I own a virtual airline and am going to add a combat flight sim to the mix. What we are looking for is a supported program that is easy to use (not a steep learning curve like Falcon4), easy to log into for group flights. Are there simulations available where you can fly against each other, or only against AI? I'd be open to WW2, Korea-era/Cold War or modern aircraft. What would your suggestions be and why?
David Reed
President, Historic Airline Group

The most versatile sim I can think of for multiplayer is the IL-2 series. It has mulitplayer menus built in to it where one person can host a server. Players can also use a service like Hyperlobby and join a reserved session.

The most popular style of gameplay is force on force or dogfighting, but you can also play or create team vs. AI missions.

Pros: large variety of flyable aircraft from several different nations; good flight, damage and ballistics modelling. The series has been around for ten years and is still receiving updates, albeit now by an independent team and not the original developer. There are many 'maps' to represent theaters usually ignored by other sims.

Cons: Maps are small to medium sized so don't expect the entire continent of Europe like in European Air War or Combat Flight Simulator. All players must be using the same version of the sim including mods (if any). Not all aircraft functions are mapped by default so some individual customization is required. The huge variety of aircraft means that some of them have highly specialized functions like lead computing bombsights and gyroscopic gunsights; multiple engines; folding wings and/or tailhooks; multiple aircrew positions; etc.

However, if you start out with basic prop-driven fighters like Spitfires, Messerschmitts or Zeros then the sim isn't really very hard to learn, just a challenge to master. IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 is the last release of the game and includes all official content released in the years prior; you should be able to purchase it cheap on Steam or on DVD.

Seconding IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946. It's $10 on Good Old Games, and the US retail version is completely DRM-free, being from the time when Ubisoft was starting to wise up about that (and then went completely backwards in recent years). It actually surprised me to hear about disc checks on the 1946 release from these very forums.

Even better is the Ultr@Pack mod (currently on UP3.0 RC4 to my knowledge, compatible with the latest version, currently 4.10.1m), which adds 6DoF TrackIR support, a whole bunch of new planes (most notably Korean War-era jets like F-86s and MiG-17s), and other little tweaks and fixes.

I haven't tried multiplayer or anything beyond quick mission mode, which lets you throw together some quick dogfights with just about any aircraft of your choosing, up to 32v32 for a huge furball, 8 flights of 4 each.

$10 goes a long way these days, doesn't it?

If you decide to buy IL-2 1946 check out Mission 4 Today. There are several usermade Campaigns, Single missions, & Paintschemes (Skins) to enhance your simming experience in our downloads sections.

Downloads - http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=downloads

Skins Downloads - http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=downloads2

Downloads 4 Mods - http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=downloads3

Mission 4 Today homepage - http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Home-Community


Wheels

If it's jets you're into and an easy learning curve is important, try any of the Third Wire sims - Strike Fighters, or Wings over Vietnam/Israel/Europe. The 'Series 2' versions don't have multiplayer but Series 1 are Vista compatible with the latest TW patch (despite what it says in the TW store). All are great dogfighters and have a big following amongst jet fans and many, many freeware planes are available, mostly at CombatAce.com. Get them at www.thirdwire.com.