Helicopters

[FTC_Oakwoodson77]

Given that there's enough interest to see rotary aviation in IL2 Korea, I think a creation of a separate topic for discussion is justified. 

This here is mostly a port of a post I made on the old IL2 forums, though at this point it is almost a year and a half old, way before we've seen the gameplay or even had the complete list of what the game was going to ship with initially. 

There is a common misconception that the helicopters in Korea were exclusively used for MEDEVACs, which couldn't be further from the truth. US Marines embraced their H5s and H19s wholeheartedly and were figuring out what they could be used along the way. Airlift of personnel and supplies into otherwise completely unreachable areas, telephone cable laying, mine laying, MEDEVACs, VIP transport, reconnaissance and fire correcting and much more. These beautiful machines saved thousands of UN soldiers' lives and alleviated some of the suffering of the populace by supplying them when no wheeled or tracked vehicle had any hope of reaching those who starved or needed aid within a reasonable timeframe. 

H13, H5 and H19 would make for wonderful collector aircraft. I believe C47 sold quite well in the IL2 GB and it was a very popular aircraft to fly on Dynamic Campaign styled servers like TAW to keep the supply side of things running smoothly. No one has ever modeled these helicopters to the degree that could be done in IL2 Korea. I hope the developers will eternalize the contribution of Sikorsky's and Bell's creations in the upcoming IL2 Korea and not miss out on this unique opportunity.
 

 

[Talisman]

Very much agree with the OP. 👍 The Korean War offers a great opportunity for the IL-2 Series to capitalise on providing classic propeller aircraft action together with early jets and helicopters in an historically accurate theatre of operations.  I don't think any other serious combat flight simulation currently captures such a wide range of aviation with aircraft types and sets joined up historically in a geographically accurate way.  The IL-2 Series now has the opportunity to be the first to achieve such diversity and appeal to the widest range of PC combat pilots possible. Surely the IL-2 team would want to capitalise on this. 

I would very much like to know what the IL-2 team think about this.

Happy landings, 

Talisman

Edited December 17, 2025 by Talisman

[ArgonV]

Even static ground object helos would be cool to see around the bases and on ships.

[Avimimus]

13 hours ago, ArgonV said:

Even static ground object helos would be cool to see around the bases and on ships.

I agree. That and a static Fairy Firefly... it would just make the simulation match historical photos that much more accurately!

I suspect that, if we were to get helicopters, it would be a result of the developers really wanting to program the physics out of personal interest. However, I suspect that the expense of writing an entirely new kind of flight model will likely mean we don't see them as flyable aircraft (or even AI). Given the amount of WWII and WWI content to develop, it seems unlikely that the investment in helicopter physics would be used for future modules. But, that said, it is very much up to the developers.

In any case though, I won't discourage the dreamers from dreaming.

I am one of them afterall (and I can't help but to wonder what it would be like to fly an H5!)

[FTC_Oakwoodson77]

5 hours ago, Avimimus said:

it seems unlikely that the investment in helicopter physics would be used for future modules

If they ever decided to go to Vietnam, it would be extremely useful for them. PTO might be the talk of the age for the time being, but people are just as hungry for an airsim in that era. DCS has many aircraft in place (Even if they are of the often slightly too modern) but they still lack the map. Even so, that doesn't stop many from trying to use second best options like South Atlantic and such to at least try and get somewhat an accurate feel. It's a very far off prospect of course, but I can see them doing that 10 years from now.

[Melonfish]

Honestly would be kind of fun to transport people to a mash unit with a wise cracking doc.

[Reisen]

Seeing helicopters would be cool, but if I'm being honest I'd rather them not spend time developing anything that isn't paving the way to a Pacific theater game.

[Avimimus]

Moved some posts here: