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[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by GraveyardJimmy

Is it always like this?

Hi Jimmy.

This does sometimes happen if you're unlucky enough to spawn at one of the coastal airfields when the strafers are around.
The best thing to do when this happens is to spawn at a more inland airfield such as Maidstone, head for the coast whilst gaining altitude and go attack the strafers.
Also it helps to get on Teamspeak and team up with any of the Red team guys there, or just listen out for what's being said. You'd also be able to call for help from the other players. The Red team flyers are only too happy to come looking for the strafers as long as they know they're there!

If you let me know your game name, what time zone you're in, and what time you go online, I'd be happy to ask the ATAG guys to look out for you.

[Osprey]

Yeah Jimmy, sounds like bad timing. Amazingly, and I don't know why, I am yet to be strafed. I was bounced just after taking off once though which imho is even lower than strafing.

If you are new and want to get to grips with it then comms is the way forward and joining a crew even more so, but that bit is up to you. Of course you'll need a headset.
As for head tracking then look at Freetrack, you can put something together for around £20 and a little labour.

[GraveyardJimmy]

Originally Posted by ATAG_Dutch

Hi Jimmy.


The best thing to do when this happens is to spawn at a more inland airfield such as Maidstone, head for the coast whilst gaining altitude and go attack the strafers.

Ah right, I'll try that out. I think I've got CEM worked out ok for the hurricane so might see if I can catch anyone if I have some altitude.

[bw_wolverine]

Originally Posted by GraveyardJimmy

Ah right, I'll try that out. I think I've got CEM worked out ok for the hurricane so might see if I can catch anyone if I have some altitude.

Maidstone is NOT a good airfield for the newer pilots, unfortunately. You have to be very careful not to wreck your prop in the dirt because it's so bumpy and slanted. Your best bet there (if you're new to it) is to take off east to west (downhill).

[GraveyardJimmy]

I tried Lympne as it was hurricanes only and caught it at the start of a mission. Noone strafing, I had time to warm up the engine and gain altitude. Flew over the channel and helped a spit attack some bombers then got engine damage (not sure if it was my management or good rear gunners!) so returned to the airfield lost sight of the runway and lost too much speed in a turn so crashed in a village.

Much better experience than earlier. Must have caught it in a bad state in the mission or something. I think I'll stick to the hurricane for now, trying to get my head around prop-pitch means hearing lots of different things from different people.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by GraveyardJimmy

Flew over the channel and helped a spit attack some bombers then got engine damage (not sure if it was my management or good rear gunners!) so returned to the airfield lost sight of the runway and lost too much speed in a turn so crashed in a village.

Heh! I was there at the time. I saw you returning as I was catching up to the Ju88. I downed the '88, but we shared the kill. I think you'd gone by then, but thought I'd let you know!

By the way, that DH prop Hurri is a bit of a handful. The Rotol prop Hurri is far easier to manage with constant speed prop. Much better performance too.

[Osprey]

Looks like I need CEM courses, I'm sure Cheesehawk will offer a good price


TBH I don't ever really need to hammer the engine, I don't often get shot at either yet I still get plenty of Hun. It sort of reminds me of when people say how good John Terry is in defence because he makes such outstanding last ditch tackles but I've always considered him a carthorse who makes mistakes and ends up having to make last ditch tackles.

[klem]

Originally Posted by GraveyardJimmy

I tried Lympne as it was hurricanes only and caught it at the start of a mission. Noone strafing, I had time to warm up the engine and gain altitude. Flew over the channel and helped a spit attack some bombers then got engine damage (not sure if it was my management or good rear gunners!) so returned to the airfield lost sight of the runway and lost too much speed in a turn so crashed in a village.

Much better experience than earlier. Must have caught it in a bad state in the mission or something. I think I'll stick to the hurricane for now, trying to get my head around prop-pitch means hearing lots of different things from different people.

Rotol Hurricane (don't bother with DH prop it isn't modelled properly)
General guide (my 2p):-
After takeoff reduce to 2600rpm or less, boost 3-4lbs continuous.
You can fly on max boost for a while at 2600 (historically 30 mins max but I wouldn't risk it that long in CoD). Watch the temps (max 95 oil, 120 Rad)

Overheating Oil? Reduce to 2200 rpm and cut back to 4lbs or less - soon cools down*.

Combat: Have cool engine (about 80 oil, <100 rad) when entering combat. See above*.
Combat 2600/max boost - combats don't usually last long enough to damage engine - and max rpm/max boost when necesary but 5 mins max (watch temps). Also don't forget Boost Overide for the extra bit of power but not for more than about 5 mins. Cut back on boost/override whenever possible.

Continuous max boost or Boost Override can also fail the engine without temperature warning.

[GraveyardJimmy]

Thanks! Just to clarify- I move the prop pitch lever rather than the throttle to adjust rpm?

Mixture should remain the same generally?

Edit: Just went up for a flight (cross country quick mission), that worked great, thanks! The other hurricane is a bit easier to keep the RPM at a nice level and the engine shakes a lot less (only on start up now, rather than in flight).

With this hurricane, mixture is full back = rich? When would I use it pushed forwards, other than a little bit at takeoff- at high altitudes where air is thinner so less fuel is needed?

[klem]

Originally Posted by GraveyardJimmy

Thanks! Just to clarify- I move the prop pitch lever rather than the throttle to adjust rpm?

Mixture should remain the same generally?

Edit: Just went up for a flight (cross country quick mission), that worked great, thanks! The other hurricane is a bit easier to keep the RPM at a nice level and the engine shakes a lot less (only on start up now, rather than in flight).

With this hurricane, mixture is full back = rich? When would I use it pushed forwards, other than a little bit at takeoff- at high altitudes where air is thinner so less fuel is needed?

Yes you move the Prop lever to control the prop rpm but at low boost it will fall away anyway.

Leave Mixture on Rich (lever back). It could be leaned (lever forward) for economic cruising wih restrictions on boost/rpm but lets face it, you're not going to be doing that unless you enter into a 2.5 hour patrol scenario By the way if you fly the Spitfire as modelled at the moment the lever is the wrong way round - forward is rich. Should be fixed sometime.

You can play with the mixture, leaning it gradually until the yellow exhaust flame just turns blue but then you are on the edge for those particular circumstances (boost etc) so I don't bother. We're never up long enough to run out of fuel and we can keep the engines reasonably cool by boost and rpm. Focus more on basic tactics like being above the bandit rather than below him and get out before you lose the advantage - ahem.... do as I say not as I do!

I'm only trying to give an operating guide, I'm not trying to give you the perfect setup for various conditions. You could research those in the Pilots Notes and see if the modelling is perfect or not but frankly those are test scenarios. Some guys worry about things like "the flight model delivers 8mph below the XXXXX test data". Well, all a/c were different anyway with no guarantee of returning that test performance and its unlikley you'll be in a perfect "test" situation when you spot that bandit. And as a newbie to the Squadron do you think they'll give you the factory fresh aeroplane? No, the boss gets that one, yours is the one with the near-expired engine