Developer Diary 259 - Discussion

[ilmavoimat]

On 8/29/2020 at 11:16 AM, Diggun said:

Flyable Dakota would be a day one pre-order from me... Just saying. 

And me! The money is waiting!!!

[Flitgun]

Air Marshall ...well, that's interesting. Has that been mentioned before?

[Grancesc]

What am I looking forward to the most? On the civilian DC 3 skins, of course. There are so many birds of paradise of this legendary plane.

[RedKestrel]

4 hours ago, Flitgun said:

Air Marshall ...well, that's interesting. Has that been mentioned before?

On and off for a couple years now I think? They had some setbacks on development with staffing shortage and reworks I think.

[II./SG.1-MarkWilhelmsson]

On 8/29/2020 at 12:28 AM, Vyllis said:

Improved AI & Visibility, can't wait to see the improvements, this will make me buy & play IL2 BOX products again.

The C47 is really cute, unlike the ugly Ju 52.

 

How dare you talk smack about that wonderful Junkers!

[fergal69]

On 8/30/2020 at 7:22 AM, Rjel said:

Never say never. We’ve been surprised by what we thought was not to be so many times by this team. A flyable C-47 would be an incredible addition to this sim from an important game play standpoint. Even as “just” a flyable, it would be immensely popular. 

 

Flyable C-47 could lead on to a Horsa glider.

 

Mission could be to tow the Horsa to a destination before being released.

 

There would be a number of challenges for the C-47 pilot in towing a Horsa, avoiding fighters, flack, etc. 

 

Be even more of a challenge to fly a Horsa with different loads of cargo due to different weights. 

Edited August 31, 2020 by fergal69

[Jaegermeister]

37 minutes ago, fergal69 said:

 

Flyable C-47 could lead on to a Horsa glider.

Mission could be to tow the Horsa to a destination before being released.

There would be a number of challenges for the C-47 pilot in towing a Horsa, avoiding fighters, flack, etc. 

Be even more of a challenge to fly a Horsa with different loads of cargo due to different weights. 

 

It would make sense to have towable gliders by the time BoN is released. How can you do a D-Day invasion without Gliders and Paratroops? At the very least, a static object in the LZ on the ground. I would be highly surprised if it was flyable I think most of the gliders were flown in at night after Market Garden anyway.

 

 

Edited August 31, 2020 by Jaegermeister

[Rjel]

2 hours ago, fergal69 said:

 

Flyable C-47 could lead on to a Horsa glider.

 

Mission could be to tow the Horsa to a destination before being released.

 

There would be a number of challenges for the C-47 pilot in towing a Horsa, avoiding fighters, flack, etc. 

 

Be even more of a challenge to fly a Horsa with different loads of cargo due to different weights. 

I think flying a combat glider might be a lot of fun. And a real challenge. 

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

I would be highly surprised if it was flyable I think most of the gliders were flown in at night after Market Garden anyway.

 

Actually, Operation Varsity was undertaken during the day. But of course, by then, the Luftwaffe barely had a pulse left.

Edited September 1, 2020 by LukeFF

[II./SG.1-MarkWilhelmsson]

9 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

It would make sense to have towable gliders by the time BoN is released. How can you do a D-Day invasion without Gliders and Paratroops? At the very least, a static object in the LZ on the ground. I would be highly surprised if it was flyable I think most of the gliders were flown in at night after Market Garden anyway.

 

 

 

Im pretty sure ive seen gliders scattered all in several fields near targets in the mission "A Bridge Too Far" on the Combat Box server.

[LukeFF]

9 hours ago, II./SG.1-MarkWilhelmsson said:

 

Im pretty sure ive seen gliders scattered all in several fields near targets in the mission "A Bridge Too Far" on the Combat Box server.

 

No, glider objects do not exist at this time.

[Noisemaker]

22 hours ago, fergal69 said:

 

Flyable C-47 could lead on to a Horsa glider.

 

Mission could be to tow the Horsa to a destination before being released.

 

There would be a number of challenges for the C-47 pilot in towing a Horsa, avoiding fighters, flack, etc. 

 

Be even more of a challenge to fly a Horsa with different loads of cargo due to different weights. 

If we're going to fantasize so far, we'll need barrage balloons as deadly obstacles over the primary targets as well.

[FlyingNutcase]

AI improvements "as usual". Yeah! And the rest.

 

Improved spotting. Very much looking forward to this.

 

Baarilliant. ? 

[Trixie]

I'm throwing my credit card at the C-47 image but nothing happens??

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, please let us fly it at some point.

[Rjel]

On 8/31/2020 at 2:29 PM, II./SG.1-MarkWilhelmsson said:

 

How dare you talk smack about that wonderful Junkers!

I know it isn't pronounced that way in German, but when it's sitting next to the still sleek looking C-47/DC3, junkers does seem appropriate. ?

[Freycinet]

On 8/29/2020 at 1:42 PM, unreasonable said:

"A Violent Wind"   

 

I suppose wartime RAF rations plus daily changes in altitude would do that.... but you might be better off with "A Violent Storm"?

 

 

"Wind" just doesn't sound very strong, so it doesn't go well with "violent".

 

Check lots of relevant synonyms here:

https://www.powerthesaurus.org/strong_wind

[Boomerang]

7 hours ago, Trixie said:

please let us fly it at some point

Trixie, we have been surprised many times before in the past. The J 52/3m, Bf 109 G-6, Yak-9's, just to name a few and not forgetting to mention Tank Crew .

Fingers ? this also happens with the C-47, that's a BIG YES PLEASE  also.

[FMF*BarracudaCZ]

I would also be very happy for the flying C-47. It could be easily modified to Li-2 for the Eastern Front. I think the Allies are very much short of a transportable transport aircraft as a counterpart to the German Ju-52. 

[DBFlyguy]

1 minute ago, FMF*BarracudaCZ said:

I would also be very happy for the flying C-47. It could be easily modified to Li-2 for the Eastern Front. I think the Allies are very much short of a transportable transport aircraft as a counterpart to the German Ju-52. 

Yeah, the axis currently have air transport (JU-52/3) as well as 3 bombers (He-111H6, JU-88A4 and He-111H16) with another variation of one (JU-88C6...yeah I know this the fighter variant but its still an 88 and can carry a fairly large bomb load) on the way...  It would be nice to see the allies get a bit more love with a flyable C-47 which would open up tons of allied mission options and more robust medium bomber like the B-25 or B-26.

[esk_pedja]

On 8/29/2020 at 3:11 AM, CUJO_1970 said:

Thanks for the update.

 

Can you please define what precisely "G-6 Late" means?

 

Does it mean simply new canopy and tall tail? Or does it include all options for actual G-6 - MW50; /AS series etc?

 

+ 1   ...?

[Freycinet]

I wonder about the prevalence of the Li-2 in Soviet air transport units... 

[Gambit21]

Maybe I’m strange but I’d be thoroughly entertained flying supply/transport missions back and forth across the channel.

[Lusekofte]

2 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

Maybe I’m strange but I’d be thoroughly entertained flying supply/transport missions back and forth across the channel.

Let’s fly formation. I am with you on that. C 47 got adequate speed and would really be a asset. 
It would be nice dropping paratroopers too. 

[John_The_Bodge]

Yes , a player controlled C-47 would be the mutt's nuts. I live just down the road from the BBMF and they fly over my house very regularly - fantastic sight and sound (I'll dig out some photo's).

 

Perhaps it would be possible to have missions such as dropping the paras on the eve of D-Day and trying to get them in the right DZ. Mission pass when you do and court martial when you don't!

 

In any case, very keen to have this one on the PC - been reading many D-Day historical books of late, including Closterman's "Big Show" and this includes the Bodenplatte campaign in addition to D-Day, so I'm all primed and ready to go...

 

Edited September 4, 2020 by JD_LincsUK
photo's added

[forktailedflyer7]

Did the Ju 52 start off as AI only?  Time to get started on the flyable collector plane version

[-EAGLE-Shifter]

35 minutes ago, dprumph33 said:

Did the Ju 52 start off as AI only?  Time to get started on the flyable collector plane version

I think, JU 52 is flyable.

[ADorante]

38 minutes ago, dprumph33 said:

Did the Ju 52 start off as AI only?  Time to get started on the flyable collector plane version

Yes, it was AI only at the beginning.

[twilson37]

I will say the Ju-52 was a pleasant surprise for me, I did not think I would enjoy flying it near as much as I do, I have flown quite a few Ju-52 campaigns and find them every bit as entertaining as the other aircraft.  Looking forward to doing the same in the C-47.

 

 

[LukeFF]

What's fascinating is to find out that some C-47s still around are being overhauled with turboprop engines and being redesignated BT-67. Looks odd!

 

[RedKestrel]

9 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

What's fascinating is to find out that some C-47s still around are being overhauled with turboprop engines and being redesignated BT-67. Looks odd!

 

You're right, it just looks kind wrong LOL.

If you squint a little the engines look like there are fighters attached to the wings.

[BlitzPig_EL]

The turboprop conversions have been happening for a long time.  They make a lot of sense for someone operating the DC3 for revenue.  The gas turbines are FAR less maintenance intensive, and hence less costly, and they have fuel commonality with jet aircraft, and it is just more economical all around.

[Gambit21]

9 minutes ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

The turboprop conversions have been happening for a long time.  They make a lot of sense for someone operating the DC3 for revenue.  The gas turbines are FAR less maintenance intensive, and hence less costly, and they have fuel commonality with jet aircraft, and it is just more economical all around.

 

...and yet still so wrong.

[BlitzPig_EL]

I see it more as proving the validity  of the original design.

 

It won the war you know.

 

[Dakpilot]

The turbo-prop conversions are certainly less maintenance intensive, simpler to operate and generally much more reliable, but not really cheaper to operate , the exorbitant cost of the engines and conversion has to be paid for somehow. 

They look very ungainly with the big fuselage plug needed to get weight and balance right.

Even though in task specific uses they can perform very well, I personally don't like them, I think there have been four different conversions by different companies, including SAAF military version and the few RR Dart engined ones, some are more  (less?) ugly than others but they all look wrong ?

Original ones can be fairly cheap (comparatively)  to operate but finding the right experienced/skilled maintenance crews for commercial operations is getting increasingly difficult,  even if financially viable in countries where there is work for them.

Hope our C-47 follows the Ju-52 product model and is made flyable in the future

 

Cheers, Dakpilot

[FTC_HK]

17 hours ago, dprumph33 said:

Did the Ju 52 start off as AI only?  Time to get started on the flyable collector plane version

Common misconception, the ju 52 was never intended or conceived as an AI only plane. I've dug down old dev diaries to find that out a while ago. 

[Trooper117]

I remember all the moaning that the Tante ju was a waste of time, it would not sell well, the dev's should concentrate their efforts on more profitable aircraft etc... But we got it and the game has benefited from it's inclusion for those that enjoy flying it.

It's also an important aircraft to put in career as a viable and historical target.

Now, skip forward to the Dakota for the allies, and people are already wanting to throw money at a flyable version... just shows you, these type of aircraft may not be as glamorous as the fighters, but they have a following, and people will buy them. 

[THERION]

5 minutes ago, Trooper117 said:

Now, skip forward to the Dakota for the allies, and people are already wanting to throw money at a flyable version... just shows you, these type of aircraft may not be as glamorous as the fighters, but they have a following, and people will buy them. 

 

Yep - I call this some kind of schizophrenic, if you ask me - and you are absolutely right on this.

 

I bought the Ju52 right away, although knowing I'm not going to get honor for this in any campaign or MP war - I didn't and do not care about it.

And I will buy the C47 right away too, there is no question about it. Maybe this time, transport duties will be honored the way it deserves.

 

Some years ago, there was a MP server for a "closed society" called INWAR (from Russia) where transport duties were very important and also
taken into account. I flew some transport missions with the Ju52, which was very challenging and we had a real blast.

[ACG_Smokejumper]

On 9/5/2020 at 2:23 AM, Dakpilot said:

The turbo-prop conversions are certainly less maintenance intensive, simpler to operate and generally much more reliable, but not really cheaper to operate , the exorbitant cost of the engines and conversion has to be paid for somehow. 

They look very ungainly with the big fuselage plug needed to get weight and balance right.

Even though in task specific uses they can perform very well, I personally don't like them, I think there have been four different conversions by different companies, including SAAF military version and the few RR Dart engined ones, some are more  (less?) ugly than others but they all look wrong ?

Original ones can be fairly cheap (comparatively)  to operate but finding the right experienced/skilled maintenance crews for commercial operations is getting increasingly difficult,  even if financially viable in countries where there is work for them.

Hope our C-47 follows the Ju-52 product model and is made flyable in the future

 

Cheers, Dakpilot

 

 

I used to live in Yellowknife. DC-3 flights daily. The old radials are really appreciated in that kind of cold.

[Aurora_Stealth]

On 9/5/2020 at 1:10 PM, Trooper117 said:

I remember all the moaning that the Tante ju was a waste of time, it would not sell well, the dev's should concentrate their efforts on more profitable aircraft etc... But we got it and the game has benefited from it's inclusion for those that enjoy flying it.

It's also an important aircraft to put in career as a viable and historical target.

Now, skip forward to the Dakota for the allies, and people are already wanting to throw money at a flyable version... just shows you, these type of aircraft may not be as glamorous as the fighters, but they have a following, and people will buy them. 

 

I'll tell you first hand, being on Combat Box server in the Ju52 watching the airfield you're on under attack and sneaking off to one side from the row of static Ju52's... doing a short takeoff - hugging the ground and hillside and successfully making the supply run back home. Pretty fun although very challenging.

 

Just make sure you have a gunner and don't forget to hug the ground like a crazy man. And when all hell breaks loose pull that (hideously slow) but tight last ditch emergency turn.

 

Also, landing in towns and cities - on the roadside lol. STOL capabilities for the win.

 

[sonnykims]

Was a passenger in an ARDU -Aircraft Research and Development Unit - Dak from Williamstown base, NSW to Edinburgh base, Adelaide (Sth Aust.) because no C130's scheduled on that day. As pilot said "It won't get you there quickly...but it WILL get you there." An ARDU skin would be a real hoot for touring around the maps.