Mediocrità Italiana

The Breda Ba.27 Metallico was in reality, an improved, smoothed sheet metal skinned prototype version of the corrugated skinned original from 1933. Despite being heralded as having an "ultramodern design" by a few journalists, having more than a passing resemblance to the Boeing P-26. Sadly, the aircraft didn't impress the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Airforce) during trials, nor secured a possible purchase by Norwegian Air Force.

However, the Metallico would have modest success in export sales to the Chinese nationalist government. An order of 18 aircraft was placed, of which 11 were delivered, equipping one squadron from 1935 to 1938. The Breda would see active service during the Second Sino-Japanese War, none are known to survive to this day.

In World of Warplanes, the Breda Ba.27M Metallico is a premium tier III Fighter in Chinese Nationalist markings. While most other aircraft have at least one or two qualities that make out stand out from their tech tree or premium peers, by fate or design, the Breda is probably the mediocre aircraft of any tier in the game. Even within it's own tier, it has "middle of the road" attributes in just about everything, firepower, rate of climb, speed, you name it.

However, the plane does show potential for improvement, but that is dependent on the player who flies it....

Saving the First for Last

The tier VI Kawasaki Ki-88 was my first premium Japanese aircraft, earned long ago during the "Getting the Goods" Mission for World of Warplanes in May 2014.

"What if the Japanese had built an aircraft along similar performance capabilities as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and/or North American Mustang?" would be one half way to describe this particular plane. The other would be, "What if they armed it like a Soviet Yak/American Bell P-39 Airacobra?"

Although a little weak in a climb and suffering from poor energy retention and generation (compared to the 109s/Mustangs), the Ki-88 was built to be the Japanese interpretation of Boom and Zoom, performing this role rather well. Like other aircraft from this nation, armor isn't an issue, since there isn't any and the effectively short-range, large caliber cannon overheats after a few shots and takes quite a long time to cool down.

The real Kawasaki Ki-88 was originally designed in 1942 as a front engine fighter, to replace and/or compliment the already in production Ki-61 Hein. However, it was discovered the aircraft was going to be very nose heavy with the installation of the planned 1 x 37mm hub mounted and 2 x 20mm cannons in the lower nose section. Speculation is a recovered wreck of a Bell P-39 Airacobra inspired the Kawasaki engineers (Tsuchii Takeo given the most credit on this project) to move the engine to the midsection of the fuselage.

Sadly, the Ki-88 never made it past the mock-up stage. Calculations had showed a completed version wouldn't be any faster than some of the upgraded fighters already in use or the new versions leaving the factories for the front lines and was cancelled in 1943.

But, this is World of Warplanes and the plane lives....and fights!

Flashing Lightning Indeed

In 1942, the Japanese Naval Air Force issued new requirements (known internally as Shizaku 17-Shi Otsu) for a new high speed fighter capable of attacking heavy four-engine bomber aircraft at their operational altitude and a successor to the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden. Sometime in 1944, Mitsubishi began working on their project for a new single-engine high-speed interceptor fighter, a full-metal low wing, which had a horizontal tail between the two gondola hulls, with power coming from a pushing propeller.

However, as impressive as the design looked on paper, it didn't advance beyond the wind tunnel stage. Showing poor aerodynamic results, prototype engine manufacturing delays and difficulties and the Mitsubishi design team quite literally being overworked, the project stalled. Seeing better success coming from Kyushu, through the development of their J7W1 (also a pusher propeller design), won the production contract and Mitsubishi continued to work on improving their existing A7M line.

Despite the secrecy of the project, details were leaked out and it was assign the Allied call-sign "Luke."

In the right hands, the J4M (also know as the "Jammer" among a certain few) in World of Warplanes is a very capable aircraft, breaking the low operational altitude/turn and burn stigma associated with Japanese planes. Although a little weak in a steep climb, the engine does recover power fairly quickly and the cannons hit with force with a low rate of fire.

The following video is a good example of how NOT to fly this premium tier VII Multirole. Take a look and see why....

Calculations from the Clouds

Because I don't usually invest in purchasing a premium hangar in World of Warplanes, I forget how good it looks when I earn one.

Thanks to practicing the good advice that has been offered to me, I am enjoying a higher success with my ongoing adventures in the Mustang H. Although I am far from being fully mastered in all of the intricacies that are a part of the "Boom and Zoom" playstyle, I have discovered that it isn't so much the maneuvers that make the difference, it's the choices and follow through on those decisions.

Then again, carving a decided action into stone isn't the wisest thing to do either. I have learned that keeping a careful eye on the battle and try to watch as much of the action as it unfolds, can have a strong influence the next step to take, or correct myself from one choice to another. Sound confusing?

I will let the video explain it all....

Shinden Iaido

I can't remember the first time I saw the Japanese Kyushu J7W1 Shinden, but I have been captivated by it's design ever since. Much like the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Shinden always struck me as a misplaced plane from the "wrong time," especially when compared to their Allied contemporaries. Sleek fuselage and swept back wings, strong influences on aircraft that would dominate the skies in the post-war era and all the way up to the present day. Truly, an aircraft ahead of it's time, from an aesthetic perspective.

However, like the Messerschmitt, the Shinden came too late and in insufficient numbers to have any effect on the war. Unlike the Me 262, it never had the chance to prove itself in the air nor make any impression on Allied pilots that would have seen this aircraft in action. A shame, the only example of this design marvel sits in a partially dissembled state at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

Quite some time ago, I made a detour down the lone Japanese line in World of Warplanes, long before the second one was added and my goal was to get my hands on a Shinden. After making some minor progress, I took a break from the game and wandered off to other projects. Now, after all that time and using some advice for improving my performance in the Mustang H, I decided to take another look at my Magnificent Lighting and apply some of those lessons learned....

Cloud Horse

Life, both the real one and the virtual alternative, is always based on choices. Some, turn out to be the best things to ever happen and wonderful memories are built on that moment. Others, are tragedies, missed opportunities or a perpetual period of second guessing the whole "what if" factor.

However, in that single moment that most of us occupy and more often than not, we believe we are making the right choice, or took the only alternative option that appeared available. It isn't until it's all said and done that the outcome reveals to us the positive or negative result and either we deny, shift the blame or learn from it. Unlike a video game, the only replays that are available for those in the real world is what others experienced from their perspective (and if they whip out their cellphone fast enough to capture that moment) and how we remember the events, as they happened or immediately altered to protect our pride or sense of self-worth.

Okay, that seemed to be a bit too heavy.

Nevertheless, I present a battle from World of Warplanes, while flying the Mustang H. Two choices were made, one was almost a reckless tragedy, the other was very much a calculated maneuver.

Which one did you find?

Snow, with a chance of a Meteor Strike

 A very long time ago now, I managed to run an aerial gauntlet in World of Warplanes and acquired a premium tier VII Gloster Meteor in my hangar, becoming one of my most favorite aircraft in the game. Although I don't always do so well with it, I can't truly explain what it means to fly it. However, a certain, select few can appreciate and relate to that feeling the Meteor generates for me.

When it first appeared as speculation posts, many cried about how the Meteor was going to ruin the then current mid-tier action. A jet below tier VIII? Quite a few people would have you convinced the sky was about to fall. Those announcements of "doom and gloom" were silenced when the reality of the machine was presented. In some hands, it was and still is a fairly competitive aircraft, in others, it's a flying bomb waiting to go off. The mid-tiers survived, no real danger ever came, despite the predictions.

In keeping with my "blue theme," I modified another custom livery, based on an old picture I saw way back and took to the skies over ground that would have been a very real environment, just a few short weeks ago....