Aerodrome

About this board game

Aerodrome is a World War I aerial combat miniatures game for 2–12 players, with games lasting about 60 minutes. Players take the roles of biplane pilots and tail gunners, dog fighting through the gray skies of Europe.

The game uses 1/72 miniature aircraft mounted on radio antennae with clear acrylic hex bases. These figures stand on a board depicting an aerial view of a WWI battlefield, marked with large hexes for movement and positioning.

Each pilot and gunner plots three moves at a time. Movement includes straight flight, faster forward movement, side slips, turns, stalls, and the Immelman, which moves a plane forward one hex while completely reversing its orientation.

• Side slips move a plane one hex left or right while retaining its orientation.
• Forward movement can change the plane’s orientation, while a fast move covers two hexes.
• Stalling keeps the plane in its current hex and orientation but risks sending it into a spin.
• Planes can fly at one of five altitudes, with descent generally available and ascent restricted to forward movement without wild acrobatics.

After movement, pilots may fire on any plane that finds itself in their path. With plotted maneuvers, altitude restrictions, aircraft miniatures, and a battlefield of large hexes, Aerodrome presents a visually distinctive take on aerial combat during the war to end all wars.