I thought it a bit pricey and paid little attention, but then it went on sale, so I decided to pick the game up.
A series of add-ons and expansions made the game a franchise, with the IL-2 Great Battle Series commencing on 22nd November 2014 offering IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad. Designed by then Russian developer Maddox Games (and published today by Russian computer game company 1C), the software was universally hailed for its gorgeous graphics and intense realism. The World War II flight sim IL-2 Sturmovik has been around since 2001.
