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[barrett_g]

Always loved the look of Gee Bee and the "golden age" of flight... These planes pushed the limits and the pilots were extremely brave to strap into these things!

While it isn't military, and won't add much to IL-2 as far as military theaters are concerned... I still think it would be a neat addition.  Maybe some online pylon racing with Gerd's Bearcat?


Here's the wiki link for all the technical facts:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gee_Bee_Model_R











Here's a really cool concept for a potential alternate history... Where a Gee Bee is outfitted as an interceptor:

[mellow214]

As a just-for-fun plane this would be cool!

[barrett_g]

Awesome!!! Would love to see some WIP screenshots if you could!!!

[psychobobicus]

Umm...yes! 

[barrett_g]

Whoa!  What happened?  The KGB came in and raped my thread last night while I slept!

[HotelAlpha]

 I've always questioned if this marshmallow with wings can fly.
Anyhow, if this plane is maneuverable and someone can put guns on it and a cool skin (like you put) then It would be friken AWESOME.

[RedSpade]

I'd love to give this baby a spin around the race course.

[Radoye]

Anyhow, if this plane is maneuverable...[/glow].

It wasn't very maneuverable, basically it handled like a brick, everything being sacrificed for straightline top speed. It was a very tricky plane to fly, directionally unstable, heavy controls, if you get in trouble there was zero margin of error, it killed more than its fair share of pilots.

But, it would be an interesting addition to the game, even without guns. 

[Sleepingdragon]

Jimmy Doolittle was about the only guy who could actually handle that thing; the famous film of the plane being overcome by torque and spinning into the ground is somewhere on utube. It would require a much larger stabilizer and a less powerful engine. The replica doesn't have the outrageous power the original did. If somebody could handle it though, it would be interesting in online racing, but few could fly it if it's realistically powered.

[barrett_g]

According to the wiki link in the firs post.... Jimmy Doolittle loved it... Said it was a great manuevering plane... I believe he won a race and set new land plane speed records with it.

Another pilot took over, and crashed on take off when he stalled it out.  It caught a wing tip and spun.  While it killed the pilot... The plane wasn't damaged beyond repair.  It's understandable that a plane built for speed wouldn't handle quite so well at slow speeds.  Most racers back then saw these characteristics as "normal."

After it was rebuilt it was sold to a guy that decided to add gas tanks in the rear.... Against the advice of the engineers who designed it... His mods made the plane tail heavy... Which made it "pitch-sensitive."  He crashed and died.

I don't see the second death as the plane's fault... You don't just buy an expensive... Finely tuned race plane and throw some hack-job gas tanks on it that severely affects the center of gravity.

So... Yes... I think the Gee Bee is dangerous... As ALL racing planes are... But I don think the Gee Bee deserves the reputation it's gotten throughout the years.

As far as maneuverability.... It's very much so.... It had to out maneuver all the other planes around the pylons to win the race.... However... That's at top speed.... Often times while dogfighting you force your planes into stalling conditions... In that regard... The Gee Bee wouldn't be very maneuverable... It's all in how you use it.

All in all it'll be a welcome addition to IL-2!

[HotelAlpha]

 
 
The GEE BEE model Z slams into the ground... It just went too fast. Have you ever went to fast in Il-2 and gone into a spin like that?
Well, we all did really.

[max_thehitman]

 
 
The GEE BEE model Z slams into the ground... It just went too fast. Have you ever went to fast in Il-2 and gone into a spin like that?
Well, we all did really.

Oh man, that is one very tragic accident to witness  In slow motion it seems that the starboard wing broke off and
caused it to crash. It is always sad to see a great aircraft crash.
Don´t worry, the new IL-2 version we are testing seems to fly much better and much faster, I can assure you
that master Loku is a great Mod-Artist. He creates great magic!