Expansion Plane and Campaign Data added

[Madmatt]

Today we added details on the 29 new planes added in the Expansion as well as info on 13 of the new campaigns.

See for youself here:

http://www.battlefront.com/products/eastern_front/index.html

Madmatt

[iplaygames2]

Good stuff! Thanks mad!

[Zanadu]

Just a couple of comments on the data on the new a/c types.

I assume that the reference to the Lancaster in the description is actually to the B17. The B24 wasn't actually an improvement, but a compedative a/c with a slightly different set of qualities.

The B24 could carry a somewhat heavier bombload, and carry it farther. It was also slightly faster in most subtypes. On the other hand, the B17 handled better, as well as being much less physical work to fly, and so could hold tighter formations. It also had a higher ceiling and handled the higher altitudes much better than the Liberator.

The B24's sturctural stength was built into the spine of the a/c, with the lower fusleage more lightly constructed. This saved weight, and contributed to the increased bombload and range, but in a 'wheels up' emergency landing, the chance of the crew getting injured or killed was much greater than in a B17 with its strong, tubular fusleage and low mounted wing to take the punishment.

Also, the long, narrow wing of the B24, with its thick, Davis type airfoil shape was more efficient in cruise than the wider cord wing of the B17, but would loose lift suddenly at low speed -- making it much harder to handle with one or more engines out, and another reason that it was much more dangerous to ride a crippled Liberator down, than a Fort. In a badly damaged a/c, B24 crews usually bailed out if they could, rather than risk the landing attempt, while B17 crews usually stayed with the plane.