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B17 II : Summary and Links
by Leonard "Viking1" Hjalmarson |
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I've been in touch with SUNCOM on the question of their coming USB split throttle, and they are checking with the tech people to find out what is possible with regard to mounting two throttles in series for a four axis engine control. I know that this system is do-able because SAITEK demoed eight axis control software at E3 in LA this year. More yet to come on this question for you bomber nuts! I can envisage some great home cockpits rising from old bits of plywood in basesments across the land. With many of us having made the transition to voice command software, immersion keeps on increasing. And if you are online in a multiplayer game, B17 II will likely have built in chat so third party software shouldn't be necessary. B17 II will not support Glide, instead going exclusively with Direct3d. With the 3dfx new technology in the offing it will be very exciting to run B17 II with spatial anti-aliasing this winter. Another question worth asking regards the fact that only the LEAD and Deputy LEAD aircraft in a squadron carried the Norden bombsight. If both LEAD and Deputy lead go down, do we have the option of continuing to fly and drop our bombs based on visual orientation? (See our B17 Navigator's Diary piece for more information.) I'm wondering what Wayward are considering with regard to follow on products. The natural way to go would be to add another bomber and/or another geography. Personally I'm hoping they allow us to fly the B24 Liberator along with a Spitfire. The Liberator could reach 310 mph at 25,000 feet and carry an internal bomb load double that of the B17 (9000 lbs in the bomb bay, and like the B17 was capable of carrying another 8000 lbs on wing racks.) I'm also wondering what to choose for a good flight yoke. The CH yoke isn't force feedback, and SUNCOM's G-Force yoke is too low end. With B17 II and four new civil sims arriving between now and Christmas, it seems a natural place for someone to step in with a new product. I'd love to see SUNCOM or Thrustmaster take this on! Finally, what non flyable aircraft will we see on our journeys? Forgot to ask that question. And will we be able to determine the loadout on the fighter we fly? Will there be variants of the main types of fighters, like the G or K versions of the Bf 109? Here's hoping! |
For more on the B17 check out
 Click the group photo for a website dedicated to the 384th bomb group, 547th squadron (B-17). Other Links The USAAF Second Air Division Home page. To download Windows wallpaper from B17 II, go HERE. The B17 II E3 update is HERE.
 B17 "Doc" at Palm Springs Jack Morgan, CAF: JUG Pilot Interview
 For more on the real thing go to the Palm Springs Air Museum tour. For an aircraft briefing, see Heavy Metal: 7 Fighter Legends. For related articles see our History Index.
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