Developer Diary #361

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad is the continuation of the legendary IL-2 Sturmovik series that has set the standard for PC combat flight games for more than ten years. This new entry into the series will offer virtual pilots an even more accurate simulation of the most famous air battles.

Dear Friends, Today we'd like to tell you about the new Great War aircraft that are in development. While transferring them from our classic project Rise of Flight to IL-2 Great Battles, we are fixing problems we found during this work - sometimes there are some asymmetric aerodynamic elements, a wrong object hierarchy, engine overheating/overcooling, and other similar problems. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/fb375b81454d791b0dddeabf7924b1db685e2158.jpg[/img] For example, while working on the Airco DH.2 recently, we found problems - it had an invisible "ghost" stabilizer in the physical model, inconsistencies in drag values, and it was also missing its top speed - judging by the reference data, it was missing it by about 15 kph. Well, mistakes happen, and they will be corrected: the DH.2 in FC will have recalculated drag values, corrected handling, and an increased top speed. Soon the beta testers will try it out, and some additional changes may be in order after these tests. Its AI will also be updated as it needs to be taught how to use its blip switch for taxiing (such early flying machines had no throttle and the engine always ran at full power - its pilot had to press and hold a blip switch button that cut the ignition when he wanted to slow down). [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/a97b4da7aa7dc3b8bc0492fc9ed30debc664ceb4.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/03ee5ffab9cd063dbe37939d34c46131e4cd617a.jpg[/img] Another upcoming aircraft, the Sopwith Pup, also had some problems with its flight characteristics and engine, which are currently being corrected. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/707985012ce8f9d1931484146ba21126c0c137af.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/9522355a2f097a5ac94084eda9c381556afa9462.jpg[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/6585301/d6a151f0f17ef69e2eb9b04064594cac689c3d7d.jpg[/img] While working on Flying Circus aircraft, we are not only adding new features thanks to the IL-2 Great Battles engine but also fixing old problems whenever we get the chance. The new Flying Circus aircraft pack is scheduled for release this summer.