mm cannons in the bomb bay, 2 M.G. 151/20 20mm cannons in a pod on the belly behind the bomb bay in addition to normal armament.
U2-R5: 4, M.G. 151/20 20mm cannons in the bomb bay, 2 M.G. 17 7.92mm machine guns in the nose in addition to normal armament
R6: 2, M.G. 151/20 20mm cannons in the bomb bay in addition to normal armament.
B2-U4: 1, Bk 5 50mm cannon in the bomb bay with 21 rounds. M.G. 17 machine guns deleted. Occasionally a Bk 3.7 37mm cannon replaced the Bk 5 with 36 rounds.
R7: All nose armament deleted in favor of reconnaissance cameras.
B-5: Tail guns replaced by a 187 gal. fuel tank. Additional fuel tank mounted in bomb bay. All ordinance carried externally.
Single 1,000kg SB 1000/410 bomb.
Single LT 5b torpedo [1,984 lbs].
Single LT 5i torpedo [1,675 lbs].
2x BT 200 or BT 400 torpedoes.
Single SC 1800 bomb.
Single 780kg SB 800 RS Kurt bomb.
B-1: M.G. 17 machine guns replaced with M.G. 131 guns
B1-U2: M.G. 17 machine guns replaced by M.G. 131 guns. 2, M.G. 151/20 20mm cannons installed in the bomb bay.
B-2/U-2: M.G. 17 machine guns removed. WB containers installed in the bomb bay. Options included:
2x 30mm Mk 108 cannons
2x 30mm Mk 103 cannons
4x 20mm M.G. 151/20 cannons


External ordinance:
2x 300 liter drop tanks
4x WGr. 21 rockets
6x 40mm 39M rockets
2x 250 or 500kg bombs

Typical bomb loads [internal, no R or WB kits]:
8x 50kg
2x 250kg
2x 500kg

1,000 kg bomb load

Speed: 388mph
Service ceiling: 32,800 ft
Range: 1,450 miles


External ord specs can be found here: www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/bombs.html (http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/bombs.html)


-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta 6's Flight School (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
"For yay did the sky darken, and split open and spew forth fire, and
through the smoke rode the Four Wurgers of the Apocalypse.
And on their canopies was tattooed the number of the Beast, and the
number was 190." Jedi, Verse Five, Capter Two, The Book of Dweeb

 (http://www.worldaccessnet.com/~delta6/htbin/headbanger.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Soda on February 02, 2001, 04:08:00 PM
The MA is a late war world, with perk planes coming it's getting even worse.  Some of these early war birds that were so historically important wouldn't and couldn't survive in the current MA.  Thus, all Hurricanes and BF-110's would be pretty hard pressed to make any effective contribution in the MA.  Some of the current crop of planes have a pretty hard time in the MA already.

They all do deserve to be modelled though, it's just a matter of time and when the initative is taken I bet we get a HA at the same time.  It's great to talk about P-40's, P-39's, etc, but how would one of those do against something like a C-Hog or Me-262... geez.  The US had tonnes of late war stuff, major classes and variants (or so my knowledge indicates), thus we tend to have lots of US iron in AH.

I think your chances of seeing later war birds is far better than seeing a early war bird at this point.  Trying to roll back the clock on the MA just isn't going to work and people will be screaming even louder for a HA (not that that's bad).

Your point is probably accurate flakbait that the US planes have more test data around, but I think that the major reason is that the US had so many late war planes that they are bound to have more modelled in a late war MA.

Maybe I'm wrong, I sure hope all these planes that have been mentioned in this thread and others get modelled, but I just can't imagine some of the truely historically important aircraft even showing up until a HA arrives... they just wouldn't stand a chance so why bother.  A hardy few may fly them from time to time, but it'd become more and more frustrating until you had to revert back to something competitive (i.e a late war ride).

-Soda
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: J_A_B on February 02, 2001, 04:26:00 PM
Oh dear, I mistook Karnak as RAM

--hangs head in shame--

Proof I am not getting enough sleep


J_A_B
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Jekyll on February 02, 2001, 05:32:00 PM
 
Quote
US aircraft had more testing done on them, and some are still flying today. Which means if you don't have the max roll rate of the P-47 at 311mph and 19,551 feet you can easily find out.

And STILL get it wrong!

With all due respect to HTC, the above statement is no justification for modelling US aircraft.

If you look at the 'Rollrates' thread in the Gameplay forum, you'll see that rollrates in AH are as much as 35 degree per second too fast for some aircraft, and up to 20 degree per second too slow for some (anti LW conspiracy again  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) )

SO, if the NACA data is correct, AH rollrates are woefully incorrect.  If Allied aircraft are modelled incorrectly with so much data available, why bother looking for data at all.

Just pick the first numbers that come out of your head and wait for the community to point out your errors.  Let the community do your research for you  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Then ignore it  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Pongo on February 02, 2001, 05:52:00 PM
Jekyll
Put hyde back on..
Your turning into an amazinhunk.
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: BBGunn on February 02, 2001, 06:13:00 PM
Wish someone would retest the P38L!
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: brady on February 02, 2001, 07:42:00 PM
 I feel their are to many US planes, I do not buy the available data BS..no matter how reasionable that reasoning may be...I think it is really just ethnocentrism or a perceived ethnocentrism on the part of the consumer that has fostered this approach to the aircraft that have been modeled thus far.
  I do sense that HTC is moving to rectify this though we have 1 new plane each for Russia and Britain, 2 countries needing some more representation, and I hope we will see some new planes for Italy and Japan soon as well.

My wish list would be something like this:

Ki-84
Me 410
Ki-102
Il-2
TU-4
G-55
SM-79
Beaufighter
tenzen
Ryusei
P-108
Emily
He-115
Short Sutherland
Cant Z.506B
D-9

  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Brady

------------------
 (http://content.communities.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&photoId=nHwCwcDEJznXbXfCxAJfgD0a7w1sDVrWuMP28UBOabRCH339Yvya3KrR2Q8UMjrBJ)

[This message has been edited by brady (edited 02-02-2001).]
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: 8-Ball on February 02, 2001, 09:59:00 PM
The one aircraft I would really like to see is the Ju-87

Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Jekyll on February 02, 2001, 11:51:00 PM
Pongo, can you point out something in my post which is factually wrong?

Or do you just not like the tone of the post?

If the former, please advise where my error lies.

If the latter, well lets just put it down to disappointment in a game which at one time held such great promise  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: BUG_EAF322 on February 03, 2001, 12:01:00 AM
Thanks Tac now gimme a twintailed Fokker G.I.
 (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Pongo on February 03, 2001, 07:58:00 PM
Jekyll
"Just pick the first numbers that come out of your head and wait for the community to point out your errors. Let the community do your research for you

Then ignore it

"
Is an amazinhunk statement.
The previos post you made then edited out of my other thread about US pilots specificaly being more to prone shootin chutes was also an amazinhunk statement. Guess you didnt like me pointing out that the most notorios allied chute shooter was an Aussi. Probably the only pilot in the war that was famous for shooting pilots under silk. Funny how that works out.
As to changeing the flight models. I dont know anything about flight models. But the way to get them changed is to clearly state your data and source. Keep punting it or coming at it from different angles.
Not to insult the guys that are paying for your flying.
Must be hard for you to represent HTC as a trainer with such a chip on your shoulder.


Title: US aircraft; too many or too few?
Post by: Hans on February 04, 2001, 03:05:00 AM
I would like to see a mix of different nationalities in the game.

As for other nations, a fighter or two is nice, but add more of their bombers and attack planes.  I don't think anybody would firing up the flamethrowers if they're off with the statistics a bit.

All not perked too.

G4M
Ki-84
IL-2m3
Fw-190-D9
Me410
Mosquito 4 (guns and small bomb bay)
Mosquito 6 (no guns, big bomb bay, bomb sight)

I don't think the US needs another plane for now.  They have some good ones.

I can't think of any Italian planes that would be worthwhile in a 1944 timeframe.  The Spavario bomber maybe.