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Significant Events in Aviation

It would be easy to exploit the current military crisis in and around the Russian / Ukrainian border, and create video content in the sim based on events there. Most people doing videos know, if you make something about a hot topic as its unfolding in the news right now, then people will seek and watch those videos – but its unethical, making something to exploit the current suffering of others, just because it will do the channel well.

Instead we focus on things gone by, either historically where emotions are no longer as raw, or more recent events, where there were no casualties. I’m never gonna sell out just because its easier to sell out, ethically or financially, or just for “likes”. This follows closely with my rule “No pulling silly exaggerated faces in the thumbnails!”

The greatest fighter ace of all time – Erich Hartmann.

This will be the first video I make on the historical side of significant events in aviation, and it ties in perfectly with DCS in the WW2 era.

Hartmann joined the Luftwaffe in 1942, so despite having half the war gone, it didn’t stop him doing well. Ironically he started off very poorly, so much so his senior commanders grounded him shortly after he arrived to the Russian front – he made silly mistakes like running out of fuel mid-flight. After his punishment was over, he would be paired up with a highly experienced pilot there near the Caucuses, and be shown how things were really done.

Soon afters he got his first confirmed kill, although it took several months to get his second kill. As 1942 came to a close, with half a year under his belt, his score was mediocre at best.

As 1943 rolled around, he was once again set free with his Staffel “Squadron” and taking lessons he gathered from the pro’s late ’42, he started to integrated those tactics into his own way of flying, and by years end ’43 he scored over 100 confirmed kills.

He had the unique experience of being forced to crash land over enemy territory, and being captured by Russian forces. Fortunately for him, they must have been novices, he played dead, they bought it and left him slumped over by his banged up plane. 24 hours later, he was back at his base, having a hot meal, and getting ready for another mission.

He would continue the war, flying, and getting every award a pilot could get, right up including the top military award that anyone could receive, right up until the final day of the war, where he would fly one last mission, as the officer in command of his squadron – and here’s where my first video will begin. Look forward to that!