aces-high

Page 5

Aircraft

There are currently fifteen fighters and bombers available in Aces High. Here are the units currently available.

B-17G

B-26B

Bf-109F-4

Bf-109G-2

Bf-109G-6

Bf-109G-10

C-47A

C.205

F4U-1C

F4U-1D

Fw-190A-8

La-5FN

N1K2-J

P-51D Mustang

Spitfire MK IX

The C47 is probably the most important aircraft in the game, since it carries paratroops that are used to capture an enemy field (more on this later). HTC has three new aircraft coming out very soon, the C.202, the Spitfire Mk V, and the P-38L Lightning. The Lancaster will be the next bomber released, and the rumor is that the Typhoon will be the next fighter.

Armament and Stores

Many of the aircraft in Aces High have user configurable weapons load-outs. There are currently 6 different calibers available in a number of different guns that are modeled in AH. The .303cal, 7.9mm, 12.7mm, .50cal, 20mm, and 30mm all have varying performance and ammunition loads. Several different gun bank configuration options are available for some fighters. Example: The Spitfire currently modeled can be fitted with either 4 .303 machineguns and 2 20 mm cannon, or 2 .50 machineguns instead of the 4 .303's. Some aircraft such as the F4's and N1k2 have set gun armaments that cannot be altered. The user can set the convergence of each battery of guns, and the ability to alter the current ration of tracer to regular ammo (currently 4:1) will be available shortly.

Several different bombs are available, ranging from 100 to 1000 lbs in weight. Some fighters can carry a couple 1000 lbs bombs and act in a fighter/bomber role, however the ability to carry drop-tanks will be eliminated if two bombs are loaded. There is however an option to carry one tank and one bomb on some aircraft. The drop-tanks are an interesting option, since an aircraft with less fuel on board will outperform an aircraft with its tanks even half full. The trick is to take the minimum onboard fuel (25%) and bring along a drop-tank or two. The drop-tank fuel is burned off first, and then just before engaging the enemy, it's dropped so the aircraft will have a lighter load and be at the optimum performance weight. Most of the fighters have the ability to carry rockets as well, and these are useful against ground targets such as AAA gun emplacements.

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