Matrix Games Forums

There is an amazing light fighter in the game - but not properly so.

First of all, it has a ROC of 4500 fpm - more than twice what it is credited with. That was on purpose.
It is supposed to use it to catch bombers that show up without warning AND to escape fighters if they
become a problem. Worked well too - over NEI - although overwhelmed by numbers. It has more
maneuverability and firepower than an Oscar (I) - more maneuerability but less firepower than a Zero

Second, it is in production at Bandoeng! Low rate. 27 kits. Some remanufacturing going on too.
Also it was to be at Laowing China - but production has not yet begun when the war starts -
and in the event never began - because of fears the Japanese would overrun the place. I say
put it in - and let the Japanese either be a threat - or not - as the game develops. But start production
at zero. Both places probably rate around a 3 (or 2) for production rates - active at Bandoeng -
damaged at Laowing - which you must add if you have not already. It is near the Burma border
on the road to Kunming. It is an AVG base with a small airfield.

Even a cursory internet search finds that the actual climb rate would be closer to 3280 f/m up to about 15,000 feet and lower above that and that would be without "optional" equipment like oxygen, radio and using 1 .30 and 1 .50 gun instead of the usual 2 of each considered normal equipment. 2700 f/m sounds like a good number for an aircraft that is actually flying combat missions and not demonstration flights.

Cid, it appears that using the word production might be a bad choice. The planes were assembled at Bandoeng and I can find nothing that says they were built there. All the parts came from the US. Your China plant had to import the engines and many other components but did manufacture some parts. I don't think it would be a good idea to add these factories to the game. There is a good article here. I know on the first page it talks about the factory in China, you need to read further to see they had to import many of the parts. [;)]

An argument might be made for a depot style base being built in India. "the Hindustan Aircraft, Ltd. factory at Bangalore, India, with machinery and aircraft assemblies from Loiwing." The facility became a repair depot for the 10th AF from 1942 to 1945.