[Winger]

Originally Posted by *Buzzsaw*

It depends what aircraft and what altitude you are at.

It is much more difficult to keep the engines of the British planes cool at higher altitude. Yes, I know, you are scratching your head and wondering, this is not logical, it's 30 degrees colder up at 20,000 ft, but that's the way the game works.

For the Spitfire IA 100 octane, you can run 2800 rpm and +6 boost full rad open at 1000 ft for a good 15 minutes or more, as was historical. But try that at 10,000 ft and you'll get backfiring and engine misses, and as well, you engine will overheat. Totally ahistorical and inaccurate, but that's the game.

At lower altitudes you can run approx. 1/2 radiator opening, and get sufficient cooling at less than full rpm, but up high, you better open your rad full if you are running any kind of heavy boost.

It is a matter of learning the planes, learning what they will tolerate, and going from there. The British are basically pooched at alts over 10,000 ft, even their best high alt planes are not very good.

Flying higher than any german scout and still pooched. Yes. ROFL