The Combat Pilot team are quite busy these days building Combat Pilot and they are making strides across all areas of the product. From new aircraft and other types of new content to physics, engine damage, visual effects, AI and more. We’ve got all of that in the latest diary update. Let’s summarize!
B-17E and SDB progresses
Combat Pilot has, right from the word go, tried to do things differently and a flyable B-17 has been highly sought after part of flight simulation for years. The latest development work on that part of the project is impressive and they are showing off exterior texture and details specific to an earlier B-17E model used during the early parts of the Pacific War.
We’ve also got a wireframe look at an early model of the SDB-3 Dauntless dive bomber.
Physics, engine, and other updates
The new development update also covers a lot of other ground. The team are working on AI aircraft implementation so that your wingmates and opponents are simulated in the sim. They’ve taken the first steps on that system though we have few details for now.
There’s a longer section of good suspension and undercarriage physics. They’ve, until now, used an Unreal engine system to handle it but are now going tailor made with their own physics extension to their EntropyFM system that they are developing. The engineer in charge is Josh Nelson who has previously done work on DCS: F-4E and DCS: F-100.
The A6M2-N Rufe, the title’s first floatplane, is getting improved water buoyancy physics.
Another piece of the puzzle coming together is engine damage. For this, the Combat Pilot team have, for the first time, done their own developer vlog (labelled #1 so you know there will be more). Check it out as they break down different types of simulated engine damage in the sim and the corresponding visual effects.
The sim also is getting its own Launcher for the first time.
Our launcher allows you to configure multiple aspects of the sim (Launching in VR, or in flatscreen, etc) and you will have quick access to locations like the installation folder or the skins folder.
Q&A coming up
A new Ace Patreon-tier only developer Q&A is coming up. It will happen on October 18 at 19:00 CEST (01:00 PM EDT or 10:00 AM PDT) on the Combat Pilot Discord Server.
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