IL2windhawk

Warbird Aficionados,

If you too gasp at the prices of some RC simulators, you might consider trying a regular PC flight
sim called IL2 Pacific Fighters as an inexpensive alternative. In fact, it is a warbird combat flight
sim, with online servers and campaigns, etcs, but it can be used for RC training if setup properly.

I recently purchased a transmitter-to-PC USB cable that makes my radio function just like a joystick.
When it arrived today, I plugged it in and used with the IL2 sim and it worked really great. I setup a
scenario with a stationary ground camera near the runway and did all of the piloting from there. It
really seemed like being at the field! And this game can be bought on eBay for less than $10 USD!
Also, the sim comes well over 100 warbirds, with fully modelled cockpits and gages, and they are all
great fun to fly. The cable was $40 from milehighwings.

Screenshots are attached:
First 3 pictures are using the sim for RC practice.
Last 3 pictures are using the sim for online flying.

If anyone is interested and needs help setting up their copy to so this, just let me know. It's fairly
straight forward, if you know how to setup a map.

Regards,
WH

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

That looks waaay kewl!!

Flak

My Feedback: (1)

IL2Windhawk,
OK, so we can shoot each other down from an R/C view? In other words, I can go on line and fly against you, but be standing on the ground like when I'm at the field? This is what I have been looking for! I wonder if Best Buy has this sim...

"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

ScienceisCool

My Feedback: (1)

I've been playing IL-2 for some time now and have to say it is the best flight sim out there for warbirds. Even if you dont use it for an RC sim, it is still worth every penny.

IL2windhawk

Hey Flak,
Sorry if I've confused you. By nature, IL2 is not intended to be an RC sim, but I
have figured out how to use it as one. To answer your question: YES, you could
theoretically have an online battle where all players are shooting from an RC view.
The challanges would be:

(1) Finding other players who use IL2 this way. I am the only one that I know of.
(2) Shooting accurately!

You can also drop bombs, fire rockets, carry drop tanks, and make your own aircraft skins.
Flak, if you get setup with the flight sim, I would be glad to try some online RC dogfighting
with you! Just let me know and I'll host a server. Cool idea. Like I said above, there is
no reason to spend more than $10 on the game. It's been out for 2 years. Check eBay.

Oh and like Mr.Science said, the flight modelling is superb. It really is a great sim.

I think that I probably should have shown a shot of the sim from inside the cockpit.
Maybe that would have avoided some confusion. Here's me in a P-51 cockpit escorting a
flight of 4 B-25s to target. All four of those guys are online players. Shortly after, contrails
appeared and 109's came diving in from above! Also, another cool external pic.

IL2windhawk

I'll try to record some video of me using the sim for RC style flying.
Give me 24 hours to figure out how to use FRAPS

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

I just ordered the sim and usb cable. In a couple weeks I will be asking you for advice.

IL2windhawk

Kmot, there is a technicality that I failed to mention. Sincerest apologies!
Here's the scoop:

IL2 has been in development for like 6 years. After the original IL2 was a success,
the software company developed a sequel called IL2:Forgotten Battles that was a
whole new game. Since then, they have built upon that base, slowly adding new
aircraft and maps. Many of these addons were free downloads, others were packaged
and sold. The first pay add-on was the Ace Expansion Pack, the second was
Pacific Fighters

However, Pacific Fighters was setup so that it could also be installed as a stand-alone
game. That is, Pacific Fighters can be installed in two ways:
1) as an addon to the pre-existing Forgotten Battles + Ace Expansion Pack platform
2) as a stand-alone game with only the Pacific Aircraft

What this means is that if you only have the Pacific Fighters game, and not the Forgotten
Battles version that came before it, you will only be able to fly Pacific aircraft. The P-51,
P-47, P-38, B-25 and other Western Front aircraft (and Eastern Front too) are all part of
the earlier Forgotten Battles game.

To have the complete planeset, you must also purchase a copy of IL2: Forgotten
Battles and also the Ace Expansion Pack in addition to the Pacific Fighters part.
They can both be purchased in this combo pack for $12 (or maybe cheaper elsewhere?):
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_g...339/search=il2

I think that there are also combo packs on the market that include all three components:
IL2: Forgotten Battles, Ace Expansion Pack, and Pacific Fighters.

Once again, sincerest apologies for misleading you. It has been so long since I installed the
game that I clean forgot! Forgotten battles indeed! With any luck, you will have bought one
of the combo packs, but if not, you should still get alot of enjoyment out of the pacific planes.
There's F4Us, F4Fs, Corsairs, Zeros, Ki84s, Ki61s, plenty more.

Had to get that straight before I misled anyone else! Sorry [sm=drowning.gif]

Tony Gag Jr.

My Feedback: (124)

Where did you get the USB cable to work with your transmitter?

Tony

Flak

My Feedback: (1)

IL2Windhawk,
Sounds great. I'll pick up a copy soon. I'm trying to finish a Top Flite Gold Edition P-51D after Glamourous Glen III powered by a OS 108 2 stroke and a 1/5th P-51B with a Super Tigre 3250. Both planes are close to being finished, just a matter of time.

"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

IL2windhawk

http://www.milehighwings.com/


I've got one in progress too, but it is far from completed.
I'm gonna try the RCV-120 with a four-blader, when I can
save up the required dough!

Dai Phan

My Feedback: (2)

Hello all,

IL2 and its sequels are the most realistic combat sim bar none! If you are interested in WW1 sim, then check out the Red Baron 3D with its expansion packs (easily found on the Net). It too a spectacular sim!!! DP

Warbird Nut

This is great info. Thanks for sharing!

IL2windhawk

No Problemo, Warbird Nut. I'm glad to

Hey, here are the videos I promised. They are really short, because I haven't
figured out out to compress (or encode?) AVIs into smaller sizes yet. When I do,
I'll post a longer movie. But these should provide an idea of what it's like to use
the game for R/C practice.

They are each about 15MB. You can double click them for fullscreen.
http://media.putfile.com/IL2-as-an-RC-Simulator-1-Flyby
http://media.putfile.com/IL2-as-an-R...lator-1-Stunts
http://media.putfile.com/IL2-as-an-R...or-1-Gear_Down

Flak

My Feedback: (1)

IL2WindHawk,
Your Videos are a NO GO! They do not play when clicked. Oh well...

"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

IL2windhawk

Hmmm...
I tested the links on my home PC last night and they worked,
but you're right, here at work they aren't working. Will try again
when i get home.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Make sure you toggled your videos to be "Public" and not private.

IL2windhawk

OK. I think i managed to encode a couple of videos.
These are much smaller, much longer, and hopefully they work!

http://media.putfile.com/IL2_Spitfire_turns
http://media.putfile.com/IL2_P-51_flyby

The website shrinks the video too much. Double-click it for a better view.

Regards,
WH

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Those looked awesome!

Flak

My Feedback: (1)

IL2WindHawk,
Greats vids, I'll be getting one soon. I saw oe place where I can bu a complete and new version with all of the expansion pack and updates for about $44.00.

"Keep 'Em Flying!"
Flak

Messerschmitt

My Feedback: (28)

Great post windhawk! I've been playing IL-2 since it came out, it is the best sim to date. I've put together a skin pack with an installer. For those of you who don't know about IL-2, a skin is a custom paint job that can be loaded on your aircraft. Some of the skins are mine & some of them are from other authors. I was trying to practice my programming skills so I put them all in one neat executable installer - click it and forget it.

It's a free download on my website. I hope someone gets some good out of it!

[link=http://www.mtplans.com/software/il2sim_graphics.htm]IL-2 Skin pack webpage[/link]

Mike

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

I too have been involved with IL-2 since day one. Before that I flew online in a sim called "Warbirds". Was even the CO of a Luftwaffe squadron for several years. I still belong to this unit. [link=http://www.jg51.net/]IV/JG51 Mölders[/link]

Another cool feature of this sim besides being a complete down to the air mix and super charger stages with true to life flight dynamics is the abillity to add your own face to the fully movable pilot.
Here's fellow RCU warbirder Mugenkid in the cockpit of a P-51D . I took a pic of him from a day at the field and added it to the pilot skin. Tons of fun !!! Right Messerschmitt ?

Messerschmitt

My Feedback: (28)

yeah man! I've never played with the pilot skins! It takes so much time to produce a good aircraft skin. I had to stop before the wife killed me!

Seriously, if you have a pc & basic pc skills - love warbirds = you have to try this sim, hours of fun! Just don't blame me when you get your divorce papers!

I started taking screen shots to put together a graphics pack to help modellers, all packed in a neat program (more software authoring practice). Anyway, I quit about half way thru, figured no one would be interested in it. Any takers? I could wrap it up & post it on my website.

Messerschmitt

My Feedback: (28)

Dr. Deadstick! I like it! wish I had thought of that!

another screen shot!

Timmahh

I bought a copy of PreFlight from an austrailian seller on the bay.. its pretty good. to date thre are some good planes, some Pitts Specials A P51, a a Cub i think,, and a few helis.. really nice sim. online capable as well. 40.00. fully moddable, you own plane, flying fields. helis, ect... it can all be done pretty much, not sure about pilots. comes with TX/USB cable included. one of the cool things about getting into the modding part, is say, I could build my local field or favorite flying area. build it. you can d/l it, and fly at my place. or vise versa,, imagine some of our RC Mates over in Europe Modding in Actual areas where ww2 fights went down.. but none the less, sounds like il2 has most of it done already, im in, wheres the GO BUTTON?
Im off to see the Wizzard, the Wonderful Wizzard of sims...lol for the money i ll get this one too. sounds like more people use it online.
Timmahh