This is by far one of the best B-17 simulators there ever was. The game is superbly immersive, and if you play it realtime (which I used to do during weekends when I first got it). It provides hours of fun. What better way than to experience what the airmen flying long missions over Occupied Europe went through than to start your day at 5.30 am, (after having planned a mission extensively the previous evening and saved it). Get your black coffee, your toast, scrambled eggs and spam, and go to the briefing. Then on to the dispersal where your bomber is waiting. Using the manual and starting the bomber up in full realism mode, as well as waiting till your engines are all warmed up. Then off to the runway in a long string of bombers, forming up above base and leaving for that nasty ball bearing factory yet again. All events during the missions are realistic to the core. When your crew is hurt you hear their shouts and have to guide crewmen to them to provide first aid or even a moral boost. Switching between all stations during the long missions is also very realistic. Bombing using the Norden sight has a learning curve but when you know how to it is a ball. Just the fact that at times you cannot bomb and have to realign back to the IP is also realistic, as are the Flak noises, rattling of shrapnel through your plane and men, and the enemy fighters you have to fend off. Of course you can get less realistic by jumping from plane to plane, use outside views, be a little friend on an escort mission or even an enemy pilot gunning for that fleet of Dicke Autos.... The joy of returning to base after 8 hours of flight, having baked beans and a sausage and go to your debriefing to see whether you hit your target is exquisite. However, as SQN commander you need to write those saddening letters to the family, take care of your crews and administration too. If you have a vested interest in WWII USAAF History, this is the game for you.
