A news update from the folks at 1CGS is here and it comes packed with a few interesting details surrounding the upcoming Spitfire IXc with a slight change in course. There’s also some new map editing features that some mission authors may aid creativity and benefit us all. Let’s have a look!

Spitfire IXc to be included in Normandy

Three new screenshots of the Spitfire IXc accompany some interesting news surrounding the release of the aircraft. 1CGS are now reporting that the aircraft will be added to the Battle of Normandy aircraft lineup. All Battle of Normandy owners will have access to this model of the aircraft and it will slot nicely into the Career mode for that version of the sim in particular.

There has been much discussion in the community since it was announced that the aircraft was coming to the sim. As we learned more details on what was, and was not planned, it became clear that the new aircraft wasn’t distinct enough from the Spitfire IXe to command a Collector Plane price of $19.99 USD. The Spitfire IXc that we are getting is a late model Spitfire IX with really only two distinguishing features from the already available Spitfire IXe – its armament (with a C-wing rather than E-wing) and its tail which features the original narrow chord arrangement. That does come with a flight model change, of course, to account for somewhat less stability.

Some of us had assumed, early on, that they may have intended to do an earlier variant of the fighter with earlier Spitfire IXc models representing a more significant array of changes from the tail, to air filters, to engine types (the earlier Merlin 61 and 63 were used in 1942 and 1943). Discussion on the forums have made it clear, however, that the project is being done with a minimal number of changes so this direction to make it included as part of Battle of Normandy a much better course of action. Adding to the variety of Spitfire models and giving Battle of Normandy owners a type that is very much key to the RAF’s fighter squadrons during that battle with minimal effort. I think this is a good move.

Other upcoming Collector Planes, the I-153 and Ta152H, offer much more significant and unique experiences.

Map editor changes

Something interesting has been announced in the map editor. The next update will bring the ability to conduct on-the-fly changes to maps including landscape, forest, and water features. Something that was previously baked in.

This feature, developed by our lead programmer Sergey, makes editing much more intuitive and easy as you can see the effect of your changes in the sim world immediately – you can plant a forest or cut down the trees near the airfield, fill a new river or remove a lake, create a mountain or dig a ravine. Here are some preview screenshots of this feature.

The screenshots show off the map editor interface adding water and adding a significant hill where there was previously none. Curious to see what mission makers may be able to do with the feature.

Read the full news update here.