F8F-1 Standard Characteristics... A genuine monster

[glzsqd]

Spit1 is so much more interesting to fly than the spit16

[Widewing]

Then I will enjoy piloting a B-36.

Really:  Where do you draw the line?  Any line is going to be arbitrary.

- oldman

The B-36 didn't fly until August of 1946, and didn't enter service until mid 1949.... How does this relate to aircraft already in combat units months before the war ended?

Defining what constitutes a WWII aircraft is anything but arbitrary. Arbitrary is defined as: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Was the aircraft in full production, and in operational combat units before the end of the war? How is that arbitrary? It's a very simple and easy to understand logic.

[Saxman]

And I doubt a new arena with planes like the F8F, F7F, Do335 or other stuff would actually increase player numbers in the long term. And just throwing another plane into the LW arena will be even less changing gameplay and numbers in the long run at all. Be it a hotrod or another mid war bomber.

Agreed, and I'll refer back to one of my previous posts:

Improved flight and damage modeling, better surface and ground combat, and a more robust "war" system (seriously, we need SOMETHING more engaging than "bomb field to rubble, cap field, drop troops on town, lather, rinse, repeat" to move the lines and capture territory). You can add the F8F, Kikka, Do-335, P-80, Hornet, and whatever other aircraft that just missed you can think of, and it's not going to change anything.

Gameplay needs to be addressed as THE main priority once the graphics engine overhaul is finished. Gap-fillers for events would follow because they at least serve two purposes. The very LAST thing that should be looked at is adding machines that would only present yet another late-war uber ride to a Main Arena already choked with late-war uber rides, and which would add NOTHING to the other aspects of the game.

And the F8F is undeniably in that last category. It would add NOTHING outside the Mains, because it DID absolutely nothing during the war. It would just be another perk plane.

[bozon]

Rationally controlled by perking, the addition of such planes effects the MA no more than the addition of the Me-163. Yes, it actually saw limited service in the war, BUT its performance is far more singular relative most WWII fighter planes the F8F, Sea Fury, or any other post-war piston hot rod one might consider introducing.

The 163 performance is indeed singular and this is why it is also restricted to rear fields next to HQ. It would be a nightmare if it was available at all fields.

[Rob52240]

Are we ever going to get the Beaufighter?

[Oldman731]

The B-36 didn't fly until August of 1946, and didn't enter service until mid 1949.... How does this relate to aircraft already in combat units months before the war ended?

Defining what constitutes a WWII aircraft is anything but arbitrary. Arbitrary is defined as: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Was the aircraft in full production, and in operational combat units before the end of the war? How is that arbitrary? It's a very simple and easy to understand logic.

I was responding to the poster who suggested that if a plane was built to fly in WWII, it should be in the game.  The B-36 clearly fills that description (and the first one was completed on August 20, 1945, clearly before the end of the war).  So do others (Douglas Skyraider comes to mind).

What constitutes a "WWII aircraft?"  Your requirements of full production and operational combat unit status are fine.  So is "any plane that saw combat at least once in WWII," or even "any plane that was constructed between 9/1/39 and 9/2/45."  So is the other poster's suggestion of "any plane designed to fly in WWII."  There are various stages in between.  Picking one of them is going to be arbitrary. 

- oldman