Good flight simulator combat or civilian

[chris330 0]

Hi,

I'm missing being able to fly quite alot right now, was wondering if you chaps could give me some ideas of the best flight sim to have a go at. I used to do alot of rough ground landing stuff in wwiionline but I hope I never go back to that fiasco again. I do miss that really engaging low flying stuff though and landing big-ish planes like C-47's and Ju52's on rough ground.

As such I'm looking for a decent flight simulator. But I have no idea what all the latest stuff available is. Here's what I'm looking for:

1)Very realistic simulator definitely nothing whatsoever arcadey.

2)Chance to fly transport planes like Dakotas and such like.

3)If possible chance to fly a fighter and dogfight - this is not so important.

What do you reckon? Anything will do even games a few years old will suit me fine, and hurt my wallet less too! Any ideas? Thanks :o

[celery 8]

IL-2 1946 is the best one there is.

[Beagle 684]

I would recommend you IL-2 Sturmovik 1946...that has over hundred different airplanes ranging from '30s biplanes like Gloster Gladiator to MiG-9M or medium Bombers like B-25 or He-111 including working and adjustable bomsights. Some prototypes are also flyable.

flight model is top notch and all airplanes have very distinctive characteristics.

For modern aircraft I would recommend you Lock On: modern aircraft combat gold, including the flaming cliffs addon. The Su-25s in LOMAC have a very good handling and damage simulation....LOMAC is still the best looking Flightsim despite its age. (2004)

Well, and for flying only...there is still FSX.

[chris330 0]

Fantastic thanks chaps, looks like IL-2 1946 it is thank you very much indeed for sharing your knowledge ;)

[-Total- 0]

The standards that are out there:

IL-2 1946 (WWII conbat) all details already mentioned

Lock On: Modern Air Combat w/ Flaming Cliffs upgrade (details already mentioned)

Wings Of Prey (WWII combat) - Recent release. Graphics look awesome. Features are still in development, so don't expect everything you would like right up front and it's a worthy purchase.

Digital Combat Simulator Series - Currently consists of the KA-50 Blackshark helicopter. Most high fidelity sim out there at the moment. Next installment will be the A-10C. Upcoming update for Lock On: Flaming Cliffs will make DCS and Lock On compatible in online play (made by the same company).

Flight Simulator X - the last installment of the official MS Flight Simulator line. Extremely detailed. No online combat. Many planes have to be purchased.

Rise Of Flight - a WWI combat simulator. Detailed and alot of fun.

X-Plane - another non-combat flight sim. The chief competitor to FSX.

Flight Gear - an open source (aka free) non-combat simulator. Able to use google maps as terrain.

There are several independent projects in development, but many of them have been in spare-time development for years.

[chris330 0]

Thanks again guys that's all great stuff! One question though, I have seen many pics of a C-47 in game in IL-2 (which I have now bought) but I do not have it in my loadout selection and I have also installed what I believe is the latest patch. Anyone know where I can get it? Thanks ;)

[celery 8]

Thanks again guys that's all great stuff! One question though, I have seen many pics of a C-47 in game in IL-2 (which I have now bought) but I do not have it in my loadout selection and I have also installed what I believe is the latest patch. Anyone know where I can get it? Thanks ;)

To my knowledge it's an AI only plane. IL-2 is a combat sim.

[chris330 0]

Ahh thankyou! Thou art indeed correct. I set up a mission and found AI C-47's available, they even have the Bristol Blenheim!!!:cool:

Thanks pal. I could use some help regarding prop pitch and mixture theory. Does anyone understand this well enough to help me out here? If so I'll fire a few questions away. This really is a great game.;)

[TRexian 0]

Falcon 4.0, baybee. :) With the FreeFalcon mod, you can fly many other planes, including some heavies IIRC.

You can't get much more non-arcadey than that, either. :D

[chris330 0]

I will indeed check that out, thanks!

[Beagle 684]

Ahh thankyou! Thou art indeed correct. I set up a mission and found AI C-47's available, they even have the Bristol Blenheim!!!:cool:

Thanks pal. I could use some help regarding prop pitch and mixture theory. Does anyone understand this well enough to help me out here? If so I'll fire a few questions away. This really is a great game.;)

Prop pitch and Mixture are a bit unique to every engine and Tyoe you fly. For german planes you dont need it (except the He-111 and Junkers 87 and 88) but in general you only have to adjust mixture above 5000 meters. Some types gain some extra take of power at 120% mixture. You have to set chargers also if the types have manual chargers. Prop pitch is for fuel ecomony mostly, but can help you to keep your engine cool...flying full Throttle and full prop is rarely a good Idea in IL-2 because that will make your egine overheat very soon and you will loose power quickly when you need it most...in dogfights.

there must be a .pdf in the game directory for aircraft handling...all types behave in a own way and need other settings...best is to specialise in one or two types of a period and to learn its weaknesses and strenghts...like for example early Focke-Wulfs dont do good above 5000 meters but will butcher most Fighters and bombers below.

Since you're interested in bigger planes...dont miss the He-111, Ju-88, G4M and B-25.

You can even practice carrier takeoffs in the B-25 in Doolittle Raid style in this simulation.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Beagle

[chris330 0]

Wicked! I am indeed drawn to the larger planes. I am also amazed at how good the dogfighting AI is in this game! Almost like being online! I will have more questions about flight theory soon but I will make a new thread for them, thanks Beagle ;)