Since 2006, the VPB team has been actively engaged in the modification of the IL2 flight sim. Progress initially was very modest, and most of our efforts led only to superficial or rudimentary changes, usually of a graphical nature.

The major breakthrough came in 2007 when we gained access to the game's Flight Model files (FMDs and EMDs). In that moment, we dreamed of the possibility to rectify the majority of what we objected  to in the IL2 sim, and to abandon our attempts to debate (or even reason) with 1C and their collection of coders and developers. The VPB ethic-- to simply get on with it ourselves-- was born, and we have not looked back since.Naturally, many technical breakthroughs have been seen since that time, and many of the game's files (up to ver 4.09) may now be accessed. Even so, it must be said that despite all advances, the core of IL2's main problems are un-resolvable: the FM remains a bi-polar fluid dynamics simulation, and nothing can change that fact.

In our work, VPB employs the 4.09 version of the IL2 sim, executable, and sundry file classifications. This implementation of the game has been augmented by many aircraft additions, and by copious modifications to various game mechanical files (AI, atmospherics, etc). All of the Flight Model and Engine files are our own, uniquely created by us to our standards. All gun armament files are our own; most of the stock aircraft are modifications by us, as well.

Our modification work is currently on Phase 8. The previous development phases may be briefly summarised like this:

Phase 1-- graphical and sound changes, replaced Default skins
Phase 2-- added cockpit files for most non-flyable aircraft (mainly bombers); virtually all aeroplanes flyable
Phase 3-- modified FMs for all aircraft; extensive work carried out on game flight parameter dynamics and FM possibilities
Phase 4-- modified all gun armament files; new gun types added; many new aircraft types added
Phase 5-- introduced a special AI-only version of all aircraft to enable proper altitude performance for AI flown aircraft
Phase 6-- modified game parameters such as AI, atmospherics, engines, and so forth; AI-only aircraft removed (no longer needed)
Phase 7-- re-scaled all game 3d models to a Master Scale, introduced authentic torpedoes and bombs, added many aircraft and maps to the sim, more default skin work
Phase 8-- complex changes and improvements to the AI, thorough evaluation and revision of all Damage Models (including armour, gun properties, etc)
Phase 9-- additional work on AI behaviour with decision tree implementation, small tweaks to many aspects of DMs and weapons, new aircraft

Phase 8.1 was released in April 2016 and will not receive any further modification. Phase 9 is now imminent and is currently under beta test to the 0.99b standard. No more aircraft additionms will be made to Phase 9 from now.

The VPB installation Phase 9 (IL2 4.09) includes the following aircraft (** denotes un-flyable, AI-only types):

Great Britain
Avenger Mk III
Albacore Mk I
Barracuda Mk II
Battle Mk II  **
Beaufighter Mk IF
Beaufighter Mk X 
Beaufighter Mk 21
Beaufort Mk I
Beaufort Mk I Srs-II
Beaufort Mk 6
Blenheim Mk I
Blenheim Mk IF
Blenheim Mk IV 
Boston Mk III    
Buffalo Mk I (Singapore)  
Corsair Mk I 
Corsair Mk II  
Corsair Mk IV  
Fulmar Mk I
Gladiator Mk I  
Gladiator Mk II 
Halifax Mk III  **
Hampden Mk I
Hudson Mk I
Hurricane Mk I (early-- fabric wing, watts prop)  
Hurricane Mk I   
Hurricane Mk IIa   
Hurricane Mk IIb 
Hurricane Mk IIc 
Hurricane Mk IIc-trop  
Hurricane Mk IIb-Mod (VVS configuration)
Hurricane Mk IId 
SeaHurri Mk Ib
SeaHurri Mk IIc
Lancaster Mk III
Meteor Mk III
Mosquito B.Mk IV 
Mosquito FB.Mk VI
Mosquito NF Mk XIX
Mustang Mk I
Mustang Mk Ia
Mustang Mk III
Skua Mk II
Spitfire Mk I (early-- watts prop)
Spitfire Mk I  
Spitfire Mk IIa   
Spitfire Mk Vb  
Spitfire Mk VbCLP
Spitfire Mk LF Vb 
Spitfire Mk LF VbCLP
Spitfire Mk Vc
Spitfire Mk Vc trop
Spitfire Mk Vc trop (4xHispano)  
Spitfire Mk VIII  
Spitfire Mk VIIICLP
Spitfire Mk IXc
Spitfire Mk IXcCLP 
Spitfire Mk IXe 
Spitfire Mk IXeCLP
Spitfire Mk HF IXe
SpitfireMk XIVc
SpitfireMk LF XIVe
Seafire F Mk IIC  
Seafire F Mk III 
Sunderland Mk II
Swordfish Mk II 
Tempest Mk V    
Tomahawk Mk IIa   
Tomahawk Mk IIb   
Typhoon Mk Ib
Typhoon Mk Ib (tear-drop canopy)
Vengeance Mk I
Wellington Mk III
Whirlwind Mk I
Whitley Mk V

USAAF
A-20C
A-20G
A-26B
B-17D
B-17E
B-17F
B-17G
B-24D
B-24J
B-25C
B-25G
B-25H
B-25J
B-26C
B-29
F2A-1/-A2
C-47 (incl. civil and lash-up bomber)
F4F-3
F4F-4
FM-2
F4U-1
F4U-1A
F4U-1C
F4U-1D
F4U-4
F6F-3
F6F-5
G-23 Delfin (CCF)
OS2U
P-26A/B
P-36
P-38D
P-38F
P-38G
P-38H
P-38L
P-38L (late)
P-400
P-39D-1
P-39D-2
P-39N
P-39N (no wing guns)
P-39Q-1
P-39Q-10 (no wing guns)
Hawk 81A-2
P-40B
P-40C
P-40E
P-40E M-105
P-40F
P-40L
P-40M
P-40N
P-47C
P-47D-10
P-47D-22
P-47D-25
P-47N
A-36A
P-51A
P-51B
P-51C
P-51D-5
P-51D-20
P-61B
P-63A
PBY-5
SBD-3
SBD-5
SB2C
TBF-1C
TBM-3
TBD-1

Soviet VVS
A-20C (VVS)
A-20G-1
A-20G (VVS mod)
DB-3 M-85
DB-3 M-87
DB-3T
DB-3F/IL-4
Er-2 M-105PA
G-11  **
SAF Chato (Spanish built I-15)
I-15 M-25 vvs
I-15bis
I-15bis w/skis
I-153 M-62
I-153 M-63
I-16 Type 5
I-16 Type 5 w/skis
I-16 Type 5 ver.1938
I-16 Type 5 ver.1938 w/skis
I-16 Type 5 SPB
I-16 Type 10
I-16 Type 17
I-16 Type 24
I-16 Type 28
I-16 Type 29
Il-2 AM-38 Srs.1-3
Il-2 AM-38, 1 seat, early
Il-2 AM-38, 1 seat, wood wing
Il-2 AM-38, 1 seat, field modification
Il-2 AM-38, 2 seat, field modification
Il-2 AM-38, 2 seat
Il-2 NS-37
Il-2 AM-38F, 2 seat
Il-2 AM-38F, 2 seat 'arrow'
Il-10
LaGG-3, early (5-gun Gorki)
LaGG-3, early (Factory 23)
LaGG-3 massovii
LaGG-3 M-105PF
LaGG-3-37 (Gorki)
LaGG-3 ulyushennii i oblegchennii
La-5, early
La-5 (massovii)
La-5F, early
La-5F (massovii)
La-5FN
La-7 (massovii)
La-7 (3xB20)
Li-2
MBR-2
MiG-3, early
MiG-3
MiG-3, late (2xUBS)
MiG-3 (Kuibishev, 2xShVAK)
MiG-3U (prototype)
Pe-2 early series
Pe-2 (FT)
Pe-2 field mod (rear armament)
Pe-2 late series
Pe-3bis
Pe-8 AM-35
R-5 (SSS)
R-5 (SSS) w/skis
R-10
SB M-100
SB M-103
Su-2
TB-3 M-17
TB-3 M-34R
TB-3 M-34 SPB
Tu-2S
U-2VS
Yak-1 early
Yak-1 massoviy
Yak-1 M-105PF
Yak-1 Series 96 oblegchenniy
Yak-1B
Yak-1B oblegchenniy
Yak-3
Yak-3P
Yak-7A
Yak-7B
Yak-7B M-105PF
Yak-7B M-105PF, cut-down fuselage
Yak-9
Yak-9D
Yak-9T
Yak-9M
Yak-9B
Yak-9K
Yak-9U
Yak-9UT

Germany
Ar 196
Ar 234B
Bf 109 B
Bf 109 D
Bf 109 E-1
Bf 109 E-3
Bf 109 E-4
Bf 109 E-4/B
Bf 109 E-7
Bf 109 E-7Z
Bf 109 T
Bf 109 F-1
Bf 109 F-2
Bf 109 F-2 trop
Bf 109 F-4
Bf 109 F-4 trop
Bf 109 G-2
Bf 109 G-2 trop
Bf 109 G-4
Bf 109 G-6
Bf 109 G-6, late Erla
Bf 109 G-6AS
Bf 109 G-10
Bf 109 G-14
Bf 109 K-4
Bf 110 C-2
Bf 110 C-4B
Bf 110 G-2
Bf 110 G-4
Bv 222
Do 17Z
Do 24T
Do 217 K
Do 217 K-2
Do 217 M
Fi 156
Fw 189 A-2
Fw 190 A-2
Fw 190 A-3
Fw 190 A-3 (no wing guns)
Fw 190 A-4
Fw 190 A-4 (no wing guns)
Fw 190 A-5
Fw 190 A-5 (no wing guns)
Fw 190 A-6
Fw 190 A-6 (no wing guns)
Fw 190 A-8
Fw 190 A-9
Fw 190 F-3
Fw 190 F-8
Fw 190 G-3
Fw 190 A-8 /mistel
Fw 190 D-9 early
Fw 190 D-9 late
Fw 190 D-11
Fw 190 D-13
Ta 152 H-1
Ta 152 C
Fw 200 C
He 51 C
He 111 E
He 111 H-2
He 111 P-2
He 111 H-5
He 111 H-6
He 111 H-20
He 111 Z
He 112 B-2
He 162 A
He 177 A-2
He 219 A
Hs 123 B
Hs 129 B-2
Hs 129 B-3/Wa
Ju 52/3m
Ju 52/3m w/floats
Ju 52/3m Spanish Civil War bomber
Ju 87 A
Ju 87 B-2
Ju 87 D-3
Ju 87 D-5
Ju 87 G-1
Ju 88 A-1
Ju 88 C-2
Ju 88 A-5
Ju 88 A-5 late
Ju 88 A-4 torp
Ju 88 A-17
Ju 88 C-6
Ju 88 G-6
Ju 88 mistel
Ju 188 A-2
Me 163 B
Me 210 CA-1
Me 210 CA-Z
Me 410 A
Me 410 B
Me 410 PZ
Me 262A-1a
Me 262 A-1a/U4
Me 321**
Me 323

Italy
Br.20M
Cant Z.506B
Cant Z.1007bis
Ca.309
Ca.310
CR.32
CR.42
G-50 (mid series)
G-55
MC.200 Srs 1
MC.200 Srs 3
MC.200 Srs 7
MC.200 Srs 7FB
MC.202 Srs 1
MC.202 Srs 3
MC.202 Srs 7
MC.202 Srs 12
MC.205V Srs 1
MC.205V Srs 3
Re.2000
Re.2001
Re.2001CN
Re.2002
Re.2005
SM.79
SM.81

Japan
A5M4
A6M1
A6M21
A6M2N
A6M3
A6M3-22
A6M5
A6M5a
A6M5b
A6M5c
A6M7-63
B5N2
B6N2 **
B7A2
D3A1
D3A2
D4Y2
E13A **
F1M2 **
G3M1 **
G4M1-11
G4M2E
H6K3
H8K1
J2M2 Model 11
J2M3 Model 21
Ki 21-I
Ki 21-II
Ki 27-Ko
Ki 27-Otsu
Ki 43-Ia
Ki 43-Ib
Ki 43-Ic
Ki 43-II
Ki 43-II-Kai
Ki 44-II-Ko
Ki 44-II-Otsu
Ki 44-II-Kai
Ki 44-II-Ha301
Ki 45-Kai Ia
Ki 45 Kai Id
Ki 46 (recce)
Ki 46 KAI
Ki 48 IIa
Ki 51
Ki 61-I-Ko
Ki 61-I-Hei
Ki 61-I-Otsu
Ki 61-I-Kai
Ki 84-I-Ko
Ki 84-I-Otsu
Ki 84-I-Kai
Ki 100-I-Ko
L2D
MXY-7-11
N1K1
N1K1-J
N1K2-Ja

Other Nations
CW-21B
D.21 (Denmark)
D.21 (Dutch)
Fokker G.I
J8A
C.714
MS 406
MS 410
Hawk 75A-3
MB.152
D.510
D.520
LeO.451
Potez 540
Potez 630
Potez 631
Potez 633
PZL 11c
PZL 24f
PZL 24g
PZL 23B
PZL 37B

Buffalo Model 239 (Finn)
D.21 (Finn, early)
D.21 (Finn)
IAR 80a
IAR 80b
IAR 80c
IAR 81
IAR 81c
MS Morko
B.534
S.328  **

Post War & Prototype Aircraft
SeaFury FB.11
Seafire XV
Seafire XVII
Seafire 47
Spitfire F 21
Spitfire F 22
Spitfire F 24
A-26B (post war)
A-26K
F4U-5
F4U-5N
AU-1 (USMC)
F8F-2
Skyraider (AD4)
P-80A
F-86A
F9F2
B.I.
B.I.6
I-185 M-71
I-185 M-82
La-9
La-11
MiG-3 AM-38
MiG-3U
Yak-9P
Yak-11
MiG-9(FS)
Yak-15
MiG-15bis

Do 335 A-0
Do 335 V-13
He 100 'D' (proposed standard)
S-199
Ha-1112
A7M2
J7W1

GeeBee R-2
.