Stuff the big boys !!
you people look like you know what you doing and doing a great job at it, even if you dont !! I suppose in the end youll have to go to a publisher ???
Anyway when you done with this project, in 1/2/3/4 years time, hows about a helicoper sim ? There is small country on the tip of Africa called South Africa which developed a chopper called the Rooivulk. I have worked on its Hums and could get more info through my contacts with the Denel group. Only reason is, its the only attack chopper that has'nt had a sim made about it. JUST KIDDING, RSA has only had one modern war and little air power was used !?!...hmmmm
Sorry just pretending I was the developer for a minute there.
On that note how about the crash affects, CFS2 had great thing like prop strikes and if the gear hit the landing platform they broke off. You could also land without your gear down and survive. It alway adds to the fun if due to combat damages the gear or other equipment wont work and drastic messures are put in place.