Ok guys.....
For training, I'm going to shuffle the deck of cards and have us perform some training using the "Okinawa 1945" Dog Fight server hosted by the 200th Sentai who are an excellent bunch of Polish pilots.
The 200th Sentai is a dedicated Ki-84B squadron that flies at the full switch level of realism and has graciously allowed us the privledge of conducting training under a 408 MOD setting.
Currently, the server does not support TBM flight operations since the server is running on v. 408 but does allow the sound Mod to be run operational. Instead of the TBM, the SBD-5 is available from a static carrier launch as well as both the "D" and "C" models of the Corsair and the late model Hell Cat.
There is also an island base that supports the allied forces using USAAF aircraft like the P-38 and the P-51 Mustang to boot. The island has a variety of static objects as well as dual connecting runways to support flight ops once spawned into game. You have to see this base to see what I mean.
The CO as well as the XO for the 200th Sentai (Sakagawa & Nakano) have plans to upgrade to a dedicated 409 server once the patch has been fully tested and released by the folks over at the AAA site which is slated for the near future. Testing is currently being conducted on this patch for "check run time=2". Personal skins are also allowed on this map sheet and server for squadron usage.
This server is pretty hard core and the 200th Sentai believe in true realism when having to fly and navigate to target and then to RTB. Expect to fly some distance to just get to target and do your business with no speed bar, just a compass heading displayed.
This server will provide an excellent opportunity to provide a close escort opportunity for our bombers as well as the Hell Cats to fly a recon sortie to target to support the ground strike.
As for ground targets, there are a bunch to keep the ground pounders happy. As for the Recon and Fighter sections, you never know quite how many other squads may attempt to jump into this server to oppose us at any given time.
As for Navigation across the ocean, well you need to conduct a good "Map Recon" first to see the big picture and to fly accordingly. The in game map is always oriented "North".
Again, from what I understand, there is a dedicated 409 patch on the horizon to upgrade those dedicated 408 servers once testing is complete and is released to the IL-2 Mod community. Once the 409 server is online, especially with the 200th Sentai's server, I think we as a squad will have a larger opportunity to fly in either the SBD or the TBM at will and that should make the Bomber Boys quite happy.
