What do the Il 2 Sturmovik, World War II and an online game have in common? They all share a large fanbase who like them for a variety of reasons. People of all different backgrounds can enjoy sitting in a virtual cockpit and taking control of such massive machinery like the Il-2. The historical significance and the best combat games can show why this Soviet aircraft appeals to so many.
The Il-2 Sturmovik or (Shturmovik) was an aircraft designed for ground assault by the Soviet Union. In 1938, the Central Design Bureau's Sergey Ilyushin and his associates came out with the Il-2. The original prototype was flown in 1939. This new plane consisted of one engine, room for one pilot at first and a propeller driven system. Although only around 250 had been built by the time Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the Il-2 and its successor, the Ilyushin Il-10, became the most produced airplanes in military history. Many historians consider these creations the leaders in the ground attack category of airplanes. What a thrill to be at the helm of this cool craft in an online flight simulator!
Pilots of the Il-2 referred to their plane as “Ilyusha” while ground soldiers had names for it like the “Hunchback” or the “Flying Infantryman.” Soviets say this aircraft is one of the most significant in the art of modern war. A unique trait of the Il-2 Sturmovik is that its outer armor was load bearing so it saved weight while making an overall sturdier craft. This tough cookie could take quite a licking under enemy fire thus earning it another nickname, the “Flying Tank.” This aircraft is involved in numerous World War II games and given plenty of enemies a run for their money with its pilot players.
History is nice but what about the gaming? The Il-2 has inspired a multitude of combat games which all have their individual strong points. Some World War 2 games concentrate their efforts on fighting in the Eastern Front. Aces High is an online flight simulator in which players can choose from many different planes, one being the Il-2 Sturmovik. Participants can create squadrons and stage historically accurate battles from their cockpits. The Il-2 is certainly an aircraft that serious war game buffs will not want to miss.
A real aircraft simulator game is one that captures the true thrill of what it was like to fly in World War II. Based on such a colorful history, the Il 2 Sturmovik is one aircraft that impresses right from take off. Try choosing the Il-2 next time you're the pilot and see where this big bird takes you.
