The latest developer diary for the IL-2: Great Battles Series shows us the next aircraft coming to the series and also the first aircraft for the IL-2: Battle of Normandy series to arrive – the P-47D-22 ‘Razorback!’ Plus they are also talking plans for the next two patches and some nice new 4K skins for the Ju87D-3. Let’s have a look!
It’s the Razorback Thunderbolt
A bit of a P-47 theme going this week and 1CGS is in on it with the latest screenshots and the first to show their P-47D-22 Thunderbolt in engine. The D-22 model has the traditional strut canopy with a ‘Razorback’ fuselage shape behind it that goes nearly all the way back to the original prototypes. The D-25 was the first to introduce the bubble canopy, borrowed initially from the Hawker Typhoon which received a similar transformation, and the bubble canopy version stuck for the rest of the production of the P-47.
Those two images are of the P-47 in-engine. The cockpit is still underway and it is not there yet, however, we did get some great images of it. The usual high standards are on show here and the vast differences in visibility between this and the bubble canopy should be interesting.
Of note, the bubble canopy slightly reduced top speed and impacted on the handling of the aircraft so this P-47D-22 model should actually be subtly faster than the D-28 version. It’ll also be up against slightly lesser performing fighters (in the Bf109G-6 and Fw190A-6) so Battle of Normandy should offer a slightly greater chance for the P-47 to shine.
4K skins for the Stuka
Continuing the efforts to upgrade all of the skins for older aircraft in the IL-2 series to 4K standard, Martin =ICDP= Catney has turned his attentions to the Ju87D-3 ‘Stuka’ from IL-2: Battle of Stalingrad.
As usual, they look great and add detail and sharpness to the aircraft’s exterior model!
The next two patches
The latest developer diary also talks about the next couple of patches. First, patch 4.007 is already in beta testing and has been planned to come out within the next week if all goes well. Although Han’s update is a little vague, he does say that there are features that have been long awaited that are coming in this intermediate patch.
Next, either in late June or early July, 1CGS plans to release patch 4.008 which will come with the P-47D-22 and the Sd.Kfz.184 “Ferdinand” for Tank Crew. No doubt there will be other updates included in that patch as well but with those two pieces of content as being the most notable.
It’s also likely that the new Ice Ring Scripted Campaign will come in the 4.008 patch.
I am really looking forward to checking out the latest P-47!
Next up… the Hurricane!
Now a few of you might be asking too… where is the Hurricane,? And you may not know or have forgotten that the release order given to us by Jason has for a long time now said that the P-47D-22 would come after the Yak-9 and Yak-9T and before the Hurricane. So everything is going according to their release schedule.
We might even see some updates on this aircraft in the next week or two.
Stormbirds 
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