Short Brothers
Stirling Mk I
Queen Of The Skys
AvHistory - Version-4.00.132

This Stirling is a  C-grade plane. Cockpits are rudimentary, fully functional, but not final. The Bombadier posistion is also a limited graphic representation but like the cockpit is fully function & all bomb loads can be delivered.

Gunstations are an included option, with very limited  graphic representation, but are fully functional & in compliance with Version 4 requirements.  

The flight & damage package, Version 4.00.129 is fully implementated

Gregory Pierson's Version 4.0 first released in August 2006 represents a complete update of the AvHistory 1% Assembly Line Process (1%ALP). Compared to our previous efforts, 4.0 is an order of magnitude improvement and a closer step towards our goal of producing aircraft that perform within 1% of the real aircraft. For additional info on Version-4 flight packages see the included AvHistory - Version-4 1%ALP text file.

AIRCRAFT BACKGROUND:

The original CFS2 model is by Edward Cook. IS4G's Corrado La Posta converted it into a CFS3 aircraft.  The RAF No. 15 Squadron livery is also by Corrado La Posta.



In April 1941 it became the second squadron to receive Stirlings & DJ-B was the second Stirling recieved by the squadron. No. 15 Squadrons first mission with Stirlings was an attack on Berlin on the night of 30th April/1st May.



Its interesting to note that this aircraft was based at RAF Alconbury which is the same one I use to test the 1% aircraft in CFS3.



As part of a No. 15 Squadron detachment operating from Lossiemouth this aircraft attempted (and, like the other aircraft, failed) to bomb the Tirpitz in Trondheim fjord.

The Royal Air Force's first four engined monoplane Bomber, the Short Stirling first flew in May 1939 and entered front line service in August 1940 with no. 7 squadron.

It is often said that the wingspan was limited to 100 ft so the aircraft would fit into existing hangars, but this is not the case. The wingspan limit was imposed in an attempt, unsuccessful in the case of the Stirling, to ensure that weights were kept down.

The Stirling's huge maximum bomb load was only able to be carried short distances of around 590 miles. On typical missions deep into Germany or Italy a smaller 3,500 lb (1,590 kg) load was carried, consisting of seven 500 lb (227 kg) bombs. This was the sort of load being carried by the RAF's medium bombers such as the Vickers Wellington, and by 1944 by the de Havilland Mosquito.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the design was that the bomb bay had two structural dividers running down the middle, limiting it to carrying nothing larger than the 2000 lb (907 kg) bomb.

Due to its poor operational ceiling the aircraft sustained heavy losses and by mid 1942 the Stirling was beginning to be replaced by the Lancaster.  Improved versions of the Short Stirling were built for glider towing, paratroopers and heavy transport. also from 1943 many of the Stirling's  were used for mine laying.

A total of 2381 Stirling's were built for the Royal Air Force and from this total 641 Stirling bombers were lost to enemy action.

As is usual please report any problems or issues to AvHistory 1% Squawks at

http://www.avhistory.org/scripts/MegaBBS/forum-view.asp?forumid=3

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Bear:

[joke]
So, is the CFS3 Alconbury also a 1% model?



[/joke]

I had no idea this was in the pipeline!!!!! Awesome!!!