Normandy 2.0 update - New airfields

[Art-J]

Might be a language thing but it's obvious for me Maestro has been referring to content uploaded to their internal version. As always, we won't get access to it until one of the next OB updates comes.

[DD_Fenrir]

Can't say I'm desperately impressed with the UK airfields, Biggin and Manston.

The runway layouts are about right but otherwise there's too much "this will look cool" regards the placement and types of buildings and not enough research. Also hangar types are again wrong.

Manston in 1944:

The layout as shown in the development screenshot looks good, however there is one major error:

 

 

Please refer to this site: https://www.manstonhistory.org.uk/manston-layout-history/

 

 

Biggin Hill in 1946:

 

Notes:

1. No large hangars - they were all destroyed during the Battle of Britain, i.e in 1940. They weren't replaced till ~1947/48. The only covered aircraft servicing provision available were the many blister hangars. For a map that supposedly represents the summer of 1944, they should not be there.

2. No large buildings to the East side of the airfield.

3. The many blast pen positions.

4. Notice that most of the buildings on the South Camp are single floor buildings and manly consists of workshops and sheds.

For example this image:

 

...which was taken from this location here:

 

Compare this to:

You can see the large building clusters that aren't in evidence on the period map and the too large industrial buildings.

This is a problem systematic across the UK airfields already on the map.

It stems from 2 issues.

1. Little actual effort has been made to research and model ACTUAL RAF airfield buildings,

2. Someone is using some generic industrial assets and a heap of "this will look cool" instead of (a) asking those of us in the community who would happily assist and provide as much info as possible to get things right (or at least close), and  (b) actually listening to them when it is provided.

This latter part I have a particular bone of contention with, as plenty of information has been provided by the community in the past but seemingly paid lip service to in the interim, with very few requests for our assistance from the developers that, in hindsight, seem more like a tick box exercise in 'community engagement' than any meaningful attempt to actually garner information to correct issues on the map.

For example, information was provided by the community to correct issues at Kenley, Tangmere, Ford, Farnborough, West Malling, Gravesend (and others) before the map was even released in the spring, but little apparent sign of any of that having been taken on board or actioned has been in evidence.

It feels like there is an opportunity to faithfully recreate historical fact but it is being dismissed for the sake of convenience and superficiality.

Edited November 15, 2023 by DD_Fenrir

[Fred901]

Little effort, that's for sure!   I spent a lot of time providing information, plans, schematics... I feel like Ugra Media doesn't care!  I'm not going to waste my time any longer, too bad!

[Slippa]

Thanks for adding airfields and working on the map, always most welcome.

Please re-read the info posted by DD Fenrir though and give it some sensible consideration. I spend 99% of my time in the DCS skies flying WWII scenarios. I live in Battle of Britain Country and am pretty familiar with the airfields on this side of the Channel. Almost every time I fly out of Manston (on the Channel map) I use the grass strip. I’d hate to see it updated on N2 as pictured so any chance of rolling back the road rollers would be good.

There’s plenty of great info available here, would be shame to see an opportunity to make the most of it wasted. I’d also like to see Hornchurch, North Weald etc and to see the map expand further North but I’d rather see whatever is worked on done as accurately as possible in historical terms and wait for whatever else may come in the future. The closer to reality the better for me.

 

 

[MAESTR0]

Hi, while the update is coming to you, we will make a small preview:
Today our heroes are two airfields: Detling and Lympne.
Both have taken their place in history, associated with the events of the Battle of Britain and D-Day. The runways are covered with the chassis of bombers, Typhoons and Hurricanes, Spitfires and Mustangs.

Detling

 

Lympne

 

 

 

 

Edited November 16, 2023 by MAESTR0

[MAESTR0]

@DD_Fenrir @Fred901 
Experts need to stay, because... It is the opinion of users that evaluates the work and corrects the development vector.
I want to remind you that thanks to users, we made adjustments to French airfields, thanks to you, English hangars and caponiers were made, and the French one was slightly changed.

fr

At the same time, the engine’s resources are not unlimited; we made sure that “London” and “Paris” differ not only in buildings but also in airfield infrastructure.
We created products as close as possible to historical content, but the capabilities of the engine and large maps impose restrictions on the variety of objects - they have narrow time intervals for working in war.

The map is constantly being developed, corrected and expanded. In the studio we compared screenshots of what was and what has become - amazing changes.

We have now come to the point that we cannot focus only on 1944, primarily because when new airfields are added to the Normandy map, 1940 scenarios become available to users: Dunkirk Retreat Scenarios and Battle of Britain Scenarios.
You once wrote to us that there is no need to limit yourself to a certain period, but now this moment has come: the map has expanded both in space and time.

Therefore, experts, stay with us, keep your finger on the pulse. 
And we will do everything possible to take into account your opinion and your wishes in our work.

Edited November 16, 2023 by MAESTR0

[Fred901]

Thank you very much Maestro and the entire Ugra Media team!  Thank you for considering our information from us, the community.  I still have information to provide you.  They will be available here:

 

[Angelthunder]

Will you guys add RAF Beaulieu,Goodwood aerodrome and RAF Thorny Island and Portsmouth Naval Base since they were also used during D-Day in the future.

[Rex]

Holy crap, it was released today!  Saint Omer and Longuenesse are in Pas de Calais!  We've getting damn-near the entire coast ... certainly the most relevant parts.  Now you can have your Patton unit  head-fake Calais while landing the troops 100 miles to the west.

OMG, this map just gets better and better!

This is awesome, thank you!

Edited November 17, 2023 by Rex

[Surrexen]

Love the update guys, absolutely brilliant! Thank you for adding the airfields!!!

[Hotdognz]

Amazing update, Channel map uninstalled now the other AF have been added

[Indianajon]

This is brilliant thanks.  Not sure if it's just me but I can't spawn in a slit at Biggin Hill. Or rather I can but the aircraft is slingshot across the airfield. Same for cold or hot start in any of the prescribed slots. However, if I start from ground and manually place at the airfield, that works fine both hot and cold.

[Art-J]

Yup, other folks have reported the same Biggin problem in bugs section of this map.

[Sandman24]

Very nice addition of the new airfields – thanks a lot for adding those! Will the general quality of the 'low detail' area be addressed soon too? Dover Castle is still missing, for example. I have the impression that in general the detail is less in the north-east. And how about other airfields such as Hawkinge and Eastchurch?

[303_HOLY]

Dear @MAESTR0
In your Mighty Power could you be so kind and take a look at this honest request?

Northolt airfield is only 5 miles to north from non existing in WW2 Heathrow.
Best regards.
HOLY

Edited December 2, 2023 by 303_HOLY

[MAESTR0]

Hi
We would like to thank the community for its attention to the project. Today we will show you a small update of Normandy. We've added two new airfields that you may be familiar with: Dunkirk & High Halden - so there are now 79 military airfields on the Normandy map.
And we have made small changes to three existing airfields: Detling, Lympne, Manston - for you it will be as if you have returned from vacation, you see everything the same, but at the same time everything has become noticeably better.
The specifics of historical maps require constant attention to references, and in this regard you help us a lot: @DD_Fenrir the runway was left, the global restructuring of Manston will be in the next iteration.
Everyone will be able to see these results. Keep checking back for updates soon

Dunkirk

High Halden

Detling

Lympne

Manston

 

[Slippa]

I haven’t looked yet but thank you. 

[peachmonkey]

it's great to see the west side fence of Dunkirk being much further away from the landing strip. On the Channel map it's so close to the strip it's a hazard.

[Slippa]

I took this to mean there'd been an update. I loaded DCS expecting it to want to freshen up but no.

When will the changes come to us then? Or have I mixed something up?

Would love to see Headcorn and Woodchurch added. (ALGs, grass strips with Sommerfield tracking)

Cheers.

[Doughguy]

Will there be any improvements/fixes on the terrain?

Whiles new is nice, but bernay airfield is still jagged....

[Slippa]

Forgot to mention the ‘Biggin on the bug”.

Has Biggin Hill been fixed up now? Or will it be?

[Volator]

This map looks gorgeous. I wish there were much more time-frame correct planes and assets for the WWII scenario, then DCS could be the best WWII sim available. But with what DCS currently offers or rather does not offer (the sandbox approach), I cannot buy into DCS WWII, even though the maps and the few planes available look fantastic.

[Reflected]

On 2/16/2024 at 10:31 PM, MAESTR0 said:

Hi
We would like to thank the community for its attention to the project. Today we will show you a small update of Normandy. We've added two new airfields that you may be familiar with: Dunkirk & High Halden - so there are now 79 military airfields on the Normandy map.
And we have made small changes to three existing airfields: Detling, Lympne, Manston - for you it will be as if you have returned from vacation, you see everything the same, but at the same time everything has become noticeably better.
The specifics of historical maps require constant attention to references, and in this regard you help us a lot: @DD_Fenrir the runway was left, the global restructuring of Manston will be in the next iteration.
Everyone will be able to see these results. Keep checking back for updates soon

Dunkirk

High Halden

Detling

Lympne

Manston

 

When you add the new airfields can you please make sure that the frequency of the existing airfields remain the same? Otherwise all missions need to be updated - for the 3rd time. 
 

also, when can we expect Biggin Hill to be finished please? Currently it only has a few parking spots, not enough for any meaningful missions. 
 

thank you

[phil106ci]

Are improvements to the representation of Paris in the Normandy2 map planned? So many important elements are missing... like the Place de la Bastille and that of the Republic or that of the Opera and the grand boulevards which have always been emblematic places of the French capital 

[forewarnedisforearmed]

All well and good, but I am still yet to see Hornchurch on this map  

Is it in the works, hope it is.