Props

I'm sure Jason and crew will be providing training missions, or at the very least a quick mission builder that will allow for building training missions, so that pilots can practice carrier landings and takeoffs as much as they want. Back in the day in IL2 '46 I had built several missions like this and spent a load of time flying from escort carriers in many types of aircraft to become proficient. Didn't even have a good LSO and it was difficult, especially takeoff, but if you got good on an escort carrier the big decks were a breeze.

Yep, Justin is definitely a master on the Zero, as he mentioned that he is a intelligence analyst as well as a historian I take his word over many armchair experts. Great vids I've watched them all repeatedly.

Howdy pilots, I wanted to take this opportunity to CFS oriented announce that the panel I submitted for the Expo is a go! This panel discussion helps attendees make the leap into a unique genre of flight simulation: Combat. Through an interactive, Q&A format, the discussion introduces you to the wide world of combat simulation, including platforms like DCS, IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles, and more. The panel discussion is being coordinated by virtual fighter pilot Joseph Gallwitz. Panelists include Joseph Gallwitz, Colin Czerneda (Stormbirds.blog), Jason Williams (Executive Producer, Combat Pilot), and Carlos Flors (CEO, Barbed Wire Studios). We may have up to 2 more additions to the panel and I am really looking forward to presenting what is probably the first real CFS oriented open panel the FSA Expo has had over the years. I hope those of you here attending the Expo can sit in and to meeting everyone.

Gee, only 14 hours in airports and planes for me😁. Of course I like the flying part, window seats all the way.

Something I have been thinking about a lot lately: Better Spotting! I remember in IL2 '46, flying with a squadron online I could often spot a single engine aircraft at well over 10 miles just as I did when I was learning to fly IRL, but this has been pretty much a nonstarter in IL2 GB. Sure you can spot a twin farther away, but the spotting in IL2 '46 was way better. Also I remember seeing a glint of light reflection off an aircraft at a long distance in '46 and not just for second or as a quick flash but sometimes long enough to actually plot an intercept course with. something that is non-existent in GB. So I guess that means a better LOD or render distance taking into account modern IPS, Q-OLED, etc flat monitors, Track IR and Tobii, and VR. I'm old, my vision will not get better and I can always use the extra help when it comes to spotting.

Yeah my old copy, long since disappeared, was the Bantam paperback. Great read. I find myself looking for and devouring anything I can find on Japanese aviation during WW2 these days.

I will be there having signed up some time back. We need a voice as combat flight simmers at the Expo and the organizers would definitely like to see more involvement from the CFS community. I have spoken to them several times about this topic and they are very interested in seeing growth in the CFS community at the Expo.

Hell in the Pacific is a great movie! Especially in regards to the fact that both Lee Marvin and Toshio Mifune served and fought in the Pacific theater during the war.

Yeah, I unfortunately have some doubts too. I hope it is good and up to the same standards. I really wish they had picked a story like following the 4th FG or the 56th FG instead being a fighter jock guy and the wartime history of the 4th FG is of particular interest to me (or the fighter ace competition in the pacific with guys like Bong, etc. would've really been fun, but...).

I hope I run into you there, Jason. I haven't been back to States in almost 7 years (I live in Ecuador) and coming back this summer for the FSExpo and Oshkosh Airventure (which I haven't been to in 30 years oops, damn I'm getting old;-). Of course my family will think I am coming back to visit them and I guess I'll let them hold onto that little fantasy....

Have you seen that great scene in the Mandalorian where the 2 Speeder Stormtroopers are hanging out, bored, and trying to shoot a piece of junk at about 15 paces? It's hilarious and great little easter egg tribute to how terrible Stormtroopers are at marksmanship.

My favorite back in the ol' days of IL2 '46 and the Zekes vs Wildcat server, the awesome N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai. I loved flying this plane and it was pretty deadly. But I'll happily fly whatever I'm given in the PTO.

Absolutely love my Virpil stick and if my Thrustmaster Warthog Throttle ever goes wonky I'll be replacing it with a Virpil. For pedals you can't go wrong with the MFG Crosswind.

Blooddawn1942 that's great! I installed the Premium package about a year and half back, and after optimizing it for my system it's been flawless. I switched from a RTX 3080 to 4080 with an AMD 5800X3D and it's smooth as silk with low temps to boot. I fly GA aircraft, not interested in airliners and jets for the time being. When I'm not flying MP in IL2, I am spending a fair amount of time in my F6F Hellcat practicing my carrier landings and take-offs using the HDS app. There is a WW2 carrier app but the carriers are real low "fidelity" and don't look so good so the HDS app works fine for me. Gotta get some practice in while I wait for Combat Pilot (hopefully a good Wildcat will become available for practice too).

John Wayne. I don't want to make this a JW parade, but for my 2 cents worth Sands of Iwo Jima is great even if some of the other JW war films get a little worn out after a while. IMHO his best movies are The High and the Mighty (still a flying movie) and The Searchers which is above and beyond JW's usual fare and one of John Ford's best directorial efforts. I can watch any of the JW war flicks on any given day and enjoy them but these 3 films standout from the crowd. One non-JW PTO flick that I always enjoyed was Flattop with Sterling Hayden, because there carriers of course!