Linux Air Combat

Comprehensive list of features

Now available for free Internet download, this new, high-performance World War II combat flight simulator for desktop LINUX is now "feature-complete", and supports all of the basics demanded by today's LINUX flight sim users, including:

• Free and open source distribution. The clean source code compiles without modification on all major LINUX distros.
• Precompiled binary version in the well-known, universally compatible "AppImage" format is in widespread use on industry-standard "X86" hardware.
  
• Two ways to access menus: Either through mouse-based "GUI" or text-based "LacMenuLauncher". ("bash" utility).
  
• Very smooth, simple, high-performance graphics yield high frame rates even on modest computer hardware (runs nicely on Raspberry Pi).
  
• 45 flight/view functions can be mapped to any detected joystick axis, button, or keyboard key.
• Modern, multi-axis analog/digital joysticks and console game controllers support precision control of elevators, ailerons, rudder, throttle, etc.
• Mouse control of elevators, ailerons, and weapons for those lacking a joystick.
  
• 54 different flyable aircraft from World War II.
• A theoretical Jet fighter with performance similar to the Douglas A4 "Skyhawk".
  
• Industry-standard "Air Warrior" style viewsystem is easily configurable for other view options.
  
• Sophisticated flight model with low-speed stalls, accelerated stalls, high-speed compressibility, high-G blackouts, torque rolls, low-speed control fade, and redouts.
• Realistic high-altitude degredation of engine performance.
• Fuel consumption is proportional to engine load including WEP/Afterburner effects.
• Flight performance is degraded when lugging heavy bombs, missiles, or rockets.
• Flight performance is degraded when aircraft are damaged.
  
• Simulated RADAR to help locate opponents.
• Players can hide from RADAR by flying at low altitudes (in canyons and valleys).
  
• Enemy airfields and RADAR facilities can be damaged or destroyed.
  
• Simulated IFF to help Identify Friend verses Foe.
• Guns combat.
• WW2-era Air-to-Ground rockets.
• WW2-era bombs.
  
• Free flight mission.
• Four tutorial missions with detailed audio narration to help beginners get a quick start.
  
• Online "Head to Head" mission suitable for air racing or combat (2 players only. No server required.).
• Free, high performance Linux Air Combat Server is now available at LacServer2.LinuxAirCombat.com (IP 192.34.59.172)
  
• Three "classic", ten-player Internet missions in various terrains, with strategic airfield combat (Internet and access to a free LAC Server required).
• "Blake's Mission" for quick, pure air-to-air combat among 2 to 10 fighter aircraft without complications from ground guns or strategic assets.
• "Peabody's Mission" for longer-lasting, deeper strategic conflicts requiring destruction of additional airbases.
  
• Additional, more sophisticated, multi-user missions are added from time to time, as they are developed from the open source code.
  
• When only one online player is active in ten-player missions, "bots" are locally generated for opposition until another online player joins.
  
• Users can record "GunCamera films" and ask the Server to replay them as persistent "Replay Bloke Missions".
• 32 distinct, online Realms, each supporting unique communities.
• Realm "1" constantly runs persistent Server "Strike" missions with heavy bombers to escort, or to oppose.
  
• User-loadable graphic aircraft models support the free, open, well-known ".3ds" format.
• User-loadable background music, sound effects, and narration files support industry-standard ".wav" format.
• "Talking Cockpit" can verbalize target location so you can hear it without diverting your eyes.
• Innovative "Network Router Panel" on cockpit shows network telemetry and comms data flow from other players.
• Best-of-breed network user management with interplayer status messages on the cockpit panel.
  
• Powerful integration with "Mumble" for world-class voice communication between players.
• Dedicated Mumble server manages a rich heirarchy of voice radio channels and online help.
• "Promotion" to team leadership allows one player to command automated Mumble channel switching for entire teams.
  
• Automated radio messages verbalize enemy airfield status in response to a keyboard "hot key".
  
• 23 Comms-related functions can be mapped to almost any keyboard key.
• Text-only, low-bandwidth comms option acts like a "Morse Code" radio, generating real Morse code.
• Morse Code radio can apply interference filters to allow or eliminate text messages from opposition.
  
• Airfields with defensive guns challenge nearby opponents and protect nearby allied aircraft.
• Airfield defenses can be damaged and degraded with bombs, rockets, missiles, and/or machine guns.
• Damaged airfield defenses are gradually repaired by surviving airfield maintenance personnel.
• Airfield repairs are accelerated if nearby skies are dominated by allies, and stopped when dominated by opponents.
  
• Air raid sirens blare loud on damaged airfields.
  
• Bombers have autogunners that take shots at nearby hostile fighters.
• "Norden" bombsight emulation makes precision, medium or high altitude bombing possible.
• Realistic bomber climb rates:  Heavily loaded bombers need a long time to climb to altitudes high enough to avoid fighters.
  
• Realistic bomb-run tactics make heavy bombers vulnerable to opposing fighters during critical mission segments.
  
• Heavy bombers can destroy an airfield in a single sortie if well flown and undamaged by opposing fighters.
• Real-time, automated radio and RADAR warnings alert players when their airfields are threatened by strategic bombers.
• Online users can choose their own unique "CommunityHandle" name, and see the names of other players .
  
• Log file stored on the player's computer keeps a detailed history of all online victories.
• Stable source code is now available for porting into LINUX distributions and repositories.
  
• Supported by an active development team for bug fixes.
• Extensive, high-quality online documentation is fully integrated into the sim.
• Extensively documented on YouTube.