[FC] 1918-spec Aircraft

[No.23_Triggers]

Whereas I understand that Flying Circus is intended as a Rise of Flight port into the IL2 engine, I think there needs to be some more work put into the current plane-set of Flying Circus in order to balance out the aircraft a little better. 

As it currently stands, there are significant performance gaps between the 'lower tier' German planes, such as the Albatros D.Va and the Pfalz D.IIIa, when compared to the Entente fighters. the German planes are being significantly outperformed by the Sopwith Camel & Dolphin, the S.E.5a, and the SPAD XIII. The Fokker D.VII also struggles against the Entente aircraft. 

Similarly, the BMW-powered  Fokker D.VII F significantly outclasses all of the Entente aircraft, leading to Central Powers players largely ignoring the other German types in favour of the D.VII F whenever possible. This, in turn, hurts the multiplayer experience for the Entente pilots, as they are then forced to constantly fight against an aircraft that largely outclasses their own.

However, there are several variants of currently existing Flying Circus aircraft that, if implemented, would bridge the gaps between aircraft performance. Namely: 

Fokker D.VII (200hp), Mercedes D.IIIaü engine. 

The D.IIIaü powered D.VII improved on the performance of the current in-game D.VII (powered by a Mercedes D.IIIa), and would be a better match for the current Entente aircraft. Adding a D.IIIaü-powered Fokker D.VII would greatly lessen the performance gap between Entente and Central aircraft. The D.VII was widely manufactured with this engine and saw frontline service as the main Scout of the Luftstreitkrafte, making it a viable choice for FC.

Albatros D.Va (200hp), Mercedes D.IIIaü engine. 

Similarly to the D.VII, the D.IIaü powered Albatros D.Va improved on the performance of the earlier D.IIIa powered variant, and would help to lessen the performance gap between Entente and Central aircraft. 

It is worth noting that the Halberstadt CL.II (200hp) that we currently have in Flying Circus is powered by the Mercedes D.IIIaü engine. The Flying Circus player base is also near-exclusively unified on the matter of implementing D.IIIaü variants of these aircraft. 

SPAD XIII (220hp), Hispano-Suiza HS 8Bc/8Bd engine. 

The current SPAD XIII within Flying Circus is powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS8Ba engine, factory rated at 200hp. As it currently stands this aircraft performs well in Flying Circus, but it is a 1917 variant of the SPAD XIII. As with the other Entente aircraft, it is disproportionately outclassed by the Fokker D.VII F. 

Implementing an engine modification for the later 1918-spec Hispano Suiza 8Bc or 8Bd engine would give the Entente players an aircraft that would offer much stiffer opposition to the Fokker D.VII F - something that has been lacking since Rise of Flight. 


The three aircraft mentioned above are the 1918-spec variants of the three currently in-game aircraft. In my opinion, these three variants are sorely needed in order to create more balance within Flying Circus. 

Edited January 8, 2020 by US93_Larner