Early impressions from IL-2 Series Korea: MiG-15bis versus F-86A-5!
Quick summary· AI-generated
The author, granted early press access to IL-2 Series Korea, flew multiple low-altitude duels against fellow content creator Wolfpack345 to evaluate how the MiG-15bis and F-86A-5 Sabre match up in combat. The MiG-15 shows superior climb rate and vertical performance, giving it an initial angle advantage, while the Sabre excels in horizontal turn rate, turn stability, and gunnery (lead-computing sight and easier-to-aim .50cal weapons versus the MiG's harder-hitting but harder-to-lead 23mm/37mm cannons). The author concludes neither aircraft is objectively superior, with pilot skill and tactical execution determining outcomes in the matchup.
Excerpt from Stormbirds
Thanks to 1C Game Studios, I’ve been setup with a press account ahead of the early access launch on Thursday which means I’ve been putting IL-2 Series Korea through its paces over the last few days. There’s not too much time to get some articles out but I have a few planned and I’m starting with a bit of a historical duel that I started off with in this sim.
There are many classic combat match-ups throughout aerial combat history between types that saw frequent combat. The Camel versus the Dr. I, Spitfire versus Bf109, Hellcat versus Zero and on the classic match-ups go. Among them are the F-86 Sabre and the MiG-15. I’ve just come from several duels with fellow content creator Wolfpack345 and here are some thoughts on how things are matching up right now and how the multiplayer PvP dynamic may play out.
Classic fighting in the horizontal and vertical
Wolfpack345 and I have, over the last couple of days, flown a bunch of low altitude duels against each other. We’re both experienced flight simmers who have flown together for years in various PvP and PvE scenarios across multiple sims. We’ve flown biplanes, jets, and prop fighters. We’re roughly evenly matched and that made our duels both enjoyable and difficult and they represent what I think is a fair baseline for how fights between dueling Sabres and MiG-15s will play out.
There are some obvious characteristics that play out almost immediately. The MiG-15bis has superior climb rate which gives it a tremendous advantage in our low level duels. Going into the first turn, any time I flew the MiG-15 I was able to instantly get a zoom climb going that gave me angle advantage and put me in control of the fight. The Sabre definitely starts off on the back foot in that sense.
But what follows is more difficult to quantify. Sure the MiG can get good angle but the Sabre is no slouch and its superior horizontal turn and turn stability give the pilot flying it quite a bit of confidence too. The MiG-15’s thicker canopy frame really impedes visibility in a fight and there are times where the Sabre can get lost in the frame while making attack runs on one.
There’s also the guns. The MiG-15’s 23mm and 37mm hit like a sledgehammer but getting lead on a tight turning Sabre is difficult. The Sabre’s .50cals don’t hit as hard but they are much easier to lead and the lead computing gunsight makes that job even easier.
So which is better?
The answer, right off the top, is that neither is the better airplane. I suspect…
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