Developer Diary 300 - Discussion

[Missionbug]

The detail work on the C-47 and the I.A.R. 80 is excellent, congratulations to the modellers for a very impressive job.

 

As for twenty more years, well, I will hang on as long as I can.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[Avimimus]

1 minute ago, Jaws2002 said:

IAR- fighters were never based in Kuban, but were based in Crimea during that time and the first damage reports of cannon armed IAR-80C fighters were starting to come in as early as March-April 1943. 

The Romanians sent only German built planes to Kuban and kept the rest in Crimea.   So they can use IAR-80C (2xmg/FF+4x7.92) for Kuban. They did a lot of cover for Black sea convoys. 

 

I was referring to the the Kuban map/module (IAR-80A fighters were deployed to cover the Kerch Straight on the Western side of the Kuban map). Correct? They were technically flying out of eastern Crimea, but they were protecting the Kuban Bridgehead and would have been operational on the map we currently have.

 

From our early conversations the cannon equipped IAR variants were only available later and further west (i.e. the Crimean campaign after Kuban) - so what you are saying is consistent with that. However, as I understand it, there were already some IAR-80A covering the Kerch Straight earlier.

[Motherbrain]

The IAR seems to be coming along quickly. Awesome.

 

Looking forward to 20 more years of the best sim ever! ?

[rocho]

That IAR will be my new collector plane.

[sevenless]

8 minutes ago, Jaws2002 said:

IAR- fighters were never based in Kuban, but were based in Crimea during that time and the first damage reports of cannon armed IAR-80C fighters were starting to come in as early as March-April 1943. 

The Romanians sent only German built planes to Kuban and kept the rest in Crimea.   So they can use IAR-80C (2xmg/FF+4x7.92) for Kuban. They did a lot of cover for Black sea convoys. 

 

Ahhh, yeah that would be a great map module. The crimea peninsula. Could be used in singleplay career both in 1941/42 and 1943/44. Map with career and 2-4 planes, I´d buy that in a heartbeat.

[=EAustral=Topeka]

An elegant romanian(and Fokker D XXI for the next one?)

[Jaws2002]

23 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

I was referring to the the Kuban map/module (IAR-80A fighters were deployed to cover the Kerch Straight on the Western side of the Kuban map). Correct?

 It was not only IAR-80A's involved over Kerch Strait. It was a mix of IAR-80A, 80B, 80C, most likely even 81C's later on. Kuban campaign ran until December 1943.

 You see, the production of MG/FF armed IAR-80's ran from September 1942 to February 1943. Starting  March 1'st 1943 and until August 1944,  IAR Brasov was already making only IAR-81C's.

Possible even IAR-81C's, as fighter, took part in the fights around Kerch straight.

[Reinhardt]

Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed and supported this game in any form. This series has come so far from when I played the original as a little duffer and I'm just as captivated by it now as I was back then. 

[oc2209]

20 years ago, my go-to tactic when outnumbered by AI planes was to enter a tight spiral turn until I almost hit the ground.

 

Today... I still pretty much do the same.

 

May the IL-2 series continue to evolve and improve, even if I can't evolve with it. Happy anniversary!

[pilotpierre]

Particularly looking forward to the Gooney Bird. My father was a Warrant Officer RAAF pilot serving in the UK during WWII. Most of his flight hours were in C47.

 

After the war he started a business with his brother (also ex RAAF). When it burnt out he joined the Australian Army. Ergo the next 25 years he wore his army uniform with RAAF wings.

 

My big disappointment is that his log book was lost somewhere when moving house.

 

Between he and I, we were Warrant Officers in the 3 Australian services (he in the RAAF and the Australian Army) and me in the RAN. 50 years service between the 2 of us.

 

On retirement  he applied for an Australian passport. He was knocked back and told he couldn’t apply for a passport until he took out Australian citizenship.

 

He came to Australia as an 18 month old. Served in 2 Australian services and paid taxes to the Aust Gov all his life. Still had to be naturalise before he could get a passport.

 

 

 

 

 

[=69.GIAP=VLADI]

Wow... 20 years... Older than the iphone!

I am getting old ?

Happy anniversary!

 

Salute!

=69.GIAP=VLADI

 

[JG1hkaddatz35]

Great job ! My sparetime is well filled in!

Have been a member since IL-1946 was created??

[Noisemaker]

28 minutes ago, pilotpierre said:

Particularly looking forward to the Gooney Bird. My father was a Warrant Officer RAAF pilot serving in the UK during WWII. Most of his flight hours were in C47.

 

After the war he started a business with his brother (also ex RAAF). When it burnt out he joined the Australian Army. Ergo the next 25 years he wore his army uniform with RAAF wings.

 

My big disappointment is that his log book was lost somewhere when moving house.

 

Between he and I, we were Warrant Officers in the 3 Australian services (he in the RAAF and the Australian Army) and me in the RAN. 50 years service between the 2 of us.

 

On retirement  he applied for an Australian passport. He was knocked back and told he couldn’t apply for a passport until he took out Australian citizenship.

 

He came to Australia as an 18 month old. Served in 2 Australian services and paid taxes to the Aust Gov all his life. Still had to be naturalise before he could get a passport.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, that's on par with Switzerland in terms of immigration stupidity. 

Anyways, too political for these forums..

Looking forward to the C47 for dropping paratroops.  Did any of the Market Garden C47s fly out of airfields on our BP map?

 

[BlitzPig_EL]

My father was USAAF in WW2.  Only was in an airplane one time.  Rode along on a check-out flight in a C47.  Flew around New York City, and back to Rome NY Army Air Field.

 

My first flight in the C47, will be a nice sight seeing flight over the Kuban.  For my Dad.

[Power-Stranger]

6 hours ago, Elem said:

Congratulation on the two major milestones. I've been with you from the start and I'll stay for the duration. Big thanks to all contributors.

 

Ditto!  Well said btw Elem. Congrats one and all. 

[=FEW=Hauggy]

You're welcome!

[TheSNAFU]

33 minutes ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

My father was USAAF in WW2.  Only was in an airplane one time.  Rode along on a check-out flight in a C47.  Flew around New York City, and back to Rome NY Army Air Field.

 

My first flight in the C47, will be a nice sight seeing flight over the Kuban.  

 

Interesting!  I grew up at Griffiss AFB in Rome NY which was in part, the Rome Army Air Field during the war. Small world! 

 

Congrats to the IL2 team and all who have contributed so much to this great sim. I’ve been with the series since it first came out. Hard to believe it has been 20 years now.  Here’s to many more! 

Edited November 22, 2021 by TheSNAFU

[Monksilver]

51 minutes ago, Noisemaker said:

Looking forward to the C47 for dropping paratroops.  Did any of the Market Garden C47s fly out of airfields on our BP map?

 

Unfortunately no, all took off from England.

[Sandmarken]

13 minutes ago, Monksilver said:

Unfortunately no, all took off from England.

Then we wil have to take off on the normandy map(if the airfields are present there) fly to maps edge, exit and then do an airstart on rheinland map. 

[Praetorious]

I still remember like it was yesterday i was in a really bad accident and i ended up being on crutches for 7 months back in 2002, i had nothing to do one day so i hobbled up to Best Buy for some window shopping, get my mind of the pain i was in, at the time i wasn't really into computer games, mainly consoles but while browsing the games section something caught my eye, Sturmovik?? what the heck is that???, looks interesting, as they say, the rest is history, best sim I've ever played, thank you for all the fun this game has given me, coupled with the fact that I've always been a WW2 nut, me and this game were a perfect match!!!

[FeuerFliegen]

What a great DD!  That seat leather and quilted texture matting on the C-47 looks incredible!  And the IAR-80/81... can't wait!  

 

 

Then TWO new collector tanks?  Take my money already!!

[Strewth]

Thank you team.

I too have been playing IL-2 in all its forms since the first CD was released.
I even bought the first CloD and wondered why it was sitting dead in the water. Then work overseas got hectic and I only had a laptop for several years, so only dabbled when I was home and able to use joystick etc. Then I recently got very serious about it all again after being based back home a few years back.
This series is great along with the attention to detail. Although we all have our own little wish lists, of which some don't eventuate, I think we can all agree what a pleasure (physically and aesthetically) this series has been and still is.

Thank you again team, volunteers, supporters and fellow enthusiasts for all your contributions in allowing this to stay alive all these years.

Cheers.
Strewth / IIJG2_Bock / TOG_Strewth / Strewth

Edited November 23, 2021 by Strewth
spelling

[Jade_Monkey]

Happy 20th anniversary and congrats on the 300th DD!

 

Thanks for all the endless hours of fun.

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

I came to IL246 a little later because the name of the game deceived me a bit. I tended to think that the game was a sim about the IL2 plane only!! This was a when the internet was still in its toddler years.

Then, one day I was walking in a local mall and there was this technology shop Worten, celebrating its first anniversary. They had a basket with a lot of PC games in DVD for sale and I saw the IL2. I hadn't flown a sim since CFS3, and I had been always willing to find a new title.

I was amazed with IL2. I remember I couldn't take off from the carriers and I look on the Internet for help. It was because I had the chockes on and I had to do some key binding. Then, I started to find wonderful websites with a very active communities, such as M4T or SAS and I also started to see Spanish Squads and I decided to join. Since then, I've never stop flying and it basically became the only PC game I have been playing. I guess I became a monogamist! Lol

Edited November 23, 2021 by =gRiJ=Roman-

[ITAF_Rani]

7 hours ago, SCG_FeuerFliegen said:

That seat leather and quilted texture matting on the C-47 looks incredible! 

I agree..totally great

[Soilworker]

16 hours ago, 40plus said:

My goodness. Modeling all of that quilted matting in the C-47 must be fun for ye 'ol poly budget.

 

I reckon it'll be bump mapping, look at the leather on the seats, no way they did that with polys. ?

12 hours ago, pilotpierre said:

Particularly looking forward to the Gooney Bird. My father was a Warrant Officer RAAF pilot serving in the UK during WWII. Most of his flight hours were in C47.

 

After the war he started a business with his brother (also ex RAAF). When it burnt out he joined the Australian Army. Ergo the next 25 years he wore his army uniform with RAAF wings.

 

My big disappointment is that his log book was lost somewhere when moving house.

 

Between he and I, we were Warrant Officers in the 3 Australian services (he in the RAAF and the Australian Army) and me in the RAN. 50 years service between the 2 of us.

 

On retirement  he applied for an Australian passport. He was knocked back and told he couldn’t apply for a passport until he took out Australian citizenship.

 

He came to Australia as an 18 month old. Served in 2 Australian services and paid taxes to the Aust Gov all his life. Still had to be naturalise before he could get a passport.

 

 

Your govt. shafts us Kiwis too, my mum has lived and worked in Aus for the last 8-9 years paying taxes but gets no benefits until she gets Australian citizenship - which costs about $10,000. ?

[SOLIDKREATE]

Congratulations guys and you're so very welcome.

 

I really enjoyed all the research I have done and creating all the unit emblems for you guys.

Edited November 23, 2021 by VA_SOLIDKREATE

[Trooper117]

The time has 'flown' by... 20 years!

I have Oleg to thank for my introduction to the Eastern Front air warfare, also to Ming from EAF19 Sqn who sent me his copy of Black Cross Red Star so I could begin reading up on it!

 

Here's a funny little video I watched on IL2 for the first time many years ago...

 

 

[ADorante]

Happy Anniversary IL-2 Sturmovik!

Many Thanks to all the people who made this possible over these years!

[Spaz-505]

Thanks Jason, love the updates from the Developer Diaries!!!  Very Happy Anniversary to the entire Team for bring us this great sim!!!   The C47 looks awesome!!!  Any chance a B25 will be coming?.. and maybe a "Battle of the Pacific"?  Anxiously waiting the clouds!!!

[A-E-Hartmann]

Thank you very much to you for all these years spent with you. Great and brilliant job and keep us dreaming for years to come.

[NoelGallagher]

tank plz

[DakkaDakkaDakka]

Great update and congrats on the 20th anniversary. I remember reading about the launch of IL-2 way back then, but didn’t have a PC capable of running it. Finally I built a system in 2011 with the express intention of running Rise Of Flight and have been a dedicated customer of 1C / 777 ever since.

 

One small question: is there any hope of having a copilot position in the C-47? Like others here, I have a family connection to the plane - my grandfather flew them for the US in India during WWII. It would be super cool if I could fly the C-47 and invite my dad - who lives 2hrs away - to join me in the right seat over Normandy.

[ilmavoimat]

Looking good!!? Congratulations on 20 years of IL-2 from one who's been here from the beginning. A bit disappointed with the seemingly slow progress on the C-47 though , it doesn't seem to have progressed all that much since the three WIP pictures were posted in May. I don't want to sound like I'm just whinging, is it taking longer than expected?

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by ilmavoimat

[Fafnir_6]

23 hours ago, rocho said:

That IAR will be my new collector plane.

This.

 

Fafnir_6

[=NTAC=Professor_Fate]

You guys are killing it! Thanks for the excellent product you put out, and thanks to the awesome community of pilots playing in the IL-2 world!

[Freycinet]

A bit weird to read all these postings about "20 years of Il-2 Sturmovik".

 

For those who don't know, Oleg Maddox' original Il-2 Sturmovik was a completely different sim. None of its code or DNA has gone into the Il-2 of today. A lot of people know that, but it seems some don't.

 

The present-day Il-2 grew out of a new project by a new developer that excited a lot of us old hands back in 2008, when the original Il-2 began to show its age. Out of nowhere, a Russian company called Neoqb started posting vids about a WWI sim called "Rise of Flight" (see below). It was first released in Russia and then a year later in the West.

 

After release, Rise of Flight was quickly taken over by 777 Studios, a US company. The head of 777 Studios, Jason, obviously saw the potential in the sim and the rest is history. He astutely developed a fantastic sim out of a rough diamond! - In 2013 he released a WWII sim based on the Rise of Flight code base: "Il-2 Sturmovik: Stalingrad".  

 

...This is probably not a historically correct story of what happened, but others can add to it, I'm sure. 

 

 

[Rjel]

48 minutes ago, Freycinet said:

A bit weird to read all these postings about "20 years of Il-2 Sturmovik".

 

For those who don't know, Oleg Maddox' original Il-2 Sturmovik was a completely different sim. None of its code or DNA has gone into the Il-2 of today. A lot of people know that, but it seems some don't.

 

There were a lot of naysayers when Battle of Stalingrad was announced. Needless to say, it is a very worthy successor to the original IL-2. Great Battles is by far and away able to stand on its own merits. I'm glad I stumbled onto the announcement post way back in 2012 that brought me here. It's been a great ride. Or flight I suppose.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Rjel
spelling

[Avimimus]

38 minutes ago, Freycinet said:

A bit weird to read all these postings about "20 years of Il-2 Sturmovik".

 

For those who don't know, Oleg Maddox' original Il-2 Sturmovik was a completely different sim. None of its code or DNA has gone into the Il-2 of today. A lot of people know that, but it seems some don't.

 

There have been three engines: The original Il-2/Il-2 1946 engine, the 'Storm of War' (Cliffs of Dover / Tobruk) engine that was meant to replace it, and the current 'Digital Nature' (RoF/BoX) engine.

 

NeoQB which did the initial work that led to RoF actually licensed the original Il-2/Il-2 1946 engine before deciding to program their own. There is also a relationship with Il-2 Birds of Prey having been based on a licensed version of that engine (the developer of which eventually went on to make War Thunder).

 

However, I would say that the engines might be rewritten (only 12 years old rather than 20 years old) but the product line - with its emphasis on accuracy and its willingness to cover subjects like Eastern Europe in WW2 is part of one continuous series and fan base. I doubt we'd be getting some of the aircraft we're getting, for instance, if it wasn't for the original Il-2... so in some ways the legacy of the old Oleg Maddox days are still with us (even if everything in the new engine has been written from scratch and we lack the excellent padlock system from the original  )

 

 

On 11/22/2021 at 3:13 PM, Jaws2002 said:

 It was not only IAR-80A's involved over Kerch Strait. It was a mix of IAR-80A, 80B, 80C, most likely even 81C's later on. Kuban campaign ran until December 1943.

 You see, the production of MG/FF armed IAR-80's ran from September 1942 to February 1943. Starting  March 1'st 1943 and until August 1944,  IAR Brasov was already making only IAR-81C's.

Possible even IAR-81C's, as fighter, took part in the fights around Kerch straight.

 

Interesting! Always nice to hear your better informed opinions.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Avimimus

[Freycinet]

32 minutes ago, Rjel said:

There were a lot of naysayers when Battle of Stalingrad was announced. Needless to say, it is a very worthy successor to the original IL-2. Great Battles is by far and away able to stand on its own merits. I'm glad I stumbled onto the announcement post way back in 2012 that brought me here. It's been a great ride. Or flight I suppose.

 

God yes, the naysayers, so painful to relive... The passion these sims give rise to is really a double-edged sword.