Pilots!

On March 10, from 6:00 to 18:00 CET (UTC+1), the servers will undergo maintenance to deploy Update 2.1.38.

As this update requires more time than usual, all Premium account users will receive a one-day compensation.

The previously shared economy of World of Warplanes and World of Tanks will be separated with the release of Update 2.1.38:

• World of Warplanes will introduce a new premium currency called Crowns. Crowns will be used for all premium transactions in World of Warplanes, including Premium Account time, aircraft, consumables, boosters, experience conversion, and any other purchases that previously required Gold.
  
• All in-game prices and item values in World of Warplanes will remain unchanged. One Crown will match the previous Gold value exactly.
  
• All compensations for aircraft already present in a player’s Hangar will now be paid in Crowns.
  
• Free Experience will continue to function the same way within each game, including earning it in battles or converting vehicle experience. However, Free Experience will no longer be shared between World of Tanks and World of Warplanes.
  
• Supply Crates opened after March 10, 2026 will drop Crowns.
  
• The Wargaming Premium Account will remain shared across all games and is not affected by this change.
  
• After the maintenance for update 2.1.38, all Gold and Free Experience present on player accounts will remain unchanged in World of Tanks, and you will also receive the same amount in World of Warplanes as Crowns and Free XP.
  
• In-game graphical assets for Gold will be replaced with corresponding assets for Crowns, and the localizations will be adjusted accordingly.

Update 2.1.38 introduces a brand-new reward aircraft - Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet, the German TIer VIII fighter.

The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was the world's first and only operational rocket-powered combat aircraft, and the first to break the 1000 km/h airspeed record. It was intended to serve as a point-defense interceptor and to counter heavy bomber raids on German cities and industry. This extremely fast and dynamic fighter was supposed to rapidly approach its target, flying at high altitude, and quickly destroy it with two high-caliber autocannons. In reality, the aircraft's speed made engagement time extremely short, with pilots having mere seconds to aim and fire at a bomber, while a very limited fuel load didn't allow for protracted engagements or multiple runs at a target. The Komet had other issues as well, particularly its extremely toxic fuel and instability at low altitude and low speed, which caused multiple incidents on takeoff and landing. The Me 163s managed to score several heavy bomber shootdowns in World War II, but the project was ultimately deemed a failure. The fighters were grounded, their duties passed to Me 262 regiments.

The Japanese Mitsubishi J8M Shusui is heavily based on the Me 163 design under a license agreement, but despite outward similarities, the two aircraft have major differences. As shipping a complete Me 163, several working engines, and even blueprints to Japan proved impossible, Japanese engineers were forced to reverse-engineer the fighter design from the operation manual and adapt it to local components, most notably the engines and armament.

While the Me 163B may seem like a twin of the J8M, which has been in World of Warplanes for several years, it is better in nearly every way. It is powered by the original Walter HWK 509 rocket engine, which provides much more thrust, making approaches to the target much faster. The Komet has a higher maximum speed, better acceleration both in cruise flight and while boosting, and significantly longer boost duration. Its MK-108 30-millimeter cannons have a shorter range than the Type 5s installed in its Japanese counterpart, but they compensate with longer salvo time and better accuracy. Overall, the original Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet can become a fun fighter for tactical flying. It is not the strongest in terms of firepower and not the most nimble of Tier VIII fighters, but its ability to rapidly engage and disengage makes for extremely dynamic battles (and extremely annoyed opponents).

To earn this aircraft, you'll need to participate in the upcoming game event.

New paint schemes have been added for the following aircraft:

• Mitsubishi A6M3 (experimental)
  
• Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero
  
• Kawasaki Ki-88
  
• Kawanishi J6K1
  
• Kyushu J7W3
  
• Curtiss Tomahawk IIb
  
• Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk
  
• De Havilland 98 Mosquito FB 26
  
• North American P-51K Mustang
  
• Ilyushin Il-10M

Paint scheme characteristics:

• Concealment: +20%
  
• Resistance to damage from AA guns: +10%
  
• Resistance to damage from gunners: +5%
  
• Aircraft XP: +8%

These paint schemes will become available in future Premium Shop offers and as rewards during events.

New emblems, one commemorating the first flight of the formidable P-39 Aerocobra, and another dedicated to Victory in Europe Day, will become available to earn in upcoming in-game events.

• Fixed an issue that prevented the Steam game client from changing localizations correctly when switching languages through game properties in Steam.
  
• Fixed the bombs on Savoia-Marchetti SM.91 being placed too tightly.
  
• Fixed the bombs on Mitsubishi G4M2 Model 24 clipping through the bomb bay doors.
  
• Fixed an issue that caused the module icons in the Summary tab of the right-side Hangar interface panel to not display correctly.
  
• Fixed paint scheme previews when using the Summary tab. Now, right-clicking an installed paint scheme icon for a specific map type displays the aircraft model with that paint scheme.
  
• Fixed a minor visual issue with the paint scheme panel for the Curtiss Tomahawk IIb.