So, just what is IL-2 Sturmovik anyway?
Well, instead of saying what it is, let's say what IL-2 isn't:
It isn't a large tartan elephant with flowers for tusks and a sparkly thong. It also isn't a ruddy-coloured housebrick called Jeremy and it certainly is unlikely to be a fortune cookie that says "Better safer than regret".
No, on second thoughts let's not say what it isn't.
IL-2 Sturmovik (named after the Russian fighter/bomber of WW2), is an outstanding combat flight simulator with single player campaigns, co-operative missions and deathmatch-style dogfights. Graphically it is very impressive indeed (see the gallery) and settings can be graduated from arcade-style to ultra-realistic.

Showing off: Custom skins
IL-2 also allows you to create custom paint-jobs ("skins") for aircraft, which although tricky can be done and is rewarding. Our own skinner extraordinaire (Bunn), created a series of skins either based upon nationality of Hussars or specific ones for individuals with their name along the fusilage of the aircraft, which you will notice if you look at the gallery. This is such a pretty game that sometimes you just have to stop and admire your aircraft as you fly.

The Hussars 20-minuters, our very own IL-2 squadron of crazy pilots.
The term "20-minuters" referred to the average life-expectancy of new pilots in the air during the First World War. Judging by our skill with IL-2 I would say this is being ludicrously optimistic.
Our clan tag in IL-2 is therefore [H20] but otherwise the names used tend to be the same ones used for other WW2 games (from the 1st Hussars onwards), so expect to see pilots called [H20]Flasheart, [H20]Baldric, [H20]Blackadder, [H20]Von Richthoven, [H20]Bum Fluff, [H20]Private Bob, [H20]Nurse Mary, [H20]Edmund, [H20]3F-Pete and many more.
When not using the [H20] prefix (just playing for fun) the standard HGG names are generally used, such as Quercus, Bunn, Agrajag, or Hexenmeister for Leafshadoe because he has to be different!

IL-2 also includes the newly released Pacific Fighters game (which is really IL-2 in the Pacific) and will also encompass the Battle of Britain game by the same development company.