Any World of Tanks fans??? You gotta try WAR THUNDER.
Basically it a competitor to World of Warplanes but a lot better. You pick your starter Nation (US, UK, Soviets, Germany, and Japan), the others will unlock quickly afterwards. Period is from the late 1920s (so your starting aircraft is like the P-26 Peashooter, He-51, Hawker Fury.. etc) going into the Korean war F-86, MiG-15). So Bi-Planes to Jets. with variants and sub-variants. For example first Spitfire is tier 5, and you can chose either the Spit I or Spit II. At Tier VI you get the Spit V and you have the choice of the Spit Va or the Spit Vc. You need to unlock the first variant before you unlock the second, but you are not required to actually fly it. If you have the cash you can unlock both variants simultaneously and start directly with the later variant.
Unlike WOT/WOWP, War thunder doesn't use a lot of fantasy aircraft. Most aircraft on the tech trees were real aircraft.
Variety of different classes fighter, Twin Engine Heavy fighter, dive bomber, torpedo plane, light, Med and Heavy Bombers.
3 Difficulty modes. Arcade (AI assisted FM) Historic battles (more realistic FM, less help from AI) and Full Battle (full flight sim mode, no AI help). Harder modes offer better rewards.
Game doesn't require a beefy PC.
It is still in Open beta (and its Free of course) so the FM still needs work but they are patching it regularly. Also Gaijin has said they will NOT do any more wipes, so you will not lose everything when it does live. Game already has 3 Million players.
One tip: Stay away from the Germans and Japanese at the beginning. The German aircraft Tiers I-IV are in serious need of a buff and doesn't come into its own until tier 6. The Japanese need a tweak as well as their aircraft are the most maneuverable but this is negated by the simple FM in arcade mode.
All Nations have pros and cons
USA: Are the best energy fighters, Can take more punishment and have the best bombers. But are not the most maneuverable and have uninspired firepower (not bad, but plain, nothing exotic like the Germans).
Germany. Amazing Firepower on all tier IV+ fighters, but are slower, sluggish and bleed speed too easily. Best Bomber Interceptors. Dive bombers are good, level Bombers are average due to smaller bomb load.
RAF: Best fighter-bomber Aircraft. Good mix of maneuverability + firepower. Best faction in the early game but aren't as good in the later game.
Russia: Similar to RAF in terms of utility, less menuverbility but better survivability + best pure ground attack aircraft.
Japanese: Best turnfighter aircraft, good speed, Good Bombers and Heavy fighters. Very flimsy and have weak firepower (on single engine fighters).
