For the past few years , I have thoroughly enjoyed FS2002 and FS2004. I have done a bit of everything with them. Flown all sorts of flights in all sorts of weather conditions. Downloaded great quality freeware and payware a/c, etc. Recently I cheaply purchased the original version of IL-2 Sturmovic and am slowly getting to grips with it. The first thing I have done is to allocate the keyboard controls to the same as that used in FS2004 ( as much as possible) . But I am thinking - wouldn't it be just fantastic if the best of FS2004 could be combined with the best of IL-2. The scenery, weather, aircraft etc of FS2004 combined with the game playing features ( like the ability to create Campaigns) of IL2.But it won't ever happen of course.I understand that the latest versions of IL-2 are better than the first version -- but are they really worth spending the extra money at this stage? I can already see that I have a very steep learning curve with this version of IL2 and it will require quite a bit of my time - the same as FS200x has over the last few years. So, are the latest versions an evolutionary step-up or a revolutionary step-up. The appearance of the a/c external models and even VCs in IL2 are not as good as FS2004 IMO. If they were, then this Combat Sim could easily challenge my current interest in FS2004.Any comments? Barry

Barry,Like you I have flown FS8 and 9 from one end of the earth to the other. Just recently I have purchased Pacific Fighters which is the expansion to Il2 and Forgotten Battles. I do not own Il2 or FB, but I do play the PF as a stand alone. I have to say it is one of the best WW2 combat flight sims available on the market today. I am a real pilot, but I have never flown a WW2 fighter. So I cannot say if it is right on as far as dynamics, but the graphics is great and the game is a lot of fun.It would be great if we could merge the best of FS9 with Il2 or PF, but that would be a great undertaking and a lot of cooperation among competitors. So ofcourse it would never happen. It is a nice thought though.Kev