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The Planes of CFS3, Part 2

by Jim "Twitch" Tittle

Article Type: Military History
Article Date: October 16, 2002

Product Info

Product Name: Combat Flight Simulator 3
Category: WWII Air Combat Simulation
Developer: Microsoft
Publisher: Microsoft
Release Date: Fall 2002
System Req.: TBA
Articles / Links / Files: Click Here

Back to Part 1


German Aircraft

Bf 109 G-6/G-10
With the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 and G-10 we have a fine modeling of the two best Gs. There is no K model but the trade-off is fine to be able to fly the G-10 again, not seen since SWOTL (Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe) a decade-plus ago.

The G-6 was the most widely built. Its and the G-10’s wings measuring 32.5 feet with a length of 29.7 feet. The G-6 weighed 5,900 lbs. normally but could max out at 6,950 lbs. The Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12 put out 1,475 HP good for a 387 MPH top speed at 22,970 feet and 338 MPH at sea level. During 109 production other DB engines were used which went to 1,800 HP. It could climb at a 3,346 FPM rate initially averaging 3,166 FPM to 19,000 feet. Range was shorter at 615 miles. A belly tank would give about a 900-mile range maximum. The ceiling was high at 39,750 feet and it had no lack of breath up high. Over 30,000 feet the narrow wings in the thin air gave dicey response and stability in combat maneuvering.

109G-6 & G-10 will be there

Within the G-6 sub-model there were many variants and field sets of unparalleled mixture of weapons abounded so we hope there is some choice to gun sets on missions. The factory G-6 came with a pair of 13 mm MG 131s in the upper cowl with 300 RPG and a 20 mm MG 151 cannon in the hollow cylinder block firing from the prop hub with 120 rounds. Many had an additional pair of 20s in gondolas under the wings with 120 RPG. Some had MK 108 30 mm cannon in the nose in place of the 20mm. Some had two 30 mms under-wing. 21 cm WG 21 rockets fired from wing tubes on some 109G-6s and a 550-lb. or 1,100 lb. bomb could be hung under the belly.

CFS3's Bf 109G-10

The G-10 used the 1,800 HP DB 605D with MW-50 water-methanol injection giving 344 MPH at sea level and 428 MPH at 24,250 feet. It could hit 41,400 feet and climbed to 20,000 feet at 3,333 FPM from a about a 3,500 FPM initial rate. Range was just 350 miles.

Weaponry included a pair of 13 mms with 300 RPG in the cowl and a 30 mm Mk 108 cannon behind the prop hub with 80 rounds. The G-10/U4 had a further duo of 30s with 80 RPG in a belly tray. The G-10s featured the improved visibility of the ‘Galland Hood’ canopy used in the 109K model.


Fw 190 A-5/A-8
The Focke Wulf 190A-5 was often the fighter-bomber version of the plane. Variants were used in night intercept and another carried a torpedo. Yet another was specially beefed up as a bomber interceptor. Originally the A-5 had two 7.9 mm MG 17s with 1,000 RPG in the cowls, a pair of MG 151s with 200 RPG in board in the wings and two MG FFs with 55 rounds outboard.

Fw 190 will have A-5 & A-8 to fly

The A-5/U-3 had two 20mm MG 151s and could carry 2,200 lbs. of bombs. The /U-11 ground support sub-model had two Mk 103 30 mm cannon and the two inboard 20 mms. Similarly the /U-16 with two Mk 103 30 mms and the 20mms was a bomber destroyer. The heavier series A-8 of late 1943 was aimed at bomber destruction. 550 lbs. of bombs were carried. WR 21 rockets were used on A-5s too.

The 190s had a span of 34.5 feet and was 29 feet long. The A-8 with increased armor weighed 9,750 lbs. loaded. Power was provided by the 14-cylinder BMW 801D-2 radial with MW-50 boost giving 2,100 HP over the 1,700 HP of other As. It could reach 408 MPH at 20,600 feet and 355 MPH at sea level and possessed a range of 643 miles on internal fuel. Ceiling was an adequate 37,400 feet (34,400 A-5) and initial climb was 3,450 FPM (2,830 A-5).

CFS3's Fw 190A-5

Armament on the A-8s was amplified with the field sets allowing myriad mixes of guns. Normally a pair of 13 mms rested in the upper cowl with 400 RPG and two 20 mm MG 151 inboard wing cannon had 250 RPG while an outboard pair had 125 RPG. But this was starting point only. The A-8/R1 had four additional 20 mms in gondolas and the R3 had MK 103 30 mms with 60 RPG outboard instead of the MG 151s for ground support. Other sub-models used two MK 108s inboard with 60 RPG.


Ju 88 A-4/C-6/P-4
The Junkers bomber will provide a swell cross section of that plane’s many actual uses. The A-4 was the ubiquitous bomber and the C-6 was the well-armed fighter version. The P-4 was a flying artillery piece with its 50 mm BK-5 cannon. An earlier P model even had a 75 mm gun.

Look for 3 Ju 88s- 1 with big gun

The Ju 88A-4 was similar in size to the B-25 and B-26 with a wingspan of 65.6 feet, a length of 47.1 feet and loaded weight of 26,686 lbs. Bomb load was typical medium bomber with a maximum at the 5,500 lb. maximum mark.

Two V-12 Junkers Jumo 211J-1s with 1,340 HP each were used to give a top speed of 292 MPH at 17,390 feet. Range for the A-4 was 1,112 miles but additional fuel and less payload extended it to 1,696 miles. Ceiling was 26,900 feet and climb rate was about 800 FPM.

Defensive armament for the 4-seater was poor compared to American mediums with a 7.9 mm MG 81 in the nose either fixed or flexibly mounted, a forward firing flexible 13 mm MG 131 (or two 7.9mms), two more MG 81s aft and an MG 131 or two MG 81s firing aft in the ventral gondola.

CFS3's Ju 88C-6

The C-6 was a 3-seat destroyer aircraft conceived to combat bomber streams and for night operations against the RAF. Its Jumo 211Js put out 1,410 HP and propelled the big plane to 311 MPH at 19,685 feet. Without a bomb load burden and extra fuel the ship could travel 2,131 miles and could climb at a decent 1,770 FPM to a ceiling of 32,480 feet.

Armament was good with three 20 mm MG FF cannon and three 7.9 mm MG 17s firing forward. A rear facing 13 mm MG 131 defended the tail. The night fighters also had installed two 20 mms to fire obliquely upward to hit the bombers. Ju 88s were often found lobbing heavy rockets at the bombers.

The P series was developed for anti-armor operations using a wide variety of heavy cannon. The P series top speeds were low—less than 250 MPH—due to the added gun weight and drag plus that of extensive extra armor plate. The 50 mm BK-5 was aimed using a 7.9 mm machine gun. Aft defense consisted of one 7.9 or 13 mm weapon. Range for the encumbered P series is unknown but certainly that and climb rate were not critical as the focus was usually short-range attacks from low altitudes.


Me 262A-1a, 262A-1a/U1, 262A-1/U4, 262A-2a/U1
This first operational jet had a 41-foot wingspan and was 34.8 feet long. Two 1,980 lb. thrust Jumo 004B-1s gave enough boost to attain 540 MPH at 19,685 feet, 538 MPH at 29,560 feet and 500 MPH at sea level. Range was 526 miles at 19,685 feet but dropped to 298 miles at sea level. The 262 had a ceiling of 37,565 feet and an initial climb rate of 3,937 FPM.

The 262 will have 4 models

The real story of the 262A-1a was the armament. Four MK 108 30 mm cannon, two with 100 RPG and two with 80 RPG fired from the sleek nose and twenty-four 55 mm R4M air-to-air rockets fired from under wing stations. The result with this heavy armament against bomber formations was effective and the plane could, of course, hold its own with multiple enemy fighters. Several sub-models had the same dimensions and performance.

Me 262 with 50 mm cannon

The A-2a/U1 model was the “Stormbird” bomber version with provisions for two 551-lb. bombs. Two of the guns were replaced with the aiming equipment for the bombs.

The Me 262A-1a/U1 not only had 2 MK 108s and two of the heavier MK 103 30 mms but an additional pair of MG 151 20 mms.

CFS3's Me262A-1a/U4

The Me 262A-1a/U4 was the experimental ship with the 50 mm Mk 214 cannon.


Do-335 A-1/B-2
Another plane not seen since SWOTL is the Dornier Pfiel (Arrow). This unique design used a pair of 1,900 HP DB 603G V-12s, one pulling and one pushing in its 45.5-foot fuselage. Its broad wings spanned 45.25 feet and loaded weight was 20,966 lbs. As a fighter-bomber the Do-335A-1 had a 30 mm MK 103 with 70 rounds in the prop hub and two 15 mm Mk 151s in the upper cowl with 200 RPG. 1,100 lbs. of bombs could be carried as well.

2 unique Do 335 models will fly

Speed was ample with 455 MPH at 23,295 feet. Its ceiling was 37,400 feet and the craft could manage a 1,336-mile range. But with a large external tank this could be stretched to 2,330 miles.

The B-2 was built from the thirteenth and fourteenth, the last, prototypes. Its role was to be that of a destroyer aircraft. This baby had two MK 103s in the wings along with the nose-mounted weapon retained and replaced the 15 mms in the cowl with 20 mm MG 151s.

CFS3's Do 335B-2

Go 229A-1/B-2
The ultimate plane, which actually flew before the end of the war, was the Gotha Go 229. It was designed by the Horten brothers as the Ho 9A or Ho 229 and constructed by Gotha as the Go 229. It was pure flying wing and tail-less. The 54.9-foot swept wing tapered back to an aft point behind the two 2,200 lb. thrust Jumo 004C jets. The pilot in prone position was at the extreme front of the 24.5-foot center section. Vertical fins were to be added to help lateral stability.

Oh boy, the Go229!

It weighed 18,700 lbs. loaded and had a 1,180-mile range. But with one engine cut it could travel 2,485 miles maximum. Drop tanks could be added for yet more, though undefined, distance. Full throttle performance yielded a speed of 607 MPH at 39,370 feet and 590 MPH at sea level. It could climb at 4,331 FPM and reached a lofty ceiling of 52,496 feet. 640 MPH at 21,000 feet has been quoted in older reference books as a top speed though it is probably maximum diving speed overall.

In the weapons department the plane had four potent 30 mm MK 103s with 120 RPG and could carry two 2,200-lb. bombs.

CFS3's Go 229A

The 229B-2 was to be a two-seat all-weather fighter based on the 229A. The Horten designs had a composite of plywood, sawdust and charcoal covering the main section, which would have reduced its radar signature.


German Summary
There should be no problems with 109s flight models as they’ve been done so many times. The FW 190s are the “usual” models also and should perform well. We repeat the Ju 88A-4 question of how will medium, level bombers perform? The C-6 ought to be a bit more fun to fly and the never seen in a sim P-4 with its big cannon should make for interesting armor attacks.

The Me 262 series ought to be fairly “normal” in flight characteristics which we have experience with in other air combat sims. Again, the one with the 50 mm cannon should be interesting.

Since flight models were much simpler in the SWOTL days it will be curious to see how the Do-335s fly. They are a welcome addition. And lastly, the Go 229 ought to be the super plane of the sim as it would have been in reality.


Final Thoughts
Don’t see the model you were hoping to fly in these thirty-four? Previous Combat Flight Simulator titles have featured the easy file editing ability for even less-that-experienced modders to work with in their plain English formats. It should be easy to virtually build the model you want with the performance and armament you desire. Even if you don’t make one change this is a good mix of aircraft and there isn’t one creaky old crate in the bunch. And with the modding community in action there should be still more planes to fly soon after CFS3’s release.

We want to lose some of CFS2’s weird behavior of control edginess often amplified by a couple of hits from of 7.7 mms. It took us a lot of tweaking to get flight models that were comfortable.

We are not too concerned about the fanatics who may lament, “The 109G-6 has too high a stall speed,” and what is “real” never having even sat in the actual cockpit. That is way to subjective. But no matter how these virtual planes respond to joystick and throttle input in the big picture of the campaigns they should be dead on in the basic important areas of performance and weaponry.





Sources



  • Air Age Technical Staff
    “North American B-25”
    Air Age, Inc. NY 1956

  • Air Age Technical Staff
    “Republic P-47 Thunderbolt”
    Air Age, Inc. NY 1958

  • Bekker, Cajus
    The Luftwaffe War Diaries
    Doubleday & Co., NY 1968

  • Caidin, Martin
    Me 109
    Ballantine Books, NY 1968

  • Green, Wm.
    Famous Bombers of the 2nd World War Vol. 1 & 2
    Hanover House, NY 1959-60

  • Green, Wm.
    The Complete Book of Fighters
    Smithmark Publishers, NY 1994

  • Green, William
    Fighters Vols. 1,2 & 4
    Doubleday & Co., NY 1960-61 & 60

  • Green, William
    Jet Aircraft of the World
    Macdonald, London 1955

  • Green, William
    Bombers & Reconnaissance Aircraft Vol. 10
    Doubleday & Co. NY 1968

  • Myhra, David
    Secret Aircraft Designs of the Third Reich
    Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA 1998

  • Nowarra, Heinz J.
    The Focke Wulf 190
    Harleyford Publications GB 1965

  • Nowarra, Heinz J.
    The Messerschmitt 109
    Harleyford Publications GB 1964


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