Each airframe possesses distinct characteristics such as weight allowance, top speed and maneuverability. The slower bomber carries a much heftier punch with more guns and hardpoints for rockets. The swifter Bloodhawk sacrifices armor and maneuverability for raw speed. Players can customize each plane's guns and rockets. Guns can be upgraded from .30 caliber to .70 caliber with a wide variety of ammunition types - armor piercing, exploding, dum dums, and slugs.
Rockets can mean the difference between life and death but take much more skill to aim.
Some rockets, such as the Flak rocket, shoot a short distance and are aimed ahead of the aircraft. Other rockets shoot backwards to ward off attackers. Each mission begins with a briefing filled with as much drama as can be squeezed from a monitor and speakers. Fans of film noir will love the shadowy cinematography and campy lines reminiscent of a detective film. The cut scenes are so good that I didn't slip past a single one, yet these aren't full motion video or even game engine animations, but rather like a slide show.