Fighter Aircraft Wish List

[BillsPlane]

Here are a few fighter aircraft I would love to see available.  Starting with the ones I think would be most appreciated to fill in historically at the top of the list:

 

1) La-7 - this is the final evolution of the Lavochkin fighter during WWII.  Would give the Russians a plane to compete with the likes of the ME 109 K4 and FW-190D9.

 

2) Yak 9U (VK-107) - the definitive Yak-9 variant with powerful 1650hp Klimov VK-107 engine.  The final evolution of the Yak platform.  This would round out the highest performing Russian fighter planes.

 

3) Yak 3 (VK-107) - perhaps the best Russian fighter of the war?  Might even be the best low to mid altitude turn fighter of the war.  Though the Tempest platform is hard to beat.  A smaller and even lighter brother aircraft to the Yak 9 with the powerful 1650hp Klimov VK-107 engine.  The principle of stuffing the most powerful engine in the smallest/lightest airframe possible.  A hotrodders dream.

 

If there is interest in allowing planes that were not available during WWII, but some really high performers that shortly followed, these are aircraft that would provide so much pleasure to fly and engage in battles:

 

1) P-51H - the lightweight Mustang.  They produced a few hundred of them, but unfortunately they did not make it to the front in time.  This is the ultimate version of the P-51 for the role of a high altitude interceptor.  Not quite as robust as the endearing P-51D (which is probably a major reason they used the D models in Korea instead of the H... the D model could carry more bombs/rockets, could take more damage and were fast enough for a ground attack role at that point when the jets took over the air combat role), but hey, you have to give up something to gain something, right?  Over 2200hp in WEP and lighter weight combined with refined aerodynamics.  Top speed of 487mph makes this the fastest high altitude piston engine fighter in significant numbers... well just a few hundred before they were cancelled, but more than say 1 or 2 prototypes of a couple that were a hair faster.  This is my most desired plane to fly period.

 

2) Grumman F8F Bearcat.  Between this and the Hawker Sea Fury, they are probably the best piston fighters ever for the role of a midrange low to mid altitude combat fighter.  While the P-51 was great, and the go to fighter for long distance escort use and high altitudes, these planes were the ones to use for combat closer to the front and the typical engagement circumstances.  Extremely fast, high rate of climb, very maneuverable.  The ultimate fighter with a double wasp engine.  They produced these right at the end of WWII.  They were actually delivered to a fighter squadron a few months before the end of the war, but unfortunately (or fortunately however you look at it) they never saw combat.  Powered by a 2250hp Double Wasp radial they were actually less powerful than the P-47 or F4U Corsair.  But with a top speed of 455mph and a climb rate of close to 4500ft/min it was significantly higher performing.  It actually had a similar power rating to the previous F6F Hellcat, but it was significantly smaller and lighter along with better aerodynamics giving it the drastic performance improvement.

 

3) Hawker Sea Fury.  The Hawker Hurricane, Typhoon and then Tempest were some of the most robust and powerful low to mid altitude fighter aircraft.  I have found in this simulation that the Tempest is one of my favorites.  I would say, based on this simulation and after flying other top Allied performers such as the P-51D, Spitfire XIV and Yak 1b, if my life depended on it I would take a Tempest hands down.  Turns on a dime, accelerates and climbs like nobody's business, and a very stable platform to make accurate use of the powerful cannons.  I find the Hawkers in general have the most stable gunnery platform and that is worth a lot in combat.  The Tempest never lets me down when the combat gets heated.  I find it has the highest kill rate of any plane I've tried in IL-2.  If I get shot down in it, it's my own fault and I would have been shot down even sooner in any other the other choices.  The Sea Fury is the ultimate evolution of the Tempest IMHO.  Between it, the Bearcat and P-51 you have the fastest racing planes and they are competitive with each other... so that gives indication of the high performance and great design of these warbirds.  Powered by a 2480hp Bristol Centaurus engine and capable of 460mph and over 4000ft/min climb rate coupled with the sort of turn performance, stability and firepower that the Hawker line was well known for.

 

4) Supermarine Spiteful/Seafang - I listed both because the Spiteful was the land based version but only a handful were built.  It was developed into the Seafang carrier based version.  With a 2350hp RR Griffon engine and a top speed of 483mph/475mph (Spiteful/Seafire) and an astounding climb rate of nearly 5000ft/min this was a real beast to fly!  It is the ultimate Spitfire!  Not as stable as the Tempest and not nearly as easy to get a good aim with the cannons, it is however, a higher performing aircraft in the hands of an ace pilot.  Very sensitive controls and will maneuver incredibly tight, but at the same time with the novice or even veteran pilot it can easily bite back at you.  Analogous to a temperamental hotrod in the air.  Once you master this one though, it is a real joy to fly,.

 

I know I have been saying "ultimate" for each of these, but these four aircraft are basically the final/ultimate evolution of each of these great and definitive fighters.  The last hoorah of the piston fighter plane before the jets took over!

Edited March 6, 2024 by Spitfire_Enthusiast1

[[CPT]Crunch]

Don't forget to put M.3 guns in that 51-H, higher velocity with faster firing rate.  They became available and entered combat after mid Jan 45.

[Traffic]

P40F and or P40N please.

[BillsPlane]

I made a few updates to the original post above.  Added the Yak 3 with the VK-107 to my wish list... how could I forget?    Also, added a little more description about the aircraft to give at least a little more perspective about their strengths vs weaknesses and the roles they had.

On 2/26/2024 at 4:35 PM, [CPT]Crunch said:

Don't forget to put M.3 guns in that 51-H, higher velocity with faster firing rate.  They became available and entered combat after mid Jan 45.

That is a good point!  I also like how accurate the US planes were using the machine guns at a distance.  The P-51 is quite a stable gunnery platform.  Couple that with a higher velocity/rate of fire and they become even better!  The other gunnery platform I really like is the Tempest.  Also very stable and has very powerful cannons.  A slower rate, but a lot of punch of course!

[OlympiyskiyM]

 

[R7-S276]

I know almost everybody are focus of fighters, but I really think according all the maps and periods there is now in Il-2 that the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch and the Westland Lysander could open the door to create a lot of alternative and various missions and campaigns

[Carlos_Cota_517]

I wish we could get a collector's Yak-9U (it was probably the best soviet fighter of the war), but the timeframe doesn't allow it, since it entered frontline service around autumn 1944, and Il-2 Odessa will end in June 1944

 

That is unless we get a similar situation to the Spitfire Mk.XIVe, or we get a 3rd party late 1944 ~ early 1945 map

 

A second best alternative could be a collector's Yak-9M, with available modifications such as the VK-105PF2 engine, and cockpit instrumentation, for nighttime operations, to represent the custom units flown by the PVO regiments

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Jackfraser24]

On 5/31/2025 at 2:15 PM, Carlos_Cota_517 said:

I wish we could get a collector's Yak-9U (it was probably the best soviet fighter of the war), but the timeframe doesn't allow it, since it entered frontline service around autumn 1944, and Il-2 Odessa will end in June 1944

 

A second best alternative could be a collector's Yak-9M, with available modifications such as the VK-105PF2 engine, and cockpit instrumentation, for nighttime operations, to represent the custom units flown by the PVO regiments

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

I wish we could get the Yak-9U and Yak-9M as well.

 

On 2/28/2024 at 11:13 AM, Traffic said:

P40F and or P40N please.

Agreed. But don't forget about the Tomahawk Mk.IIa/b and the P-40M.

[Jackfraser24]

Anybody want to see a P-38L for Bodenplatte? I think it would be a perfect fit for the ETO 1944-45 because they were in fact used there, and I think people would like it.

Edited July 18 by Jackfraser24

[MDzmitry]

5 часов назад, Jackfraser24 сказал:

Anybody want to see a P-38L for Bodenplatte?

That'd be a waste of recourses honestly.

The main difference I spotted between late P-38J (present in the game) and P-38L is the latter having 50hp more on maximum engine output. And it didn't even affect the performance: for example, top speed was stated to be 670 kmph above 8000m for P-38L, and we have the same 670 kmph at 8500m on Combat engine mode for P-38J-25. Hydraulic actuators are already present on J-25, too, as well as dive recovery flaps.

Adding what's practically a copy-paste aircraft for the same timeframe and with practically no distinctive features would be pointless.

[Jackfraser24]

2 hours ago, MDzmitry said:

That'd be a waste of recourses honestly.

The main difference I spotted between late P-38J (present in the game) and P-38L is the latter having 50hp more on maximum engine output. And it didn't even affect the performance: for example, top speed was stated to be 670 kmph above 8000m for P-38L, and we have the same 670 kmph at 8500m on Combat engine mode for P-38J-25. Hydraulic actuators are already present on J-25, too, as well as dive recovery flaps.

Adding what's practically a copy-paste aircraft for the same timeframe and with practically no distinctive features would be pointless.

Interesting. Good to know. 

[Jackfraser24]

This is my wish list if I had to narrow the list to five aircraft:

• A-20G
• Beaufighter Mk.VIc
• Bf-110 F-4
• Ju-87 B-2
• P-40M

What would yours be?

Edited July 28 by Jackfraser24

[ITAF_Rani]

I think if we are luky enough  to have a good 3rd part team collaborating with Devs, we could get every plane we desire.....

[Kubert]

I wish only for Ju-87 B-2. At least in AI form. So it could be encountered above Moscow, early Odessa and Leningrad. I may be psychopath, but I like shooting at Stukas.  Maybe one day I learn how to fly that thing. 

[Jackfraser24]

3 hours ago, Kubert said:

I wish only for Ju-87 B-2. At least in AI form. So it could be encountered above Moscow, early Odessa and Leningrad. I may be psychopath, but I like shooting at Stukas.  Maybe one day I learn how to fly that thing. 

That doesn't make you a psychophath, mate, it makes you a typical human.

[Carlos_Cota_517]

My personal wish-list...

With the current maps available rn on GB:
- Su-2
- SB-2M
- DB-3
- Yak-9M PVO
- P-40C Tomahawk
- Il-4

If we ever get a late war eastern front map (like Vistula-Oder):
- Il-10
- P-39Q Aircobra
- Yak-9U
- Yak-9UT
- Tu-2

And that's just for the red side...

[Jackfraser24]

On 7/31/2025 at 4:53 PM, Carlos_Cota_517 said:

My personal wish-list...

With the current maps available rn on GB:
- Su-2
- SB-2M
- DB-3
- Yak-9M PVO
- P-40C Tomahawk
- Il-4

If we ever get a late war eastern front map (like Vistula-Oder):
- Il-10
- P-39Q Aircobra
- Yak-9U
- Yak-9UT
- Tu-2

And that's just for the red side...

Thats a good list. I think we need the Tupolev SB-2 for Moscow as we lack a true Soviet medium bomber for that module. 

Edited August 3 by Jackfraser24