IL-2 Sturmovik: Ju 52/Зm Collector Plane DLC

I absolutely love flying this aircraft—not because it performs well, but because it doesn't. If you are buying this DLC, absolutely do not lead yourself into believing that this aircraft, the Ju-52, is some kind of war machine powerhouse that scared away enemy fighters, ground troops, or AA. The Ju-52's internals were only protected by a thin sheet of corrugated duralumin, which is the same material used to construct most modern hangars today. Speaking of, the Ju-52 also produces the same amount of drag you'd expect from a flying shed with wings. All that being said, the Ju-52 was designed in the late 1920s as a civilian transport plane, so it preforms about how you would expect it to. To me though, that is the fun of it. It's a classic case of "good enough and ready to go", which was a military philosophy embraced by many nations at the time, which often sent its pilots on missions in doomed aircraft that were either outdated and not combat ready—such as the Ju-52—, in desperate need of repair, or simply had an unstable airframe. Flying the Ju-52 is an immersive experience in IL-2, especially when you are sitting in the rear turret with no allied fighter escort to protect you if enemies decide to strike you. Something about attempting to maintain control of a brittle, stricken aircraft is so captivating. It really makes you think about the conditions of the many soldiers and pilots who devoted their lives to their countries by putting their lives on the line to fight.