What are your top 5 favorite planes in the sim?

[Bernard_IV]

I fly primarily multiplayer.

 

1. Spitfire IX.  So fun to throw around on the servers and it seems like there are way too many 109's walking right into the dogfight trap.  For pure dogfighting it doesn't get any better.  Packs a good punch if you are a good shot and careful with the ammo.  I've had some great moments winning 2v1 battles with this plane as it can be hard to hit.  I thought the Mk XIV would replace this as my top plane but the weight of it spoils it for me.

 

2. 109 G6 Late.  This 109 seems to have the right mix of power and light weight, it handles like a dream and if you know how to manage the flaps in a fight it really performs.  The big guns add to the experience.  This is my usual ride as the servers need more Axis players in the evenings.

 

3. 190 D9  The D9 feels great and I love the looks of it.  Its only sin is that it really doesn't seem to do anything better than the P-51 and Tempest competition.  Best flown in pairs.  Rolls some serious coal in the sky and feels powerful.

 

4. P-51 B/C  I love this earlier Mustang for its looks and speed.  Bud Anderson's Old Crow skin looks amazing and gets the imagination going.  I feel this Mustang brings a nice balance to the sim in multiplayer as the D model uses a G suit that feels like cheating and the Tempest seems over modeled with space ship fight characteristics.  The guns have more limited power compared to other planes but are rewarding for a skilled marksman.

 

5. P-38  In VR the P-38 just feels awesome.  Looking behind me and seeing the whole rest of the huge plane really gives a sense of awe and scale.  This is my favorite ground attacker with great versatility.  I'm not very good with it in a dogfight but am impressed with some of the folks I've fought against.  Not sure how they do it.

 

Honorable mentions to the 190 A3 and the Spitfire Vb.  I also had a lot of fun for a while level bombing with the JU-88.

 

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by Bernard_IV

[oc2209]

I largely agree with your assessment of each plane. But since I fly single player, my priorities are a bit different.

 

I strongly prefer nose armament and cannons, and always have since my first days of simming. The Spit IX would be my favorite all-around plane if not for its wing armament.

 

In terms of total flying enjoyment--aerobatic handling, not engine management or durability or anything else--the Yak-9 is possibly my favorite plane. However, it is slightly underpowered, which does have some impact on its capabilities in terms of acceleration, etc.

 

For all around handling, performance, and combat preferences, my pick would be the 109F-4.

 

So, from most to less favorite, based on all possible criteria, this is my list:

 

1) Bf-109F-4

 

2) Spitfire IX

 

3) Bf-109G-6 Late

 

4) Fw 190A-3

 

5) Yak-9

 

If we could fly the Yak-3, I'm pretty damn sure that would be my number 1. Because unlike all previous Yaks, it finally has enough horsepower and firepower to be considered truly competitive in its day. So, all the advantages of the basic Yak design, with a lot fewer drawbacks.

 

If we could fly Japanese, I'm guessing that at least one of the following--the Ki-100, Ki-84, or the N1K2--would make it in my top five and push something else out of the running. 

[jollyjack]

BTW what's wrong with the 109k4?

I miss the FW190a3, little mean devil ..

Edited October 18, 2022 by jollyjack

[Charon]

1. La-5. I've got a soft-spot for Lavochkin fighters in general. The La-5 is an underdog, but not too much, and it goes so fast at low level. I like how it can be flown with rpm and throttle wide open, only regulating the radiators.
2. Mig-3. Similar to the La-5, it's a bit of an underdog, with unique (for the Soviets) altitude performance and some odd features.
3. P-51B. I like going fast.
4. Il-2 M41. The best handling of the Sturmoviks, and with the best visibility. If I'm going to be doing ground attack, I want the ability to loiter and shoot stuff up.
5. Bf 109E-7. Very well armed for 1941. It turns like a dream, and can act as a capable fighter-bomber too. The engine management isn't too easy, like it is on the later 109s.

[Fritz_X]

Very nice choice of planes. It largely corresponds with my personal favorites.

 

1. Spitfire Mk. IX: Lovely airframe, strong amarnment (even though I personally prefer centerline mounted guns) and crazy strong elevator. This plane has been my favorite since it has been introduced. And yep, I also thought that the Mk. XIV would replace it as my favorite, which it certainly didn't.

 

2. Typhoon Mk. Ib: Ladies and gentlemen, this plane is my personal highlight in the BoN plane set. Everything about this model simply oozes with detail, quality and fidelity. Possibly the most well made plane model in the whole game at the moment. I never really liked the Tempest too much, but sure fell in love with its' predecessor. Again very strong amarnment, I actually prefer the slower firing rate of the older Hispano cannons. The optional rockets are great and with the alternative engine plus the four bladed prop this one turns into quite a power house.

 

3. Bf-109 G6 late: My favorite Bf-109 in the game. Fast, packs a punch plus a tad more agile than the G14 we already had due to minor wheight savings. Plus I can fly it with the older, heavily framed canopy, which I really enjoy for reasons I cannot explain.

 

4. FW-190 A3: Probably the best pure dog fighter in the whole game. Fast, agile, heavily armed. What's not to like? I hope we'll see a module featuring a FW-190 A4 someday, so we'll get a similar plane made with the high quality standards as of today.

 

5. P-51 B/C: Another high quality model, featuring wonderful flight characteristics and tons of optional mods to choose from (I love the Malcolm hood and the British gun sight). I prefer this one over the P-51 D (which I always flew with the four gun configuration as well), I just wish it had the same ammo count as its' sucessor.

 

 

Honorable mentions/ runner ups:

 

Ju-88 C6: This plane has always been one of my personal favorites and I'm equally happy and amazed by the devs having added it to our sim. Great fun to fly!

 

Me-410: What a plane! And what an amazingly well done job by the devs of modeling it! Tons of different mods and the one-of-a-kind gunnery station make this one a unique experience.

 

P-38: Another one of my personal all time favorites. I always had a soft spot for this type. A nice flight with heavy centerline amarnment, yet still less fun to take out for a spin than the P-51 B/C.

 

FW-190 D9: It's fast, it packs a punch and it looks amazing. The "definitive" late war FW-190 and a nice plane to fly over all.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Fritz_X

[oc2209]

47 minutes ago, jollyjack said:

BTW what's wrong with the 109k4?

 

Too fat. Worst 109 stall characteristics by far.

 

Yes, it moves fast in a straight line and climbs well. But you pay a lot for that top speed.

 

It's roughly analogous to the Spitfire IX versus the XIV. The G-6 Late is more akin to the IX, while the K feels like the XIV.

[354thFG_Panda_]

 

1. P-47 Thunderbolt D22/28: A real challenge but satisfying to use well air to air. Great for ground attacking too.
2. Spitfire Mk. XIV: Handling, performance and aesthetics. A real racing plane.
3. P-39L Airacobra: Fast, handling is superb and it packs a punch however it lacks engine power(timers) and adequate cooling.
4. FW190 D9 Dora: Combines the climb and acceleration from a 109 into a 190. 
5. Macchi 202: It may not be the best fighter but very stylish and has great handling. Looking forward to the 205 if they add it in the future

Honourable mentions (no order): Spit Vb, FW190A6/A8, Me410, Typhoon, Bf-109K4, Yak 1B

Edited October 18, 2022 by theRedPanda

[BMA_FlyingShark]

1. G6 Late.

2. G6.

3. P51 D.

4. P51 B/C.

5. FW 190 A8.

 

Have a nice day.

 

[JG27_Steini]

I am really suprised that the G6 or G6 Late seems to be the most favourite plane in average so far. 

[BMA_FlyingShark]

2 minutes ago, JG27_Steini said:

I am really suprised that the G6 or G6 Late seems to be the most favourite plane in average so far. 

Yes well, for me it is because the G6 was the most produced version of one of the most famous WWII planes.

The Late version is, as far as I know, the most advanced version of that plane.

I would however like to see an AS version one day too.

 

Have a nice day.

 

[DBS]

Single player only here (so far..)

 

1, P-51B/C - I liked the D but something about the mustang mk.3 in RAF colours ticks all the right boxes for me. Nimble, great model, the malcolm canopy is fantastic. I also think the mustang is the best sounding aircraft in the sim.

 

2, Bf 109 F2/F4 - The G6/late is fine but I enjoy the more spartan cockpit and manoeuvrability of the earlier 109s.

 

3, Fw 190 D9 - Amazing armament, a great power plant and it mostly fixes the drawbacks of its radial brother.

 

4, Mc.202 Folgore - Just a pleasure to fly, really stable. Armament is a tad naff but still does the job. 

 

5, I almost want to put the IAR because I'm 99% certain I'm going to love it. However, of options currently available, I'll go with the Typhoon, largely for the great options and stunning cockpit detail. 

[I./JG52_Woutwocampe]

Oh boy

 

-Tempest

 

-190A3

 

-190D9

 

-Yak 9

 

-109F4

 

(P-51D and 262 were close) 

 

Honorable mention to a few underdogs : BF110, Mc202, IL2 1941.

 

 

[Hanu]

1) P-38, she is just beautiful, a gentleman's plane with fowler flaps, airbrakes, centered weapons, tricycle landing gear and those sounds when turbo kicks in.
2) G2, Handles beautifully, good placement of weapons, looks great. Gives you time to focus the important stuff because of automation.

3) G6, poorer canopy, but better weapons. (G6Late is way too fat in this sim, I cannot understand why; should have more armor, but not according the lua scripts)

4) Mosquito. Beautiful, powerful, reliable.
5) U-2. Just lovely plane to spin around and see the sights. Love the engine animations and it's sounds.

It seems that nose mounted guns are important to me.

[Talon_]

6 hours ago, Bernard_IV said:

I feel this Mustang brings a nice balance to the sim in multiplayer as the D model uses a G suit that feels like cheating

 

Ds don't get G-suits until September 1944 mission date

[Beefs2]

109s and 190s get the G-seat from day 1 and ooohhh  boy, is it more effective than any "G suit".

[[CPT]Crunch]

Spit XIV - thoroughbred killing machine, the only Spit that fits comfortably, fighter only for the clean up on aisle five.

 

P-51 B & D - for fun, not much difference between the two in feel, they both fly great giving an excellent feeling of flight, though the D is preferred for ground attack with its individual release wiring, the B for air to air has a certain coolness factor.  Both are up for anything this game can throw up against them.

 

Fw-190-A/F/G-8 - well rounded fighting machine with an overall great knock out punch, both ground and air, great versatility with it's various combos for any mission.

 

MC-202 - for that unique Italian hand built sports car exotic, like jumping into a different world, has it's own unique feel.

 

Not necessarily placed in order of preference.  

[CountZero]

Its easy pickings:

1 Tempest V

2. Typhoon Ib

3. Hurricane IIc

4. Lagg 23

5. dont need more

Edited October 18, 2022 by CountZero

[MAJ_stug41]

190 A's will always be my first love

P38, would be awesome to have an earlier version as well

410 has been very fun, surprisingly survivable in hostile skies

Ju88c when the skies arent too hostile

Hopefully the IAR comes soon so I can do suicidal things in that

 

[Trooper117]

Spitfire IX.

Spitfire XIV.

Spitfire Vb.

Tiffy.

Hurricane.

 

That should cover it...

[Bernard_IV]

8 hours ago, jollyjack said:

BTW what's wrong with the 109k4?

I miss the FW190a3, little mean devil ..

K4 is great but it is more of a fast heavy boom and zoom plane.  I'm using the maneuverability of the G6 Late to force overshoots and getting kills once they are in front of me.  It is SO FUN.  I see myself as more of a dogfighter.

2 hours ago, Talon_ said:

 

Ds don't get G-suits until September 1944 mission date

Is that an option in the multiplayer setup?

[Ribbon]

B25 and B26

[Tendo]

1. 190 D-9

2. La-5

3. Lagg-3

4. Me 262

5. P-51D

[Mtnbiker1998]

1. P-51B/D. Fantastic performing from low alt to high, from England to Berlin, with plenty of ordinance, and by far the best looking fighter ever designed, period. she's my baby and she always will be.

 

2. P-38. For very similar reasons to why the P-51 is #1, P-38 goes to #2. Totally iconic. and flies like a dream in the sim.

 

3. Hurricane. doesn't compete well as a fighter against most of the planes in the sim (especially if you're only using the .303s) But she sure is fun to fly, earned her legendary status. I prefer her to any Spitfire Mark.

 

4. Mosquito. I did not expect to like this plane as much as I did. She flies wonderfully, packs plenty of punch and is actually fast enough she doesn't become fighter food like all the other heavy fighters. Plus, Night raids are cool.

 

5. P-47. While I wish she was modelled better, still a fun plane to fly ground attack in and her huge size makes her a treat in VR. Also quite the looker - if you're into big girls  still a very sleek design despite being so chubby.

 

Honorable mentions:

190D - Rolls like a bat out of hell, I really ought to fly her more. 

P-39/P-40- These would be so much more fun if they weren't gimped by engine timers.

190A3- Flew a whole Stalingrad career in this baby, absolute beast against the Ruskie fighters, and can hold her own in the ground attack role (although usually not at the same time, those racks are draggy!)

A-20B- Another one I should fly more. Just wish we had a G model with more guns!

 

the 109s should get a mention, but meh. They're 109s. they all have their own distinctions, but they all fly like 109s at the end of the day.

[Talon_]

1 hour ago, Bernard_IV said:

4 hours ago, Talon_ said:

Ds don't get G-suits until September 1944 mission date

Is that an option in the multiplayer setup?

No it's baked into the sim. Unless you mean dates which yes every MP mission happens on a specific date!

Edited October 18, 2022 by Talon_

[jollyjack]

3 hours ago, Trooper117 said:

Spitfire IX.

Spitfire XIV.

Spitfire Vb.

Tiffy.

Hurricane.

 

That should cover it...

 

[Trooper117]

Of course I have a bias... I love WWII British aircraft. Get with it chap.

[Lusekofte]

Ju 52

po 2/U2

gotha

A 20

PE2

Mosquito

P40

P39

P38

IL2

JU 87

[JG27*PapaFly]

Early war: Fw190-A3

Mid war: Fw190-A5

Late war: Fw190-D9

Very late war: ME262. The speed is intoxicating ?

[=621=Samikatz]

Yak-1Bs127, P-39L, Typhoon, Mosquito, Spit LF.IXe

 

Airplanes that are pretty much always fun no matter the scenario, I can always enjoy flying them. P-51B as a runner-up maybe?

[AEthelraedUnraed]

For me it differs, I tend to fly every aircraft at times. At the moment, it's more or less the following:

- Spit Vb. Takes some getting used to, but I just love the Spit. Only drawback is that it's got a bit less ammo.

- P-47D22. Great ground attacker, once you get used to it.

- Bf-109F-something. I like the early-ish 109s a bit more than the later ones, for some reason.

- Mig 3. Haven't flown it in a while, T.B.H., but it's a beautiful aircraft with lovely quirks.

- P-51B/C. Love the birdcage.

[saldy]

-Hornisse

-Sturmovik

-Blitz

-Schwalbe

-Ju 88 

-Tante Ju

-Mossie

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by saldy

[Hotaru_Ito]

Single-player only for me, PWCG or vanilla career. No interest in multiplayer, except maybe co-op.

 

P-38: My favorite plane since I was a kid. Great visibility, huge bomb/rocket load, 20mm cannon, ez-mode gunnery, ez-mode flying and landing with no torque and tricycle gear. Flies pretty well on one engine too. Best fighter-bomber in the game in my opinion.

 

Hurricane: As long as it has either the Soviet guns or the Hispanos, but even with the .303s it's a great dogfighter, and another favorite of mine.

 

Fw-190: Hits harder than the 109s, especially the early ones, great at taking down Peshkas and Sturmoviks. Better jabo than the 109 too, with more bombs and cannons and extra armor available on the Fs and Gs. I'll take any of them, but my favorite so far is the A6.

 

Typhoon: Only plane I'd even consider taking over the P-38 as a fighter-bomber, mainly because it has 4 cannons and the British rockets are better than the American ones. Not terrible in a dogfight either.

 

Pe-2: Definitely my favorite bomber. In PWCG you get to do a little of everything in this one, level bombing, dive bombing, rocketeering, strafing, reconnaissance. Always liked its lines, too. 

 

 

Not that I don't like all the classics too, P-51, 109, Spitfire, and so on, but I've always been partial to the slightly-less-famous ones like the P-38, 190, and Hurricane.

 

I love the Mosquito and the Tempest, but they both feel like cheating in a dogfight. Mosquito has the roll rate of an Fw-190 and Tempest turns like a Spitfire. P-39 and P-40 might make the list too, if they didn't have bogus engine timers holding them back.

 

Don't know if I could pick five from FC, but the Spad XIII is definitely my number one. Very fast and a good stable gun platform, although I do miss the great visibility of the Pfalz and Albatros. Hoping we get the Sopwith Pup in FC3 though, I loved it in Rise of Flight.

[Jade_Monkey]

I fly exclusively in VR, so having a nice cockpit that gives immersion is key for me. These are not the ones with which i get the most kills, these are the ones I enjoy flying in the most I'm no particular order:

 

Typhoon

Arado 234

Me410

P51B/C

Mosquito

 

Honorable mention for the Hurricane 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by Jade_Monkey

[CanadaOne]

IL2-41

Yak-1b

 

The rest are all nice but those two blow warm up up my skirt.

 

 

[pjmack11377]

mosquito

p-38

p-51b

spitfire xiv

?

[BlitzPig_EL]

P51D... Because speed is life.

P51B... See above.

Tempest... See above +4 Hispanos.

A20... Gets the job done and best engine sound in the sim.

P40E... My precious.

[Eisenfaustus]

Bf 109 F-4

Fw 190 D-9

P51 D

Spitfire Mk IX

Bf 110 G-2

[percydanvers]

1. BF 109 G-4

2. BF 109 F-4

3. BF 109 G-6 Late/G-14

4. BF 109 G-2

5. BF 109 K-4

 

Joking aside

1. any 109

2. Fw 190 D-9

3. Spitfire IX

4. Fw 190A

5. Tempest/P-51 tie

[343KKT_Kintaro]

1. C-47

2. C-47

3. C-47

4. C-47

5. C-47

 

♥️

 

[oc2209]

16 hours ago, DBS said:

2, Bf 109 F2/F4 - The G6/late is fine but I enjoy the more spartan cockpit and manoeuvrability of the earlier 109s.

 

 

Yeah, the lighter framing is definitely a plus. Beyond that, the 109's instrument panel is one of the best layouts of the era.

 

When I first started flying semi-realistic sims (the original Sturmovik game, as opposed to even earlier, more arcade-y sims), I felt very unsure of myself and constantly looked at my instruments. As much as I like the Yak, I won't deny that Russian instrumentation is somewhat awful. British is generally fine (not perfect, but plenty good enough), while American can be okay but also kind of haphazard (P-47, P-38).

 

The one plane that really stood out from all the others, in terms of allowing me to briefly look down with one keystroke and check my instruments even in the middle of combat--that was the 109.

 

Spoiler

 

It's not that other planes don't tell you the same information (and sometimes more). It's that the 109's dials and placement, and your proximity to them (because the cockpit's tiny) make the information instantly readable with the briefest glance.

 

That's why I ultimately settled on using the 109 as my trainer all throughout my first Sturmovik years.