Slitherine

I saw the update for Red Storm showing the new VVS aircraft and my initial impression is .... meh. Air combat in OOB is not particularly dynamic as all the stats of the fighters are very similar and experience does not make as much a difference as it should. It would be a vast improvement if the air element would get some developer attention and find a way to (1) add modifiers such as flanking to shift the odds of combat, (2) suppression from AAA, (3) bombers with fighter escort get a defensive boost, & (4) give pilot experience the shift that it historically did.

Is there anybody else who would like to see some depth added to the air element?

I would. There are some good ideas here.
A flanking bonus similar to land combat may work. Maybe also boost defense if two or more bombers are next to each other (formation)?
Suppression from AA should not mainly lessen the effectiveness of the attack. Fewer bombers get to drop on the target.
Defensive boost for bombers being escorted is good as well.
Pilot experience is already in place using specialisations and air commanders.

I agree very much with both of you. This is the first war in which air element has made a real difference in every theater, and it is not properly reflected in OOB.

Erik2 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:07 pm Pilot experience is already in place using specialisations and air commanders.

I agree to some extent but consider the facts. Based on specialisation such as "Flight School" we can assume 0 exp = basic training. Pilots can basically take off and land. In a battle between 0 experience P-51D and Fw 190 D. By the stats the Fw 190D is superior and the results reflect that.

Next with "Flight School" the P-51D unit has advanced training in gunnery and combat manuevers.

Finally, we have a flight of hardcore P-51 veterans vs Fw 190D rookies with only basic training yet the prognosis is little changed. This discrepancy in experience the P-51 should be wiping the floor with the 190.