Okay, I posted about this already to this thread a couple days back, but then quickly took it down in-case it was felt inappropriate, but here goes again (hopefully it is okay)...
As we are nearing completion of the development of the Warbirdsim P-39 (finishing texturing and coding), we have also been nearing the end of a multi-year "research and data recovery" phase ahead of developing a fully authentic B-25J simulation as the next project we will be tackling at Warbirdsim. Unlike the P-39, which has always been a struggle to get quite the level of information/resources we desire, we are very fortunate to have connections to a locally-based (practically next door) B-25J that flies regularly (as well as being one of the few with functioning top and tail turrets, bomb bay doors, and functioning bomb release), and have a close relationship to a few of the guys who originally restored and/or have flown the aircraft, providing great access to the aircraft and great information about not only flying the aircraft, and what it takes to maintain it, but also some great stories and details from the years it was under restoration. We have also been loaned several (huge!) maintenance and operational manuals for the B-25J/TB-25J/TB-25L/TB-25N series aircraft. (One of the manuals we have been loaned is just for the Bendix top turret alone, covering everything from maintenance to operation). Over the course of the last couple years I've also been fortunate to tour and take photographs at Aero Trader (the world-renown B-25 restorer) and their incredible storage yards (literally thousands of B-25 parts, sub-sections, and various un-restored airframes). With the local B-25J, we have also been able to document much needed specific dimensions, and of course have archived hundreds of detail photos. With the capabilities of FSX, we're looking at the feasibility of not only providing an authentic cockpit experience, but also to potentially provide the option to go anywhere throughout the aircraft (front and back), all in accurate/authentic detail. Both original production and post-WWII configurations are being considered, but this may or may not be limited to engine cowl, carb intake, armament, avionics, and graphics differences. As always, our biggest goal is to provide an as accurate as possible visual experience, and a lot of attention will be made to getting challenging areas like the nose, and overall proportions/design, fully accurate (we may or may not be able to secure some original blueprint drawings - though even without, there are methods we've used, such as with the P-39, in order to guarantee a very high level of accuracy).
Obviously this is all just talk until we have something to show for it, but crossing our fingers that we'll be hitting the development of the B-25J, fast and furious, very soon. The B-25 has been a life-long interest of mine, even out-weighing that of my interest in the P-51, so I am of course very excited to finally get started putting this all together.
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