[Febo]

Are there any mods with missions that include fighting inside the atmosphere of a planet or something? IMO, that is the only thing missing in this game. To be able to invade the planets, destroy ground bases etc.
Is it even possible to make something like that with FS2 engine?

[Flipside]

It's possible to 'fake' something like that with the Freespace Engine, but, at least to date, I'm not aware of anyone being able to make a transition, so you could start in space, or you could start in a mock-up planetary surface, but what you can't do is start in one and move to the other in the same mission.

[JGZinv]

How bout with a "thick" localized nebula simulating atmospheric entry with a planet model in the center?

Once you get to a point, end the mission and start another one "closer" to the planet thereby giving the
imitation that you've actually traveled closer? ...or long distance LOD/detail boxing perhaps?

[Flipside]

Yup, you can do it as several 'missions' stretched out over various stages of approaching the planet, using the Red Alert flag, but that's the limit at the moment

[Snail]

I remember someone created a huge planet surface, which had detail boxes and got more detailed as you got closer.

[JGZinv]

As to destroying ground bases and the like, probably the closest thing to that
would the StarFox mod over at Game-Warden.

[ShadowGorrath]

What about 158th Exposition ?

[Akalabeth Angel]

What about 158th Exposition ?

            158th was reportedly close to some demo release or something since it's been revived by a bunch of enthusiastic peeps. So maybe there's some atmospheric missions featured within there. Who knows.

[ShadowGorrath]

There are 2 or more screenies of atmospheric flight in 158th Exposition. And I don't think it's far from a release.

[Flipside]

I had a beta version atmospheric flight working in TI several years ago to be honest, it's not difficult to do that particular aspect of it